H.M.S. TERROR now available at Occre !
In the past, there have been some Forum viewers who have shown interest in constructing a model of the TERROR and EREBUS, the two British arctic exploration ships lost in the 1846 disasterous Sir John Franklin expedition in Northern Canada. Now that these two sunken vessels have been found by Parks Canada after years of searching, the model company Occre, has a soon to be released kit of this tragic ship.
Sir Robert Peel, then Prime Minister of England, and the Admiralty gave final approval to have Sir John Franklin, who was the past governor of Tasmania, lead the polar expedition. Even though Franklin was near age seventy, his enthusiasm prevailed. On May 19, 1845, both vessels departed England, with Franklin on the EREBUS. The summer of 1846 was extremely mild, giving the expedition great hope for a successful voyage. By the time the expedition reached King Willam Island, their luck changed. A series of barrier ice and bad weather forced the expedition to a halt, when the two ships were locked in ice. There was no thaw by 1847. In June, 1847, Franklin died at age 61. By the following spring, 9 officers and 15 men were dead. provisions were nearly exhaused. Around April or May of 1848, there were only 105 survivors remaining. They decided to abandoned their trapped ships and trudge south toward the Black River in mainland Canada. Diseased and starving, many died on their tracks leaving behind sledges with invalids. When a handful reached the mainland, these few were reduced to feeding on the bodies of their fallen comrades. None ever emerged alive to tell their aweful experience.
To find more details, visit the Occre website to be informed of the final release of this historic kit. I presume one must have deep pockets to afford this kit.
Happy modeling Crackers 