Captain rests but his fleet is sail of the century

But now, three months after his death, a selection of the unique, handcrafted models is to go on show to the public in Granton, and fans will have the chance to buy one.

Mr Scammell, who was a welder by trade, spent 50 years creating his collection of scores of model boats after becoming fascinated by the craft in his 30s.

He made copies of all 30 of the Scottish fleet from the 14th and 15th centuries, as well as more modern vessels, and even built a replica of the Granton Gasworks.

Many have been sold to private collectors or museums, and three of his largest models are on display in Ocean Terminal, but when he died in August at the age of 82, his home in Granton Terrace was still stuffed full of the models that had become his life's work.

Now his family, unable to accommodate the collection in their own homes, are preparing to sell the vessels off, and are giving the public a chance to enjoy the boats at the three-week exhibition.

The display includes 21 boats from all eras, including one of the Great Michael, the vast four-masted warship launched at Newhaven by King James IV in 1511 - the largest warship in Europe.

The Titanic is also on display, along with a model called the Leviathan, which shows the first roll-on, roll-off railway ferry, which used to carry railway carriages between Granton and Burntisland.

As well as galleons, the exhibition includes a large replica of an Egyptian funeral boat and several Viking longships.

It was due to be opened by MSP Malcolm Chisholm, at The Lighthouse gallery in West Harbour Road last night. Mr Scammell's son Harry said his father would have been delighted to see his work go on show.

"It's absolutely brilliant, he'd be over the moon. Apart from building his boats, which was his passion, he loved the fact that his boats were on show at Ocean Terminal and different museums.

"I'm in a Corporation house, my boys don't have space for them - we can't put them anywhere, so the people down at The Lighthouse were very kind to let me get them out of my dad's house so I could give it back to the Corporation.

"I love my dad's boats to bits but I can't keep them, so they're for sale.The whole collection can go in a oner, or the boats can get sold off individually." Mr Scammell was a well-known figure in Granton, affectionately nicknamed The Captain because he enjoyed watching the boats at the harbour while wearing his sailor's cap.

He was also a fount of knowledge on the history of the area, and The Lighthouse's Shaeron Averbuch said she was delighted to have the chance to exhibit his work.

"I'd met George Scammell when we first came into work in The Lighthouse and George came down and took an interest. He kept asking if I'd make a statue of him but I don't know if he was very serious, and I said 'It would be great to film you talking' - he had so much knowledge and enthusiasm about Granton as a place.

"The idea was to do more with George, but time wasn't on our side."

She added: "Harry said his father really wanted to see it exhibited in the Lighthouse and we've done that, and if we can find a way of getting more interest in the remaining works that need homes, then that's fantastic."

The exhibition of Mr Scammell's work is open every day until December 5, from 11am to 4pm.