The American Marine Model Gallery
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Model: Raymond Langdon, L. A. DUNTON
Designed by Thomas McManus and built by A. D. Story at Essex, MA in 1921. The famous Gloucester sailing-fishing schooner was used for the commercial haddock and halibut fisheries until 1963, when she was acquired for preservation at Mystic Seaport Museum. The model’s hull is constructed of basswood on the buttock line lift method and is partially hallowed-out. It is authentically painted and fitted out with all essential deck gear, furniture and fittings per design including two sets of nest dories. The model is realistically rigged with customs black and natural threads produced via a miniature rope walk. It is mounted via brass rods to a mahogany baseboard with satinwood inlay cross-banding, glazed cover trimmed in brass, and has two brass engraved plaques.
3/16” Scale,
Class: B, Case: 34 1/8” L x 28 1/2” H x 9” W
Price: $12,000
RAYMOND L. LANGDON (1926 - 2002)
Ray Langdon was schooled in architectural drafting, and after many successful years as a drafter and a construction supervisor, changed professions to his real love: ship modeling. Born in 1926, Langdon’s unquestionable talent began to take shape in his early teens, building airplane models for sale at exhibitions and craft fairs. During the Second World War he served in the Navy from 1941-1945 taking part in action at Baton and Okinawa, as well as other engagements in the Philippians. He continued in the Navy’s Ready Reserve for another thirty-eight years achieving the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer. For this duration he spent his spare time modeling for relaxation. Once home, faced with severe space limitations and five boys, Langdon was forced to turn his modeling talents from planes to ships. It wasn’t long before he realized that this was his true calling.
Mr. Langdon’s models are each meticulously crafted, usually on a laminated, solid-lift hull construction technique using buttock lines. His ability to use natural wood finishes on his models is excellent, as well as his care and success in the use and techniques of airbrush painting. The rigging on his models is most comprehensive, and he employs his own hand-made miniature rope walk to lay up the proper diameter cordage required.
Until 1997, Mr.
Langdon had built ship models professionally for 23 years. At that time a
debilitating illness rendered him unable to continue. Over his career, he
has won several awards and given lectures on his techniques. His model work
can be found in the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY,
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, Savannah, GA, Kendall Whaling Museum, Sharon,
MA, and Queen Mary Seaport Museum, Long Beach, CA. Numerous shipping, corporate
and private collections including Santa Monica Bank, St. Regis Paper Company,
and MBNA America Bank also prize his models. His last major effort was a ¼”
= 1’ scale model of the 1815 Baltimore Clipper Lynx for Woods Maritime,
a foundation which is constructing a full scale replica of Lynx in Rockport,
Maine, for West Coast sail training purposes.