If your main interest lies in sailing vessels, try www.drydockmodels.com. Its primary focus is on ships of the nineteenth century and earlier. The participants are a widely-varied group from lots of different countries, with lots of levels of experience.
I think I may be the person Jeff referred to in his post. (Maybe not, though; there's at least one other member of this Forum who, I believe, serves as a volunteer at the Mariners' Museum.) To set the record straight, though, I was never the director of the MM. (If I'd been making that much money I might not have left.) I was a lowly assistant curator in charge of three-dimensional objects, including models.
Anyway, I spend far too much of my time alternating between this site and the Drydock Models one. There's a great deal to be learned, and lots of interesting people to meet, on both.
Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.