Mike Jakowitsch, Fort Worth, Texas
Mike built Tamiya’s 1/700 scale USS Indianapolis for his girlfriend’s father, Dave, whose friend L.D. Cox survived the ship’s sinking on June 30, 1945. Of nearly 1,200 onboard, about 900 survived the sinking — but only a third of those lived through the following days in the water before being rescued. Mike modeled water with Vallejo Water Effects (Pacific blue) and acrylic blue paint; the wake is Woodland Scenics water and a touch of Testors white acryl. A local trophy shop engraved the dedication plate.