Wreck Models

[scott7685]

I think I actually have a topic that hasn't been discussed on SB already (I am sure someone will prove me wrong ).

In addition the expensive scuba hobby I am now addicted to, I also picked up another new hobby to spend time & money on.

My wife is a Shackelton and from the same bloodline as Sir Ernest Shackleton (yes, the spelling is different...thank someone on Ellis Island for that Americanization).

Anyway, I recently built the Occre model of the famous HMS Endurance. It was tedious, challenging, and right up my alley.

What I have been disappointed in is the lack of other scale models out there of famous shipwrecks in the diveable range. Sure, you can get the Titanic or Bismarck, but those are not ships anyone will be visiting with a tank on their back anytime soon. Planes are a bit easier to find...for example I have started models of the Zeroes and Betty Bombers that my son and I will encounter during our upcoming trip to Truk.

So, question is does anyone else engage in this model building hobby here? Anyone ever find kits or plans to build some of the more famous, buildable ship wrecks either military (Spiegel Grove, etc) or non-military?

 

[FF / EMT]

I think I actually have a topic that hasn't been discussed on SB already (I am sure someone will prove me wrong ).

In addition the expensive scuba hobby I am now addicted to, I also picked up another new hobby to spend time & money on.

My wife is a Shackelton and from the same bloodline as Sir Ernest Shackleton (yes, the spelling is different...thank someone on Ellis Island for that Americanization).

Anyway, I recently built the Occre model of the famous HMS Endurance. It was tedious, challenging, and right up my alley.

What I have been disappointed in is the lack of other scale models out there of famous shipwrecks in the diveable range. Sure, you can get the Titanic or Bismarck, but those are not ships anyone will be visiting with a tank on their back anytime soon. Planes are a bit easier to find...for example I have started models of the Zeroes and Betty Bombers that my son and I will encounter during our upcoming trip to Truk.

So, question is does anyone else engage in this model building hobby here? Anyone ever find kits or plans to build some of the more famous, buildable ship wrecks either military (Spiegel Grove, etc) or non-military?

There’s several people around here (all non divers) that have models of the Edmund Fitzgerald as well as other Great Lakes wrecks.

 

[onepointfivethumbs]

Do you build it "as it currently sits" or as a study model for what it looked like in its heyday?

Unfortunately the market for kits of Japanese Maru's and 80's car ferries isn't a big one, hence the focus on big boys like the Yamato, Bismarck, and Titanic.

Off the top of my head you could build a Hipper-class cruiser as either Prinz Eugen or Blucher, I'm sure there's a good USS Atlanta kit, probably a Lusitania, Nagato, Prince of Wales, any of the smattering of Type VII and Type IX U-Boats...

 

[Rick Brant]

Anyway, I recently built the Occre model of the famous HMS Endurance. It was tedious, challenging, and right up my alley.

Letʻs see it! I suspect some wrecks/models will need to be completely scratch-built. There is a FB group that does some of that.

 

[scott7685]

Do you build it "as it currently sits" or as a study model for what it looked like in its heyday?

Unfortunately the market for kits of Japanese Maru's and 80's car ferries isn't a big one, hence the focus on big boys like the Yamato, Bismarck, and Titanic.

Off the top of my head you could build a Hipper-class cruiser as either Prinz Eugen or Blucher, I'm sure there's a good USS Atlanta kit, probably a Lusitania, Nagato, Prince of Wales, any of the smattering of Type VII and Type IX U-Boats...

For the Endurance, I built it in sort of the "immediately pre stuck" stage. Ie, heavily weathered, dirty, etc. I have thought about post-wreck sort of builds which would be pretty neat as well. Overall one of the reasons I enjoyed building it, is that there was a personal connection. That's why I was thinking building diveable wrecked ships would be fun too.

The Prinz Eugen was the one ship I found that could be built that had a relatively detailed, quality kit available. There is an old plastic kit from Revell for the Oriskany, but it is small and lacking good detail and challenge....mostly just gluing preformed parts together.

I will look into see what is out there for the Atlanta and Lusitania.

(pic of Endurance build)

 

[scott7685]

Letʻs see it! I suspect some wrecks/models will need to be completely scratch-built. There is a FB group that does some of that.

Some more pics --- just finishing up the shrouds/rat lines/rigging/sails this week and she'll be done.

 

[scott7685]

Letʻs see it! I suspect some wrecks/models will need to be completely scratch-built. There is a FB group that does some of that.

Yes, I have looked at scratch build opportunities too, but even after exhaustive searches I have not found the hull line documents for any of the significant ones.

 

[scott7685]

OK - I pulled the trigger on the Prinz Eugen from Occre....I will update the thread in 5 years when I finish it ;-).

If you've dove the wreck, what was your favorite part?

 

[NothingClever]

If I were into models and diving, I’d probably buy two models to build a pristine pre-wreck version and then modify the second model to replicate the vessel in her wrecked condition. That would satisfy my desire to have a model to essentially rehearse a dive.

 

[evandroairton]

There was a guy in Brazil who started making scrap models from actual conditions on shipwrecks in Ilhabela at midle 90's, but, AFAIK he was trying to catch press and media attention to some kind of project involving some profit.
It only made to one diving magazine, and two shipwrecks (the Velásquez, and the Aymoré)
A shame that, by that time, people thought that's earning money with historical sites was wrong (as if the dive centers weren't already earning on taking divers there)