Undine 2

The model of "Undine" was built from a Lindberg kit of an early 18th Century frigate. The kit has been sold under many names over the years. I believe I bought this one in a box titled "Jolly Roger." But the ship the model depicts was actually the 30-gun French frigate "La Flore." I made a few modifications to turn it into a later British frigate. The big change was to the stern quarter galleries and transom, which were entirely scratchbuilt. Changes were also made to the bow and the number of guns was increased. The rigging was also "modernized."

I built this model while I was stationed in Europe and, amazingly, it made it back to the States with only minor damage to the rigging which was repaired. This was one of the first sailing ship models of a series I build over the following decade or so. It is a bit primitive compared to some of my later work but, still, it was a respectable job. Enough so that it took a first place at the 1978 IPMS Nationals in Atlanta, the very first Nationals I ever entered. A few years later, I gave the model away and these are the only photographs I have.