Scott statue repair process tested

Modern, hi-tech materials and techniques are being used to repair the historic statue of Captain Robert Falcon Scott.

Sculptor Mark Whyte drills some test holes in a slab of marble.

The February 22, 2011, earthquake shook Scott from his Oxford Terrace plinth, snapping the Antarctic explorer’s legs at the ankles.

Christchurch City Council’s Head of Parks, Andrew Rutledge, says the “tricky” repair project is now at a critical and exciting stage.

A mock-up has been made of Scott’s right leg so that the repair technique and materials can be thoroughly tested.

Sculptor Mark Whyte first made a plaster mould of the leg, replicated the break, and used that to guide him as he carved a copy in Carrara marble, the same type of marble Scott’s wife, Kathleen, used to carve the statue 100 years ago.

The replica is now ready for the rigorous testing process to begin.

After the delicate task of drilling holes into the replica leg is complete, carbon fibre strengthening rods will be inserted. The two parts of the broken replica marble leg, with the rods running into both, will be joined and further secured with epoxy resin.

The repaired marble replica leg will be left to set for a few days before seismic testing of the repair begins.

Mr Rutledge says the results of the testing will determine whether any engineering changes are needed before work begins on repairing the actual statue.

“This is a technically difficult repair project, mainly because of the nature of the break and because the damage is at the statue’s weakest point, the ankles,’’ Mr Rutledge says.

“Mark Whyte has done a great job creating a replica for us to test. We’re at a critical stage now, but we’re confident in the process.

“We’re all keen to move to the next stage of repairing the statue itself and we look forward to getting Captain Scott back on his plinth, hopefully by September.”