An Update of the USS Bagley Paper Model by Member Clare Hess

Posted on October 28, 2026 by catopower

Nearly a year in the works, here is the latest on HSPMS member Clare Hess’ paper model of the US Navy’s “Treaty Era” destroyer USS Bagley, which fought in WWII from day one, having been one of the eight Bagley-class destroyers moored at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The ship went into action, providing anti-aircraft fire against attacking Japanese planes. USS Bagley survived WWII, earning 12 Battle Stars for her actions in the South Pacific.

Building Avangard’s USS Bagley paper model kit – Part 24

First Post of the Year???

Posted on May 17, 2026 by catopower

It’s been a long time since we’ve posted anything new on our website. The group is still spread out and not so active as a group, but there’s a possibility that some of us may try to reform some kind of activity in one of the facilities of the Maritime National Park in SF, so stay tuned for more info.

Word has it that member and club Commodore Paul Reck, has recently finished a rigging repair of the clipper ship Flying Cloud and it has been returned to a very happy customer.

In the meantime, member Clare Hess, as posted another update on his paper model build of the US Navy destroyer USS Bagley, DD-386, built in 1937 and served in WWII from day one to the end of the war.

Building Avangard’s USS Bagley paper model kit – Part 11

Happy New Year 2025! – a New Years Update

Posted on January 8, 2025 by hspms

Recently, three members of the old Hyde Street Pier Model Shipwrights group, Paul Reck, Tom Shea, and Clare Hess, met up for lunch at the Buena Vista Cafe just up the block from the Hyde Street Pier. It wasn’t a club-related gathering, just a social one. But, one thing that was brought up was the idea of having a ship model meeting again. It is, after all, a good way to create incentive to build and learn.

While our own SF based ship model club no longer has access to our old model shop aboard the ferryboat Eureka, which is still sitting at the pier, years after we got moved off, there is he possibility of having a gathering at the SF Maritime Research Center in Lower Fort Mason’s ‘E’ building. We’re now looking at that possibility.

Photo of the J. Porter Shaw Library from the NPS website.

If this happens, it will most likely take place during a weekday, most likely on a Monday. If anyone would be interested in attending, message us, or reply to this post.

Plastic Model Projects

Posted on November 1, 2024 by hspms

Being a ship modeler, we often spend lots of time on our wood projects, but occasionally, building a plastic model can be a relatively quick and fun way to build something different. HSPMS member Paul Reck shared photos of his most recently completed project, a small plastic model of the whale ship Charles W. Morgan.

Paul bought the kit on Ebay. It was produced long ago by the old plastic model company “Pyro”. Paul likes to build these Pyro kits and he built a bomb ketch that he brought to a model club meeting many years back.

Paul likes to throw out the kit’s plastic shrouds and to add his own rigging. This time around, he also decided to try his hand at making a water diorama out of it, which looks to have turned out very nicely!

Paul also sent along a photo of a much larger project he completed recently. This one was a big 1/200 scale Trumpeter kit of the U.S.S. Arizona.

Paul noted how much fun he had building the Arizona kit with its myriad of parts and photo-etched brass. He passed along the completed model, so we are hoping it now has a nice home!

Finally, ship modeler Clare Hess had some of his own fun building a plastic model of a Guppy Ib submarine SS Leonardo Davinci. The sub is the ex-Gato class submarine U.S.S. Dace, which was upgraded after WWII to the Guppy Ib standard, and then sold to the Italian Navy.

This 1/350 scale model was built from a kit from AFV Club and has some very nice detail.

Undoubtedly, there will be more plastic ship models to come… Ω

Yacht Carola by Paul Reck

Posted on January 17, 2024 by catopower

Last year, HSPMS member Paul Reck was asked to build a 4-foot long model of the yacht Carola. The Carola was a steam yacht, originally called the Reveler, built in 1928 by the Krupp Germaniawerft shipyard in Kiel, Germany. She was built for Russel Algier, chairman of the Packard Motor Car Company, and changed hands over the years.

Carola by Paul Reck

Paul’s model comes in at 1/56 scale. The odd scale is due to the requirement by the model’s owner for a model 4′ long. The model is a waterline model that Paul built from photographs of the ship.

Carola by Paul Reck

The model was commissioned by a man whose great uncle bought the yacht in 1938 and renamed it for his wife Carola. The model is complete and has been delivered to its new home.

Carola by Paul Reck

The ship has a long and interesting career and was acquired by the U.S. Navy in January of 1942, renamed the U.S.S. Beaumont, PG60. She was armed with a pair of 3″ guns and a pair of 40mm gun mounts. The ship served as a gunboat until 1947 when was returned to her life as a yacht for Norman Woolworth of the F.W. Woolworth Company.

Today, the ship is called the Talitha, and has been owned by Sir Mark Ghetty since 2008. Ω

Foundation Franklin Repair

Posted on June 27, 2023 by hspms

While the Hyde Street Pier Model Shipwrights group may not be meeting these days, Paul Reck shows that members are still active. His latest work is the repair of a very nice looking model of the tugboat Foundation Franklin. Below is a photo of the model that was apparently damaged by the bane of all ship models: the cleaning lady…

The Foundation Franklin, according to this Wikipedia entry, was a salvage tug, built in 1918 for the British Royal Navy and originally named HMS Frisky. Operating for Foundation Maritime after 1930 as the SS Foundation Franklin. The ship survived World War II only to be badly damaged in a hurricane in 1948, which led to her being broken up in 1949.

However, as far as the model is concerned, the simulated hurricane damage was not beyond the ability of ship modeler Paul Recks repair work…

She is now happily back in the hands of her owners. Hopefully, they’ll consider putting her in a nice, acrylic case to keep her from further damage! Ω

Shackleton’s Antarctic Exploration Ship Endurance by Paul Reck – Completed Model

Posted on January 3, 2023 by hspms

Just about two months ago, we posted an article about HSPMS member Paul Reck’s work on a model of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic exploration ship Endurance, based on kit produced by the Spanish ship model kit maker OcCre.

Paul is building this on commission. And, while he wasn’t in any hurry to get it done, he’s already wrapped up this project in record time.

Paul chose not to build the model with sails, leaving the model with a classic “bare poled” look. He also made some small modifications to the model, based on photos he found on the Internet of the actual ship.

As Paul noted early on, this is a big model. We’re not sure where the final home is for this model, but we’re guessing that Paul’s next project is crating the model up to ship across the country.

Only time will tell what Paul’s next ship model project will be. He had good things to say about the OcCre kit, so perhaps he’ll build another one soon. But, being primarily a scratch modeler, he’ll probably be working another 1/2″ scale yacht model commission. Check back here for an update on his model work. Ω