Newsletter. Work in Progress August 15, 2012 Reporter: Doug Tolbert. Contacts. Volume 39, Number 8, Sept. 2012

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1 Newsletter Volume 39, Number 8, Sept 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., Sept. 19, 7 PM, Red Cross Building, 1207 N. Lemon, Fullerton, CA Officers meeting Wed., Oct. 3, 2012, 7 PM, Bob Beech s house, 130 Clove Pl., Brea, CA (714) Work in Progress August 15, 2012 Reporter: Doug Tolbert The parking lot was crowded, shared with happy citizens of Fullerton enjoying a summer evening in the park, causing several members to park up the hill in the secondary lot. President Bill Schultheis reported that the new Fullerton Senior Center is nearing completion and we will soon have to consider whether to remain at our current meeting location or to return to the new facility. Various opinions on the returning to the Senior Center were offered from the floor, and the possibility of organizing a field trip to explore the new facility was suggested, but no conclusions were reached. Stay tuned for more on the new facility and a possible exploratory field trip in coming months. Webmaster Doug Tolbert reports that Kevin Hudson s latest video, Introduction to Lathe turning, is now available on the SMA website ( joining Kevin s earlier Flag Making video on the research room. Instructions for viewing the videos can be found on the website s home page, but you must be an active SMA member to see them. When you go to the website to see Kevin s video, you ll also notice our new home page! For a less cluttered appearance, news items on the home page are now represented only by their headlines. To read an item, click the Details link following each headline. You can dismiss the item detail by clicking the Close link at the bottom. (See next page Ed.) The SMA Plan Collection, previously held by our late friend Bill Wicks, has moved to the custody of SMA 1

2 stalwart Bob Beech. Contact Bob, or any SMA officer, if you d like to review the collection. We were joined by new member Richard Shirley and visitor Steve Haskell. Steve was referred to the SMA by central California member Chris Coyle. Steve has started his first build, coincidently the Lady Nelson currently being built by members of the Mayflower Group. Steve was quickly introduced to John Bakker who hosts the Mayflower Group on Sunday afternoons following our regular meeting. Russian Submarine Akula Burt Goldstein Burt acquired his latest cardstock offering of Akula, a Russian nuclear attack submarine, from Modelarstwo Okretowe, a Russian language website ) Fifteen Akula-class subs (translated to Shark) were first launched in 1986, and only 10 are currently thought to be in service. Burt reports that the 366 foot long sub could make 35 knots underwater and descend to a maximum depth of 1475 feet. The bumps on the hull are temperature and salinity sensors. A black hull gives these subs an ominous appearance, but Bert finds that the dark color obscures hull details on the paper model he built. You can read more about the NATO-designed Typhoon class submarines on Wikipedia ( class submarines). Your reporter found naming of the class a little confusing in the Wikipedia article see if you can figure it out! Sea Bird Yawl Paul Alkon Paul brought us a partially completed Sea Bird. Plans for this 25 7 ½ yawl were first published in the October 1901 issue of Rudder Magazine. Editor Capt. Thomas Day had the Sea Bird designed as a center board ship by C. D. Mower. In 1904, a fixed keel Sea Bird design appeared and later a 34 enlarged version called Seagoer. Plans for both versions and another called Naiad were published in a $2.00 pamphlet How to Build a Cruising Yawl. 2

3 Working alone in Long Beach for 18 months, photographer Harry Pidgeon completed a slightly modified Seagoer in In it, he became the second solo circumnavigator, following the footsteps of Joshua Slocum. Pidgeon narrates his voyage in Around the World Single-handed: The Cruise of the Islander (1932). Paul s 1:24 scale Sea Bird is modified from a Pleasant Cove Kit designed by Ron Ginger purchased in 1993; the kit is no longer available. Paul s modifications include replacing the kit s single deck-to-chine and chine-to-keel planks with 3/16 planking, a planked deck replacing the period canvassed deck and an improved rudder post and tiller. Confederacy Clyde Emerson Clyde brought in an old SMA friend on this summer evening his 1:64 scratchbuild Confederacy. This beautiful model has been seen at a number of exhibitions since its completion in 1998, including a first place award in the model ship division at the San Diego County Fair s Design in Wood show that year. From Clyde s pre-cnc days, the model is based on Father William Romero s unpublished practicum and includes cannon purchased from Romero. Pau marfim frames and planked with lemonwood while pear, boxwood and ebony complete the hull materials inventory. The case is scratch-built from cherry. Some scrollwork was provided by SMA member Bill Amour via CNC techniques, and the pedestals were turned on a Sherline lathe. HMS Fly Mike Lonnecker Mike s HMS Fly continues to progress nicely. Scratch-built following David Antscherl and Greg Herbert s four-volume set of books and plans for the 6 th rate Swan class of 1776, Mike s model is built of all boxwood at 1:48. The cant frames are installed and faired, and Mike has recently installed 50 full frames, with 26 more to go. Small, hand-made planking clamps and Jorgenson clamps to assist assembly, based on design by Ed Tosti ( were constructed with purchased threaded rod and 3

4 knurled nuts. HMS Buckingham Doug Tolbert Doug related his experiences acquiring artifacts from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich for a new project, HMS Buckingham. There were four Buckingham s built throughout the 18 th century, and the third, launched in 1751, had the most interesting career. Based on the Establishment of 1745, Buckingham was one of the last of the 70 gun third rates that preceded the popular 74 s of the late 18 th and early 19 th centuries. HMM offers original body and shear plan drawings used for all seven members of this class on their website. Two contemporary paintings of the ship are also available one of the hull with launching flags at Deptford and another of Buckingham in action at sea. Other contemporary NMM drawings of sister ships Northumberland and Oxford provide deck furniture, stern galleries, and internal layouts. A few Lieutenants logs from the Buckingham are available as well, but Doug has yet to investigate them. USS New Jersey (BB-16) Don Dressel Don completed his 1:350 scale resin kit model of the USS New Jersey, representing her with the early cage masts prior to her conversions in later life. The boats, air vent crawls, guns, railings and other details were incorporated on to the model. There was some problem with the anchors, as only two of the four required were provided. Commander Models, however, when contacted, provided promptly the missing parts free of charge, which indicated that they back their models and replace any missing or damaged parts with no problems. The rigging was also completed after a number of trials which added considerably to the appearance of the model. An American flag was finally produced using tissue paper and the computer to print the flag, as it was too small to us the Gus Agustin method. The case is being prepared of 1/8 plastic with a wooden base to complete the model. 4

5 Open Mouth Junk Robert Hewitt Mayang, a town in Hunan province, has given its name to a large and important family of junks. They were first designed to navigate the formidable rapids of the Yuan River. Several varieties have evolved, but the Open Mouth is said by the junkmen to be the prototype from which they all have sprung. It is therefore a highly important link in the history of junk building in the Upper and Middle Yangtze rivers. All of these are heavy, cumbersome, deep drought cargo carriers. There are five heavy beams built into the structure of the vessel. The junk is fitted with a true balanced rudder typical of the Upper Yangtze River craft. Longitudinal strength is provided by two heavy wales which run side by side throughout the length of the junk. These junks are mostly used to transport wood oil in large oil-proof baskets. From G. R. G. Worcester s classis Junks and Sampans of the Yangtze River (Naval Institute Press), Robert s 45 th model represents a 90 foot junk with a beam of nineteen feet, scaled at one inch to twenty feet. Brazilian Castillo boxwood from Hobby Mill was used. The model was built as the real junks with thirteen bulkheads attached to a flat floor. A former was made to arrive at the correct shape of the bow and stern. The planks were soaked in water and bent over an old-fashioned curling iron. The limits of bending a plank were exceeded in the stern area and some waviness occurred. Although not on the plans, a stick-in-the-mud anchor and its square boxed-in form of a naval pipe have been added to the bow. The finished hull was treated with a coat of tung oil. SS-1 Stealth SWATH Littoral John Simmons Continuing his series of interesting conceptual skunk work designs for modern military craft, John this month offers his SSL-1 Stealth SWATH (small waterline tri-hull) Littoral at a scale of ½ to 6 (1:144). A high speed coastal patrol vessel with a 3000 mile range at 50 knots cruising speed, or 500 miles at 100 knot dash speed, the vessel is designed to provide joint force tactical coordination, patrol, intercept enemy craft, provide shore bombardment or anti-aircraft suppress with 5

6 5 /54 rapid fire automatic guns. A 24 wing span, turbojet propelled, unmanned recue UAV can be launched from the extended aft rail with a pneumatic launcher. UAV recovery is accomplished with a parachute and inflation cushion. Propulsion includes three diesel turbines (1 per underbody hull) with 12 foot, eight-blade high speed submarine-style props. USS Constitution Bob Riddoch Bob is currently working on the head rails of his 1:96 kit from Model Shipways. He finally had a breakthrough regarding the rail running from the bottom of the cathead to the stem and is moving forward using ships drawings to create cardstock templates for the rails. Bob expects to soon be done with this nightmare that has occupied some 3 months of his time. Coppering is planned for the hull, and John Simmons suggested gammoning the bowsprit before permanently placing the head rails. Bob reports that he is woefully behind on updating his build log at Model Ship World ( RMS Titanic Bob Zmuda Bob has joined the SMA paper modeling community with this free 1:1200 scale model from Currell Graphics ( Bob finds the small parts very challenging at this scale but was able to add extra life boats so that everyone might escape this time. To correct some paleness in colors, Bob suggests darkening colors before printing. A spirited discussion of Titanic anecdotes followed with active participation from the audience. We noted that the aft funnel was a dummy added to compete with other contemporary vessels. And Robert Hewitt pointed out the current Titanic exhibit at the Balboa Park museum in San Diego. Visitors to the exhibit receive a passport on entry that tells them, at the exit, whether they lived or died. 6

7 Burt Goldstein s Russian Submarine Akula Clyde Emerson s Confederacy Paul Alkon s Sea Bird Yawl Mike Lonnecker s HMS Fly Mike Lonnecker s planking & Jorgenson clamps Don Dressel s USS New Jersey (BB 16) 7

8 Robert Hewitt s Open Mouth Junk Bob Riddoch s USS Constitution John Simmon s SSL 1 Stealth SWATH Littoral Bob Zmuda s RMS Titanic 8

9 By Don Dressel Old Salts in Port: John Bakker, Don Dressel, Greg Wilcox, Steve Jones, Mike DeCirbo Ship in Port: Lady Nelson, Scottish Maid, San Felipe, Mystique, Ranger and about 30 little folk art ship models. The meeting started off with Don Dressel talking about the plans of the Mystique that he had researched a little bit for John Bakker. There is a beautiful set of plans in the Souvenirs De Marine Conservés by Vice Admiral Paris, Tome 1, page 70 and 71. Clarification of a lot of the rigging is the main support that these drawings provide. Don then did conducted a brief synopsis of the glass case that Greg Wilcox had made using wood for the base and Plexiglas for the top (more discussed below). The reason for the discussion was the apparent large size of the case for the Lady Nelson model, but when the model was placed inside the case, it was just the right size. Models with rigging are much larger than you think! Don then showed what he had accomplished on the San Felipe. The work done was mostly on the stern, some carvings being done, a difficult boxwood molding strip bent onto the stern, and the rudder, pintals and gudgeons made. Four gunport hinges were also made and using photoetched brass and installed on the four stern gunports. The rudder will not be installed until all the work is done on the stern. The plans is then to work forward, making all the gunports and gunport hinges, with decorations and other details along the sides of the ship, working toward the bow. The next big challenge is the windows and railing posts at the stern. John Bakker talked about his most recent purchase, a Corel kit model of the USS Ranger. 9

10 John indicated that so far it is a fun little model to build. John has only worked on it for one month and already has the basic hull done! Very nice work, John! He has a minor problem of making enough models for his family. Greg Wilcox then discussed his Scottish Maid and the progress he is making on her, with work being concentrated on the masting at the moment, making his spars from lemon wood instead of using the walnut which was supplied in the kit. He uses a lathe to produce his spars, which are really turning out nice. Sanding at the end of the shaping cleans the spars up nicely. Greg also talked about making the plastic ship model case for Don and the effort required. Greg indicated that a wooden framed case would be easier for him to make, not to mention the high cost of plastic these days (a petroleum product). Don wants to thank Greg for the case, as it is very difficult to obtain a made case today by the plastic companies, if you can find one who will make the case. All ship models, for their protection, should be kept in cases once completed, as they are almost impossible to clean (especially the rigging) if not installed in a case. Steve Jones then talked about the 30 folk art models he had brought in. They were given to him by the wife of a past SMA member. Some of the models were taken by John Bakker and some more were taken by Mike DiCerbo. The price was right they were free. Any models not taken will be brought to the upcoming SMA meeting next month for anyone who may want them. They make nice play things for young people. More discussions on general and wide ranging topics were done by the group while relaxing in the new leather chairs that John had acquired. Great coffee and cookies also. Now if John will fully recover from his back problems things will be excellent! We hope John will fully recover. All in all, another great Sunday afternoon meeting with the Mayflower Group. Next month more hints and tips on model making will be discussed and sources of information and plans will be provided. 10

11 Distant SMA Member By Don Dressel Believe it or not, there are members of the SMA who cannot attend the regular SMA meetings. One of them, Ralph L. Martin, sent me photo s and some details of his recent built of the Gertrude L. Thebaud, which I feel warrants a special item in the newsletter so his fellow SMA members can enjoy the fine ship modeling work he does. Ralph is a retired engineer who lives in Leawood, Kansas and has been modeling since the 1940 s. Born in Habana, Cuba, he came to the US in He has built a lot of plastic models and graduated to wooden ships about 9 years ago. At this time he has built the Dapper Tom, America, Enterprise and several other ship models. His current interest is models of 1600 through late 1800 s sailing ships. The Gertrude L. Thebaud began life as a folk art ship model purchased seven years ago in Newport for his son. It was kept in his son s office with no case or protection, so recently he asked his father to clean the model. While doing so, Ralph discovered that the ship model he was cleaning was called the Gertrude L. Thebaud. He did some research and found two drawings at A. J. Fisher mail order, one for the deck arrangements, mast details and another for rigging. Upon receiving the drawings, it was obvious that the model was all wrong and build very poorly. The decision was made to rebuild the model from the base up. The hull dimensions were perfect to a 3/16 scale and it was made of wood with several coats of paint and varnish. Everything above the deck, including the deck planks was removed, the model being completely rebuilt to match the drawings and the information in Chapelle s The American Fishing Schooners and Jensen s Bluenose II, Saga of the Great Fishing Schooner. Other sources were available but these were the best ones. Ralph also wrote to the Essex Historical Society but never got a reply. Ralph had to make and install new masts, sails, rigging and fittings with everything being scratch built. Many parts, like the masts, were built twice since some of the original information was incorrect as to 11

12 length and tapering. The first few boats (3) were built three times since the size and boat lines were incorrect. I finally used the drawings from Bluenose II. The stacked dories have 23 parts and the exposed dories had 57 parts each. That does not include the oars, boat graft hooks, small water barrel, buckets and fish nets. All new construction included deck house and skylight, hatches, mast booms and gaffs, windlass, ship wheel, tackles and boom guys. New additions were the bilge pumps and compass. On the deck, a dressing cod table with a knife and a small hand hook was added, including a tub, bucket and gaffing hook. Also, two handmade wood barrels with salt and one short bucket with ice and a scoop and axe were added next to the dressing table. The original model had two sizes of thread, one black and one dark brown, 24 pins, 43 oversize single blocks and 2 double blocks. The final model has 5 black size lines and 4 light brown line sizes, 41 pins, 71 single blocks, 24 doubles and 3 triple (of the correct size). Ralph mentions that three different sizes of blocks were also installed depending on the location of the required block (the higher up the mast, the smaller the block). Ralph took over four months to rebuilt the model. I think the pictures included with this article is a fine example of the type of work that Ralph does and shows what can be done with even a folk art model to turn it into a real fine example of what the ship actually looked like. The editor hopes that other distant ship model builders and members of the SMA will submit their ship modeling efforts for future inclusion in the SMA Newsletter so that their efforts can be shared with the SMA membership. The editor hopes that Ralph will also build a case for this model so that it does not require cleaning again! Well done, Ralph! 12

13 The Naiad Frigate (38) 1797 Volume I Drafting and Framing Edward J. Tosti (Text, plans and Illustrations) Florence, OR: SeaWatchBooks, LLC, 2012 Oversized, 9 X 12, hardcover, 248 pages with over 400 color illustrations 6 sheets of plans (four colors) in rear pocket in 1:60 along with CD Photographs, appendices, notes, references Jacketed ISBN: This is the second book in the SeaWatch Books FRIGATES OF THE ROYAL NAVY series, this book details the hull construction of one of the hardest working class of ships in the Royal Navy at the beginning of her epic struggle with France. The book starts off with a brief history of the ship, followed by a brief synopsis of the building methods employed. This is followed by ongoing chapters giving detailed descriptions of the methods used to construct the model, along with an explanation of the CAD drawings, jigs and tools used. Mr. Tosti then goes into great detail with many photo s provided of his construction of the model, starting with the keel structure and basic joinery. This is followed by the stem structure, the bollard timbers, the knee of the head, sternpost, deadwood, hawse timbers, stern transom and hull framing. The hull framing encompasses making and erecting cant frames followed by making and erecting square frames. He then goes into lower hull detailing, finishing, and lower hull metalwork, including making and installing the rudder braces. The installation of the keelson and internal planking is next fully covered. 13

14 There is a full chapter on one of the more difficult aspects of wooden ship construction, the framing of the stern. As with all the previous areas of ship construction indicated above, there are many pictures of the methods he uses as well as the special tools and jigs employed to complete the work. This volume concludes with the framing of the gunports, which leaves the modeler with a complete hull as depicted In the photo on the front cover of the book, along with much of the internal construction and lower deck detail. The appendix in back of the book describes how the drafting and lofting of the model was done with the aid of CAD and is followed by a second appendix describing the tools used for the ship model project and how they were made and used. All in all, a very precise and complete explanation of the construction of a fully framed frigate of 38 guns in the Royal Navy and a real MUST HAVE book for ship modelers, very highly recommended. All ship model builders, not matter what level, will learn many things from reading and studying this book. The CD in the back also contains all the frame drawings which can easily be reproduced using a computer printer. The plans are very detailed and completed in four colors. Available from SeaWatchBooks for $ $9 shipping and handling US/$18 Canada/$25 all other locations. I can hardly wait for volume II 14

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16 SMA happenings The regular SMA meeting location will continue to be at the Red Cross Building through the month of September. They are completing the new building location and hopefully more information will come to light within the next month. Keep tuned to see if we will continue to meet at the Red Cross Building. Correction of Channel Island Maritime Museum location As most SMA members know, the Ventura Maritime Museum has closed, changed its name to Channel Island Maritime Museum and moved to a new location. Your intrepid editor may have given the wrong address for the new location, the correct address being 3900 Blue Fin Circle, open Monday through Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. If you have not seen the new museum, you are missing out on a treat. The second floor is still being worked on, but the first floor is open with many excellent ship models and paintings on display in a wonderful setting. Treasurer s Report Our esteemed SMA Treasurer, Mike DiCerbo, indicates that the current balance in the SMA treasury is $1, as of September 1, Web Manager s Report Doug Tolbert reports that the CD shown of Kevin s Lathe for Model Makers procedure at the July SMA meeting is placed on the SMA web for members only. Doug keeps on adding things to the web site, so check it out. 16

17 Source of Rare Woods and Ship Model Cases Randy Biddle sent a message to your editor indicting that he found a wonderful source for wood and the great possibility of making wooden cases for ship models. He met the gentleman in Clarksville, MO and toured his shop (see attached photo s). Randy indicated that he is a great craftsman who can provide milled wood in many varieties and build furniture to order, including ship model cases. His contact information: Greenwell Fine Furniture 110 S. Second Street PO Box 85 Clarksville, MO Greenwell04@hotmail.com Randy indicated that Clarksville, and Louisiana Missouri are Mississippi River communities that date back to the early 1800 s with beautiful old architecture. Greenwell did much of the fine cabinetry, doors and windows in the restoration/preservation efforts there. If any SMA members utilize this information to have a ship model cabinet constructed, please advise the SMA membership of your experience (Ed.) ANNUAL AUCTION IN OCTOBER Remember that the annual AUCTION is next month. Prepare all those items that you no longer use, tools, kits, books, and bring them to the auction in OCTOBER. Great deals can be made by all SMA members. You MUST be an SMA member to be part of the auction. 17

18 Mike Lonnecker s HMS Fly Donald C. Dressel 908 W. 22 nd Street, Upland, CA Next meeting Wednesday, September 19, 7:30 PM, Hillcrest Park Red Cross Building 18