Ship modeler and commodore of the Hyde Street Pier Model Shipwrights, Paul Reck, has been a busy bee with his ship modeling projects. But, that’s nothing unusual for him. Paul recently put the finishing touches on a 1/4″ scale model of a U.S. Navy Anchor Hoy from the early 1800s. His model is based on a drawing and notes found in the book American Ship Models and How to Build Them.
Paul Reck explaining the details of the Anchor Hoy at the April meeting.
HSPMS member Paul Reck shares some photos showing his progress on his 1776 Lake Champlain gunboat Philadelphia, which he is building from scratch in 1/24 scale, based on plans purchased from the Smithsonian.
Paul Reck showing his progress on the gunboat Philadelphia at the October meeting. Member Dan Canada at left.
The original boat was built on Lake Champlain as part of a small fleet of boats by Benedict Arnold in 1776. The project was a race to hold off British plans to move into the Hudson River valley. The boat was lost in the Battle of Valcour Island later in the year, but the loss of this and the other boats of the fleet was a strategic victory for the Americans, as it held off British plans until the end of the campaign year, when it became too late for the British to carry them out for another year.
Member Clare Hess posts his latest update on building (and modifying) Amati’s Swedish Gunboat kit. This is a small, inexpensive kit that is short on instructions. Not ideal for beginners, but a nice kit for experienced ship modelers looking for a simple project.
Following our meeting in October, it was clear it was time to finish up the Swedish Gunboat build. We’re down to three active builders of this model from the five that started, which isn’t too bad. One of our builders decided to finish his up as a gift for someone, and the other is a beginning ship modeler who is anxious to get to his next project. I’m also ready to have a project actually reach completion.
Rigging and Sails
I shaped the masts and the two lugsail yards some time back. I originally added a ball to the tops of the masts as shown on the kit plans, but replaced them with a thinner pole after looking at the photos of the museum model. The presence of the pole creates a shoulder at the top of the mast, that helps secure the shrouds and stays. While modifying the masts…
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Royal Danish Arsenal Museum in Copenhagen now also houses the Royal Danish Maritime Museum. The Sea Power maritime exhibit is on the 2nd floor of the building. In addition to hundreds of models, there are uniforms, weapons and other artifacts.
I included a few photos of maritime interest, including boats on the canals, a tall ship and the Naval Chapel with a large ship model hanging in the middle.
[Editor’s Note: These photos were published by Jerry Bellows, a long time member of the Hyde Street Pier Model Shipwrights. He and his wife Fran are active volunteers at Hyde Street Pier and you might catch them on the pier in 1901 period costume on the second Saturdays from March through December.]
Member Clare Hess shares the latest update on the building of a Swedish Gunboat from a kit by Amati Model of Italy.
Well, I did not end up finish this model for the IPMS show in San Jose in March. I decided to set it aside to let others in our build group catch-up, though I know that two of the members are at least as far along as I am. Anyway, I had work to do to for my display of Japanese boats, which ran from March 1st through the 31st.
Then, last weekend, we had a ship modelers’ get-together again at the Vallejo Naval and Historical Museum. It’s been the usual 3 months since our last gathering and it was good to see the fellow ship modelers and their projects again.
Only one other member of the Swedish Gunboat Project group brought his model, but he’s new to ship modeling and pressing ahead. I originally thought I would just wait for the other two members, who have been too tied…
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If you take a look in the Model Gallery, you will notice a number of additions. Check out the Dragoon and the Dorade, both by Paul Reck. But, there are a lot of other interesting models by the membership to inspire you.
All the images shown are of models built (or restored) by club members. I’m now working to get more photo contributions from the Hyde Street Pier Model Shipwrights membership.
All photos are from currently active members. Come join us and provide photos of your completed model and we’ll post them!
On Thursday, March 2nd, members of the Hyde Street Pier Model Shipwrights got an opportunity to tour the facility where all the big stuff belonging to the San Francisco Maritime National Park are stored. The trip was set up and organized by Paul Reck and R. Karnell of the Park Service, who gave the tour.
This was a rare and unique opportunity to see what’s stored away in the enormous San Leandro warehouse. Some of it was there in preparation for use at Hyde Street Pier, like the C.A. Thayer’s and Balclutha’s spars. Other items were there waiting for restoration. Other’s still were just being stored there to protect them from deterioration, in the hopes that they will be displayed or worked on at some time in the future.
Hyde Street Pier Model Shipwrights 