I grew up reading Hornblower novels (now Patrick O’Brian novels) and dreamt of the sea, but I was really mesmerized by the beauty of sailing ships and inspired by the high honor displayed by the British naval officer corps in the 18th Century. I assembled the Revell plastic model of the USS Constitution while in high school.
I had intended to join the Navy after high school until my older Squid stepbrother (then a PO2) convinced me that since I was the wooden-ships-and-iron-man type, I’d not be happy with the Navy with all the changes that were being made then (in 1970), and he recommended the Marine Corps. After reading the book Soldiers of the Sea about the Marine Corps by a Colonel and graduate of the Naval Academy, and I was hooked on the Marine Corps (wanting Sea Duty, of course). I retired from the USMC after 30 years and always proud of its naval traditions.
Like many over the years who started model shipbuilding but got busy by other things (family, work, genealogy, Triumph motorcycles, etc.), I’m in that category. Now permanently retired, I have no excuse other than the focus necessary to complete long-term projects (since I’m an Enneagram 7). I’m, therefore, interested in tracking progress systematically.
Currently, I’m selectively buying tools, getting my bench setup, and familiarizing myself with the how-to recommended books from this site and books pertaining to the histories and types of the models I intend to build near-term. I’d bought the Model Shipways kit Sultana in the ‘90s, but sadly had to admit that I lacked the necessary woodworking skills before I damaged the Sultana further. Plus, mentally, I need to develop confidence to fix whatever I have mess up. So, I have chosen to start off with the Model Shipways kit Katy of Norfolk, then turn to on the Sultana, before POF, and eventually scratch built.
By the way: I was gladdened to see ship model builders all over the world on the site.
