This metal boat I made from an enlarged paper model plan.

My grandfather used to have a modelboat like this standing on the TV. One day the wind lifted it off the TV and under my grandmothers foot. Gone was the boat.

The last year Veronica, a radio and TV station, gave its readers the opportunity to make that boat again. My grandfather wanted to see the plans one more time so I ordered them for him. I then decided I was going to make the boat out of sheetmetal and wood.

I can tell you, it's hard. I've cut myself on the metal over a dozen times, had to figure out what kind of solder to use, how the rigging had to be done, etc. Eventually, I think it took me two weeks of work, smeared out over a couple of months.

Needless to say, gramps was delighted when I gave this boat to him. He was very proud.