Tom in NC Posted November 16, 2018 Share #1 Posted November 16, 2018 Hi all. I'm a new guy here. I was getting pretty good at wooden ship models back in my late 20s and early 30s, but the demands of my career intervened and I had to give it up for lack of spare time. I'll bet there are a number of you out there with a similar profile. In my mid-40s my new wife presented me with a fine Bluejacket model of The Portland paddle wheel steamer. I loved the model, but if anything I was even busier then so I tucked the thing away for some future opportunity. I retired in 1998 and after a move to a warmer location (NC vs MI) I somehow got sidetracked into woodworking in 2003 (a completely new field for me) and over the next 15 years got pretty good at designing and building custom furniture. I didn't get rich, but had a lot of fun and paid for some very nice power tools several times over. Early last year (2017), at the age of 74, I decided I'd had enough of furniture making. Material costs were through the roof, and so were machine prices and upkeep costs. I just let the shop languish. One day in March of this year I made some rudimentary efforts to clean it up (it's depressing how much sawdust can collect in every nook and cranny in15 years) and while doing that I ran across a dusty old box on a high shelf and -- SHAZAM -- The Portland came back into my life. It was begging me to try modeling again, and summoning up some of my long-forgotten skills from earlier days I managed to finish the thing after 6 months. It looks pretty nice, but a really good ship builder would probably laugh at my efforts. I can do much better. and I will. I was lucky enough to find a guy who wanted to buy a complete woodworking shop, and now half of my garage is referred to as "The Shipyard". On September 1st I began work on the Mantua Sergal model of the Cutty Sark, and am firmly hooked on the hobby once again. I plan to start posting build progress reports in the forum area soon. My main interests are clipper ships and whaling ships. Several of my old New England forefathers captained whaling ships. I really enjoy reading through the posts from others, even the really old ones. I'll enjoy hearing from you and sharing your stories for however many years I've been allocated. JeffT, Haliburton, russ and 10 others 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff Posted November 16, 2018 Share #2 Posted November 16, 2018 Welcome to MSW Tom fantastic pictures! All the best, Geoff mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEDDO Posted November 16, 2018 Share #3 Posted November 16, 2018 Welcome! Nice model! I like the walking beam engine vessels. mtaylor and geoff 2 Quote Michael Shipwrights of Ohio Current Build: ... Completed Builds: Queen Anne Barge - Syren, Pinnace - MS, Halifax 1768 - LSS, Murrelet - Pygmy, Swift 1805 - AL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontiachedmark Posted November 16, 2018 Share #4 Posted November 16, 2018 Gidday from the Land Downunder Tom. Good looking paddle wheeler. You will find plenty of support and encouragement here. All the best with your build. Mark. geoff, mtaylor and BETAQDAVE 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael mott Posted November 16, 2018 Share #5 Posted November 16, 2018 Welcome back to the world of modelbuilding Tom, I look forward to seeing your future models. Michael geoff and mtaylor 2 Quote Current builds Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8; Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8; Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8 Other projects Pilot Cutter 1:500 ; Maria, 1:2 Now just a memory Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8 Finished projects A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100 Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beeman911 Posted November 16, 2018 Share #6 Posted November 16, 2018 Hi Tom, nice looking models! I too am winding down from a Carpentry/Remodeling career. The reason for my joining this site years ago was a solid hulled ship model given to me by my Great Aunt 35 years ago. I don’t know for sure but I am convinced it was built by the last or second to last of 4 generations of my lineal Mariner ancestors in the mid to late 1800’s. I have repaired and painted it, it now awaits rigging. Tom, I also descend from Mainers and Masters from Martha’s Vineyard, then New Bedford, Ma, that ( probably ) sailed primarily on clipper ships. Two died in their twenties, one of whom was lost at sea in 1790. Wouldn’t it be something if we had some ancestors, towns, or ships in common?? Dean Hillman. mtaylor, pontiachedmark and geoff 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spars Posted November 16, 2018 Share #7 Posted November 16, 2018 Welcome. This is a beautiful, eye catching model. Enough to inspire a modeler. mtaylor and geoff 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted November 16, 2018 Share #8 Posted November 16, 2018 geoff 1 Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffT Posted November 16, 2018 Share #9 Posted November 16, 2018 Hi Tom. Welcome to MSW geoff 1 Quote Jeff In progress: Medway Longboat 1742 - Syren Ship Model Company -1/2" scale USS Constitution - Model Shipways - Scale 1:76 HMS Granado - CAF Model - 1:48 HMS Sphinx - Vanguard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaager Posted November 17, 2018 Share #10 Posted November 17, 2018 Hey Tar Heel, Where in NC are you? If you venture into scratch building, you may wish you had kept some of your tools. Bad Duke! Bad, bad Duke! 34 points! Bad Duke! mtaylor and geoff 2 Quote NRG member 50 years Current: NMS HMS Ajax 1767 - 74-gun 3rd rate - 1:192 POF exploration - works but too intense -no margin for error HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - POF Navall Timber framing HMS Beagle 1831 refiit 10-gun brig with a small mizzen - POF Navall (ish) Timber framing The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842 Flying Fish 1838 pilot schooner - POF framed - ready for stern timbers Porpose II 1836 brigantine/brig - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Vincennes 1825 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers assembled, need shaping Peacock 1828 Sloop-of -War - POF timbers ready for assembly Sea Gull 1838 pilot schooner - POF timbers ready for assembly Relief 1835 packet hull USN ship - POF timbers ready for assembly Other Portsmouth 1843 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers ready for assembly Le Commerce de Marseilles 1788 118 cannons - POF framed La Renommee 1744 Frigate - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richvee Posted November 17, 2018 Share #11 Posted November 17, 2018 Welcome Tom. My story is similar though I’ve managed to find time to get back in the hobby before retirement. Started to find some time after the kids were grown. Took almost 30 years off from the hobby. Once my son moved out, I started cleaning the workbench area that he had taken over for making snow and skateboards and found the whaling brig Kate Cory that I had started some 25 years ago. Dusted it off and got restarted in the hobby and here we are 2 years later! Looking forward to seeing your Cuddy Sark take shape. geoff 1 Quote Rich Member - Ship Model Society of New Jersey Current Build: Pride of Baltimore 2 Finished: Kate Cory Finished for now (Not rigged): Medway Longboat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Matson Posted November 17, 2018 Share #12 Posted November 17, 2018 Welcome to MSW. Look forward to having you around. geoff 1 Quote Geoff NRG member #2666Current build : USS Constitution Finished builds: Armed Virginia Sloop (in gallery) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom in NC Posted November 17, 2018 Author Share #13 Posted November 17, 2018 Thanks to all for your warm welcome to the "community". A couple of responses and some added information... - I live in Weaverville, NC, just north of Asheville - One of you asked if we had any relatives in common who were involved in whaling or sailing out of New England and I know of at least 4 Hoxies (my last name) who were whaling ship captains. The Hoxie House in Mystic Seaport was a very popular hotel (since renamed) and the phone book there was full of Hoxies. The oldest house on Cape Cod is also called the Hoxie House and is now a museum in Sandwich. - One of the primary reasons for my visiting Mystic Seaport several years ago was to see the Charles W. Morgan, one of the last if not the last sail-powered whaling ships. I built a model of it back in my 30s. Now it's rumored that Bluejacket is planning a new high-end model of that and it's going to be #1 on my shopping list if & when it becomes available. I'll do a much better job on it this time around. - And of lesser note, there was a clipper ship named the Harriet Hoxie. Google it. - One of you was also a woodworker and warned me that if I ever graduated to scratch-built ships I'd miss the tools I sold. I hope I get good enough to get that far in the hobby, and I can always buy newer tools. - Lastly, the pictures I attached of The Portland paddle-wheel steamer show it displayed on one of the many tables I built during my furniture making years. See y'all later when I start posting photos and details of my current Cutty Sark build. Tom in NC Tom Hoxie pontiachedmark and geoff 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaager Posted November 17, 2018 Share #14 Posted November 17, 2018 I think Linville Falls should be sorta near to you, when I visited years ago was an exquisite jewel. The panorama of the Pisgah National Forest, that Michael Mann did - so spectacular when edited to remove post 1500 "improvements". You live in a special place. geoff 1 Quote NRG member 50 years Current: NMS HMS Ajax 1767 - 74-gun 3rd rate - 1:192 POF exploration - works but too intense -no margin for error HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - POF Navall Timber framing HMS Beagle 1831 refiit 10-gun brig with a small mizzen - POF Navall (ish) Timber framing The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842 Flying Fish 1838 pilot schooner - POF framed - ready for stern timbers Porpose II 1836 brigantine/brig - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Vincennes 1825 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers assembled, need shaping Peacock 1828 Sloop-of -War - POF timbers ready for assembly Sea Gull 1838 pilot schooner - POF timbers ready for assembly Relief 1835 packet hull USN ship - POF timbers ready for assembly Other Portsmouth 1843 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers ready for assembly Le Commerce de Marseilles 1788 118 cannons - POF framed La Renommee 1744 Frigate - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Griffith Posted November 17, 2018 Share #15 Posted November 17, 2018 Welcome back Tom! And your Portland is beautiful.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thistle17 Posted November 17, 2018 Share #16 Posted November 17, 2018 Tom I seem to be on the same trajectory as you regarding transitioning from full scale woodworking to model ship building although I cannot bring myself to let go of the shop tools just yet. Nonetheless, ship modeling is such a pleasant way to while away the hours. The 'rub' is your 'mind's eye always seems to raise the bar on the quality of the work product. So it is a never ending pursuit especially around this august body! Welcome to the group. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted November 17, 2018 Share #17 Posted November 17, 2018 Welcome back Quote Its all part of Kev's journey, bit like going to the dark side, but with the lights on All the best Kevin SAY NO TO PIRACY. SUPPORT ORIGINAL IDEAS AND MANUFACTURERS. KEEP IT REAL! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ On the build table HMS Indefatigable 1794 by Kevin - Vanguard Models - 1:64 - Feb 2023 Belle Poule 1834 by Kevin - OcCre - 1/90 - French frigate - started June 2024 - - On hold MHS Britannic by Kevin SD 14 - Marcle Models - 1/70 - March 2022 - Bluebell - Flower Class - Revel - 1/72 U552 German U Boat - Trumpeter - 1/48 Amerigo Vespucci 1/84 - Panart- HMS Enterprise -CAF - 1/48 Finished Hercules by Kevin - OcCre - 1/50 - Tugboat - Finished - May 2024 Nectan-Mountfleet-models-steam-trawler-1/32 - Completed June 2020 HMS Victory - Caldercraft/Jotika - 1/72 - Finished Dorade renamed Dora by Kevin - Amati - 1/20 - Completed March 2021 Stage Coach 1848 - Artesania Latina - 1/10 -Finished Lady Eleanor by Kevin - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1/64 - Fifie fishing boat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhearl Posted November 17, 2018 Share #18 Posted November 17, 2018 10 hours ago, Tom in NC said: Now it's rumored that Bluejacket is planning a new high-end model of that and it's going to be #1 on my shopping list if & when it becomes available. I'll do a much better job on it this time around. Al, at Bluejacket, is working on a large-scale cross-section of Morgan. See this newsletter from them - http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1105166336677&ca=ea8525a8-1642-40ab-b1c0-a0c1d55c3998 Cheers - John Quote http://modelboatyard.com Recently Completed: Chesapeake Bay Buyboat - F.D. Crockett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beeman911 Posted November 17, 2018 Share #19 Posted November 17, 2018 Tom, interesting about the new model of the Charles W. Morgan, the original of which was built in the Hillman Shipyard in New Bedford, Ma, by Zachariah and Jethro Hillman, distant cousins of mine, so I too am interested in that new model! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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