Newsletter. Work in Progress June 20, 2012 Reporter: Dave Yotter. Contacts. Volume 39, Number 7, July 2012

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22 nd Street Upland, CA 91784-1229 E-mail: dressel4@earthlink.net Web Manager: Doug Tolbert: (949) 644-5416 Web Site www.shipmodelersassociation.org Meeting Wed.

1 Newsletter Volume 39, Number 7, July 2012 Contacts President: Bill Schultheis (714) Vice President: John Simmons (626) Secretary: Paul Payne (310) Treasurer: Mike DiCerbo (714) Ocaso Ave, #DD204, La Mirada, CA Editor, Don Dressel (909) W. 22 nd Street Upland, CA Web Manager: Doug Tolbert: (949) Web Site Meeting Wed., July 18, 7 PM, Red Cross Building, 1207 N. Lemon, Fullerton, CA Work in Progress June 20, 2012 Reporter: Dave Yotter We had a group of about 40 for this months meeting. We had one visitor, Paul Cadwell, who was back for his second visit and this time brought a model in progress with him. It was reported that Bob Beach was resting at home with some health problems. We all wish you well, Bob and hope to see you back real soon. David Okamura announced that there was an opportunity for the SMA to join a model railroad club and maybe some other clubs for a small exhibit coming up in mid September at the Old Stage Coach Hotel in Brea. He was looking for volunteers to bring models, particularly those models with a California connection. Contact David at dto.1@gateway.net. Continental Frigate CONFEDERACY John Simmons The Continental Frigate Confederacy (Tonnage 959; Length 153 ; Beam 35 6 ; Compliment 261; armament Officers meeting Wed., Aug. 1, 2012, 7 PM, Bob Beech s house, 130 Clove Pl., Brea, CA (714)

2 28 12-pouders, 8 6-pounders) was launched 8 November 1778 at Chatham (Norwich?), Connecticut and towed to New London to be prepared for sea. From 1 May to 24 August 1779 she cruised on the Atlantic Coast under the command of Captain S. Harding. While convoying a fleet of merchantmen, on 6 June, she and Deane captured three prizes, drove off two British frigates and brought the convoy safely into Philadelphia, Pa. On 17 September 1779 Confederacy was ordered to carry the French Minister and his family back to France. Later, John Jay, the first American Minister to Spain, his secretary, and family were added to the passenger list. During the passage on 7 November 1779 Confederacy was completely dismasted and almost lost, but managed through the skillful seamanship of Captain Harding to reach Martinique early in December. After repairs, she returned to convoy duty. While homeward bound from Cape Francois in the West Indies in 1781 with military stores and other supplies, Confederacy was forced to strike her flag to the British ships Roebuck (44) and Orpheus (32). She was subsequently taken into the British service as the Confederate. John Simmons is well into construction of his 1:64 scale plank-on-bulkhead kit from Model Shipways. The coppering was done using a pounce wheel for nail detail in a jig, which allows adding the nail detail, and then using a chisel to cut off each plate. Treenail detail was done using a #70 drill and then filling the holes with a wax based repair (putty) pencil. He used india ink for staining the wales and upper works. The kit contains lots of laser cut parts for things like the stern windows and photo etched brass for such items as sweep port hinges. John likes to stain parts first before installing, he uses Minwax stains, as this way any glue squeeze-out won t show. He likes to use Gorilla brand super glue. Aircraft Concept Designs John Simmons John Simmons has finished two more original aircraft designs from Simmons Skunk Works. The scale was not stated but previous examples of John s work have been in 1:48 scale. The first is a suppressed sonic boom concept, stealthy supersonic dual-purpose design, which could be configured as a transport or a bomber. It featured canted inboard vertical control surfaces for sonic boom reduction and would be powered by two F135 engines, buried inside the fuselage for reduced heat cross section. In bomber configuration it would feature tandem rotary launchers. As a transport it would carry 46 passengers in two classes. The second concept was for a long duration (7 to 12 hours), unmanned stealthy recon aircraft (UAV). This one looked neat, a long aspect ratio flying wing with a canard in front, looking like a mutant hammerhead shark. Cool. Antarctic Observation Ship Soya Burt Goldstein The Soya is a Japanese ice-strengthened cargo ship, which was built in It was originally constructed as a commercial ship, but its ice durability and sonar technology prompted the Japanese army to purchase it for use as a naval ship. 2

Following the war it was used as a repatriation ship and a lighthouse supply ship, and from 1956 to 1962 it served as an Antarctic observation ship.

After being decommissioned, the Soya was made a permanent exhibition ship in front of the Museum of Maritime Science in Tokyo and remains on display there today.

3 Following the war it was used as a repatriation ship and a lighthouse supply ship, and from 1956 to 1962 it served as an Antarctic observation ship. After passing the Antarctic torch to its successor, the Fuji, the Soya became a patrol vessel for the Japan Coast Guard. After being decommissioned, the Soya was made a permanent exhibition ship in front of the Museum of Maritime Science in Tokyo and remains on display there today. Burt Goldstein is finished with his 1:250 scale model of the Soya. The cardstock kit was downloaded free, an offering of Cannon Creative Park, an associate of the Cannon camera company. Their kits and instructions are very detailed and they offer an excellent collection of aircraft and architectural models along with seagoing prototypes. English Cutter Clyde Emerson Clyde Emerson is doing some more restoration work for Vallejo Gallery. This time the subject is a seven-foot long model of an English Cutter, which will be covered with glass to make a table!? Clyde supplied some photos of the model taken in his garage, as the model was too big to make the trip to the meeting. So far, the copper bottom has been cleaned and re-patinaed and more cleaning is under way. What he did bring to the meeting were some parts to be made into truck carriages for the ten guns that will be fitted to the model. The gun barrels will be cast. He has completed the casting pattern from urethane, turned on his Sherline lathe with a duplicator. The trucks and carriage parts are being cutout with the aid of his CNC mill. The trucks are sized to fit some brass rings he will use for tires and will be parted off the mahogany (or was that cherry?) wood blank. The carriage parts are poplar. The scale and caliber of the guns are open to speculation. Scrimshaw Larry Van Es Larry Van Es brought in his collection of scrimshaw in 1:1 scale and scratch built for sure. Some of the pieces were antiques and Larry did some. The round pieces were cross sections of walrus tooth done by Larry. Traditionally the design was scratched in the ivory using a sail needle and then the color, ink, rubbed in the scratches and then removed from the surface using steel wool. He has a couple of whale s teeth (purchased in the 60 s) for future projects? 3

USS COLUMBUS Wayne Medeiros USS Columbus was a 74-gun ship of the line. She was launched on 1 March 1819 by the Washington Navy Yard and commissioned on 7 September 1819, Master Commandant J.H.

Serving as a receiving ship after 1833, she remained at Boston in ordinary until sailing to the Mediterranean on 29 August 1842, as flagship for Commodore Charles W. Morgan.

4 USS COLUMBUS Wayne Medeiros USS Columbus was a 74-gun ship of the line. She was launched on 1 March 1819 by the Washington Navy Yard and commissioned on 7 September 1819, Master Commandant J.H. Elton in command. Clearing Norfolk, Virginia on 28 April 1820, Columbus served as flagship for Commodore William Bainbridge in the Mediterranean until returning to Boston on 23 July Serving as a receiving ship after 1833, she remained at Boston in ordinary until sailing to the Mediterranean on 29 August 1842, as flagship for Commodore Charles W. Morgan. On 24 February 1843, she sailed from Genoa, Italy, and reached Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on 29 July to become flagship of the Brazil Squadron, Commodore Daniel Turner. She returned to New York City on 27 May 1844 for repairs. After embarking Commodore James Biddle, Commander East Indies Squadron, she sailed on 4 June 1845 for Canton, China, where on 31 December Commodore Biddle exchanged ratified copies of the first American commercial treaty with China. Columbus remained there until April 1846, when she sailed for Japan to attempt opening that country to American commerce. She raised Uraga Bay on 19 July in company with Vincennes, but achieved no success. Recalled at the outbreak of the Mexican-American War Columbus reached Valparaiso, Chile, in December and arrived off Monterey, California, 2 March Too large to be useful in the California operations, the ship sailed from San Francisco on 25 July for Norfolk, arriving on 3 March At Norfolk Navy Yard, Columbus lay in ordinary until 20 April 1861, when she was sunk by withdrawing Union forces to prevent her falling into Confederate hands. Wayne Medeiros is building his model of USS Columbus in 1:76.8 (5/32 = 1 ) scale from Seagull plans. The ship s dimensions were 193 ft. in length, 53 ft. beam, 22 ft. depth in the hold and 2480 tons displacement. Armament was 68 X 32 pounder long guns and 24 X 42-pounder carronades. Frames, keel, stem and stern pieces are all made of pau marfim, deck beams of maple and degame (aka lemon wood) for interior planking. The gun barrels are also turned from degame. Wayne has the gun port hinges and lids ready to go and has finished the blocks for the guns. Fictitious ship San Felipe Don Dressel Don Dressel brought in his scratch built model of the 1:112 scale ship San Felipe. The ship is based on a Mantua kit model with all plans reduced in scale. Apparently, the origin of the 4

ship is a model designed by Vincenzo Lusci using typical Spanish construction methods, although research has revealed that there was never a ship of that name in the Spanish Navy in 1690.

5 ship is a model designed by Vincenzo Lusci using typical Spanish construction methods, although research has revealed that there was never a ship of that name in the Spanish Navy in The model was originally started by Richard Keyes of Australia, who indicated to Don that he had no intention of finishing the model. Don felt that it was too lovely a model to not be completed, so an exchange was arranged. Once Don received the model from the land of Oz, he commissioned Clyde Emerson to work his magic with his CNC machine and replicate the carvings to the reduced scale. Once the carvings were obtained from Clyde, Don cleaned and sharpened them up, spending several months finalizing the carvings. Some slight repairs were required on the San Felipe model, and efforts to continue the construction are now underway. There was originally some difficulty establishing an adequate water line, but this has now been resolved. Using the suggestions of the SMA members at the last meeting, Don ordered two bottles of Floquil antique white paint from Hobbylinc and hopefully will have the bottom of the hull masked off and spray painted by the next meeting. At the same time much thought is going into the next stages of construction, with the rudder, pintails, gudgeons, and stern work being studied. The plans leave a lot to be desired, since they are made for a kit model and not designed for a scratch built model, so a lot of studying and research is also now under progress. The gun port lids are next how to make the hindges. U.S. Brig Perry of 1843 Fred Schaffner USS Perry (1843) was a brig commissioned by the Union Navy prior to the American Civil War. Perry had the reputation of being the fastest ship in the Navy and she had more than year carrier. During that time she was tasked by the Navy for many missions, including those related to diplomatic tensions with Paraguay, the Mexican-American War, the slave trade, and the American Civil War. Perry was launched in May 1843 by the Norfolk Navy Yard; and commissioned 13 October 1843, Comdr. Samuel F. Du Pont in command. Her major dimensions were 100 ft. on deck, 25 ft. beam, 13 ft. draft and 280-ton displacement. Her armament was two 32-pounder long guns and six 32-pounder carronades. She was finely sold out of service in Fred Schaffner s model of the Perry started out as a used mahogany C. W. Morgan hull. The plans came from Chappelle s The American Sailing Navy. Next, he did a classic Shaffner. He changed the scale (1:67.8) so that the hull length would match the new prototype length; he cut down the bulwarks and then cut down into the hull for the deck and then the deck was added back. The bottom was planked over and coppered. All that remains is to turn a ship into a brig and your done! Actually he is not quite down as he still has some bow area rigging to complete. For this model he has used all linen line. 5

The story goes that Zvezda lost its license from Disney to produce the kit and so a quick change, the figurehead changed from a winged and draped something-or-other to a well, you get the idea.

6 Pirate Ship Black Swan Paul Cadwell Paul Cadwell brought in his started model of Black Swan, a 1:72 scale molded styrene kit from Zvezda. If you re not familiar with this ship, it is the result of a slight change to the Black Pearl kit previously offered from the same manufacturer. The story goes that Zvezda lost its license from Disney to produce the kit and so a quick change, the figurehead changed from a winged and draped something-or-other to a well, you get the idea. Paul is using some innovative finishing techniques on the model. He uses thinned out Tamiya acrylics and Metal Master paints to good effect. The kit comes with nicely detailed molded plastic sails. Yacht Marybeth Bob Fisher Bob Fisher brought in a 1:10 scale radio controlled and scratch built model of a 40 ft. Yawl. The model is of the boat owned by the Fisher family from 1935 to The yacht was designed by George Wayland and built in 1927 at United Ship Repair in San Francisco for Fred Varney of the San Francisco Yacht Club. In 2005 Bob and his father started building the 1:10 model of Marybeth. The model features a plank-on-frame hull of cedar. Other woods used include teak trim and a Douglas fir cockpit. There is a cast lead keel and a working brass centerboard. There is a nice website documenting both the yacht and her model at: yachtmarybeth.com. 6

John Simmons Continental Frigate Confederacy

parts Clyde Emerson s 7 foot English Cutter

7 John Simmons Continental Frigate Confederacy Burt Goldstein s Antarctic Observation ship Soya John Simmons aircraft concept designs Clyde Emerson s gun barrels and carriage parts Clyde Emerson s 7 foot English Cutter as seen is his garage (too large to bring to meeting). 7

8 Scrimshaw Larry Van Es San Felipe Don Dressel USS Columbus Wayne Medeiros US Brig Perry Fred Schaffner Pirate ship Black Swan Paul Cadwell Yacht Marybeth Bob Fisher 8

9 DonDressel Enclosed are a number of the pictures I took of the many Navy Board Models at Chatham Dockyard throughthekindpermissionofsimonstephens.ihopeyouenjoythepictures. Solidhullmodel(closesttoROEBUCK)andplankedmodel Plank on Framemodels tagidentifiesmodel Moremodelsfromdifferentperspectives 9

Simon Stephens holding two of the models,

10 Simon Stephens holding two of the models, which he brought out of the shelves for pictures. A final bow shot plus some indication that a few of the models were rigged. A very big THANK YOU to Simon Stephens and his assistant who spent about 2 hours with Liz and I. 10

11 By Don Dressel Old Salts in Port: John Bakker, Don Dressel, Don Leyman, Steve Jones, Mike DiCerbo, Greg Wilcox, Dan Hickox, Yas Komorita. Ship in Port: Lady Nelson (kit), Lady Nelson (scratch), Lobster Smack, Scottish Maid, Victory Bow section, Model Shipways Virginia Pilot boat kit, Model Shipways New York Pilot Boat kit, Coral Ranger kit, and several scratch built planes. It was the usual crowd this month at the Old Salts Bar in John Bakker s back room with a few exceptions, Doug having a fun time in Boston as an example. Don Dressel assumed his usual correspondent duty with many thanks to Doug Tolbert for filling in for him was he was gallivanting about the Irish and Scottish countryside. Don Dressel started off the discussions by again presenting his LADY NELSON, a completed kit model from Victory Models (Amati). Briefly techniques used and methods for mounting the model were again discussed along with the making of the flag, which was done using Gus Agustin s method with the help of Kevin Hudson s fine demonstration. The new book Nicolaes Witsen and Shipbuilding in the Dutch Golden Age by A. J. Hoving was talked about. If you want to know about Dutch methods of building their ships, this is the finest book on the subject. Lastly, an old Scientific kit model of the USS CONSTITUTION was shown and sold to John Bakker (I hope he builds it the kit will be quite a challenge). Don Leyman was next up and a lively discussion took place with regard to the rigging of the LADY NELSON, which Don is scratch building. There were a number of questions about the rigging that were not clear in the original kit plans. There were a number of questions about the halyards and a line holding down the boom. Don also had a problem with displaying the model, as he only has a small space on his shelf. It was suggested that he may want to consider installing his yards at an angle to make the model thinner in width thus enabling the model to fit on the shelf. For some reason your correspondent did not take a picture of Don s fine model my apologies to Don. Yas Komorita brought in several scratch built planes to complete his magnificent aircraft carrier the USS NIMITZ, which he is building in the back room of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum. The planes were made from wood in 1:100 scale to fit the aircraft carrier, which has many more 11

types of planes on board. Most of the planes he was able to build from kits, but these last six (including two helicopters) had to be scratch, since no kits were available.

12 types of planes on board. Most of the planes he was able to build from kits, but these last six (including two helicopters) had to be scratch, since no kits were available. Your author hopes to have a complete write up of this super model in the near future with a lot of great pictures of the model. It has to be seen to be believed. The model is so big that there may be a problem in getting it out of the room in which it was built only inches to spare if the doors are removed! Dan Hickox brought in two Shipways kit models that he is planning to build and asked for help in deciding which one to build first and methods and techniques, books, and other things to help him build the models. The New York Pilot Boat (PHANTOM) is a solid hull model. Templates were suggested along with the book The Neophyte Shipmodeller s Jackstay by George F. Campbell. Use sharp chisels to help cut away the bulwarks. It was suggested that the solid hull model should be the first one, followed by the plank on bulkhead model, the Virginia Pilot Boat (KATY OF NORFOLK). Ben Lankfords book How to Build First Rate Ship Models from Kits was also suggested along with Don Dressel s Planking Techniques for Model Ship Builders. Greg Wilcox then talked about all the items he had brought in. First was the Lobster Smack which is completed and mounted in its acrylic case. A discussion followed on the making of cases using acrylic and the glue and methods used. Greg next showed us the tool rest he had made for his lathe which again sparked some discussion on uses and methods. His third topic was the LADY NELSON scratch built model his is making and the corrections he will have to make to his bulkheads, as some of them do not match the false deck he has installed, which he knows is correct. Some additions to bulkheads and a few more that have to be reduced will solve the problem. Correctly oriented bulkheads are a must PRIOR to starting to plank the model, or serious problems will occur. 12

13 Greg s last discussion evolved around his SCOTTISH MAID model and the problems he is having with the rigging. He will use Warner Woods West blocks but needed advice on the rigging material and sizes. Last but not least, John Bakker talked about his VICTORY bow section he had built awhile ago and the problem he had with the case he had made. The base had warped badly (due to the model being placed in direct sun light) and had to be replaced. Fortunately, the acrylic case was not damaged and the model was OK. John put a new base on the model case and remounted the model, which is fine now. What John was surprised about was that the original base lost its warp while sitting in his garage it was almost flat again. The main warning here is to NOT expose your cased models to direct sunlight over time, damage will result. All in all, a great time was had and lively discussion took place. The coffee and cookies were good, as usual, and everyone came away having learned something new. 13

Kit No. K1895 USS OLYMPIA Scale: 3/32 = 1 FORE SALE Great News. The Bluejacket Shipcrafters kit model of the USS OLYMPIA (pictured above) is again available for purchase.

14 Kit No. K1895 USS OLYMPIA Scale: 3/32 = 1 FORE SALE Great News. The Bluejacket Shipcrafters kit model of the USS OLYMPIA (pictured above) is again available for purchase. This is kit #5 of 200 and Bluejacket no longer has this kit, as it is a sold out limited edition kit. Bob Friedman has decided to sell his kit model for the price he paid for it, $ The price includes 14 bottles of paint and free shipping. Anyone interested in purchasing this kit can contact Bob at bobcat2@bmi.net or Don Dressel at dressel4@earthlink.net. 14

SMA happenings The powerpoint presentation on Introduction to the Lathe for Model Makers by Kevin Hudson of Australia will be shown at the July SMA meeting.

15 SMA happenings The powerpoint presentation on Introduction to the Lathe for Model Makers by Kevin Hudson of Australia will be shown at the July SMA meeting. It should be as good as or better than the one shown on making flags, also by Kevin. Check all the new things on our web site at including the video presentation of making of flags. Possible Admiralty Model s work shop in California We are still working on a possible work shop here in sunny California. There was a large announcement in the last SMA Newsletter. It looks really interesting, even if it cost $ to attend. You pay that much for a kit of similar type but do not get the quality you will with the material being used in the work shop. Currently there are 14 people signed up and we need 6 more people to make it work. Hopefully, the work shop will be in July or August of this year at a location in Orange County. Treasurer s Report Our esteemed SMA Treasurer, Mike DiCerbo, indicates that the current balance in the SMA treasury is $1, as of July 5, Web Manager s Report Doug Tolbert reports that the CD shown of Kevin s flag making procedure at the April SMA meeting is being placed on the SMA web site as a video. All who missed the meeting will be able to see this excellent presentation on the method originally thought up by our own SMA member Gus Agustin of Chicago. Doug keeps on doing an excellent job of updating our web site with the expert help of Bob Bowker. 15

16 Wayne Medeiros s USS Columbus under construction Donald C. Dressel 908 W. 22 nd Street, Upland, CA Next meeting Wednesday, July 18, 7:30 PM, Hillcrest Park Red Cross Building 16

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