Early last month, September 10^th and 11^th, Handcrafted Model Ships was delighted to take part in the annual Dana Point Tall Ship Festival! Though a little rain started the day, sunny skies prevailed and the festival took off to great success. With most of the company on hand, including a very special appearance by Captain Dick himself, we all enjoyed the company of many new friends, a few familiar faces, and everyone involved in making this fabulous festival happen. Over two days we were able to display various ship models and discuss them in person with the ship enthusiasts who had come out for a day of sailing fun, history, and beautiful Southern California weather. As the majority of our business takes place online, these festivals are always a welcomed respite from the office, allowing us a chance to meet our customers in person, and perhaps give fans a chance to talk one on one with Captain Dick.

Aside from our booth, practically overflowing with the numerous ship models and other amazing nautical décor, yummy food booths provided perfect afternoon snacks, while tours were available aboard a few fantastic sailing vessels! It was truly amazing seeing all of the attendees in proud sailing spirit; some completely decked out in full pirate regalia! And you all thought Captain Jack Sparrow was only in the movies…anyway, a very festive mood was in the air, with people of all ages, from children to grandparents, all having a wonderful time exploring, shopping, and stopping in to visit and talk about our models.

There’s not much more one can ask for; good company, great weather, delicious food, and the serene Pacific stretching out into the distance. It was great to soak in the sun, get lost in the enchanting atmosphere, and really it’s always an incredible feeling talking with our customers in person, putting a face to a name, and truly getting to know them all. We love getting feedback, and especially seeing faces light up when we show off our new ship models, or just hanging out and talking shop, chatting about sailing. Though it was only a brief two days, we thoroughly enjoyed out time in beautiful Dana Point, had a blast touring the magnificent ships at port, snacking on the amazing food there, and of course talking about the thing we love most – Sailing!

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Just as some presidents, sports stars, and award winning actors go down in the annals of history as “all-time-greats” or “best ever,” in their respective fields, this also holds true for naval ships. Undoubtedly, those who know the history and tradition of the USS Constitution would agree it is, to say the least, a legend. Interestingly enough, the USS Constitution was born from the establishment of the US’s first ever naval fighting force. In 1794, congress passed the Naval Act, which mandated the construction of a navy for the United States in order to protect its shores and ships of commerce. Boston-based ship designer Joshua Humphreys immediately got to work and created one of, if not the most, legendary ships in the history of naval warfare. When the USS Constitution was completed in 1797, it was larger, more heavily armed, and better constructed than any ship the world had even seen. From that day forward the Constitution helped demonstrate Untied States’ naval might and established America as a world power.

Battleship USS Constitution

Once it set sail on the high seas the USS Constitution quickly gained a reputation as a top-notch battleship. Her enemies found her to be such a formidable opponent and were so frustrated when they saw cannon balls and other munitions bounce right off of her, that she gained the name Old Ironsides. This reputation preceded the Constitution as she participated and won many battles in numerous wars. Old Ironsides vanquished her opposition in The Quasi war of 1798, The First Barbary War of 1801 and, most famously, the War of 1812. Unbelievably, the USS Constitution is one of the only naval ships in history to never lose a battle. Even more amazing is that the original Old Ironsides still exists today, as a museum, in Boston, Massachusetts and is the oldest vessel still afloat in the world. Honestly, has then ever been a more amazing ship? Why not celebrate this nautical landmark with a replica of the USS Constitution from Handcrafted Model Ships (HMS)?

Creating The Perfect USS Constitution Replica

If you are looking for standout replica of the USS Constitution battleship, look no further than the one designed and crafted by Handcrafted Model Ships. Their version of Old Ironsides is an exact 1:123 scale model, comes fully assembled and includes a base-stand. The HMS USS Constitution has been meticulously painted to match the actual USS Constitution that exists today. Furthermore, the ship was fabricated using the design plans from the original USS Constitution. Once you gaze upon it, you will realize that there is not better USS Constitution replica anyplace else.

The USS Constitution Battleship Model Makes A Special Addition To Any Collection

No model ship collector or nautical history fan should be without the USS Constitution model ship. It brings together a shining example of American naval might with excellence in model shipbuilding that only Handcrafted Model Ships provides. As our customers already know, ordering is a cinch, and the USS Constitution will arrive at your door fully assembled and ready to be displayed. Order today and own a replica of the greatest ship to ever sail under the American flag.

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Collecting Model Ships

Model ship collecting is the best hobby on Earth for a variety of reasons. The experience of creating and collecting model ships is one that transcends cultural and historical borders. There is good reason why the hobby of model ship collecting has gone on for centuries to as far back as time can trace. Lets have a look at the top ten reasons why model ship collecting is the best hobby on Earth.

Collecting Model Ships is a Rewarding Process

Building a diverse assortment of ship models in your collection is a satisfying achievement. Being able to look at your collection and revel in its beauty is something that veteran model ship collectors take pride in, whether you built the ships yourself or purchased them pre-made.

Collecting Model Ships Gives you Cultural Insight

Model ships have been around for centuries and span many different walks of life. By collecting model ships you are in essence purchasing a piece of a culture. Such ships give insight into the cultural background of where the ship came from. This plays an important role in understanding different cultures.

Collecting Model Ships Give you Historical Knowledge

Similarly, model ships from different time periods can give you an understanding of the socio-economic conditions of the day. After you become familiar with collecting model ships from different eras you will be able to look at the architecture of ships from certain time periods, and know exactly where it came from and around what year it was built.

Collecting Model Ships is Accessible to Everyone

Model ship collecting used to be restricted to those with money. Today, you can purchase model ships at low prices that anyone can afford. This is due to the ability to mass produce model ship parts. With model ship collecting nobody should ever feel left out.

Collecting Model Ships is an Adventure

From the first model ship you purchase to the very last, every moment will be an adventure to you. Whether you are travelling from town to town in search of elusive ship models or scouring the Internet for them, you will find models on your journeys that will take your breath away.

Collecting Model Ships Encourages Art Appreciation

Model ship collecting is not merely just a hobby, but an art form as well. Collecting model ships will lead to an appreciation of nautical architecture. This type of appreciation builds character and helps you to understand the art of different cultures and time periods.

Collecting Model Ships is Fun for All Ages

Even kids can have fun collecting model ships. There are plenty of fun model ships, such as remote controlled boats, that kids will have a wonderful time with. When it comes to model ship collecting, no age is restricted!

Collecting Model Ships Gives your Home Elegance

Creating a nautical themed room can be a beautiful process. Nautical rooms, if done right, are resounding and will add style, culture, and significance to your home. For this reason, there are many options available today for choosing nautical decor.

Collecting Model Ships is One of the Oldest Hobbies on Earth

Model ship collecting has stood the test of time and is one of the worlds longest practiced hobbies. Ever since ships were introduced model ships have been right there along side them. The people have an interest in nautical architecture, and while the architecture may change, the hobby will always remain.

Collecting Model Ships is Important to History

Model ships have told us countless things about history. It is important to keep making and collecting these model ships, as one day our model ships will tell the tale of our culture and how we lived.

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Top Model Ships for Serious Collectors

Nowadays, anyone can become a model ship collector. What used to be an expensive hobby has become put into the hands of anyone who wants to join. You can find model ships for as low as $9.99. However, for serious model ship collectors those models just will not cut the mustard. Real model ship collectors know, however, that it is not about price, but rather about the quality, time invested, and limited scope of the model. A great model ship is diligently worked on by master artisans and created from the finest materials around. Many of the best model ships are often limited editions because they are so intricate in design that the designer can only create so many. This article will take a look at some of the top ship models for serious collectors.

The USS Constitution Limited Edition

The USS Constitution is a great ship model for serious collectors. Upon purchase you are given a Certificate of Authenticity signed by master artisan Richard Norris. Only fifty models of the USS Constitution will ever be made. This ship model is intricately designed and hand painted to accurately match the actual ship. It is built with rare woods such as cherry, walnut, oak, birch, and maple. Each model takes hundreds of hours to build by master craftsmen. This is due to realistic touches such as twenty-three hand stitched sails, an actual copper plated hull, and fully built lifeboats. The USS Constitution comes in at 38″ in length, 10″ in width, and 28″ in height. For all the details and work that goes into the USS Constitution you would be surprised to learn that it is only $599!

The RC Ferrari Hydroplane

The RC Ferrari Hydroplane is an excellent model ship for the serious collector looking for a great remote controlled model. This model is designed in the image of its real life counterpart and is meticulously painted to match. Furthermore, the Hydroplane even comes with plush leather seats reminiscent of the actual ship. The dashboard is even equipped with real looking gauges that are not merely painted on. Each strip of wood on the hull is laid down one at a time to ensure a quality product that is pleasing to both eye and touch. Also, when using its remote control function the Hydroplane can go up to 25 mph! Therefore this model is great for serious collectors looking to get a little fun out of their model ship collection. The RC Ferrari Hydroplane comes in at 32″ in length, 8″ in width, and 11″ inches in height. At $699 this model is a bit pricey, but for the serious model ship collector money should not be an object.

The San Felipe Special

The San Felipe is a one of a kind model that every serious model ship collector should be interested in. But act fast, because there is only one model available! The details that went into the creation of the San Felipe model are staggering. This model ship is made from the highest quality woods; its canvas sails have been starched to keep them in place; and the deck is littered with cannon ball racks, wooden grates, rudder chains, and an authentic lifeboat. This model took hundreds of hours to complete from scratch (no kits) by master craftsmen. The San Felipe is a grandiose 60″ in length, 24″ in width, and 54″ in height. For something so rare and so beautiful, the San Felipe’s price tag of $7999 is completely worth it!

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Great Online Model Ship Stores

When looking to buy great model ships online it is important to find online stores for model ship collectors that offer a wide array of both model ships and nautical decor. The quality of the model ships on these sites should directly correlate with the price. The best online stores for model ship collectors should have master artisans that work tirelessly on your model from start to finish. These sites should also have great shipping methods and care packaging to ensure a safe arrival to your doorstep. For instance, you do not want to purchase a model ship for over a hundred dollars that was created sloppily and falls apart before it even reaches your door, and not even have a money back guarantee. For the model ship collector looking to buy individual models look no further than handcraftedmodelships.com. If you are a retailer looking for wholesale model ships then tallmodelships.com is your best bet. Both stores are reliable and offer great quality, low prices, and safety assurance.

Hand Crafted Model Ships

At Hand Crafted Model Ships you will find a large assortment of tradition model ships, such as: Civil War ships, Coast Guard ships, cruise ships, decor yachts, fishing boats, pirate ships, remote controlled boats, sailboats, ships in bottle, speed boats, tall ships, and WWII ships. These ships are created from the highest quality materials such as cherry, teak, yellow siris, birch, and rosewood. The higher the cost of the model the more effort that was put into creating it. Some models require over two hundred hours of work by master artisans to complete. Hand Crafted Model Ships also has some limited edition and rare model ships available. Furthermore, you can purchase nautical decor items such as compasses and ship wheels to accommodate your model ship purchase. These decor items will add flair and style to your nautical themed room at cheap prices. Every item bought from Hand Crafted Model Ships is guaranteed quality, and is shipped to your house in safe packaging that ensures the safety of your product. If for some reason you are not happy with your model ship or decor item you are entitled to receive a full refund. If you are looking to purchase models then Hand Crafted Model Ships should be your first stop.

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Tall Ships - Cutty Sark Model

If you asked four out of five people they’d tell you that what they understood about tall ships was what they’d seen on a movie screen, but in reality these boats are anything but a relic from the past. The economic bonuses for the people and places who understand the value of these tall ships are still helping communities around the world today and the interest in these boats remains unabated judging by the number of people and places that take an active interest.

If you don’t think that these vessels are still vibrant, all you need to do is ask the people of Nova Scotia, Canada. The recent 2009 Tall Ships event that was carried out there injected a whopping $32 million into the local economy and drew close to 100,000 visitors. More than 40 ships and thousands of sailors were at the event last summer.

Sailing Tall Ships To The Bank

If you’ve got the money and you’re so inclined a stay the Winter Olympics can be even more interesting than you first thought since one of the Russian tall ships, the Kruzenshtern, will visit Vancouver during the Olympics and possibly even offer interested visitors a ride. The ship is scheduled to arrive in Vancouver on Feb 10 and there will be 120 cadets aboard who will be learning the expertise needed for sailing tall ships.

There are those who think that tall ships are the stuff of Europe only and that when you think about American history, you need to only concern yourself with the canoe. However, that’s not the case at all as these tall ships and their history have a place in the American story as well

Tall Ships And American History

Across the United States there are several maritime museums that cater partially to the past of these tall ships and you can make plans to go to places like the Maine Maritime Museum that includes some realistic models of the tall ships from a bygone era. There are many other museums that cater to this important part of American history and the San Diego Maritime Museum has information on sailing these interesting boats there as well.

As you might expect, the West Cost has a special affinity with these boats in general with places like San Francisco being home to large fleet at the end of the 1800s. These tall ships helped to establish the California and Hawaii Sugar Company that brought raw sugar from Hawaii to the refineries that were located on the coast. In 1898 one the Schooners embarked on the journey with a 19-year-old captain on board. William Olson was to become the youngest sea Captain on the Pacific.

Tall ships have seen the history of the world and of the American continent and played a role in both. These are the boats that live on today and still represent a vibrant part of the lives of the people interested in the sea.

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