Just came onboard (3/22/07). Have been monitoring the forum for the past month and have gotten some very inspiring and valuable information. Particularly interested in all informaton pertaining to my current project: C.W. Morgan.

Hi Pat. Welcome Aboard!
Browse around the Forum, and if you have any questions or need any help, just post it here in the Scuttlebutt (http://shipmodeling.net/vb_forum/forum5.html)
John

Hi Pat,

Welcome to SMF. You're lucky with the CW Morgan that you still have the vessel in existance. Are you building the Model Shipways kit?

Jim

Hi Jim. Thanks for the welcome.

Yes, the kit I am attempting to build is by Model Shipways. It's quite a daunting project, especially after viewing Gerald's photos. I have just started with the Center Keel and have already run into unanticipated difficulties with alignment. Some trimming had to be done to achieve proper alignment and conformity with the plans measurements.

I was taken with the Morgan at a very early age through readings and a serious interest in sailing vessels. I have visited the actual ship in Mystic on numerous occasions. During those visits I was privileged to observe the crew engaged in various drills including: anchor deployment and retrieval, Sail setting and furling, whale boat launch and retrieval. One of the most memorable visits was my very first, at which time the Morgan was hauled out for the replacement and fitting of a new keel shoe. Interestingly, this item is missing from every sailing ship kit I have seen.

I read that one of the members is building the model to look as a weathered, working ship. This is a very interesting way of depicting the Morgan, and would require, I think, a detailed photo session aboard the vessel in Mystic. At any rate I believe that I will be occupied with the building of this model for quite a long time.

As an interesting sidenote, during one of my visits I came upon an old fellow who was giving a caulking demonstration. He had a large model of a hull section and proceeded to demonstrate how to caulk hull planking in the traditional manner. After the demo I engaged the fellow in conversation during which he pointed to a old worn photo on the wall behind him. Turns out it was a photo of the Morgan being caulked by a three man crew consisting of himself, his father and his grand-father!

Pat