Does any one know the earliest year or approximate year that Scientifiic Models made their first Cutty Sark kit #163? I have a kit #163 which has a date on the plan of 1975. But I have another incomplete kit #163, which I think was made at an earlier time and has no date The two plans are slightly different. The 1975 plan is more detailed. The 1975 kit has a narrower unfinished base where as the earlier kit has a wider finished base. I am trying to approximate the date of the less detailed incomplete #163 kit. Any help would be appreciated.
I don’t remember the kit number, nor even which clipper it was, now, but I built a Scientific clipper kit in the mid-50s. Scientific kits were great- a fraction of the cost of fancy kits like Model Shipways.
A couple of years ago I picked up a Scientific Revenue Cutter kit at a garage sale. A Blast from the Past building it. Finished now except for rigging, which is about half done. Popped for aftermarket deadeyes and blocks now, so it should look better than other Scientific ships I built as a teenager (plus 65 more years of model building experience).
Thanks Don. Do you remember where you purchased the after market parts?
I’m also a physicist and taugut physics at a university for 37 years. I have been doing astrophotography, model n gauge trains and now returning to model ships which I started in pre teen years.
Yes, at that time I lived in Northwest Detroit, close to Eight Mile Road, which was not too far from A. J. Fisher. Dad drove me there to get stuff. While Fisher has been bought and is in operation again, I am not sure they produce and sell parts any more. Now I get my ship model parts from either Model Expo or Bluejacket. No one seems to produce all parts in all sizes needed for detailing model ships any more.
I plan to be starting a Scientific Seawitch this year. Ditto on what Don said, I used Model Expo and bluejacket for my rigging tackle. 3mm and 5mm blocks, deadeyes and strops.
Paul - best to you on your Cutty Sark build. I just finished the Bluenose, by Scientific, as my 1st wooden kit. I picked this up at a garage sale. Much like Don, I purchased 3mm wooden blocks from Hobbylinc instead of using the metal blocks supplied. I also purchased 2mm blocks from ModelExpo. I also used different thread than what was supplied in the kit. I’m sorry Scientific is no longer around. What a great starter kit with a reasonable price!