Restoration of the Calypso

the calypso     to my mind is one of  if not the most historic civilian ships  ever

I remember another larger model of the Calypso that was available in the the late 1980's early 1990's. It could be made into a R/C model or for static display. Maybe I can find more information on it. I know it also had a minisub and helicopter as well. It wasn't the Revell kit.

Mike T.

I found it, its by Billings Boats and still available:

http://www.billingboats.com/images/BB560%20Calypso.jpg

Its 1/45 scale, ABS hull, wooden super structure at about $400.

seasick

They don't have much of a choice.  The original contract with the Cousteau society is quite complex. I am certainlt going to grab the reissue. The Cousteau Catilina was not reissued after Cousteau's son died when it crashed. The kit was a reissue of the USN PBY Catilina in Cousteau society colors.

I am glad to hear about this.I have both the original issue plane and ship ,times two. I will now build one each. I will probably buy the reissue and see what I can make of her.We should not forget though,although it was fun watching the show.There is a very serious purpose behind the COSTEAU SOCIETY.The oceans of the world have less written and known about them than the moon.The seas are important for mankind,s survival as a species.Things happen starting in the oceans that affect us hummin beens.(a little humor)Are we willing to not know ,when the oceans may yet overwhelm our coastlines all over the world!! Get the model and make your own decals and while you build think of the oceans,please??  Tankerbuilder  P.S. When I captained the early very large crude carriers NO stuff went overboard that was and still is considered a pollutant!!!

They don't have much of a choice.  The original contract with the Cousteau society is quite complex. I am certainlt going to grab the reissue. The Cousteau Catilina was not reissued after Cousteau's son died when it crashed. The kit was a reissue of the USN PBY Catilina in Cousteau society colors.

I noticed that they changed the base with the sea Nymep (sp) and removed the name.

Here's some info on the two Revell kits, courtesy Dr. Thomas Graham's fine book, Remembering Revell Model Kits (pp. 99-101):

"One of the world's pioneer environmentalists was Jacques Cousteau, whose TV show 'The Undersea World' was a fixture on America's television screens.  Popular folk singer John Denver had just recorded a hit song about Cousteau's oceanic research ship the Calypso. Dave Fisher originated the idea of making a model of the Calypso.  Cousteau's son Philippe lived nearby at Marina del Ray, and Fisher approached him about the possibility of a model that might be a fund-raiser for Cousteau's conservation society.  Philippe replied that the Cousteau Society did need financial support, but that a 'toy' would not be dignified enough for association with the Cousteau name.

"Undeterred, Fisher arranged for a breakfast meeting, with Royle Glaser [then chair of the board of Revell, and widow of one of the company's founders, Lou Glaser] and Jacques Cousteau joining the negotiations.  Fisher explained to the elder Cousteau that Revell's model would be educational and would include a booklet explaining the mission of the Cousteau Society.  This meeting broke the log jam, and Cousteau signed a contract agreeing to funish the information necessary to make models of hi ship and amphibian airplane.  Mrs. Glaser came away from the meeting impressed with both the handsome Philippe and charismatic Jacques.  'I've fallen in love with Jacques Cousteau,' she announced to the staff back in Venice.  'He's brilliant and charming.'

"Fisher flew off to Monaco and Toulon, where he visited Cousteau's museums, and then to Greece to measure and photograph the Calypso.  The resulting model incorporated lots of nifty details like Cousteau's two-man diving saucer, a helicopter, a Zodiac boat, and a shark cage with two tiger sharks.  The Calypso flying boat was a modification of the PBY model, molded in white plastic with Cousteau Society decals.  Royle Glaser thought the pair of models made a great product idea, but, like most civilian planes and ships, it turned out that they didn't sell well.  Then Philippe Cousteau died in a crash landing of the Calypso aircraft, and Revell decided to pull the plane model from the market."

Dr. Graham's appendix lists the original (and only) release date for both kits as 1977.  I rather suspect the market for the Calypso is, if anything, even smaller now than it was back then - especialy in view of the anonymity Revell Germany seems to be imposing on it.  My suggestion to anybody who wants the kit:  grab it while you can.

I had that when I was a kid.  I'll be danged if I can remember the figs and Zodiac, tho.  I can remember playing with it on the green shag rug in the living room.  That carpet made a good sea. ^^

Here's the airplane. It's the only PBY-6A injection molded and not a conversion. http://airfixtributeforum.myfastforum.org/archive/revell-1-72-jaques-cousteau-s-catalina__o_t__t_6369.html

Good news that Revell Germany is re-issuing the kit.

I checked a bit on the web and it appears that the real ship is not doing as well.  The last report I found stated that the shipyard conducting the overhaul on the Calypso had not been paid.  Work on the ship has ceased and she is being stored in a shed for now.

Given that the Calypso began life a wooden Yard Motor Minesweeper (YMS) that was commissioned in 1942, you have to wonder just how much the restoration could ultimately cost.

Still, good news that the ship is being preserved.

That is GREAT news about the Calypso!  I never knew she was recovered.

I like the way Revell describes the ship's history on their website, "...until she was taken over by an oceanographer in 1950. This oceanographer fundamentally redesigned the vessel and installed specific exploration equipment aboard for research purposes."

I'll definitely buy her for a third time, since I can't find my other two copies. :)

Keep us posted, Jake.

m@

As a matter of fact Revell Germany has just reissued the kit - though without the name:  http://www.revell.de/en/products/model_kits/model_kits/products/?id=210&KGKANR=0&KGKOGP=10&KGSCHL=3&L=1&page=6&sort=0&nc=1&searchactive=&q=&SWO=&ARMAS4=&PHPSESSID=95a26e305bbc5f31c7378f50e8f2d526&KZSLPG=&offset=48&cmd=show&ARARTN=05101&sp=1

I imagine some sort of copyright restriction (and/or unwillingness to pay a license fee) was involved.  At any rate, it seems the kit is back among us.

Thanks for that, It's worth doing for sure. Revell also made the Cousteau Catalina PBY-6 which is now a bit of a collectors item. It came with little divers and a Zodiac.

I remember the show as well, a favorite. "Philip takes ze Zodiac to look at ze whales...".