I am one of the few female model boat/ship builders, but then my dad built Monehgan skiffs for the local campsite, and "Dynamite" Harold Payson known for the Payson dory lived only a few doors down. As well, I grew up 32 ft from the high water mark and loved the little lobster fishing village where I grew up. I loved the local schooners and other boats that sailed by our house in the Mussel Ridge channel--e.g the Victory Chimes, Angelique, etc.. Spent many hours sailing with Capt. Rick on the Timberwind in my 40s, including filling in as a deckhand when he was short-handed, age 45 as just a number--LOL!
I do other handwork--i.e. sewing, quilting, needlework e.g. crewel, X-stich, embroidery etc to avoid RX for RA (blessed) then donate the finished projects to hospice patients and others, to bless another. As a kid I built many of the military airplane kits by Revell. After visiting the USS Constitution in 1996, I vowed before I died I was going to build Revell's USS Constitution. It was the first model I started in August 2022; then I met Nic at BlueJacket after a "clunky" start planking the $10 Chinese dragger, and seeing his model of the USS Constitution, I was able to see how the side pieces took parts at an angle to grasp the rigging lines. But, after wooden models including BlueJacket's skiff, the USS Constitution got sidelined as was hooked on the wooden boat/ship kits, and there seemed to be some errors in Revell's instruction sheet, as well as lousy pics for rigging.
After 9 mos of working on inexpensive, pre-owned name-branded model boat kits, to learn how to correct problems, I progressed to more BlueJacket, Midwest, and Model Shipways' models. When I went back to the Revell's USS Constitution, I had found other Revell Instructions for different years of the USS Constitution that I was able to combine with the set of instructions that came with my year's model for the rigging, and some books on rigging, I went back to it and completed in May 2023!
In 2023 I really got involved with Mid-West, Model Shipways, and found several BlueJacket kits for decent prices on Ebay. I have 2 work tables for model building. Can keep paint parts drying on one (upstairs) and the other actively available to work downstairs.
In 2023 I completed a variety of simple Woodcraft series to keep fingers moving, while working on the more quality kits--Midwest, Model Shipways, BlueJacket, Constructo--etc and veered once in a while to do the 3D wooden puzzle model kits--UGEAR vehicles and others. Could keep "instant gratification" projects going, like the 3D puzzle models, Woodcraters, etc. while working on the other bench to build the nicer boat/ship kits!
Besides growing up and loving the ocean and its boats/ships, I also really like the old classic cars! And, I also really like heavy construction equipment--i.e. backhoes, bull dozers, loaders, timber cranes, dump trucks, etc and have completed several of the 3D wooden puzzle models of those. I would have loved to have driven one of dad's dump trucks when he worked construction, but couldn't pass the physical for class B or Class C back then!
When I could pass for the CDL, at age 47, I drove 18-wheels long-haul--another story. . .
Be Blessed,
Chaplain JJ