Chicken Ship

Hi All,

Today's image is of a model Chris Craft boat, built by neighbor and master model maker Bill Meusch. You can see the "Chicken Ship" this summer on exhibit at the Orange County Fair.

It was shot with a Fuji W3 using frame sides for phantogram processing. I masked the boat from the image, and composited it marooned onto a backdrop of river rocks. The model was built with a 1:12 scale, so in fact its 19" long. Here's Bill's description of his work:

"In 1946 a decorated P-38 pilot named Charles Hendercock III (call sign “Chick”), returned from the war. He re-entered a life of wealth and privilege on the shores of Long Island Sound.

An engineer, a yachtsman and a playboy he had a craving for exotic and powerful toys. He designed and had built one of the fastest wood boats of that era. Altering plans for a Criss-Craft 19’ runabout, he removed the after cockpit and streamlined the hull. Then he shoehorned in two P-40 Tomahawk engines.

The result was a boat only a maniac would drive above half-throttle. Charles fully tested its capabilities only twice: once alone during a shake-down; and once at a racing boat exhibition. At speed, in the slightest chop, he was barely able to keep the thing from going airborne! After that he refused all invitations to race, either at formal regattas or the occasional private challenge.

One evening, at a yacht club dinner, Charles overheard a conversation describing his lack of daring do in terms that could only be likened to the materials found in the straw lining of a chicken coop.

Decorated fighter pilots have unquestioned valor and quite often an acerbic sense of humor…Charles had finally found a name for his craft."

Barry Rothstein

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