Ship Modelers Association

I thought that I would write a history of the Ship Modelers Association (SMA), starting with the
reasons for the club being formed and how it started. There was, at one time in the ancient past
(1973), a ship model store. This was located in the fine city of Tustin (some people think it was in
Anaheim, but I am sure it was in Tustin) a wonderful place called THE SHIP SHOP. It was opened
in 1973, the proprietor being Richard Nicholson with his partner, Craig Coleman. When I first
walked into the shop I thought I had gone to heaven. There were actual constructed ship models on
display (with real planks). There was a large selection of models to chose from. One of the first things
I saw while in the shop was Richard walking out of the back of the shop with a plank-on-bulkhead
model in the process of having the planks fitted to the hull (Richard was holding several planks to the
hull while they dried. While at the shop, I found out that they were holding monthly sessions on how
to build ship models in the back of the shop. Craig was producing a mimeographed newsletter of just
what was happening. These meetings were open-house meetings with free admission – you could even
use some of the tools in the shop if you played your cards right. All SHIP SHOP customers were
invited to attend the monthly sessions and to bring their models under construction to discuss problems
and compare modeling techniques.
Needless to say, the meetings were an instant success. The SHIP SHOP’S extensive library of ship
modeling books was made available to the customers of the store for their guidance and help in making
their ship models. This was the actual start of the “Show and Tell” sessions that has evolved into the
“Work in Progress” of the SMA today. Many of the original modelers (including myself) were novice
ship model builders at the time. The back of the store where the meetings took place was a wonderful
venue – a kind of combination of the SMA club meetings we have today along with a sprinkling of
the Mayflower Group activities, since all the shop equipment was also there along with many models
under construction. The expert guidance of Craig, Richard, and some of the more experienced modelers
expertly assisted this relaxed, maritime atmosphere.
Unfortunately, The SHIP SHOP only lasted about 2 years. Richard Nicholson did not feel that the
store was making enough money. He announced to the many customers who were meeting in the back
of his store that the SHIP SHOP would close late in 1975. The last meeting would be held in
November of 1975, but no one wanted this to end. The enthusiasm for the making of wooden ship
models was very high and no one wanted to see it end. This was when the “SMA” was formed. It
was voted that a set of officers be selected for the “new” club and the name was selected. After
having been meeting for two years in the back of the SHIP SHOP, we were lucky to find an excellent
meeting room at the Glendale Federal Savings and Loan Association in downtown Fullerton, which
was free of charge. Thanks to Jack Elem, the new vice-president, the move was made in December of
1975 without missing a beat.
The first president (1976) was Jonas Josselson, Vice President Jack Elem, Secretary, Tom Palen,
Treasurer, Roger Van De Walker, Editor, Tom Palen, and a number of other people on the
officers group, including Don Dressel.