Ryland,
Thanks so much for the welcome. I was actually a member of that esteemed club in the early 2000s when I was still actively modeling (I still daily use its 75-year commemorative mug for my morning coffee). It is, indeed, a wonderful and very active organization. As for the Rogers collection, I am very familiar with its incredible contents. I am an Academy grad (class of 76) and back in my day, before the collection was consolidated in the museum, models were scattered throughout the Yard--many in Mahan Hall, where the old library was. I spent may hours just gazing at the intricacies and details of those amazing pieces--particularly the admiralty models. Little did I know that modern arthroscopic pictures would show that detail continued between decks, in areas of the models that would never be seen. That still just astounds me!
Jeff