Capt. Hook Lobster Co.

Sea Port Model Works asked me to design a structure for their HO waterfront trade show display. I built the display in 2008. Thousands of people had seen the display and it was time for a "new look." 

I removed some of the structures, rebuilt some, and scratchbuilt several others. I created a long empty pier area by removing several little structures. This is where Capt. Hook Lobster would go.

I remember when I owned my lobster business occasionally going to Boston to sell lobsters to Hook Lobster Company. They were on Atlantic Ave. next to the water. It was an interesting building that unfortunately burned down just after I retired.

I took my recollections of the structure and several newspaper photos and created this fanciful representation of Hooks. It's presented as an easy to build kit consisting of three separate structures. You can build each one as a free standing building or joined, as shown in the photos. It can be on the water or on land, or anywhere you need an interesting building.

The photos show it before any roof detail or signage was added. When I mount it permanently on the display I'll post a finished view.

Model Waterways

I've written a lot about building waterways. I even produced a DVD on the subject. During that time I've had a chance to try almost all the water products. 

The waterways shown in every photo was made using an acrylic product called Mod Podge. In all examples the base was either hardboard, foam core or Gator Board. 

I paint the base using cerulean blue, medium green, black and white. When dry a dozen thin coats of Mod Podge is plopped on. It's not brushed on - brushing produces bubbles - just use a soft brush and lay it on.

As you can see one set of techniques can produce various results. 

Paintings

My daughter works in the Probate Court for Essex County in Massachusetts. The court is in temporary quarters while the Courthouse is being rebuilt and modernized. The temporary offices have no windows and needed cheering-up. So she decided to create a program to put art in the workplace. She was aided by a grant from the State. 

School children, local artists and craftspeople are all participating. My contribution are two acrylic paintings I created for the event. 

The peppers are from my garden. I loved the way they looked sitting in the bowl - like new and shiny toys. The cherry pie painting was from a photo - I couldn't find anyone willing to make me a pie.

The railroad bridge over the Cape Cod Canal

Here I am standing almost at the top of the railroad bridge that crosses the Cape Cod canal. I was invited to come for a visit and watch the bridge go up and down for the Cape Cod trash train. 

As the train was approaching the attendant asked if I'd like to lower the bridge. "You bet!" I said and was shown how to do it - there's a whole protocol and you have to watch the lights on the operator's board to make sure everything is going properly. The train crossed the bridge without a mishap thanks to my flawless operation.

My friend Bob who was visiting with me got to raise the bridge. It was fun all around.

Making a wall mold

A friend lent me a cast resin retaining wall he had used for his HO waterfront railroad. It's a long wall and the stones are large enough to use it for O scale. So I mounted it on a sheet of Plexiglass and made a mold from it. I used Micro Mark 10 to one casting rubber. I chose the rubber because of it's high strength and its ability to resist tearing. It should give me dozens of plaster and resin castings without showing any signs of wear.

Rebuilding the Sea Port display

I've posted a lot of photos of the Sea Port Model Works trade show display. I built it in 2008 and it's time to incorporate several changes. Like everything else it's become "familiar" and needs a facelift.

I'd like all the structures on the display to be scratchbuilt and reflect my early years working on the waterfront north of Boston. I had a lobster business and because of it I got to visit some of the most iconic waterfront settings imaginable. As a kid I kept a sketchbook of some of these settings and was able to refer to my images for many years of model building. The sketchbook is long gone but the sketches remain locked into the right side of my brain. As I rebuild this display I'll post photos.