Thank you for this wonderful website and support network. I am sure it is a labor of love, but labor none-the-less. My name is Charlie, and here is my story:
I retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2006 after 26 years. I completed 18 years as a Chief Bosun on the cutters as well as search and rescue stations. In 1998, I was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer and moved into ship inspections. After retiring, I was a surveyor for Det Norske Veritas (DNV) for three years before taking a position with a small cruise line. I resigned from there in 2015 to start my own company, Reliable Maritime Solutions (RMS). My business partner and I have been very lucky to work all over the world in shipyards, on old ships, and on some of the largest and newest ships. It has been a great ride, and I am very thankful.
As for modeling. I built my first in the early 1980's while stationed in Newport, RI. It is also where I fell in love with the tall ships and sailing ships in general. The first was the Revell Monogram 1:96 Scale USS Constitution Model Kit. Even though it was plastic, I rigged it full sails, including stun'sls. (studding sails). It turned out well, and I was very young and proud. I presented it to my parents, but a few years later, my mother left the window open, and the model went sailing across the room on a strong breeze! Off the map, as they say.
Next was the USS United States in the 1990s, and again I rigged it full sail. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures. Then, in about 2016, I once again completed the USS Constitution but never got a chance to rig the sails before it got destroyed in the move to my current location. Here is a link to the pics: 2016 USS Constitution.
Now that the traveling is slowing down a bit, I have decided to try my hand at proper wood modeling. I chose the HMS Beagle from OcCre as my first project. A few weeks after I received the kit, I was hired to survey a ship. In the very place where Charles Darwin sailed in the HMS Beagle, the Galapagos Islands. Turns out the Captain of the ship was also a modeler. So, I am well-connected to this project. I am also taking the time to set up my hobby room for the future. Here are the pics of the HMS Beagle in progress. I have had my struggles for sure, but this one is for learning.
Thanks again, and I look forward to meeting and learning from some of you.
Charlie
I retired from the U.S. Coast Guard in 2006 after 26 years. I completed 18 years as a Chief Bosun on the cutters as well as search and rescue stations. In 1998, I was commissioned as a Chief Warrant Officer and moved into ship inspections. After retiring, I was a surveyor for Det Norske Veritas (DNV) for three years before taking a position with a small cruise line. I resigned from there in 2015 to start my own company, Reliable Maritime Solutions (RMS). My business partner and I have been very lucky to work all over the world in shipyards, on old ships, and on some of the largest and newest ships. It has been a great ride, and I am very thankful.
As for modeling. I built my first in the early 1980's while stationed in Newport, RI. It is also where I fell in love with the tall ships and sailing ships in general. The first was the Revell Monogram 1:96 Scale USS Constitution Model Kit. Even though it was plastic, I rigged it full sails, including stun'sls. (studding sails). It turned out well, and I was very young and proud. I presented it to my parents, but a few years later, my mother left the window open, and the model went sailing across the room on a strong breeze! Off the map, as they say.
Next was the USS United States in the 1990s, and again I rigged it full sail. Unfortunately, I didn't take pictures. Then, in about 2016, I once again completed the USS Constitution but never got a chance to rig the sails before it got destroyed in the move to my current location. Here is a link to the pics: 2016 USS Constitution.
Now that the traveling is slowing down a bit, I have decided to try my hand at proper wood modeling. I chose the HMS Beagle from OcCre as my first project. A few weeks after I received the kit, I was hired to survey a ship. In the very place where Charles Darwin sailed in the HMS Beagle, the Galapagos Islands. Turns out the Captain of the ship was also a modeler. So, I am well-connected to this project. I am also taking the time to set up my hobby room for the future. Here are the pics of the HMS Beagle in progress. I have had my struggles for sure, but this one is for learning.
Thanks again, and I look forward to meeting and learning from some of you.
Charlie
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