θωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνµθωερτψυι οπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνµθωερτψυιοπασδφγη ϕκλζξχϖβνµθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβ νµθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνµθωερτψ υιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνµθωερτψυιοπασδφ γηϕκτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνµθωερτψυι οπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνSMA SMA µθωερτψυιοπασδφγη ϕκλζξχϖβνµθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβ νµθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνNewsletterNewsletter µθωερτψ υιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνVolume 47, Number 11, November 2020µθωερτψυιοπασδφ γηϕκλζξχϖβνµθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχ ϖβνµθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνµθωε ρτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνContacts µρτψυιοπασδφ President: Jean-Philippe Dal Gobbe – [email protected] γηϕκλζξχϖβνVice President: Brian Stein µθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχ– [email protected] Secretary: Paul Payne: (310) 544-1461 Treasurer: Larry Van Es: (714) 936-0389 – [email protected] ϖβνµθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνEditor: Don Dressel: (909) 949-6931 – [email protected]. µθωε Web Manager: Doug Tolbert: (949) 644-5416 ρτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνSMA mail address: 21520 Yorba Linda Blvd, Suite G234, Yorba Linda, Ca. µθωερτψυιοπα 92887 σδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνwww.shipmodelersassociation.orgµθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλ.

Meeting – Wed., ? , 7 PM, Red Cross Building, 1207 N. Lemon, ζξχϖβνµθωερτψυιοπασδφγηϕκλζξχϖβνFullerton, CA. 92832 µθ

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Corona Virus Cancellation of SMA Meetings

Unfortunately, the CODIV-19 is still with us and no end seems to be in sight. The SMA meetings and Mayflower Group meetings continue to be cancelled until the pandemic finally reaches its termination, which it will eventually. In the meantime, everyone has to deal with the situation and hope for better times. Once again, contributions to your editor will be put into the SMA Newsletter to keep all members aware of progress made in ship model building. In addition, there is our monthly meeting on the Internet – check out https://gloval.gotomeeting.com/join/825853717. I have hopes that in the near future we can again have both our regular monthly meetings at the Red Cross Building, the Mayflower Group meeting, and maybe even continue the gotomeeting on the Internet, since we are now attracting many old SMA members who are now to far away to attend the meeting in Fullerton.

WORK IN PROGRESS

Your Editor has received a number of replies from SMA members regarding their current projects, so I am taking them in order of receipt and putting them together for this months newsletter. Some items received by SMA members cannot be place in the current months SMA Newsletter for several reasons, but will be incorporated into the following months SMA Newsletter for sure. Please keep them coming until such time as the Corona Virus pandemic is over and we can again have our regular SMA and Mayflower Group meetings. Thanks to all of you.

Bob Penakis

Bob is continually sending me items that he has built – time must be on his hands even more than usual due to the CODIV-19 situation. I appreciate his sending me news on the items he is working on. One of his latest efforts, completing the Lelievlet, is indicated in his own words: “The Lelievlet is the most commonly used steel and rowing boat of the Sea Scouts of Scouting Nederland. It is also used by many Sea Scouts in Flanders and the National Water Activates Centre (NWAC) of Scouting Ireland in Killaloe, Ireland. Its design is based upon the beenhakkervlet, a type of steel often used with cargo riverboats and its name is derived from the international Scout Logo, the Scout lily. The paper model is 5 ¾ inches long, 2 inches wide and seven inches tall.

2 Along time ago the parts were printed I believe on 67 lb cardstock. The basic structure was started then other projects came along pushing the Lelievlet aside and into a garage storage box with a number of other lost interest starts to be rediscovered during this

stay at home virus thing. It is neat to have the SMA Newsletter alive and well to prompt wanting to share something along nautical lines even though it is only paper.” The photos below show the model along with a photo of the upholstery thread Bob used to make the model.

Bob has already sent me another project he is working on. That will be included in the next SMA Newsletter. I would like to know if other paper modelers produce as many models as Bob does in such a short time frame and do such a good job of it. Bob is also very innovative in using other material to complete his paper models, as evidenced by his use of the upholstery thread. Since most of the models are small, I wonder where he stores them all!

3 Tony Devroude

Tony sent me an item that I think should be shared with the SMA membership. For some of us (like me) who have a Preac table saw and use it all the time, there can result from usage problems do to age of the tool. The original manufacturer is no longer in business and some of us are having problems with obtaining parts due to age and hard usage(broken belts). Tony has informed me that Preac saws can be upgraded and parts obtained from Ship Ahoy Models, Bob Prezioso still being in business. He set Tony up with a new belt, a new switch, and a second upgrade kit for his second Preac (very useful for doing things like making gratings). A photo below shows the more powerful motor with the mounting base and arbor pulley. Tony highly recommends this upgrade, as do I. Really excellent for cutting your own planking – I use my Preac all the time. The second photo shows the address and telco number for Ship Ahoy Models. Highly recommended for all wooden ship model builders.

Clare Hess

Clare sent me photos of his card model of HMS Alert, which I remember seeing at one of the NRG Conferences, I think in San Diego a few years ago (prior to the COVID-19 pandemic). I was amazed at the detail in the model, made from paper (see the photos below). It is the first paper model that Clare ever did and is more of a “mixed media” model in that the masts and spars are all wood, the cannon barrels are brass and the sails are actually a -cut material sold by the kit’s manufacturer ( I believe the manufacturer is Shipyard – check with Ages of Sail if interested).

In any case, Clare things there is one good result due to CODIV-19 – the hobby industry is doing a great business at this time due to everyone staying at home and socially distancing. Now I know how some people must have thought when the horse became obsolete and cars started to take ascendancy. For some people, good things can happen even when bad things are apparently happening worldwide. Photos of Clare’s model on next page.

Clare has indicated that he will again try another paper model (with modifications).

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5 John Bakker

John brought in the Mordaunt to work on (see photo), but has done little on it since he discovered (actually, his grandson discovered) that there were some “droppings” in the case of the Royal Lewis around the bitts and other areas on the stern pieces. The pintles and gudgeons are also affected. This was an old kit, so many of the fittings may be lead. So this is going to be his next project. He already cleaned up the bowhead rails and drilled holes in the case to try and prevent the “lead rot”.

The upshot is he will need to make repairs to his Royal Lewis before he continues work on the Mordaunt. The positive side is that John is still working on ship models and probably will for years to come. Those who attended the Mayflower Group meetings at his house miss the camaraderie and fun that we had.

Paul Payne

Paul sent me information on his model of the Lexington in 1:48 scale along with a number of photos to share with the SMA membership. There were many ships in that era that had the name Lexington, but it is thought that the model Paul has scratch built is based on the ex merchant brig Wild Duck. There is also conjecture as to whether she was a brig or brigantine – the later designation being excepted by Paul. She had a length between perpendiculars of 86 feet, Length

6 of keel for tonnage of 73 ft-6in., breadth: 24 ft.-6”, draft: 10 ft.-6in.: burthen: 210 tonnes, armament: 2 each 6 lb. long guns, 14 each 4 lb., 10 swivels.

The history of the ship as sent to me by Paul: “Abraham van Bibber purchased brigantine Wild Duck for the Maryland Committee of Safety at St. Eustatius in the Dutch West Indies in February 1776. She soon got underway for the Delaware Capes and reached Philadelphia 9 March with a cargo of sorely needed powder for the patriot forces. Four days later the Marine Committee purchased Wild Duck, renamed her Lexington and turned her over to Wharton and Humphrey for fitting out.

Commanded by Capt. John Berry, Lexington dropped down the Delaware 26 March and slipped through the British blockade 6 April. The following day she fell in with the British sloop Edward, a tender to the enemy frigate Liverpool. After a fierce fight that lasted about an hour Edward struck her colors. Lexington took her prize into Philadelphia and as soon as soon as the ship was back in fighting trim, Barry put to sea again. On 26 April Lexington encountered Sir Peter Parker’s fleet sailing in to attack Charleston, South Carolina. Two of the British ships gave chase. Barry escaped only to find himself in even

worse straits on 5 May off the Delaware Capes. HMS Roebuck and Liverpool chased Lexington for 8 hours and came close enough to exchange fire with the American ship before Barry managed to elude his pursuers and reach Philadelphia safely.

Lexington and Reprisal dropped down the Delaware to Cape May on the 20th and joined Wasp and . HMS Liverpool stood off the Delaware Capes preventing the American ships from escaping to sea. On 28 June Pennsylvania’s brig Nancy arrived in the area with 386 barrels of powder in her hold and ran aground while attempting to elude British blockaders Kingfisher and Orpheus. Boats from the four American warships unloaded the precious powder during the night leaving only 100 barrels in Nancy at dawn.

7 Barry then devised a delayed action fuse, which exploded the powder just as a boatload of British seamen boarded Nancy.

On 10 July Lexington slipped to sea. On the 27th she captured Lady Susan, a ship of Lord Dunmore’s Tory Fleet that operated out of Chesapeake Bay. William Goodrich, a member of the notorious Tory family, which had plagued the seacoast, and the shipping of Virginia and Maryland commanded this privateer. Richard Dale, one of seven members of Lady Susan’s crew who signed on Lexington, later won fame under John Paul Jones. Early in September, Lexington took another sloop, Betsy. About a fortnight later struck Lexington forcing the brigantine home for repairs. Lexington anchored off Philadelphia 26 September. Two days later Barry relinquished command.

Repairs completed, Lexington, Captain William Hallock in command, got underway for Cape Francois to obtain a military cargo. On the return voyage, British frigate Pearl overhauled the brigantine just short of the Delaware Capes 20 December and captured her. The commander of the frigate removed Lexington’s officers but left 70 of her men on board under hatches with a prize crew. By luring their captors with a promise of rum, the Yankee sailors recaptured the ship and brought her to Baltimore.

Lexington, Capt. Henry Johnson in command, sailed for France 20 February 1777 and took two prizes before reaching Bordeaux 3 weeks later. In France the brigantine joined Reprisal and Dolphin for a cruise seeking the Irish linen fleet scheduled to leave Dublin early in June. The American ships, commanded by Capt. Lambert Wickes, got underway 28 May and were carried far to westward by heavy winds. Approaching Dublin from the north they entered the North Channel 18 June and hove to off the Mull of Kintyre. During the next 4 days they captured nine prizes, sinking three, releasing one and retaining five. Heading south again on the 22nd, they took and scuttled a brig before arriving off Dublin Bay. The next morning they took another brig and a ship bringing sugar, rum and cotton from Jamaica. After placing prize crews on both vessels, they resumed their voyage around Ireland. On the 24th they stopped and released a smuggler and the next day took their last prize, a now.

When they sighted ship-of-the-line Burford near Ushant on the 26th, the American ships scattered and made their way individually to safety in France. Lexington remained at Morlaix, a Brittany fishing village, throughout the summer, hemmed in by British warships. However, France, under strong British diplomatic pressure, ordered the American ship out of French waters 12 September. Lexington got underway the next morning but made little headway because of light wind. She lay becalmed near Ushant on the morning of the 19th when British cutter Alert came into view. In the ensuing fight, Lexington’s rigging was seriously damaged precluding fight. When the American brigantine ran out of powder Captain Johnson reluctantly struck his colors.”

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In a few of Paul’s photos there are a number of interesting items shown on his scratch built model of the Lexington. The first photo on the previous page shows the detail of the bow area. The next two photos show the detail of the stern area of the model. Note the lines going over the stern the hold the rudder chains so that the rudder is not lost as well as the steering arrangements. The last photo shows the frame construction as well as extra details in the hold.

9 Richard Walton

Your Editor made a mistake in the last SMA Newsletter – he mistakenly did not credit Richard for building the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne and also indicated he was a member of the South Bay Model Shipwrights. In fact, he is the president of the Channel Island Maritime Museum Model Guild, has become a member of the SMA, and is a prolific U.S. Coast Guard ship model builder and presenter (see photo).

Richard told me that the Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CIMM), every year, honors the local U.S. Coast Guard Station Channel Islands on or about August 4 with an USCG Anniversary party. At that event, the museum presents a USCG ship model as a token of appreciation. Richard has built about 15 of these models for the museum (scratch). This year the model is of a Response Boat (medium) 45 footer, scratch built at 1:32 scale. The second photo shows Richard presenting the model to Lt. Thomas Wieland, the Station’s Commanding Officer. The hull is plates on bulkhead, with thin plywood sides and basswood deck planks. The railings are soldered brass rod.

Richard also attended the Western Ship Model Exhibition and Conference, which was the last ship model event done by the SMA held at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum in April, 2011. He presented his model of the Diligence, a British Revenue Cutter in 1:64 scale built from a solid hull Marine Model kit (see photo). She has a retractable bowsprit. The kit came with a solid mahogany hull. The white metal deck fittings that came with the kit were replaced with scratch wood deck fittings (photo of the model shown above). Richard also gave me permission, since the CIMM Model Guild is currently lacking an editor, to publish material of his clubs member’s accomplishments in the SMA Newsletter.

10 Bill Sproul

Bill Sproul is also a member of the Channel Islands Maritime Museum Model Guild, but has also moved out of state, so he sent Richard Walton his progress on his scratch built model of the French frigate L’Hermione.

Bill writes: “Thought I would send an update on L’H.

a. The hull is more or less framed (except to the stern). The stern structure is like a unicorn dust fantasy construction. I have been so concerned I would break it off if I built it too soon that I did not build it at all. I plan on adding it as the last step in hull construction.

b. I have been working on planking the gun deck. A straightforward job, BUT!

There are about 5,220 deck gun deck fastenings (trunnels). There are about 2,000 fastenings in the poop deck and about 1500 fastenings in the foc’sle deck. That is about 8,720 fastenings for the exposed decks. There will be 30,000 fasteners in the hull itself. That is a LOT of wood to pull through a metal plate. SO!

c. I am using 24 ga. (diameter of 0.0225 inch) copper wire for all the fastenings. The holes are drill size 72 (0.0250 inch diameter). That is in line with the original vessel that had about two thirds copper fastenings. That is a lot of work: drawing the lines, tapping the guide holes for the drill, drilling the holes, gluing, inserting and cutting off the wire, fining off the protrusions and smoothing the deck. Whew! I have about one- third of the gun deck done. d. The amount of wire required is astounding. Figure 1/3” wire per fastening. {1/3” x (5220+2000+1500}/12” = 241 feet!

11 That is about a half pound of #24 ga. wire. e. The enclosed photos show a little of the progression. It took me 3 days to lay the first starboard section. 1-1/2 days to lay the second (port band). There is a learning curve. About a week to do the next two bands. Then I started the fastenings. I can finish about 100 fastenings per hour: from initial marking to final matte varnishing. The gun deck should take about 52 hours to fasten. f. I needed to fashion a few new tools. Files for grinding off the wire ends. A special shaped punch for indenting the guide holes. A genius idea for a wire handling system (drill #74 holes in the bulwark frame extensions and poking the wire through); this feature alone is worth an additional pair of hands. g. I hope to have the hull planked and fastened by Christmas. I have started to shape the main mast with other spars to follow. h. That is it for now.”

Norio Uriu

This is the second article on Norio that has been presented in the SMA Newsletter. Norio is a member of the ROPE (our sister club in Japan) and an honorary member of the SMA. His latest work in progress includes the Le Hussard, the USS Constitution and Ruby-2.

The first model, the Le Hussard, shown in photos here, is a scratch build model in 1:64 scale. She is a famous French brigantine that, at the time, set a new standard for small, fast ships in the days of fighting sail. She was built in 1815 and has a number of unique innovations. She has two rotating cannons at the bow and stern, which requires the removable panels at the bow and stern so that the cannons can be fired as desired, to port, starboard, or for the bow cannon forward and the stern cannon to the stern. This unique system of removable port, starboard, bow and stern panels allows Le Hussard to engage enemy ships without having to maneuver for position in a battle.

The model is based on the plans in 1:64 scale by Franco Gay in 1953 and supplied by Vincenzo Lusci, blue printed. A few photos of the model are shown below.

Note the panels on the stern that are removable to enable the cannon to fire in a 180 degree arc in the photo to the right. Note also the fine work done on the rigging, sails and flag in the photo to the right and the rigging photo on the next page. Note also the ships boat with slings.

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The bow with the cannon shown in the next photo indicates that they may have had a hard time shooting directly over the bow. The next photo of the stern shows that they may also have had a hard time firing the stern cannon without moving the structures on either side of the cannon.

The next set of photos of Le Hussard show some of the detail of the rigging and sails.

Note that, since the sails are installed, ALL the running rigging is installed including the sheets and clews. The ship models stand is also of interest. A few more photos of this model are included on the next page.

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The next model by Norio is the plaque model of the USS Constitution. For those who may not be aware, there is a USS Constitution Museum on the Internet that can answer almost all of your questions concerning the ship and her history. The SMA Newsletter of the past have documentation on Paul Payne’s research on the ship and I am sure most members of the SMA are well aware of the history of the ship and the many model kits available of the ship, the most accurate (modern) plans and kit being by Bluejacket – in my opinion.

According to Wikipedia, USS Constitution, also known as Old Ironsides, is a wooden- hulled, three-masted heavy frigate of the United States Navy. She is the world’s oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. She was launched in 1797, one of six original frigates authorized for construction by the Naval Act of 1794 and the third constructed. Joshua Humphreys designed the frigates to be the young Navy’s capital ships, and so Constitution and her sister ships were larger and more heavily armed and built than standard frigates of the period. She was built at Edmund Hart’s shipyard in the North End of Boston, Mass.

14 Constitution is most noted for her actions during the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom, when she captured numerous merchant ships and defeated five British warships: HMS Guerriere, Java, Pictou, Cyane, and Levant. The battle with Guerriere earned her the nickname “old Ironsides” and public adoration that has repeatedly saved her from scrapping.

Constitution was retired from active service in 1881 and served as a receiving ship until being designated a museum ship in 1907. She sailed under her own power for her 200th birthday in 1997 and again in August 2012 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of her victory over Guerriere.

Constitution’s stated mission today is to promote understanding of the Navy’s role in war and peace through educational outreach, historical demonstration and active participation in public events as part of the Naval History & Heritage Command. As a fully commissioned Navy ship, her crew of 60 officers and sailors participate in ceremonies, educational programs and special events while keeping her open to visitors year round and providing free tours. The officers and crew are all active duty Navy personnel and the assignment is considered to be special duty. She is usually berthed at Pier 1 of the former Charlestown Navy Yard at one end of Boston’s Freedom Trail.

Constitution was rated as a 44-gun frigate, but she often carried more than 50 guns at a time. During the war of 1812 Constitution’s battery of guns typically consisted of 30 long 24-pounder cannons with 15 on each side of the gun deck. Another 22 guns were deployed on the spar deck, 11 per side , each a 32-pound carronade. Four chase guns were also positioned, two each at the bow and stern.

There is much more information on the ship available from Wikipedia along with other sources including her extensive career and other details.

Norio’s model began by using the starboard half of the hull of Revells plastic model in 1:150 scale as a starting point which he paid 500 Yen for (about $5.00 US). He then installed 0.5 mm thick planks on the plastic half hull upper part and then glued 0.1 thick brass strips on a bottle below the draft (upper starboard half hull). Norio wanted to make

15 his model as compact as possible (for transportation) thus the half hull model and installed the lower masts only (see photos). He made the carronade with wood and turned it to shape.

Note the flag and rigging on the photos above (previous page) and the way the lower portion of the hull was done. The two photos show the underside of the hull.

The third ship model that Norio built is special, since the late vice president of the ROPE Tokyo Mr. Hisashi Takeuci drew the plans. The model is the Ruby-2 in 1:48 scale of a topsail schooner based on a British small sloop, although the actual ship never existed. Mr. Takeuci designed her as a topsail schooner launched in 1809 and armed with eight 3-pounder cannons. She is designed to be used off the coast of England for coastal patrol, a dispatch vessel, pilot boat and perhaps a privateer. Norio made this model for an intermediate modeling class course for the ROPE club members who desire to make scratch ship models based on drawings and/or information to learn the techniques of making them.

16 Note the simple rig, the fine detail on the sails and flag and other details on the hull and cannon.

17 Yasuhiko (Yas) Komorita

A visit to an honorary member of the SMA’s home resulted in the photos shown below of the projects he is working on as well as some of the items he has completed. The first photo shows the model that Yas is currently starting work on, the paddle wheel frigate USS Susquehanna of 1847. The is a book and plans of this model by Gilbert McArdle with text, photos, plans & drawings entitled The Paddle Wheel Frigate USS Susquehanna 1847, which Yas is using for reference. For those interested in this book, it is available from Sea Watch Books – www.seawatchbooks.com. The other photos show some of the ship models he is working on along with his extensive book collection for research.

Once the Los Angeles Maritime Museum again opens, perhaps I can obtain photos of the workbench at the museum that Yas uses as well as another photo of his magnificent model of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier (there was an article written about Yas and his model in the SMA Newsletter, Volume 43, number 9, Sept. 2016.) The museum, along with the Ports of Call area in San Pedro, is under modernization (construction). The museum building itself is an historic National Landmark, so the building and contents will remain, although some interior improvements may be made.

18 Don Dressel

Don continues slow progress on the HMS Roebuck in1:64 scale, a scratch built two- decked frigate of the Royal Navy which was involved in the American Revolution as well as the Leeward Islands earlier in 1759 (see The Royal Navy A History From the Earliest Times to 1900 – Volume III by William Laird Clowes).

Currently, Don is working on the bow area and the forward bulkhead, the part of the model that has very little structural detail with the exception of a few photos in the book Ships of the American Revolution and their models by Harold Hahn. The current photo below shows the model in its current status with the bulkhead yet to be constructed. With the aid of Tony Devroude as technical advisor (he can see more in a photo or drawing than I can!), the bulkhead will go between the third frame in the photo (port to starboard) and the other frames forward of that one will be removed to enable planking of the bow area. Some of the forward area has already been removed. Once the two top parts of the two forward frames are also removed, then the area will be planked with decking. It is currently planned to make the bulkhead off the model and install it in the correct position when completed. Then the round houses (heads) can be installed and the forward area of the model cleaned up ready to install the head rails and other details. Progress then can be returned to installing the fore deck beams and decking (after the gun deck cannon are installed and rigged and the brodie stove is correctly placed and installed). The beams have to be of the correct thickness and a little adjusting has to be made to the brodie stove to make sure everything fits prior to final installation of the all the beams. Of course, the bulkhead planking also has to be completed prior to everything. Hopefully, all of this can be accomplished in the next few weeks and installation of all the channels, gun port lids and other details can be accomplished. The bowsprit must also be made sure that it fits into its support on the gun deck. Things have been slow due to a lot of thought going into how the next step is going to take place. Any errors made in prior

19 installments have to be corrected while the chance to do so exists. Once the fore deck beams and the quarterdeck beams are installed, no more cannon can be installed in the gun deck, etc. A temporary look at what will take place with the Brodie stove is shown in the next photo.

Fortunately, the bowsprit spar is completed and set to fit into the support on the gun deck prior to building the upper deck (see photo on previous page), but some adjustments still had to be made once the upper deck was in place, that required the “slot” in the deck to be of the correct size to admit the bowsprit correctly. The “hole” in the deck will “disappear” when the fore deck is planked and the fore bulkhead is installed.

Great fun!!

Taketoshi Tanaka

I was fortunate enough to receive an email from my friend in the ROPE Tokyo, Mr. Tanaka, who is also an honorary member of the SMA. I enjoy the ship models that he scratch builds, which are all Japanese ship models of a very early era. His current work in progress is a riverboat, the Kawa-Gozabune in 1:50 scale. He writes: “It’s a river boat used by the lord of the Edo period for Sankinkotai”. The following photos show his work in progress and the technique of building parts off the model separately and then incorporating these parts onto the ship model. I believe the photos are taken as the model is being built – in order. The first photo above is of the hull, the second photo is of the scratch built cabin (apparently they were very fancy and roomy – I am sure the details are correct)

Note the details, which you will not see once the roof is installed on the structure. Also note the details inside the “cabins”. I also assume the different woods used are Japanese woods like the ones you obtain in the Woody Joe ship model kits from Japan. The details extend to the hanging picture on the wall in the middle upper cabin. I wonder what detail is in the lower cabins that you cannot see. Again, once the roof in the next photo is installed, you can only look through the windows to see what is in these cabins. It was always of interest to me to note that the rooms, by western standards, look so empty and clean.

The next photo shows the roof construction before it is placed on the cabin structure above, followed by a photo of the roof installed on the structure (following page).

20 The roof photo shown to the left is only of the first two cabins, as you will note that the middle cabin is higher than the two fore and aft. It sure looks like bamboo is being used for the roof, although I do not know exactly what material Mr. Tanaka used to build them.

The following and last photo shows the model at its current state, not yet completed. I hope that Mr. Tanaka will send me another photo of the model once completed so I can enjoy all the details of the model. The Japanese lords of the Edo period must have traveled in real style and comfort!

Tony Devroude

I received a photo of the latest progress on Tony’s Dauphin Royal along with a short message. He is “planking the second gun deck, but in order to do that, I have to install the balcony supports first. So, once the supports are installed, further planking of the balcony is necessary in order to secure it to ward-off breaking as I continue the building of the ship. Once the interior decks are complete, I can finish the exterior décor. The door will be hinged from the top. Glass will be installed along with window frames as the stern continues.” See photo of his progress. It seems scratch building requires a lot of thought and research.

21 Michel Mantin

Michel, an honorary member of the SMA in France, is still working on his scratch model of the Japanese battleship Fuso with the aid of several Japanese books on the ship as well as the Anatomy of the Ship book The Battleship Fuso by Janusz Skulski, available from the Naval Institute Press. The build is in a large scale with a lot of extra details added to the interior of the ship, some engineering being done by Michel on the power plant of the ship. He has just recently had the main part of the ship painted with some of the superstructure and other elements yet to be completed. See the port and starboard photos below.

Brian Stein

Brian sent me a couple of photos of his work in progress on his 1:84 kit model of the Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian training sailing ship for military cadets. The model is over 4 feet long and is very difficult to build given the masting and rigging instructions supplied with the kit. According to the information supplied by Mantua, the kit is designed from the plans of the original ship built in the port of Stabia in 1931. Fifteen giant sheets of plans (which are very hard to understand) along with a 32-page instruction booklet (also very hard to understand) are supposed to make the construction of the model easy. The do admit that the model is designed for “advanced level” modelers. Brian has done a wonderful job on figuring out how to do many of the construction work on the model despite the confusion created by the kits “plans and instructions”.

Brian is currently working on the rigging and has built the mast structures. He has started work on the rigging and ratlines as well as the yards. He still has to construct 4 more lifeboats and install them. See the photos on the next page.

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Brian has shown a lot of the details on his model work at recent online SMA meetings on the Internet. It will be great fun to see the model in person once the COVID-19 pandemic is under control and we can again have SMA meetings at the Red Cross Building in Fullerton.

The real vessel is currently in port La Spezia, Italy after a voyage of 21 days, 12 hours originating from port Genova, Italy.

The ship is named for Amerigo Vespuci, who was an Italian-born merchant and explorer who took part in early voyages to the new world on behalf of Spain around the late 15th century.

The ship is a full rigged vessel carrying 24 sails for a surface of 2,600 square meters. She is fitted with an auxiliary engine with a single propeller which allows a maximum speed of 10 knots and carries 11 boats four of which are fitted with sails and oars to be used by the cadets as part of their seamanship training.

The permanent crew is 270 plus there are 150 cadets.

She shows the Italian flag in support of national diplomacy at various sailing vents such as the America’s cup in 2002/2003 in New Zealand.

On board, the cadets learn the basic rules of seamanship as well as specific teachings in navigation, operation of drive systems and auxiliaries, management of logistics, administrative and medical issues

23 ANNOUNCEMENTS SMA Club Ship Model Plans

Our Treasurer, Larry Van Es, has offered to take on the task of cataloging our Club’s ship plans collection. This job has been attempted various times by others in the past with varying results. Larry promised to do his best. If you would like to help him with this endeavor, please contact him at: (714) 936-0389 or e-mail him at [email protected].

Dues All members of the SMA – Dues will be cancelled for 2021 due to the CODIV- 19 pandemic. Since many members have already paid their 2020 dues, these are still due, as well as the $20.00 for “distance” members.

SMA meetings on the computer

All members should be aware that the SMA is conducting on-line meetings of the SMA at least once a month while the COVOD-19 pandemic is still in process and our meeting location is closed as well as trying to keep the SMA monthly Newsletter in print (donations by SMA members are encouraged). The monthly on-line“Go To Meeting” can be accessed at: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/825853717. Contact Brian Stein for time and date of next meeting.

The SMA’s Anti-Piracy Ship Model Kit Policy

The SMA has decided to ban the fake kits manufactured by ZHL those listed on the attached list to the left from being used in the Snail Model different club functions such as the Western Ship Model Conference XinFeng and Exhibit, the SMA Newsletter or on our website. JD Model It is requested that members of the SMA be aware of the LHQK damage done to legitimate ship model manufacturers and Shi Cheng international risks involved in these fake kits. WoodenKit SMA members may purchase these kits at their own risk but YengFan with no affiliation with the SMA. Unicorn Model YQ (YaunQing) The SMA is a club member of the NRG (Nautical Research CN Guild), that is aware of these pirated kits along with a number of other CF ship modeling clubs in the U.S. and around the world as well as a sister Shi Hai club the ROPE, who has also established an anti-piracy policy within Moxing their club in Japan. WN SC DUJIAOSHOU RealTS

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Don Dressel’s Roebuck interior under construction

Donald C. Dressel 908 W. 22nd Street, Upland, CA. 91784-1220

NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY, ? , 7:30 PM, HILLCREST PARK RED CROSS BUILDING

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