Your Neighbor: Fred Nagel

It has been two years since Fred Nagel built his last model ship, yet he remains a source of advice to many around the world.

“I still get requests to build ships,” says the former electronics distributor, who built model ships as a hobby for more than 40 years.

Nagel is known for his realistic reproductions of historic ships, which have been displayed in museums across the country, including the San Francisco Maritime Museum and the National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus.

Although he built the ships as a hobby, Nagel eventually sold most of his creations.

Nagel began building model ships in 1966 using kits. After two or three models, he began making his ships from scratch using original plans.

Nagel built models out of his Chicago suburb home’s furnace room on a makeshift table and also in a 5-foot-wide closet at his Turtle Rock home, where he built a model of the Cutty Sark in 330 hours.

In 1984, Nagel invented La Guillotine, a miniature miter, which is a saw used by woodworkers to make accurate crosscuts.

One of Nagel’s favorite parts about making ships is the camaraderie in the model-ship building community.

“I’ve made a lot of friends,” he says.

Last week, the nine remaining models Nagel owns were on display at The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch, where he lives with his wife, Annette.

Although it’s not New York or San Francisco, Nagel says seeing his work on display is always rewarding.

“It’s a good feeling,” he says. “I’m very proud of them.”

Contact Harriet Sokmensuer at [email protected]