Imagination in Scale: The Practical Art of Ship and Yacht Models

There is something captivating about the toy-like quality of ship and yacht models that captures the imagination of children and adults alike. But models also serve as functional tools for yacht designers and builders. The museum's broad-based display captures the beauty, artistry, functionality, and painstaking detail of model making. The exhibit is coupled with the first public exhibition of the William H. Combs Miniature Model Collection, which will be housed in the newly restored Aquidneck mill at the International Yacht Restoration School. Combs, a yachtsman and businessman, collected an extraordinary number of models during his lifetime, many built by preeminent model-makers Donald McNarry and Lloyd McCaffrey. Together, the two exhibits at IYRS and MOY are fascinating, educational, and show the exceptional craft and artistry of model-making.