Month: August 2025

The “Rum” Line: From Angostura Executive to Master Ship Modeler – Kevin Kenny’s Story

Some ship modelers ease into the hobby through a lifelong interest in the sea. Others arrive by way of a childhood kit that sparks a passion. For Kevin Kenny, the path was neither so gentle nor so predictable. His journey began in a Trinidad boardroom, during an argument over a museum budget.

Kevin, then a marketing executive for Angostura — best known for its rum and bitters — was overseeing the creation of a small company museum. A hired historian insisted on commissioning a model of the Dr. Seegert, a German ship with historical ties to Trinidad. The lowest bid came in at $15,000 — far beyond the budget. Frustrated, Kevin blurted out that he could build it himself for less.

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A Visit to the Mariner’s Museum: Ironclads and Master Models

On my recent trip to the IPMS conference in Hampton, Virginia, one recommendation kept coming up: “You have to visit the Mariner’s Museum.” With a few hours to spare on my final day, I took that advice—and I’m very glad I did.

Located just a short drive away in Newport News, the Mariners’ Museum is one of those rare places that feels both expansive and personal. Founded in 1930 by Archer Huntington, owner of Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, the museum was more than a philanthropic gesture—it was a bold response to the Great Depression. With ship orders drying up, Huntington kept his workforce employed by commissioning what he envisioned as “a museum and library dedicated to promoting all things nautical and maritime.” That vision still echoes today, nearly a century later.

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A Wooden Ship Guy at the IPMS National Convention

I recently attended the 2025 International Plastic Modelers Society (IPMS) National Convention in Hampton, VA. As someone firmly rooted in the “wooden sticks and strings” side of the hobby, this was my first IPMS event — and I even took the plunge and booked a vendor booth for SeaWatch Books. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I came away impressed by the scale of the show and the enthusiasm of the community.

The convention filled the Hampton Convention Center for four full days. With more than 100 vendors, several hundred contest models, and well over 1,000 attendees, it was easily one of the largest modeling events I’ve attended — certainly bigger than our annual Northeast Joint Clubs Conference.

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