Work in Progress February 16, 2011

Reporter: Bill Russell

It was a pleasant dry evening, after a day when there was occasional intermittent light rain. Attendance was good, but there were fewer models than usual. KATE CORY by Clyde Emerson Clyde Emerson brought in his newly completed scratch built 1:96 model of the small whaler KATE CORY. It is a beautiful little model, complete with sails. Clyde also brought in the case for KATE CORY that he recently completed. The base of the case is made of ipe wood, which I have never before encountered. It looks a lot like mahogany to my eye. The transparent cover of the case is made of acrylic. The surface immediately below the model is an acrylic mirror that allows the viewer to easily see the framing details of the model. The reason for using an acrylic mirror instead of glass is that Clyde need to drill holes in it (to mount the pedestals for the model). This is a beautiful model of KATE CORY. Great work, Clyde.

Newsletter

Volume 38, Number 2, Feb. 2011

Contacts

President: Don Dressel (909) 949-6931

E-Mail dressel4@earthlink.net Vice President: Bill Schultheis

(909) 949- E-Mail bsmath@yahoo.com

Secretary: Paul Payne (310) 544-1461

Treasurer: Mike DiCerbo (714) 523-2518

15320 Ocaso Ave, #DD204, La Mirada, CA. 90630

Editor, Don Dressel (909) 949-6931

908 W. 22nd Street Upland, CA 91784-1229

E-mail: dressel4@earthlink.net Web Manager: Doug Tolbert:

(949) 644-5416 Web Site

www.shipmodelersassociation.org

Meeting – Wed., Mar. 16, 7 PM, Fullerton Senior Multi-service

Center, 340 W. Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA. 92832

Officers meeting – Wed., Apr. 7, 2011, 7 PM, Bob Beech’s house, 130 Clove Pl., Brea, CA. 92821 –

(714) 529-1481.

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I wonder what Clyde’s next model will be?? H.M.S. PRINCE by Bill Russell Your faithful reporter, Bill Russell, brought in his partly completed scratch built 1:192 model of H.M.S. PRINCE of 1670. PRINCE was a first rate ship, so she not only had a great number of complex wood carvings, they were finished with actual gold leaf. This translates to many tiny wood carvings mounted on the miniature model. I made a conscious decision to use actual wood instead of forming the decorations from artists’ gesso as is common for miniature sailing ship models. The carvings closely approximate the carvings on the contemporary model of H.M.S. PRINCE which is in the collection of the Science Museum in South Kensington, London. My model is based on the contemporary model, modified where necessary to agree with the Van de Velde drawings and paintings of the actual ship. The carvings were mostly made by Clyde Emerson by scanning a master and then using a computer controlled milling machine to make the actual part. Considerable hand work was then done by me to sharpen the carving, to add small details that were missing, and to cut openings for windows, etc. Many wood carvings have been completed and many remain to be done. The model is being made as an admiralty model with open framing. This model has proven to be a major challenge, but so far it is looking good. H.M.S. ROEBUCK by Don Dressel

Don Dressel has largely completed the hull framing of his 1:64 model of H.M.S. ROEBUCK, using Hahn’s drawings. There is still work to be done on the stern and quarter galleries to complete the framing. The wales have been made of holly stained black. A second layer of holy stained black has to be added to the already completed first layer of wale (as was done with some of the actual ships), as the wale is twice as thick as the rest of the planking. Staining holly black instead of using ebony avoids problems with the fine ebony dust, difficulty in bending, etc., and when

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completed, looks exactly the same. (Your faithful reporter is doing the same thing in my PRINCE, for the same reasons.) Don recommends that anyone making this model obtain a copy of Harold Hahn’s book Ships of the American Revolution and Their Models because it contains useful pictures and instructions on constructing H.M.S. ROEBUCK as well as other models. The framing looks great, and no doubt, the completed model will be outstanding. T-2 Tanker SMOKY HILL by Paul Carter Paul Carter brought in his 1:192 BlueJacket kit model of the T-2 tanker SMOKY HILL. The ship was completed in 1942 in Portland, Oregon, and sold to a British company in 1947. Paul worked on SMOKY HILL as an apprentice when she was in a shipyard in 1956. This is an excellent model. Paul is completing some small details in preparation for exhibiting the model at the Western Ship Model Conference and Exhibit. This model is very well made and beautiful. U.S.S. LEHEIGH by Burt Goldstein

Burt Goldstein showed us several small 1:250 paper models. The design is by Magnus Mork. The primary model is of U.S.S. LEHEIGH, which is one of ten Civil War era Passaic Class monitors. The LEHEIGH was so unreliable that she was always accompanied by a tug (also part of the kit plans). One of the lifeboats was removed from the monitor and displayed next to her. This is a neat group of small paper models with historical significance. It was a little disappointing that there were

not more ship models brought in for the meeting. Check out the MAYFLOWER GROUP meeting that took place at John Bakker’s home a few days later – there were more models there than at the meeting! A challenge to the SMA modelers next month – bring more models! I will admit there was potential for rain, so maybe that had something to do with the turnout. Ed.

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               CLYDE EMERSON”S KATE CORY                                                   DON DRESSEL’S H.M.S. ROEBUCK 

                BILL RUSSELL”S H.M.S. PRINCE  

   PAUL CARTER’S SMOKY HILL        BURT GOLDSTEIN’S U.S.S. LEHEIGH 

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BY Don Dressel

Old salts in port: Bill Wicks, John Baker, Steve Jones, Mike DiCerbo, Don Dressel, Don Leyman, Greg Wilcox, Guy Bell, Yas Komorita and John Vanderneut. Bill Wicks started off the construction discussion with the LADY NELSON scratch building project. The stern planking was discussed along with the jig that was made for the upper bulwark. Soaking in water before trying to bend the bulwark is highly recommended as the best way to do it, but the gunports have to be cut first using the paper template. Bill also talked about his method for planking the hull and answered questions regarding the construction of the model to this point. Greg Wilcox talked next, again about the LADY NELSON, the jigs he used, and how he made sure the frames and keel were true and square. Greg then talked briefly about the Artesania Latina kit model of the SCOTTISH MAID, which he had begun many years ago and never finished. Last, Greg talked about the progress he is making on the HANNAH, which is really turning out beautifully. His technique of dowel making was discussed using Mansonia wood and his Dremel with the Vanda-Lay

Industries dowel maker. Don Layman next discussed his scratch built Hudson River Sloop, the problems he encountered and his solutions to those problems. It is looking good so far! The lower hull is fully planked and you can see the inner bulkheads which will be invisible once the deck is installed. You can see a partial photo of Don’s model to the left above (note the deck beams). The

table to place the models on was very crowded. Guy Bell talked about his gun boat project, which is also scratch using plank on bulkhead construction. Guy is happy

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with the progress made so far (it is looking good), and discussion centered around the masting and rigging/rudder installation, which is the next step. Don Dressel talked about his H.M.S. ROEBUCK and the progress that is being made with the wales and stern construction. Planking was discussed and it was agreed that the wale was the first thing that should be installed, the rest of the planking follows. Techniques for bending

wood for planking was discussed. Photo on previous page of Guys model with Don’s model. John Vanderneut was the last person to discuss his Constructo kit model of a San Francisco Spanish Galleon. Also discussed was his Billings Kit model of the CUTTY SARK, which he is just starting to work on. All in all, it was a very good session of the

Mayflower Group. There were a lot of hints and tips given for model construction as well as a lot of demonstrations of ways and means of doing model work. There was also a lot of fun involved and it is always a pleasure to visit John’s home with all his models in progress. We did not talk about John’s models that much during the group meeting since we ran out of time, but he did discuss his works in progress on the SOLIEL ROYALE and the SAN FELIPE, both of which are under construction (photo to right). Additional photo’s of the guys at the meeting plus a rare picture of Bill Wicks model of HMS PRINCE, which is still under construction. Along with all the camaraderie, there is also the

added benefit that materials of construction are often given away to one modeler who needs something by another modeler who has excess material. Sources of supplies are also discussed. You will note Yas with his construction material at his feet as he listens to Bill describing the ways and means of LADY NELSON construction. There is nothing like having a number of modelers offering help with ways and means of building a model – some pitfalls can thus be avoided from the beginning. Steve is checking out the work done by Bill on his model of the LADY NELSON. Note the bulwark in Steve’s hand (already bent to shape).

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Yoshiya Okumura, Model Builder (First Honorary Member of SMA) 

By Bill Russell  

  I  first  met  Yoshiya  at  the Western Ship Model Conference and Exhibit in 1998.  He was the President of  The  ROPE,  the  sailing  ship model club of Tokyo, and  the  leader of  the Japanese  contingent.    I  was  the chairman  of  the  conference  that year.   I  think  we  immediately became friends.   Ever since then, we have  stayed  in  touch,  either  by personal meetings at the conferences or  when  we  attended  The  ROPE’S exhibits  in  Tokyo,  or  by  means  of letters.  (Yoshiya does not do E‐mail.)  Our communications was greatly helped by the fact the he speaks and writes English.   Over the years after I first met Mr. Okumura, I became aware of an interesting fact.  He was born right here in Southern California in Gardena in the mid 1920’s.  By the time war came in 1941, he was a young man.  Though he was a native‐born citizen, and had lived his entire life in California, he was  taken  to  the  internment camp at Manzanar, a  couple of hundred miles north of here.  In fact, he helped build the camp.  At the conference in 2000, he asked to visit the Japanese American Museum in Los Angeles, so we took him there.  On the second floor of the museum, there is an architect’s model of the Manzanar camp, and he immediately pointed to the building where he was required to live during the war years.   After  the war, Yoshiya was  released back  into  the general population.   Unfortunately most people  still would not  accept him  as  a  fellow  citizen,  to  after a while he emigrated  to Japan, even though he had never been  in Japan.   His mother had preceded him before World War II.  It was our loss.   I  once  asked  him  if  he  had  received  the  $20,000  that  congress  had  authorized  for American citizens of Japanese descent who had been  interned during the war.   He said: “Yes, but what  I appreciated the most was the written apology signed by President Ronald Reagan that I received.”   In 2000, The ROPE recognized Lloyd Warner and I as honorary members of their club.  I think  it was  in recognition of our efforts to bring the two clubs together.   At about the same time our officers voted to make Mr. Okumura an honorary member of the SMA.   A few years later, Richard Keyes from Australia became our second honorary member.   Another  indication of our close connection with The ROPE is that we recognize each other as “sister clubs”. 

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  Yoshiya  is an excellent  ship model maker.   He has built a variety of models, mostly of Western  ships, but  I  remember one  fine model of a  Japanese  inter‐island sailing merchant  vessel.   After  he  retired from being President of The ROPE, about ten  years  ago,  he  continued  to  build models, but also began to hold classes for prospective new members of The ROPE on the  finer  points  of  sailing  ship  model making.    It was a  little  like our Mayflower Group,  but  more  structured,  with  ALL 

participants  expected  to  build  the  same model on  a  strict  schedule.   Keep  in mind: You cannot just join The ROPE.  You have to submit  two models  to  their exhibition over two years to be considered for membership.   In 2006, I was  in Japan with some of our  SMA  members  to  attend  the  annual exhibit of The ROPE that is held right on the Ginza.    It  is  customary  to  exchange  gifts 

when visiting friends in Japan, so my gift to Yoshiya was  a  set  of  drawings  made  by  draftsmen  and engineers  working  for  the  WPA  (Works  Projects Administration)  in  the  1930’s  during  the  great depression.    These  people were  sent  around  the country  to  locate old  ships and make drawings of them  before  they  were  lost.    Eventually,  the drawings  became  part  of  the  collections  of  the Smithsonian  Institution.    The  particular  drawing  I gave  Yoshiya  was  for  the  sailing  ship  LUCIA  A. 

SAMPSON  that was  built  in Manitowoc, Wisconsin  in  1875.    I  thought  I was  giving  him  an interesting set of drawings, but I never expected that he would actually build a model based on them.  In late February, less than a month ago, I received a letter from him containing photos of his model of the LUCIA A. SAMPSON!  A couple of photos of this model are incorporated in this article.   In his last letter to me, he signs it as a Japanese Citizen and also as an American Citizen, as indeed he is. 

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The Fully Framed Model, Rigging A Sixth Rare Sloop of 1767 – 1780 by David Antscherl 

Florence, OR: SeaWatchBooks, LLC, 2011 8 ½ ” X 11”, hardcover, 214 pages 

Photographs, appendices, notes, references, rigging ships plans Jacketed 

ISBN: 9780982057988  

  For those of us who are fanatics about rigging ship models as well as those modelers who want a  guide  to  rigging  ships  and  the  many  techniques  and methods  for doing  so,  this book  is a must have  treatise on the subject.  David starts off the book with one of the finest books  on  the  subject  of  rigging  ships  and where  it  is  still possible  to  still obtain a copy of  the book  (David Steel, The Elements  and  Practice  of  Rigging  and  Seamanship),  then proceeds  to,  in  detail  fashion,  explain  everything  is  terms that everyone can understand.   The  first  chapter  (actually  chapter  13,  as  an extension of his previous books) deals with the construction of masts and yards and  the many details  that go  into  these elements.   He  indicates how  to calculate  the dimensions of the  spars  and  the  sizes  required  for  all  elements  thereto, which extends  into the next chapter.   Along with the details David  also  describes  just  how  these  items  are  made  and fitted and offers a number of insights into detailing spars.     The next chapter starts off with a rope walk that he uses  to make  all  his  lines  for  the  ship model,  but  explains that the rope walk does not have to be particularly fancy to work.  The different lines and their sizes, as well as a chart to determine the size of block required for each size of line, is included.  Left hand (laid) cable and  right hand  rope are  fully explained.   He  then naturally  starts off with  the  standing  rigging, specifically the gammoning.  He also fully explains serving a line, how to do it, where to do it, and why it was  done.    Photographs  abound  throughout  the  book  as  examples  of what  he  is  explaining.    It  is recommended that the reader also follow along using the using the standing and running rigging plans supplied  with  the  book.    I  do  not  think  anyone  will  have  a  problem  following  David’s  written explanations of  the necessary procedures  to obtain a very high quality  rigging.   All  the  rigging blocks, collars, stops and other things required for the rigging are also fully explained and suggestions made as how  to make  them.   The  splicing  techniques used  I  found very  interesting, as well as his methods of making thimble’s and hooks.     Ratlines,  catharpins,  tops,  futtock  plates,  deadeyes,  lanyard  installation,  and  the making  of blocks are done with clear and easy understanding.  This continues into chapter sixteen and seventeen with details on the topmasts, stays jibboom, halliard’s horses, stirrups, all kinds of great stuff on spritsail yards, studdingsail irons, and other great stuff.  David is very complete in his many details of the rigging process and again shows many details  in drawings and photographs  to help  the ship modeler  to  fully understand the rigging process in all its details.    One item which I personally found very interesting was his method of making the fore topmast staysail  netting  using  a  zig‐zagging  line.   David  refers  to Darcy  Lever,  The  Young  Sea Officer’s  Sheet Anchor, for a clearer written understanding of this procedure, but I find David’s explanation and picture very adequate.  It is at least one method I will try on my next rigging effort. 

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  Of course, the running rigging  is also fully detailed, as well as extra little lines which, in most cases,  are  not  included  on  models.    Even  the smallest  details,  like  shroud  cleats,  are  fully described  and  shown  via  fine  drawings.    His method of rigging the nun buoy (for the anchor) is another technique that  I am going to have to try, as his method  seems  to be a  lot easier  than  the one  I  tried  to  use.    The  extra  detail  goes  to entering  ropes,  anchor  stowage,  fish  tackle,  cat falls  and  backs,  stern  ladders  and  other  items which go to make up an exceptional model when completed.    Extra  added  detail  is  one  of  the factors that make or break an otherwise excellent ship model.   Finally, David  goes  into  great  detail with the main propulsion  system of  the wooden  ship, namely,  the  sails.    He  starts  off  with  the  main course  and  has  a  very  clear  picture  of  the  sail identifying  all  the  elements  of  the  sail  and what they are used for.   He also describes all the necessary  lines for each sail and fully explains the parts of the  sail  including  the head cringle,  reef cringles, clue cringles, buntline cloth, boltrope,  tabling,  lining, leech, reef points, including the basic head and foot of the sail.   

   All in all, a very fine book and  one  of  the  best  reference books  for  rigging  a modeler  can obtain.    My  experience  has included  rigging  at  least  12  ship models,  an  number  of  them large,  with  the  aid  or  several sources  including R.C. Andersons The Rigging of Ships  In  the Days of  the  Spritsail  Topmast  1600‐1720  and  James  Lees  book  The Masting  and  Rigging  of  English Ships of War 1625‐1860 to name just  two.    Also  invaluable  is Steel’s  Riggins  and  Seamanship which  I have  learned to refer to.  David  Antscherl  uses  these references  and  more  to  fully document  all  his  rigging procedures and techniques.  This 

book  is  strongly  recommended  for  all  serious  ship model  builders  for  rigging  English  ships  fully  and completely.    I am sure  it  is destined to become a classic book on rigging of English ships.   The book  is available  from  SeaWatchBooks  at  www.seawatchbooks.com  for  $65.00  plus  shipping  and  handling.  Check out their web sit. 

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THE WESTERN SHIP MODEL CONFERENCE & EXHIBIT – 2011

The WSMC&E is almost here – if you have not signed up yet for the conference, time is running out. The exhibit starts on March 29th, while the conference starts on April 1st. It is your (SMA) conference, so I urge all to attend. If you have not already done so, fill out the conference registration form on our web site. I urge all members to attend the banquet, also, as those who do not will miss the opportunity to bid on several excellent tools such as the Barnes saw and sander. A great speaker will give his presentation and excellent

food will be served. The Harold Hahn Award will also be presented at the banquet. There will be sign-up sheets at the upcoming meeting for both manning the exhibit site from March 29th through April 2nd, and schedules for bringing your models to Harborside (the Pavilion) for the exhibit. This is our premier event, so don’t miss it! Information on the source for plastic There were a number of SMA members who requested that Clyde give the source he used for his mirror underneath his model of the KATE CORY. The company that Clyde got the acrylic case from along with the plastic mirror is as follows: The Custom Craft Plastics website: www.customcraftplastics.com 14270 D Valley Blvd. City of Industry, CA. 91746 phone (626) 330-5500 SMA DUES Once again I remind all members of the SMA to renew their dues for 2011 if they have not done so already. The usual procedure will follow if a members’ dues are not paid by the end of this month, which will result in not receiving your SMA Newsletter for April. The treasurer, Mike DiCerbo, will be in attendance at the upcoming meeting on March 16th, so I urge all members to take advantage of the his presence. For those who are associate members (beyond 100 miles) and are unable to attend the meeting, please mail your check to Mike made out to the SMA. SMA Club Meeting Location There will be a change in the meeting location of the 3rd Wednesday evening meeting of the SMA starting in July of this year. Our present site will be torn down and new construction done for the next 18 months. Stay tuned for the latest on this developing situation and the announcement in a few months of the new location for the meetings.

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Details of Clyde Emerson’s KATE CORY

Donald C. Dressel 908 W. 22nd Street, Upland, CA. 19784-1229

Next meeting Wednesday Mar 16th, 7 PM, Fullerton Community Center

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