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Back in the late 1970's or early 1980's or so, Robert F. Sumrall (curator of ship models at the U.S. Naval Academy at the time) contacted me for assistance in building a 1/96 scale museum-quality display model of the USS Augusta for the Georgia state capitol building.

Bob free-lanced as a custom modelmaker for special clients when not engaged in his regular museum job. I'd known him for some time when he approached me and he'd closely inspected my 1/96 scale USS Long Beach and USS Vogelgesang which led him to asking me to assist.

So I agreed to build the search radars, main and secondary battery gun directors, two 26' ship's boats, and the two Curtiss Seagull catapult aircraft. We both agreed to paint the fittings using standard Pactra aerosol hobby paints (Rebel Gray, etc.) which was Bob's chosen finishing colors. The Seagulls were entirely brush painted in accordance with Bob's instructions.

Bob built everything else from the "bread and butter" wooden hull, superstructure, masts, and funnels. I served as sort of a sub-contractor and worked to a tight deadline to meet the date of the model's formal installation at the capitol building.

I shipped the completed parts to Bob in time for him to complete the model on schedule and he paid me my fee and said the fittings looked as though he himself had made them which to me was quite a compliment. This of course was desirable as the finished model had a uniform look to its style and finish.

All concerned were satisfied with the final project. Sadly, I was never able to get any photos of the finished model but maybe it's still on display in the city of Augusta?