Closely monitored moorings

Dane Grace

The sea vessels of old that took explorers or settlers to uncharted

territories were miracles of engineering for the time, and since

those days, people have made miniature renditions of these ships. The

finely detailed miniature versions have found a bay not far away.

The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is hosting an exhibit of model

ships provided by the California Ship Modelers Assn.

Sixty ships are on display, ranging from models of a World War II

Japanese battleship to an electric-powered model of the U.S.

battleship Monitor -- one of the first iron-clad warships that sailed

during the Civil War -- complete with smoke-firing cannons.

The models vary in size, but all are meticulously detailed and

took a considerable commitment of time to build.

“These models are finer examples of ship modeling,” said Glenn

Zagoren, president and chief executive of the Newport Harbor Nautical

Museum. “The craftsmanship is just stellar.”

Paul Carter’s rendition of a World War I German Raider took 1,250

hours to complete, according to a placard accompanying the display.

Zagoren said the museum enjoys a steady turnout, but this exhibit

has drawn several patrons to the museum, which is itself a replica of

a 19th century riverboat.

“It’s a very, very good turnout,” Zagoren said.

The fine detail of the scale-model boats has attracted young and

old to the museum.

“Kids like it, adults like it, women like it, and the guys like

it,” Zagoren said, referring to the exhibit. “It’s kind of a

universal attraction.”

Museum members got a preview of the exhibit, with the artists, and

many wanted to purchase the models to display in their homes, Zagoren

said. He estimates some of the ships could sell for $50,000, but none

of the artists would part from their creations.

“There is a price for everything, but in their eyes, they’re

priceless,” Zagoren said.