Chalk it off to a midlife crisis…
I have become seriously fascinated with the exploration of the poles, both as literary and as modeling subjects.
I suppose in modeling it began with a gift of the Gjoa, the solid hull little Model Shipways kit that represents Amundsen’s worthy smack which transited the Northwest Passage. Built in my early teens, it sits in a position of notice in my elderly father’s study.
The real Gjoa sat in derelict state for many years out at Land’s End here in the Bay Area, Dad and I visited her once.
During University in Copenhagen I revisited her in Oslo, and of course also visited the Gokstad and Oseberg ships,
The Fram. Here lies my first question. Probably as famous and as accomplished a ship as ever was a factor in polar exploration. Kind of a up-and-down Endevour.
Why isn’t there a model kit available? In plastic, but otherwise even in wood?
Or the Endurance?
Or the Terra Nova?
Or the Aurora, the Nimrod, the Discovery?
These are all pretty decent looking, sail/ powered for the most part.
I have found a Pourquoi Pas?
Much more recently I put some effort into the re release of the Revell USS Pine Island, A nice little dio with the Mariner aircraft being retrieved during Operation Long Bow.
In a more modern vein, Squadron has the Burton Island on sale cheap. I picked one up. I also have the Hasegawa Soya Corps One in the stash.
Helicopters- my newest fascination although Dad who’s a retires Aero Engineer told me never to get in one because they only pretend to fly. Early bright orange Sikorskys- two of them.
So the puzzle and please let me know what you know…where are all the ships?
