I took several photos on December 20, 2000, the first real day of building:

On December 22nd, I spent 6 hours building 3 main turrets. That's 2 hours each:

On December 23rd, the superstructure started to take shape, with two paravanes and two SOC-3 planes built:

For Christmas, I finished the catapults:

December 26th, I started work on the forward superstructure. I found several errors on the Swampworks "poindexter" plans, but using photographs and the US Navy drawings from 1932, I was able to create a superior Houston superstructure:

For the new year, the formast work neared completion:

By January 7th, the forward half of the new USS Houston was beginning to really take shape:

By January 10th, the aft stack was up:

By January 13th, the crane was up, and the catapults rebuilt. Ladders also were added:

It's April already, and the ship is coming together. Here are some shots of the 40 foot motor launch master (for molding multiple boats):

By April 14th, the new ship hit the water! More work to be done, but she's looking trim!

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