The Mauretania model on board QE2 (Heritage Trail)

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

These superb pictures sum up the Aquitania - a tired ship post WW2 but full of character:

http://www.travelserver.net/travelpage/aspgallery/view_ad.asp?Ad_ID=2211&CatLevel=2&Cat1_ID=3&Cat2_ID=&Cat3_ID=&Cat4_ID=&FromSearch=True&SearchPage=%2Ftravelpage%2Faspgallery%2Fdefault.asp%3FCatLevel%3D2%26Cat1_ID%3D3

Looking so like the Mauretania model in QE2, the big one outside the Caronia Restaurant...

I know the two ships were sisters, and I know that there are parts of the Mauretania model that are really Aquitania... but that's as far as my scant knowledge goes. Could you tell me some more about the Mauretania model and its Aquitania bits?

Thank you!

[Dr. Edmund Carus]

Isabelle,

I'll try to fill you in on some details. Firstly, the Aquitania was not a sister-ship to the Maurerania being much larger (and slower). She was built more as a Cunard answer to the White Star "Olympic" Class and the upcoming "Ballin" trio being planned/built in Germany (these became Berengaria, Leviathan and Majestic after WW1).  Mauretania's very near sister was the Lusitania - lost in WW1. I have heard that the Mauretania model on the QE2 might have some Lusitania "bits" on it but I must research this some more.

Cheers!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Yes, quite right, Edmund -- my mix-up...!

Thank you for the Aquitania info. And looking forward to hearing more about the Lusitania / Mauretania model conundrum when you get the chance 

[Dr. Edmund Carus]

Isabelle.

The most obvious differences between the Mauretania and Lusitania were the ventilators, bridge front, deck houses and boat deck width. Are there any pictures of the Mauretania model on the QE2 please? I should be able to comment when I've seen this.

Thanks,

Edmund

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

These are some of mine :

https://www.flickr.com/search/?w=55206992@N00&q=mauretania+model&m=tags

If you click into them, there are some interesting comments on this one :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2688853556/

Here is one of Rob's :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lightbody/2833519085/

... and here one of Pia's :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lightbody/2833519085/

... all showing slightly different views of this splendid ship model.

One of those QE2 sights that I could never tire of!

[Mauretania1907]

As far as I am aware, this model was originally of the Lucy, but after her horrific end, it was stored (I think) and some time afterwareds altered to depict the Maury. I do not know when this was done, or if it was especially done for the QE2 when Tables of the World became the Mauretania restaurant, but the model wqas certainly aboard when I was in 1989, and the restaurant had many lovely photos of Maury around its walls. I was estatic, dining on my favourite living ship amongst memorabilia of my all-time favorite ship.

[Dr. Edmund Carus]

Yes you are right about the provenance of the Mauretania model and I can do no better than to refer you to this thread:

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org

Link to original discussion  not working

Lots of interesting information here.

Cheers!

[Dr. Edmund Carus]

A question - what has happened to the Mauretania model please? Is it still onborad QE2?

Thanks

[Dr. Edmund Carus]

In my searching I might have found a colour photograph dating from 1907 (yes!!) of the Mauretania. Please see the link below which is most interesting:

http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org

Cheers!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

A question - what has happened to the Mauretania model please? Is it still onborad QE2?

Well, according to Thomas Quinones on September's Heritage Trail, that was indeed its fate. I have heard nothing to the contrary since then... 

[andyh]

A question - what has happened to the Mauretania model please? Is it still onborad QE2?

Well, according to Thomas Quinones on September's Heritage Trail, that was indeed its fate. I have heard nothing to the contrary since then... 

Thats true, he said it was too large to remove without cutting a hole in the side of the QE2 to remove it 

[Malcolm]

I seem to remember a story that the model was actually of the Lusitania and was only renamed after the accident.

[Stowaway2k]

image 7 - mauretania model being installed

A little OT...
While the model of Maury certainly is a stunner worthy of hour after hour of worshipful study, I always found the painting that was the background to the model to be a beauty and I loved studdying that as well... an unsung and overlooked art treasure aboard QE2 that deserves mention.  Does anybody know the artist?

[Stowaway2k]

Here's more regarding the picture, Kyle!
https://www.theqe2story.com/forum/index.php/topic,1638.0.html

Thanks!
But, the one I mean is the one that's in the case with the Mauretania model, that forms the rear of the display case.




Sorry for taking this OT, but it would be great if someone knew more about this artwork. 

[Rob Lightbody]

Kyle,

"Flagship" will know I'm sure!  I remember reading the label for it while on board, I also was captivated by it, and spent quite a few minutes standing and admiring it.

[Rob Lightbody]

The Mauretania Model

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

What an excellent idea to use a video and show all the different areas of the ship! I took quite a few photos, but with the sheer size of the model, each of them only gives a partial view.

I like this one, as it gives an idea of the size, with the young boy beside the model. He was talking to his dad, and the most important question for him was "Did she sink, Daddy?". I suppose after the Titanic film, that is what all good ships are really supposed to do...!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2688853572/



I never really looked properly at the picture behind the model... something I regret now... good thing we have the Forum to allow us to catch up with some of our omissions!


And here is the Caronia (Green Goddess) model, right beside the Mauretania model :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2688853582/

[Jem]

What a great video of that model. The details are amazing! Was it made to show the owners what the vessel would actually look like and who was responsible for looking after it, say a bulb blew and needed replacing?

[Twynkle]

That is a really good question, Jem!

Who did take care of the models - and how and when?
The alleyways and all public areas were cleaned very thoroughly in the wee small hours
and I often saw the model cases and glass being polished
but no-one seemed to open them to go 'inside'
There were so many of them, too!

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

What a great video of that model. The details are amazing! Was it made to show the owners what the vessel would actually look like?

If you click through to this photo :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/prondis_in_kenya/2688853556/



... you will find this explanation by edowds :

These models were made by John Brown Shipbuilder who made the final product and are one offs, a Glasgow museum is lucky enough to have the original 3 Queen models which are fantastic ..............

... as well as his own picture of the three similarly huge John Brown models (QM, QE and QE2) in their glass cage in the Glasgow Transport Museum.