Dan Cicero
Aurora, Illinois
Half-hulls like this were used by ship builders in the 18th and 19th centuries to model actual ships, according to Dan. This 1/48 scale kit was designed by the Nautical Research Guild, a ship modeling group, to teach proper planking and spiling, but Dan added a deck, base, and frame for a more attractive display. “ I used different stains for the hull, deck, wales, and base for contrast and visual interest,” he says.