“USS SAN PUEBLO” US Built Models (6 Viewers)

[King & Country]

Hi Guys,

As many of you know for many, many long months K&C tried to produce a replica of Gordon’s excellent “Sand Pebbles” gunboat which helped launch our US Navy series back in Chicago in 2008.

Alas production and transportation difficulties proved “A Bridge Too Far” for us and we scaled back our K&C efforts to our smaller, less expensive and much-easier-to-transport US Navy Steam Launch (USN012).

Now, however we have a great solution… At least for those who live in North America…

Mr. CHRIS MUNRO of THE TOY SOLDIER GALLERY in CAMBRIA, California. Chris is an old friend, and authorized K&C dealer of long standing. And an excellent model builder in his own right.

At the last Chicago Show Chris previewed one of his own Nile River Gunboats for his upcoming Sudan series of figures. We got to talking and decided that Chris could and should build “Sand Pebbles” gunboats to order in the U.S. for the North American market.

At present Chris is completing 2 “San Pueblos” for customers in California and Texas. His work is outstanding and I cannot praise his quality and reliability highly enough.

If you are interested and want to find out more contact him directly at:

CHRIS MUNRO
THE SOLDIER GALLERY
816 MAIN STREET
CAMBRIA , CA 93428, CA, USA
Tel: 805 927 3804
Fax: 805 927 0164
Email: soldier@thegrid.net

Good luck and happy sailing!
Andy C.

 

[mestell]

Thanks for the info Andy. I've admired this model ever since I saw it at the 2008 Chicago show. I will be contacting Chris for more details.
Mike

 

[soldier01]

A big thanks to Andy for the plug.
My mail box if full and I'm a bit overwhelmed by the response .
It brings to mind the old add campaign for E.F. Hutton, I could change the name and say "when Andy talks, people listen."
I'm still working out many of the details on the models and will post some pictures soon.
I will also contact all of you who sent me email personally. Just give me some time.
Best Regards,
Chris

 

[Panzer ace]

To second Andy’s thoughts, through Andy, I had the pleasure of meeting Chris and having dinner with him at last years Westcoaster. Besides his obvious model building talents and knowledge of the hobby he is also a great guy.

 

[binder001]

By the way, the ship is USS San Pablo. Sorry, always a "rivet counter" (although in the case of the movie ship they were glued on to the welded hull ship).

Gary B.

 

[King & Country]

“San Pablo… San Pueblo… sand Pebbles… whatever!”

Hi Guys,

Gary B. (Binder 001) brought up the well known fact that the U.S. gunboat in the “Sand Pebbles” movie is called the “San Pablo”.

Our boat is called the San Pueblo because it’s our toy soldier version and its meant to resemble a cut-down version of the real thing. Hope you don’t mind guys…

Best wishes and happy collecting!
Andy C.

 

[binder001]

Got it!

Gary B.

 

[soldier01]

Guys,

I just emerged from my dungeon workshop AKA the shipyard.
I will post some pictures of the first boat soon.
And to all of you who have contacted me, please wait I will get back to each and everyone.
Jason thanks for the kind words, I see a beer in your future.
OK! one for you too Andy.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[soldier01]

Hi Guys,

Andy called me the other night wanting to know where some pictures of the gunboats are.
One of the troubles I have is that we live out in the country and high speed Internet is not available to me unless I get it via satellite.
Sending and posting pictures is an all day event. And even email is a challenge. AT&T tells me they are working it.
I'm going to start with a couple of pictures of one of the boats early in the production and each day (or so) posts some other pictures that show the work in progress.
All of you who have called and sent me email will be answered.
Believe me I appreciate your interest. I'm working day and night on the boats to meet a couple of deadlines.
Just a few facts about them they are 39" long with a beam of 7.5"
I know it's big but felt it needed to be a little longer than the original (sorry Andy).
Let me know what you think.
Best Regards,
Chris
OK! see next post I can't upload the pictures. I'm going to try another approach.

 

[soldier01]

Ok, I think we have pictures

 

[soldier01]

But, I culd be wrong. Ill try again

 

[soldier01]

I changed a few settings on my computer and I could get the pictures.
OOPS! pay no attention to the beer cans in the back round. Yes, I know I drink cheap beer.

 

[mestell]

I really like what I see in the first photos of the boat "in progress". I am still very much interested in one of these. As long as it is no longer than 39" I have the perfect spot for this. Have you determined at what price you will sell these for - if so could you please PM withthe details. Thanks . . . . . . . . Mike

 

[soldier01]

Guys,
Sorry for the long wait. I have been up against some deadlines on commissions and one boat to bring to the West Coaster.
Here are a couple of old pictures, I have more recent ones but can't upload them at this time.
I promise to contact each of you who expressed interest in a boat in due time.
Best Regards

 

[mestell]

Marvelous looking Chris. Anxious to see a photo of the finished or near finished prototype showing stack placement, deck gun, and more. Still interested in Wisconsin . . . . . . I would christen mine the USS Palos (PG-16), a two-foot draft gun boat that was part of the "YangPat" (Yangtze Patrol) group that could easily navigate the shallow waters of the Upper Yangtze River.
Mike

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Way awesome Chris!

Best Regards,
Vick

 

[thebritfarmer]

Beautiful a true work of art.

 

[aujj65]

Very nice workmanship! (pun intended)

Jeff

 

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

This is fantastic! (no, Nicholas...NO! You can't have one!) Aaaaaaaah! But I want one!

 

[kilted vampire]

Will you bring it to the WC?