- Joined
- Nov 24, 2025
- Messages
- 2
- Points
- 3
Hello Modelers,
My name is James and I live in the valley below Lake Tahoe in Nevada. I can remember my first wooden ship kit, the Cutty Sark, given to me by my grandfather sometime around 1974 – it did not go well. Growing up in a military family, we moved every two to three years, so I stuck to plastic models, until I too joined the military. Eventually, I got out of the Army, went to college, and was commissioned into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Commissioned Corps. On my last ship assignment, around 2007, I received a Bluejacket Shipcrafter’s 1/8” scale America. Although I enjoyed the build while underway, the model did not survive the move to my final assignment.
Once I finally decided to completely retire, I decided to grab the bull by the horns and purchased DeAgostino’s Sovereign of the Seas in 2020. It was not until January 2025 that I started my build, which is still ongoing today. Additionally, I decided to post my build to YouTube, including all my mistakes – which are plentiful. Regardless, every mistake is a lesson learned and it is my hope with each successive build my skills will continue to grow.
I look forward to learning what I may from all of you and would appreciate all comments and suggestions that you wish to share.
My name is James and I live in the valley below Lake Tahoe in Nevada. I can remember my first wooden ship kit, the Cutty Sark, given to me by my grandfather sometime around 1974 – it did not go well. Growing up in a military family, we moved every two to three years, so I stuck to plastic models, until I too joined the military. Eventually, I got out of the Army, went to college, and was commissioned into the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Commissioned Corps. On my last ship assignment, around 2007, I received a Bluejacket Shipcrafter’s 1/8” scale America. Although I enjoyed the build while underway, the model did not survive the move to my final assignment.
Once I finally decided to completely retire, I decided to grab the bull by the horns and purchased DeAgostino’s Sovereign of the Seas in 2020. It was not until January 2025 that I started my build, which is still ongoing today. Additionally, I decided to post my build to YouTube, including all my mistakes – which are plentiful. Regardless, every mistake is a lesson learned and it is my hope with each successive build my skills will continue to grow.
I look forward to learning what I may from all of you and would appreciate all comments and suggestions that you wish to share.
