Museum's summer shows include models, model making, and model racing

The Penobnscot Marine Museum in Searsport, has opened for the summer and has planned many activities this summer in conjunction with its special exhibets on model making. W

hat inspires model makers to create miniature versions of watercraft? The museum will explore this question through an exhibit entitled Sailing Small: Small Boats, Big Ideas. Using objects, photographs, and primary source audio, visual, and written accounts, the exhibit will spotlight Maine model makers. Events scheduled so far include:

* Saturday, June 16, 11 am - 2: pm, The museum useum will hold its first scheduled model boat race in its newly constructed model boat pond. Celebrate Father’s Day by digging out your remote control or sailing pond model and take it for a spin. Use of the model pond is free with Museum admission or membership.

* Thursday, June 21:

11 am-2 pm, Searsport District Middle School students will they demonstrate the use of TinkerCAD and 3D printing. The demonstration is free with Museum admission. In the past models were made of wood and other organic materials. Today we can design models on computers and print them out in 3-D. Students from the Searsport District Middle School will demonstrate how the computer aided design software TinkerCAD works and print out their inspirational designs for all to see. They will then take their printed designs to Penobscot Marine Museum’s model pond to see if their creations float, sail, and who will win the race!

At 5:30 p.m. the same day, the museum will present Sources of Inspiration with model maker Rob Eddy of Camden. Eddy will share his inspiration behind model making. Eddy’s models are known for their use of the silver, gold, and precious gems, in addition to traditional wood. The presentation will take place at museu’s Visitors Center at 2 Church Street in Searsport. The cost is $5 for Museum members and $8 for general admission. *Saturday, June 23, 2018 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, Penobscot Marine Museum hosts a soling remote control model demonstration. The Soling racing yacht is a popular one-design class. This miniature version is one of the most popular classes and has the largest number of registered models within the American Model Yachting Association racing class system. The demonstration is free with Museum admission.

* Thursday, June 28 at 5:30 pm, the museum presents Sources of Inspiration with David White, an antiques dealer and model restorer from North Yarmouth. White will share what inspires model collectors to acquire their next ship or pond model and the intricate work it takes to restore these boats in miniature. The presentation will take place at the museum’s Visitors Center, 2 Church Street in Searsport. The cost is $5 for Museum members and $8 for general admission.

* Saturday, July 7, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the museum will host a model boat race featuring lobster boats and America’s Cup yachts. The event will take place at the Searsport Town Dock. For more information call 207-548-2529. * Wednesday, July 4, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the museum will celebrates Independence Day with a model boat race. Visitors can bring their remote control and sailing pond models to the Museum’s model pond for pick up races with other models. Use of the model pond is free with Museum admission or membership.

Sailing Small: Small Boats, Big Ideas runs May 26 through October 21, 2018.

Penobscot Marine Museum brings Maine’s maritime history to life on a campus of 12 historic buildings in the seacoast village of Searsport, Maine. Exhibits include hands-on activities for children and adults, as well as a ship captain’s house, marine paintings, scrimshaw, 19th century Chinese and Japanese pottery, boat models, historic Maine boats, a fisheries exhibit, and an heirloom garden. The museum has over 200,000 historic photographs, and a maritime history research library.

Exhibits are open seven days a week, Memorial Day weekend through the third Sunday in October. PMM Visitors Center, 2 Church Street, Searsport, Maine. For more information call the Visitors Center 207-548-0334 or Administrative Offices at 207-548-2529 or visit www.penobscotmarinemuseum.org.