I appologize for stating that the model of RITA M III was a stern
wheeler when actually She is a side wheeler (my favorite kind but I
love them all, I would even love a front drive bow wheeler). I guess
I'm getting to old or to lazy to go and look at the model before
describing bits. RITA M II was a stern wheeler and I got mixed up. OK
enough of that. The model was built starting with the Scientific
ROBERT E. LEE. However the only things that can be claimed by
Scientific are the machined hull and the latice work around the
railings. Their metal casting of the main stair case are terrible had
to scatch from wood. The windows on the upper area I took their
printed stuff ran copies printing on flimsie (clear plastic for
overhead projecters) and then colored and built surounding ares from
wood. I guess I would call it a cross between scratch and kit bashing
so as to make a model that I like the looks of. Lot of work but lot
of fun also. Nothing against Scientific its just that starting with a
kit and doing what you think looks good is a plus. OK where does the
name come from, well my first real sail boat was a 26' Star built in
1942 and was named RITA. My next real boat was a Chris-Craft 26'
Express cruiser of 1956 named RITA M. So the I built a sternwheeler
paddleboat and named Her RITA M II. Therefore this on Had to be RITA
M III. Rita is my wife and friend of 44 years. However she was not
too enthused with the stern wheeler but she really love RITA M III.
She thinks its so much prettier. Greg & Grimm
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