As a teenager I was awed by the story of the USS Houston and her final battle, in company with the HMAS Perth, in Sunda Strait the night of February 28-March 1, 1942. The story inspired me to make a model of her. This is the result.
This model kit was purchased at Prince Georges Plaza, Hyattsville Maryland, in 1971 or 72, and initial work was started on the hull. Soon after, work was suspended for grad school and, after that, marriage. The partly finished hull and box of remaining parts sat on the shelf for 40+ years until retirement allowed work on it to resume. The kit was finally finished in 2017. Which leads to an interesting philosophical question: How old is this model? 4 years (2017-2021)? Or 50 years (1971-2021)? You decide.
Either way, the 40+ year delay resulted in a much better model, with features like cloth sails, custom ratlines, and a custom display case with simulated water -- which would never have been the case (pun) had it been completed early on. Conclusion: a better job will result if you take 40 years to build your kit.
