The HMS Endeavor pulls into port. Sailors are at work along the deck, pulling up sails and tying knots. Native Polynesians climb aboard. Capt. James Cook surveys his ships landing spot. But its not in Tahiti. Its in the Fairfield Museum and History Center. This scene, taken from history, is the handiwork of Southports Jim Wiser, master model shipbuilder. Each one of these vessels has a tale to tell, Jim says.
Jim has always had a fascination with the sea, ever since his childhood. His father would take Jim and his brother out on Long Island Sound on the weekends on his 60-foot yacht. But growing up, Jim would spend much of his free time with much smaller vessels.
Though hes had other hobbies he was a big fan of tennis and golf the now-89-year-old finds that his bodys condition pushed him to spend more and more time with love affair with his models. In his shipyard at his home, Jim has crafted about 80 models from scratch in his lifetime, not counting the restorations hes done to help other collectors.
The process begins with a simple block of wood and historical blueprints of classic vessels. But with his vast array of tools saws, sanders, lathes, brushes he carves out the ships hull, then adds the most minute details, until every sail, every mast, and dozens of crew members in action are in place.
I want these models to be as close to perfection, Jim says. An exact duplicate in miniature of the real thing. It takes an enormous amount of patience. Jim runs into frustrations on occasion, such as realizing hes used the wrong type of wood or having difficulty miniaturizing a technical aspect of a ship. But even when everything goes smoothly, it takes massive amounts of time. Jim estimates that he can spend a few months to three years on a single model. Yet Jim almost wishes it would take longer.
Its like your reading a book you just love. You get to the last chapter, and you wish it would go on, he says. Its almost a disappointment when you finish a model.
Jims work is on display at Sea to Shining Sea, an exhibit at the Fairfield Museum and History Center, 370 Beach Road. The exhibit will be open until April 24.
Have you ever seen one of Jim Wisers miniature ships? What do you think of his work?
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