Luxury boat, little size

Challenge: The world of model collectors is made up of hundreds of small niches, and one of our best private customers happens to love boats. His latest commission is a 1/10 scale model of the Donzi Sport fishing Yacht. In the same luxury class as the Aquarama, these boats can sell for a million dollars… used. Not only did we need to live up to that standard of luxury, we needed to make this boat seaworthy with radio controls.

Solution: The model is four feet long, so there’s plenty of room to house all the electric workings, which we made easily accessible by lifting off the top cabin of the boat. It’s powered by two electric 1.5 horsepower motors, which drive bronze props at the back of the boat. The props are small, but the rake is so steep, this 4’ model will be able to tow a 15’ speedboat through the water. Bronze is the most common material used to make props as it resists corrosion.

To capture the luxury of the boat, we hand-laid teak planks for the floor, door and chairs. Small details such as the rope coil, fire extinguisher and life preserver do a lot to enhance the realism.

Result: We’re still putting the finishing touches on the Donzi, but as this is the fifth RC boat we’ve made for this customer, we expect it to be well received.

An Invention to Give Pets a Voice

Challenge: Recently, Ellen Witham contacted Masterpiece Models looking for a solution to an idea she had: what if your pet could truly talk to you? The idea came from her child, who can’t communicate verbally and uses a small machine with a buttons triggering pre-recorded messages to “talk” with people. Ellen got to thinking: what if you could use a similar device with a pet?


Solution: We designed two prototypes digitally before choosing one and moving forward. The device has a durable plastic housing to protect the electronic device that allows the owner to record any message or sound, which is then played back when the casing is pressed down. The device runs on a 9v battery and the recording can be changed at any time. Masterpiece Models arranged for the engineering of the electronics to suit this need.

Result: Ellen has a patent pending on her product, which we unofficially call “Paw Pal” around the workshop in connection with a previous and un-related job making the “Pal Around.” With her few prototypes, Ellen has found that the Paw Pal trains the pet owner as much as the pet. The pet registers that triggering the sound is a cue for some action, but that action varies from pet to pet. It could be going outside, getting fed, wanting to play or anything. In any case, it’s a fun way to interact with our four-legged friends. Going beyond our normal call of duty, Masterpiece Models is helping Ellen with her efforts to license the product.

A custom commission gives the USFS some ground power

Challenge: A custom commission came in from Florida resident Keith Kent to build an advanced model he’d purchased from the U.K. that ended up being way more than he bargained for. What he ultimately wanted was the combination of two kits: A Stormer APC (armored personnel carrier) and an Oshkosh tractor/trailer. The combination alone is fictional, pairing a US Army truck and trailer with a vehicle largely used by the British Army, but Keith further specified both vehicles be painted in the red colors used for US Forest Service vehicles. Giving the USFS heavy military equipment hints at a great sense of humor.

Solution: Models of this caliber require a lot of custom work even if they come as a kit. The truck and trailer are 30” long and about 4” tall, yet there is precise detail down to the stick shift inside the truck compartment. Many of the pieces were customized through photo etching to enhance their look. And once completed, painting this model was a detailed job accented by the muddied tires and the distressed paint around the chassis.


Result: The work took a total of 100 hours and was completed personally by John Geigle. The commission was begun by his friend Pete Forrest, who unfortunately passed away in a motorcycle accident on April 4th. The job was his first professional job with Masterpiece Models. John recalled him saying with enthusiasm, “Oh I’m only getting paid $7 an hour but I’m getting paid to build a model.” Finishing the job personally was a way for John to pay homage to Pete’s memory.

Recreating "The Deadliest Catch"

Challenge: When trying to simulate The Deadliest Catch, you need deadly accurate attention to detail. Friends at the Odyssey Maritime Discovery Center in Seattle, Washington referred Gary Stewart to Masterpiece Models to whip up an order of Alaskan King Crab for his new museum. Based on the experience shown on the TV show, The Deadliest Catch, the museum will be housed in the Sea Star, a retired fishing ship seen in the first season of the show, to give visitors a real insight into on of the deadliest professions in the world.

Solution: King Crabs are roughly 3’ wide from leg to leg. We used an existing model on loan from Seattle as the basis for our design before creating rubber molds and casting 10 resin crabs. Each crab consisted of nine pieces: The eight legs and body. After assembly, they were hand-painted with airbrush details.

Result: Stewart was pleased with the result. The Sea Star will soon sail from its current location in Seattle to its permanent home in Ketchikan, Alaska. The museum does not yet have a projected opening date.