Category Archives: Ship Modeling

First Post of the Year???

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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

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Holiday Gift Idea: Classic America’s Cup Yachts

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Holiday Gift Idea: Classic America’s Cup Yachts

While it’s a little late for Christmas, the post from Ages of Sail about these Amati kits of classic America’s Cup racers makes a lot of sense. Easy curves to plank, or just go with a plastic hull, very light amount of rigging, nice amount of deck detailing, and you’ve got a ship model that you can be proud to display.

These kits should be a relatively quick build. And the ones with the plastic hulls in particular should be great for young modelers too.

Yacht Carola by Paul Reck

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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

Carola by Paul Reck

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

Carola by Paul Reck

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

Hobbies Unlimited in San Leandro Closing Soon

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Sad news for fans of the brick and mortar hobby shops, particularly those in the San Francisco Bay Area: Hobbies Unlimited is closing soon.

The store is located at 937 Manor Blvd, San Leandro, only about a mile or so from Ages of Sail. And, while this shop hasn’t been particularly significant to the ship modeling community, it does carry lots of paints and tools, and it’s still sad to it go. But, the owner has apparently been at this for a long time and wants to retire. Sadly, nobody seems to have shown an interest in buying the business. There was no exact date given as to when the store will close, but it was reported the first part of this year.

For more information, here’s a link to the store’s website, including contact information: Hobbies Unlimited. Ω

 

Artesania Latina’s Newly Released HMS Victory Cross Section Kit

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HMS Victory Cross Section Kit – New in Stock

Artesania Latina has been producing some very interesting kits lately and revising old ones. This HMS Victory Cross Section kit is a brand new 1/72-scale kit that looks very tempting. While the cross section is at the mainmast, it only shows a mast stub, so it isn’t nearly as lofty as Corel’s smaller scale kit that most of us are familiar with (member Tom Shea built the Corel kit, as some may recall). The larger scale matches that of Caldercraft’s excellent HMS Victory kit, making this look like a nice companion piece.

This also would make a nice stand-alone model. The internal details of the model appear quite nice. Figures are included, along with 8 cannons, and all the various construction details. A good book on HMS Victory would make for a nice gift set for anyone who likes to build models (hint, hint!).

The kit lists for about $230, and I hope to soon see this model built by one of our local ship modelers. If anyone does take on this kit, please send along your photos and we’ll post them on our site. Ω

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

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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