Ron Lewis
CARS!! CARS, CARS, CARS!
That’s what life was about as soon as I was old enough to drive. But cars, as they rolled out of Detroit, were not finished. Oh, no! They had to be chopped and channeled, “lakes pipes” added, nosed and Frenched, moon discs or “Lancers” on the wheels, louvers on the hood, the grill replaced by a rack of tubes…. Well, as much as we idolized George Barris we couldn’t quite afford to do all that with real cars…so we bought plastic model kits and customized them with x-acto knives, body putty and melted plastic. What a mess! But it was a beginning. And as soon as I realized the limitations of plastic, especially lost parts replacement, I turned to wood. Now, with a lumberyard of basswood, holly, boxwood, walnut…I can make any part that disappears and probably do a better job of authentic reproduction than the kit maker! But wood doesn’t lend itself well to cars, planes etc. but boats, ships…that’s a natural! So I began. And I found it fun, challenging, educational, all the things that any pursuit would have to offer if I was to follow it.
Nearly 30 years ago I joined The Mariners’ Museum as an interpreter, speaker and participant in the Bronze Door Society. My main Museum assignment was the Crabtree gallery and I was fortunate to be able to assist in the label copy when the gallery was redone in 1998. Then I met Bob Comet and Joe McCleary. Two artisans who taught me the rudiments of collecting wooden model kits and storing them under beds, in the attic, etc. Oh, and also building some of them! They also introduced me to the Hampton Roads Ship Model Society, probably the best advice I’ve received! My wife gifted my first real kit, the Willie L Bennett which gave me a real education in the construction of Chesapeake Bay watermen’s craft. Other than those iconic work boats, log canoes, bugeyes, etc. of the early 20th century, my interest is in the mighty sailing ships of the Age of Exploration up to about 1840. Recently, my time has been spent restoring damaged models for Mariners’ Ed Department, the Deltaville Museum and many for Museum visitors and patrons. These repairs and restorations have generated gifts from the model owners to the Museum’s general fund of over $7,000.00. I am most proud of that aspect of my admittedly limited talent.