What is Museum Quality?

Museum Quality is a very misleading term. In reality, it is NOT a definitive category for ship models. There are many very poorly built models on display in museums all over the world, and some of the finest models end up in private collections.

The following is excerpted from the Nautical Research Guild Website, and gives a clear description of the Mariners' Museum (Newport News, Virginia) criteria for evaluating models;

"Scratch Built"

No manufactured items except cordage, chain, and such fastenings as pins and nails. Such materials as dimensioned lumber, sheet metal, tubing, wire, and milled shapes are allowed as raw material. Photo-etched, laser-cut, cast, or similar parts mechanically or chemically duplicated by others from the entrant's original master or pattern, shall be considered as scratchbuilt.

"Semi-Scratchbuilt"

Models based on scratch built hulls. Fittings designed and produced by others.

"Kit Built"

Models based on commercial kits or hulls. With or without the addition of other commercial fittings or scratchbuilt parts."

Clearly then, a fine, accurate, and true to scale scratch built model should be at the top of the serious collector's shopping list! However, depending on the degree of adherence to scale and accuracy, and the builder's skills and willingness to correct the inevitable deficiencies, finely executed kit built models can also be very desireable. How can you tell when a model is finely executed and true to scale?? It takes a trained eye, but the layman can also be an excellent judge if the ships drafts, or plans are available for comparison. Also, contemporary sketches, or Admiralty models of the same or related ships are excellent points of reference.

We at Tallshipmodels have in our possession a vast library of books, drafts and electronic images, and we frequently draw upon these during the course of our evaluations.

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