Campbell Ship Model on Exhibit – Mariners Museum

On August 5, 2017, The Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, VA, opened an exhibit of ship models built by members of the Hampton Roads Ship Model Society in honor of their 50th anniversary.

The Mariners Museum and Park, 100 Museum Drive, Newport News, VA 23606

The exhibit ran through February 11, 2018.  A model of  my Dad’s ship, USS Kendall C. Campbell, was on display.

1/96 scale model of the USS Kendall C. Campbell destroyer escort in the display case
Campbell model builder and my husband, Gene Berger, at work in his garage

Originally, Gene built the ship model of the Campbell for our family legacy in 2014.  He took the model to local venues, and it was an honor to have it displayed at the Mariners’.

Newspaper ad in the Daily Press announcing model ship exhibit
Howard Hoege, III, President and CEO, Mariners Museum in Newport News, VA, introduced the exhibit on August 3rd (Photo credit:  Ryland Craze)

Hampton Roads Ship Model Society was founded in 1967 and meets monthly at the Mariners’ Museum and Park in Newport News, VA. HRSMS is composed of individuals who are interested in pursuing the art of ship model building and the exploration of maritime history.

Club members come from varied backgrounds and occupations.  They travel from places in Virginia such as Newport News, Hampton, Chesapeake, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, the Northern Neck, and western suburbs of Richmond.  Also from the border of North Carolina.

Interests of members range from nautical history to photographs and  art. Members have a particular focus on building detailed and historically accurate scale model ships.

HRSMS is dedicated to helping ship model builders new to the craft learn basic skills while giving experienced builders the opportunity to perfect their abilities.

Many members have won top awards in competitions both in the United States and abroad. Models built by past and present members of HRSMS can be found in some of our nation’s premier museums.

Twenty-seven members contributed a total of sixty ship models for the Mariners’ exhibit.

Members of HRSMS enjoyed the preview of the exhibit
HRSMS members, their guests, and staff of Mariners’ previewed the ship model exhibit on August 3rd. (Photo credit: Brock Switzer) 
The Proudleys reviewed models in the display case (Photo credit: Brock Switzer)
Gene Berger, Skipper, HRSMS, addressed the attendees of the reception (Photo credit:  Brock Switzer)
Reception in the Huntington Room at the Mariners Museum (Photo credit:  Ryland Craze)
Friends Karen and Steve Mendenhall, Mary Harrington, and Mary Ann and Z Ford (Photo Credit:  Brock Switzer)
Campbell on display with other models

Ship Model Specifications:

Behind the Scenes Photos before the Exhibit

Campbell on the painting booth in the garage prior to transport
Model of Campbell riding in the back seat of the truck enroute to Mariners Museum

The Campbell served in the South Pacific during World War II.

USS Kendall C. Campbell, Butler Class, Destroyer Escort

  • Complement:  14 officers, 201 enlisted
  • Laid down:  16 December 1943
  • Launched:  19 March 1944
  • Commissioned:  31 July 1944
  • Decommissioned:  31 May 1946
  • Fate:  sold for scrapping 15 January 1973
  • General characteristics
  • Displacement:  1,350/1,745 tons
  • Length:  306 ft (93 m)
  • Beam:  36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
  • Draught:  13 ft 4 in (4.06 m) (max)
  • Propulsion:  2 boilers, 2 geared turbine engines, 12,000 shp, 2 screws
  • Speed:  24 knots
  • Range:  6,000 nm @ 12 knots
  • Armament:  2-5 in (130 mm), 4 (2×2) 40 mmAA, 10-20 mm AA, 3-21 inch (533 mm) TT, 1 Hedgehog, 8 DCT’s, 2 DC tracks