Stuart abandons his bid to sue over wrecked model

An Aberndeen model-maker says he is sunk after his mini-versionof the Titanic was wrecked.

Stuart Robb spent three years making the 6ft model and planned todisplay his replica of the doomed liner at a Belfast exhibition.

But the scale version arrived so badly damaged it could not go onshow.

Now he has been forced to write it off and is unable to claim backthe pounds700 cost of the Belfast visit.

The 21-year-old claimed the firm he entrusted to take his ship tothe Belfast show, Caledonian Logistics, failed to deliver it in goodcondition.

As a result he also says he lost out on more than pounds5,000 ashe could no longer sell it on to another international exhibition.

Mr Robb claims the package went missing for three days beforefinally turning up, badly damaged.

He sought advice from his solicitor about taking legal actionagainst Caledonian Logistics.

But he now admits: "It appears that the terms and conditions ofour agreement were all upstanding."

Stuart said: "I felt physically sick - after all that work andpreparation, it was awful to see it in that state."

Stuart has since been quoted pounds7,000 by professional model-makers Donald Smith for the repairs after they examined the model.

And as a result he has been forced to write it off.

Derek Mitchell, managing director of Caledonian Logistics said:"The matter is subject to an insurance claim which is in hand.

"The money that he says he is out of pocket comes under travelcosts and there is not a transport company in this world that isinsured for that."

Stuart's model, at 1/44th the size, took three years to constructfrom brass, wood plastic and card, costing around pounds1,000 inmaterials alone.

The human physiology student had insured his masterpiece forpounds4,500 - the amount offered to him by the travellingexhibition.

He hopes to at least recover those costs but has yet to hear backfrom his insurers.