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Ship scratch built by US serviceman during World War II

  • Thread starter Thread starter Epp
  • Start date Start date
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E

Epp

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Aug 18, 2026
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Hello all I joined this group last week and posted a thread "New guy and lost plans" you all have been very welcoming and supportive- Thank you. I though you might enjoy seeing this model. As the thread title states it was made by a Navy serviceman during WWII - The story as told to us was it was built by Joseph Reznak, he was based in Alaska and worked in the tin shop for the Navy. He named her the Pacific because he would have rather been based in Hawaii! We purchased it from his nephew. Amazing that it has suvived some 80 odd years. Somewhere along the way the screw got lost, in reading other threads I am finding out there are suppliers of such think, I will try to find something approiate as I gain experience. Incidentally the display case is one for a football, a very reasonable alternative to some other options.
Regards,
epp

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Nice! An important aspect of a model like this is the provenance. Do what you can to investigate the story of the model and write it down and support it with whatever evidence you can, for example, a letter from Mr. Reznak's nephew. As for the screw, I would not be in a rush to replace it. Any commercial propellor is likely to be inaccurate. The materials and construction techniques used for the model suggest that the missing screw was probably made of sheet metal. If you were to find an old photo showing the screw or someone's recollection of its appearance, it might be acceptable to attempt to recreate it. Otherwise, do no harm. Remember that the curators at the Louvre have not fabricated new arms for the Venus de Milo.
Fair winds!
 
Collecting art made by servicemen during war is a hobby all by itself. I believe that it’s called “trench art.” As you know from work done by modelers here on SOS this is not a realistic model of a ship. Its value is, therefore, dependent on the fact that it was made by someone in the service during WWII. I agree with Andy. Don’t try to restore it and document its provenance.

Roger
 
Excellent advice Andy A - We do have the history written down and with the model (in the case) I considered fabricating something for the screw as well, probably a better way to go, if anything at all. I haven't straightened out the mast for similar reasons. I thought it was interesting that he choose a non military vessel for his whimsy
epp
 
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