Well it took 24 years to complete but its done!!
I started this model the day we put the real USCGC CAMPBELL WMEC-909 in commission (in July 1988, I'm a Plankowner). Its hard to admit it took me forever to scratch build this model but as all modelers know, things don't always progress as smooth as we would like them to go. Being on active duty seemed to keep me from finishing the boat but I persisted and know I can start a new ship project without modelers "guilt" of leaving a big project unfinished.
The entire model is mostly balsa wood strips(plank on frame) with a plywood deck. The best part of the build was the PLASTIC parts, but many of these items were scrach built too. I used a few commercial parts like the crewmen, hh-65 helo, and a few other odds and ends. The Firescout drone is a hunk of balsa sanded down to a drones appearence. Actually the first time the flightdeck was used on the actual cutter was a Navy Kamen not a CG helo.
Anyway, a big shout out to two builders that aided me in this build. To Keith Bender, modeler extrodinaire, who encouraged(hasseled) me into finishing this large piece of work, ...and to Loren Perry, who's 1984 breakthrough USS Vogelgesang model inspired me to start this project all those years ago. To both of you gentlemen, a BIG thank you!
PS I'll never build anything else this large again, I'll stick to plastic...
