The Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, home to the USS Cobia, a Gato-class submarine, hosted some of the best ship and boat modelers from the region at the annual Midwest Model Ships & Boats contest. The creations ranged from plastic and wooden kit builds to unique scratchbuilt masterpieces. There was something to float everyone’s boat, as you can see in this gallery.
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Midwest Model Ships & Boats Model Contest 2024
Small event showcases some of the best maritime models
Phelps, Wisconsin
Bob’s not sure who made the kit his tugboat Angels Gate is based on, but his extensive modifications include surgically re-shaping the stern with canted-in bulwarks and tumblehome, adding rubbing strakes to the hull with half-round styrene strip, replacing the incorrect propeller, adding a life raft, installing brass portholes from Harbor Models, scratchbuilding the masts from brass tubing and railings from brass wire, and fitting cap rails and buffalo rails to the bulwarks. He painted the tug, which started as an Army vessel in World War II and spent nearly 50 years in civilian service with the Port of Los Angeles before becoming a museum boat, with Tamiya acrylics mixed with Tamiya lacquer thinner.