ONE of the largest models ever built of Titanic was on display at the annual British Titanic Society convention which took place at Southampton's Hilton Hotel in Chilworth.

Model-maker Peter Davies-Garner has spent 18 months constructing the spectacular 19ft model. It will be exhibited at a museum in Florida when it is completed in two months' time.

Mr Davies-Garner's fascination with Titanic started when he was a schoolboy. He began his career making architects' models but is now a full-time model ship builder.

Titanic is one of his most ambitious projects so far.

He said putting the model together was like building a gigantic jigsaw puzzle. He said: "I have been fascinated by Titanic since I was seven years old. I wanted to know what it looked like."

- Originally published April 2003.