Building 'SS America'

      This model of SS America was built by club member  Matthew Cox.   

 SS America was an ocean liner and cruise ship built in the United States in 1940 for the United States Lines and designed by the noted American naval    architect William Francis Gibbs. It carried many names in the 54 years between its construction and its 1994 wreck: SS America (carrying this name three  different times during its career); troop transport USS West Point; and SS Australis, Italis, Noga, Alferdoss, and American Star. It served most notably in passenger service as America and the Greek-flagged Australis.

 Sold with the intention of being refitted to become a hotel ship, while being towed to Thailand she was wrecked as American Star at Playa de Garcey on    Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands on 18 January 1994. The wreck deteriorated and completely collapsed into the sea. By 2024 it was no longer visible     on the ocean surface and had become an artificial reef.

 The model is scratch built by Matthew mainly using balsa sheet with several additional fittings 3d printed by Matthew himself. A pictorial gallery of the building of this model can be seen below.