Novelist Tony faces the most difficult obstacle yet to publishing his magnum opus: his publishers. A 10min comedy starring Paul Ready, Anna Madeley, Tom Burke…

Erebus drifts south in the ice, a still from Franklin's Lost Ships. © Lion Television and 90th Parallel Productions. Image provided by Andrew Gregg, used with permission. Last week, Lion Television, in collaboration with 90th Parallel Productions, aired a wonderful new documentary, Franklin’s Lost Ships, on CBC’s The Nature of Things. The show was directed by Ben Finney and produced by Andrew Gregg for CBC, PBS, and Channel 4. The documentary chronicles the 2014 Victoria Strait Expedition, culminating in the discovery of HMS Erebus by Parks Canada archaeologists and their collaborators. The film uses detailed computer graphics, historical reenactments, and interviews to bring the Franklin mystery into sharp focus - in ways we have never seen before. One of the most unique aspects of the documentary is the use of computer animations to bring Franklin’s ships, HMS Erebus and Terror, to life. I was fortunate to be asked to consult on the team’s attempt to recreate the ships and I have been corresponding with the producers since December of last year. I know that I wasn't the only researcher they consulted on the ships, so it was definitely a crowdsourced project. Erebus and Terror push their way through the ice - a still from Franklin's Lost Ships. © Lion Television and 90th Parallel Productions. Image provided by Andrew Gregg, used with permission. Andrew Gregg, a producer for 90th Parallel, oversaw the model construction process, which was undertaken by Redlab Digital, a Toronto-based visual effects studio. Mike Brown of Lion Television was also heavily involved, and Karen Kershaw led the artists at Redlab. The team’s goal, as stated to me, was to produce the most historically accurate reconstruction of the ships possible. My admittedly small role was to provide feedback and comments on the various drafts of the model build. I sent Redlab copies of my plans and they consulted historical data such as paintings, drawings, contemporary ship models, and the original draughts of the ships. As they constructed the model, the artists would provide rendered images of different angles of the vessel to Andrew and Mike, who would then pass them on to me for comment. The process involved many drafts and I marked-up many images as, polygon by polygon, the ships began to take on a recognizable shape. Until late February the ships were untextured grey geometric models, but I remember smiling broadly when Andrew emailed the first textured (fully coloured and detailed) render. Here was a complete view of one of Franklin’s ships, with the correct colour scheme and all of her unique systems, and I was thrilled to see it. Fully textured render created by Redlab, showing a view of the hull of the ship. Note the iron bow plating. © Lion Television and 90th Parallel Productions. Image provided by Andrew Gregg, used with permission. Fully textured render created by Redlab, showing a view of the upper deck. Note the diagonal deck planking. © Lion Television and 90th Parallel Productions. Image provided by Andrew Gregg, used with permission. Fully textured render created by Redlab, showing the ship covered in ice and snow. © Lion Television and 90th Parallel Productions. Image provided by Andrew Gregg, used with permission. Of course, readers of my blog know that I could never be fully satisfied with the accuracy of any model, and I worried that I would annoy Andrew and RedLab with all of my suggestions for changes. However, I learned quickly that they wanted to include every detail they possibly could, and they made changes to the models right up the last minute possible before their airdate. Erebus and Terror sail again, a still from Franklin's Lost Ships. © Lion Television and 90th Parallel Productions. Image provided by Andrew Gregg, used with permission. Are there errors in the models? Sure there are. But these are relatively minor given the project and they are primarily because of time constraints. There are issues with the ice channels, the masts and rigging, and the various esoteric fittings bolted to the ship. But I suspect there are only a handful of people on the planet who could point out all of the specific issues (and most of them are currently diving on the Erebus). I’m convinced that these are the most accurate models of Franklin’s ships ever committed to film, and I want to thank Andrew and Mike for involving me in their great project. I’ve spent the better part of two years trying to build a wooden model of HMS Terror, but I never thought I’d have the opportunity to see her sail in arctic waters again. Watching Erebus and Terror plough their way through the ice allows us to better comprehend the astonishing journey of these remarkable exploration vessels. If you read my blog, don't miss this wonderful documentary. Erebus takes advantage of her screw propeller. A still from Franklin's Lost Ships. © Lion Television and 90th Parallel Productions. Image provided by Andrew Gregg, used with permission. Acknowledgments: I would like to thank Andrew Gregg and Mike Brown for allowing me to post renders of the ships and stills from the documentary. It was a pleasure to work with them.

The Royal Navy During The Second World War, The well equipped Dental Surgery on board HMHS AMARAPOORA at Scapa Flow. A patient is sat in the dentist chair whilst two of the staff carry out a...

The HMS Terror went missing in 1848 as the Royal Navy sought to chart an unnavigated portion of the Northwest Passage. All 129 crew members perished.

The announcement that a vessel from the doomed Franklin team had been found came last month, but now archaeologists say they've determined that it's the HMS Erebus.

After spending a good six years studying in Fife, I've come to call this area of Scotland my second home. I mean, who wouldn't? Unlike the vast mountain - 11 Best Things To Do In Fife, Scotland - Travel, Travel Advice - Europe, Fife, Scotland, United Kingdom - Travel, Food and Home Inspiration Blog with door-to-door Travel Planner! - Travel Advice, Travel Inspiration, Home Inspiration, Food Inspiration, Recipes, Photography

Weather Bleached Wooden Grave Markers mark the frozen graves of four 19th Century Expedition members, buried within eroded stones and pebbles and ancient coral remnants...the day we visited this site, it was eerily still and quiet, the wind refused to utter even a murmur, no waves lapped the steep stoney beach and the stubborn featureless cloud layer refused the sun's rays. Frozen graves of three crew members of the Franklin Expedition: William Braine died April 3rd 1846 aged 32 years (HMS Erebus), John Torrington died Jan 1st 1846 aged 20 (HMS Terror) and John Hartnell died Jan 4 1846 aged 25 (HMS Erebus). Grave of Thomas Morgan (HMS Investigator) died aboard HMS North Star 1854.

Sooooo upon seeing this costume in the minisode that was released last week, I'm kind of abandoned my plans for an 11th costume and want to do this...

My week so far.

Bringing colour back to the classic Doctor Who serial The Mind of Evil