Work in Progress January 21, 2014

Reporter: Dave Yotter The meeting started off with a great video presentation by Randy Biddle on the work done on the restoration of a model, showing both the “for” and “after”. Many details were illustrated and there is a full explanation of the presentation given by Randy on the ketch ZAHMA on page 4 of this newsletter. Many thanks to Doug Tolbert for his usual fine work with the video projector – Ed. Workshop Tools – Dave Yotter OK, what follows is another attack of the tool junkie! The below items are mostly a reiteration of items presented at previous meetings. Don Dressel, seeing the soldering station in action in my workshop thought it might be a good thing to present these tools again. I have found them to be most useful and of high

Newsletter

Volume 42, Number 2, Feb.2015

Contacts

President: Bill Schultheis (714) 366-7602

E-Mail: bsmath@yahoo.com Vice President: Don Dressel

(909) 949-6931 E-Mail: roebuckdres4@gmail.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: roebuckdres4@gmail.com Web Manager: Doug Tolbert:

(949) 644-5416 Web Site

www.shipmodelersassociation.org

Meeting – Wed., Feb 18, 7 PM, Red Cross Building, 1207 N. Lemon,

Fullerton, CA. 92832

Officers meeting –Wed., March 4, 2015, 7 PM, Bob Beech’s house, 130 Clove Pl., Brea, CA. 92821 –

(714) 529-1481.

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quality construction. Set GRS Multi-Purpose Vise and Attachment

The GRS Multi-Purpose Vise is a very stout vise made from steel that tilts and rotates and will handle numerous fabrication duties on a variety of oddly shaped parts. The vise is made as a base to be used while engraving jewelry so it is heavy and will handle a lot of pressure. The vice jaws slide on a plate and has a flat lead screw and close fitting guide rods that make it only a short downgrade away from a precision machinists vise. The jaws measure a little over two inches wide and rise about one inch above

the lead screw. Maximum opening is a little less than one and one half inches. The tops of the jaws have holes in them so you can drop in pins and jigs to hold your work piece. The rotation and tilting functions operate smoothly and lock down solidly. A unique feature of this vise is that is solidly attaches to your workbench by dropping it onto a two-inch by three-inch dovetail plate that you screw to the front of the bench. This enables you to remove the vice easily to get it out of the way when necessary. This dovetail plate is part of a whole system developed by GRS that allows you to attach many other devises to the front of your bench such as a bench pin, a soldering station, a sawing plate and their BenchMate (see below). The Attachment Set increases the utility of the vise by allowing the holding of round parts and parts made from rod stock. One of the attachment sets includes two semi-circular pin plates drop onto the top of the vise jaws. One of these has a single pin so it swivels for clamping of odd shaped parts. Another useful item from the attachment set includes two leather faced ring clamp jaws (I use these a lot). GRS 004-570 Soldering Station with 2 Third Hands and Bench Pin Over the years I have refused to buy one of those cheesy third hand thingies that use alligator clamps and wing nuts. The alligator clips never hold things at the angle you want and the joints get week and droopy. GRS makes quality Soldering Stations with adjustable third hands that move smoothly and stay put where you want them. The model I brought has a tab on the bottom, which can be held in any bench vice. One model can be mounted on the GRS dovetail fixed mounting plate (Part No. 104.557) or can be used just on top of the bench. There is a short arm model (two joints instead of three) for bench top use only. Both models have 6” X 6” soldering boards and replaceable solid tips that cam be shaped to fine points by filling or grinding. The board itself is non-asbestos and made from calcium silicate. Besides the obvious use as a soldering station, I discovered the arms work well as clamps for gluing

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because the arms go where you put them and then stop with enough pressure to hold a part while the glue sets. Another obvious use is during rigging. The clamps will work for holding line while splicing and/or serving or putting rope strops on blocks and deadeyes. The clamp sprigs are quite stout. The other item I brought in is the GRS Bench Pin. The bench pin is used as a sacrificial surface when cutting, sawing, drilling or filing on an object instead of hacking up the workbench itself. This pin attaches to the front of the workbench using the same dovetail plate used for attaching the bench vice. This system is really convenient as the tools are easily removed if they get in the way of other tasks. Like other tools shown recently, I got this soldering station from Otto-Frei, a Jewelry supply company in Oakland. I found their prices to be somewhat cheaper across the board for most products compared with other jewelry supply companies. Their Foredom prices are very good (www.ottofrei.com). Poke around; you will be amazed at what you find. The vise is $148.00 and the attachment set was $108.00. The soldering station I got goes for $117.95 and virtually all the individual parts can be purchased separately. The bench pin is $28.95, not including the dovetail plate ($17.95) and a replacement wood pin is $3.95. GRS Bench Mate The GRS Bench Mate is a very stout jeweler’s ring clamp from steel that tilts and rotates and the mounting arm is a cap screw adjustable for height. There is a hand rest attached to the side available in left and right hand versions. The jaws open to a little more than a quarter inch and feature replaceable hard plastic faces. The whole thing attaches solidly to the front of your workbench with the same dovetail plate used for the soldering station (assuming you get the model with that mounting feature), vice and bench pin. The hand rest has built in slots for mounting of the Third Hands from the soldering station. I thought the quarter inch jaw opening was going to be somewhat limiting but I am finding it useful regardless. It is great for holding various pieces of rigging such as blocks and hooks in relation to each other while putting on and sizing the rope strop, pudding an anchor ring, making an eye splice, raising a mouse, or…. The Bench Mate is kind of steep at $235.00 for the basic unit. They also have kits with other GRS products added in such as the bench pin or the soldering station. Wolf Tools Belt Sander and Adjustable Trimmer The Wolf Tools Belt Sander was developed for jewelry makers. The belt sander uses one inch by 10 ½” belts and attaches to your work bench by an included clamp system or can be attached to the GRS BenchMate. Either mounting system allows the sander to be rotated to any convenient position including upside down taking advantage of different areas on the belt. For motive power you attach your Foredom flex shaft tool! Belts are available from 80 grit up to 1200 grit in 5 different abrasive materials. The belts cost typically around $2.50 each. I have been looking for a quality, small belt sander useful for modeling work for a long time. This one is unique. The Wolf Sander was $179.00.

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The Wolf tools Adjustable Trimmer is another Jewelry maker’s tool that might be useful for model makers. Like the Wolf Tools belt sander this tool was developed for use with a Foredom flex shaft tool for power. It is made to use the Foredom #30 hand piece to hold trimmers, burrs or mini router bits. It can also use the #44 hand piece, which has the same one-inch diameter as the #30. The #44 is a collet style hand piece whereas the #30 uses a Jacobs chuck. The hand piece slides into the bottom clamp and you adjust the height of the bit before locking it down. The tools table tilts and slides on the undercarriage to keep the gap between the burrs and the table to a minimum. It comes with an adjustable fence that slides nicely and locks down securely. Additionally you can get a collar so it can be held in the GRS BenchMate. I have a nylon collar from Foredom that holds the hand piece and trimmer in my workbench vice. I think of this as having a router table or shaper about the right size for model makers. The #30 hand piece can handle any type of cutting, polishing, routing or sanding tool that will fit. The device is very well made and of quality construction. The Wolf Adjustable Trimmer was $109.00. Auxiliary Centerboard Ketch Zahma (IX-63) – Randy Biddle

Zahma was a wooden-hulled ketch with an auxiliary engine; she was designed by Bowdoin B. Crowninshield and completed in 1915 at Neponset, Massachusetts, by George Lawley & Son, Shipbuilding Corp, Neponset, MA, for John H. Cromwell of Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island, New York. She was inspected by the Navy at the entry of the United States into World War I for possible service as a patrol craft, the vessel was rejected as “unsuitable for naval use.” A quarter of a century later, the

exigencies of war changed the Navy’s evaluation of the graceful craft, as she was again inspected, this time at the 11th Naval District, in early 1942. Acquired by the Port Director of San Diego, California, from R. J. Rheem on 13 February, Zahma was placed in service on 26 February 1942. Classified as an unclassified miscellaneous vessel and designated IX-63, Zahma was based in San Diego and operated as a local patrol craft into the spring of 1943. Placed out of service on 13 April 1943, her name was struck from the Naval Vessel Register on 18 July 1944. Her specifications were: Displacement 75’, Length 93’, Beam 20’ 7”, Draft 9’ 10”, Speed 8 knots, complement 6, Armament unknown, Propulsion system unknown. Randy gave us a nice “slide” presentation on his restoration of the 1:48 model of Zahma. The model was built around 1935, builder unknown, configured as her owner had it on the West Coast in 1935. The deck was very dirty and received as thorough cleaning as possible consistent with retaining the original fabric. The bottom was repainted using Randy’s thrift

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store sourced solution to use the upright pole of an old floor lamp toped off with a lazy Susan. The lazy Susan received sufficient modification to clear the rig and enabled an inverted presentation of the hull for repainting. He replaced all rigging line. He needed information on the ketch rig and he bought a drawing from the Peabody Essex Museum. DMC cotton thread was used as a raw material for the rope. Specifically this is crochet thread known as Cordonnet Cotton Thread and is available in 6 strand RH twist and sizes of 10 to 100 (0.009” to 0.021”). Many of the stanchions were bent but responded well to straightening and reinstallation. Items replaced included the taffrail, stem bulwarks, Yachting ensign and staff, boom crutch for the mizzen, two out of three boat covers (made from “lawn” fabric), on bollard. Scrollwork and the ship’s name and hail were hard to discern on the model and were replaced with new decals made using the plans rather than trying to repair the originals from the model. Schooner Coetta – Randy Biddle

Randy also brought in another model in need of repair. This time it was a model that he had built around 1970 and was a surprise return from his brother in Connecticut. This was the second kit model he had built and it started out as a Model Shipways kit of the Virginia pilot boat of 1805 Katy in 1:48. The model is a solid hull with individual deck planking. He had modified it to carry a fore course following correspondence with Howard I. Chapelle. The model was named after a dear friend of his

from Virginia. Now in need of repair and cleaning, Randy’s oft-repeated recommendation is demonstrated: make sure that you case your models and to properly ventilate the case. Halifax – Don Dressel Don is continuing work on his 1:48 model of the Halifax. He did discover one discrepancy with the plans of the HMS Halifax by Harold Hahn, so has decided to represent his model of the Halifax as prior to the acquisition of the ship by the Royal Navy. This “discovery” was the location and sizes of the deck hatches on the main deck which were indicated on the plans by Robert Hunt. Harold Hahn’s differ. It was too late to make this modification, as the hatches were already installed, so…. A lot of work has been completed since last month, including completing the deck (as far as it will be done) and constructing the binnacle/companionway, installation of hatches and bitts, installation of the windless, and beginning construction of the pumps. Additional decking material was added, as there was not enough material supplied. All doweling was completed

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and installed as required (no mention of this is made in the instructions). The dowels were made using the treenail maker from Vanda-Lay Industries in Running Springs. At this time, I am not sure that the treenail maker is still available. Good progress is being made and completion of the hull structure of the model should be completed within the next month or so. The model will be taken to the ROPE 40th Exhibition in Tokyo this April as evident by the travel case, which was also displayed. The model was removed from the case, discussed, and replaced. RMS Queen Mary – Bill Schultheis

RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that sailed primarily on the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967 for the Cunard Line (known as Cunard-White Star Line when the vessel entered service). Built by John Brown & Company in clydebank, Scotland, Queen Mary along with her running mate, the RMS Queen Elizabeth, were built as part of Cunard’s planned two-ship weekly express service between Southampton, Cherbourg, and New York City. The two ships were a British response to the superliners

built by German and French companies in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. Queen Mary was the flagship of the Cunard Line from May 1936 until October 1946 when she was replaced in that role by Queen Elizabeth. Queen Mary sailed on her maiden voyage on 27 May 1936 and captured the Blue Riband in August of that year; she lost the title to SS Normandie in 1937 and recaptured in 1938, holding it until 1952 when she was beaten by the new SS United States. With the outbreak of World War II, she was converted into a troopship and ferried Allied soldiers for the duration of the war. Following the war, Queen Mary was refitted for passenger service and along with Queen Elizabeth, commenced the two-ship transatlantic passenger service for which the two ships were initially built. The two ships dominated the transatlantic passenger transportation market until the dawn of the jet age in the late 1950’s. By the mid-1960’s, Queen Mary was aging and, though still among the most popular transatlantic liners, was operating at a loss. After several years of decreased profits for Cunard Line, Queen Mary was officially retired from service in 1967. She left Southampton for the last time on 31 October 1967 and

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sailed to the port of Long Beach, California, United States, where she remains permanently moored. Much of the machinery, including one of the two engine rooms, three of the four propellers, and all of the boilers, were removed. The ship serves as a tourist attraction featuring restaurants, a museum, and hotel. The ship is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has accepted the Queen Mary as part of the Historic Hotels of America. (From Wikipedia). Bill is engaged in a restoration of a model of the Queen Mary for the Port of Long Beach. It is thought that this particular model originated as a travel agent display model. The original job was to clean the model and fix the rails. Bill found that after cleaning the hull and superstructure the model looked worse, not better so he undertook repainting with a much better result. The railings are next to replace. He has the funnels and ventilators ready to go. He plans to install an LED lighting system.

Pearls from the Chest

Some tips from members of the crew

This is an article from an old SMA Newsletter of July 1980 by old time member Dick Roos showing his suggestion on how to prepare a deadeye spacers jig to make it easier to get those deadeyes lined up correctly when installing them. The upper shroud shown on the drawing below can be held with an electrical clip until installed.

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           Don Dressel’s Halifax in travel case                                             Randy Biddle’s                                                                                Dave Yotter’s tools                                                                     Bill Schultheis’s large Queen Mary  

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By Don Dressel 

Old Salts in Port: John Bakker, Steve Jones, Don Dressel. 

Ship in Port:  Reale De France, Derfflinger, Soleil Royale, Halifax. 

  There was a rather sparse Mayflower Group on this  lovely Sunday afternoon, but even though there were just three of us, we had a great time and lots of lively discussions took place as usual.  One of particular interest to your reporter was on drill bits and small mills.  Since an effort was being made to drill holes in pieces of brass a number of problems reared there ugly head.    The  drills  in  my  possession  (purchased  from  Micro‐Mark  and  Model  Expo)  were apparently made  in  China  and  did  not make much  of  an  impression  on  brass,  while  also wandering all over the place.  A drill press did not help.  The drills just wandered or broke.  The conclusion reached was that the drills  I tried to us would not drill through brass at all     ‐ AND had a hard time drilling through wood.  In other words, they were no good.  Fortunately, upon returning home after  the Mayflower Group meeting,  I  found  I did have  some  Japanese drills that I had purchased  in Japan.   They worked great and had no problem drilling through brass.  Conclusion: the drills purchased from Model Expo and Micro‐Mark were not any good, although they were cheap.  More expensive drills make in the USA, Germany or Japan were far superior but  did  cost  more  money.    Steve  Jones  recommended  a  company  called  Travers (www.travers.com) which  had  a  great  supply  of  good  drills  in  small  sizes  as well  as  H/S/S miniature  end mills.    Once  again,  attending  the Mayflower  Group meeting  has  resulted  in solving a ship model construction problem for me. 

 

  The  “official”  meeting  started  off with Don Dressel discussing progress on his model of  the Halifax.   Not much was done on the model since the SMA club meeting a few days previous  to  the Mayflower Group meeting, but details of just how things were completed on  the model were discussed  in more detail.  The handles for the two pumps on  the  model  were  again  brought  up 

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(problems with drilling holes in brass above) and a solution to my problem was found.  Details on the windless construction as well as the decking details were discussed and demonstrated.  The  windless  was  a  modification  of  the  windless  offered  by  Syren  Ship  Model  Company (www.SYRENSHIPMODELCOMPANY.com).    All  planking  on  the  model  was  doweled  as appropriate  and  the  decking  material  was  added  too  (not  enough  decking  material  was supplied  with  Hunt’s  kit  version).    Other  details  on  just  how  the  companionway/binnacle, windless  and pumps were  constructed using my  lathe  and mill  along with  the usual  smaller tools was discussed.   

Don also brought with him an excellent book – The Ship of the Line – A History in Ship Models by Brian Lavery, available from the Naval Institute Press (www.nip.org).  A very fine book with many pictures in color of some of the finest ship models in the world, many of which are  illustrated  from  the  collections of the National Maritime Museum.   Lots of history and detail  is there also – highly recommended  for all ship modelers at all interested in the ship of the line.  The book covers the origins of  the  ship of  the  line,  the wars with  the Dutch and French, followed by the world wars and revolutionary wars from 1739 to 1815.  Many details of ship of the line construction are also shown in both written words and color photographs. 

  John  Bakker was  up  next with  his  Reale  de  France, which he claimed  there was not much work done on.   However, as usual,  there appeared  to have been some work done on the model with a lot more flags and other details added to the model.  John did bring it “down” off the high shelf that he has it placed on and showed some of the additions.    John also  indicated  that his next “BIG”  step  is  to make all of  the oars  for  the galley.  John appreciated the little video of the La Fleur De Lis, another French galley, that Don sent the Mayflower Group (off the internet) to show how the galley’s were manned and rowed. 

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  The subject was also raised about what to do with all the models that were completed by each modeler.  John is a good example, as he has quite a few models already completed in his home and has also given a number of his models to his family (the Vasa and Misticque to 

name a couple).   One model that he has  in a case was built by Fred Reynolds (I believe) and obtained by John, but he would  like to sell or give  it to someone who would  like to have  it, as  he  has  no  room  for  it with  all  the  other models  he  is  currently  in  the  process  of building.   A photo of  the model  in  its case  is shown  to  the  left.    I  apologize  for  the  poor quality of the photo, but the lighting is not the best and taking a picture of a model in a case is not always easy.   The model  itself  is of the bow of the HMS Victory and  is fully rigged on the  fore mast  and  bowsprit.    The  interior  of the model at the bow is also done, which you can observe  if you  look  in on the “back side” of the model which  is against the glass of the case.  It is a large model, but at least John has placed  it  in  a  better  case  than  the  original.  Anyone  interested,  please  contact  John 

Bakker.  If you cannot contact John, then let Steve Jones or Don Dressel know of your interest and they can help you contact John. 

  Even though the Mayflower Group was small for this meeting, it still generated a lot of fun  and  camaraderie  as  well  as  resolving  a  number  of  problems  experienced  by  several members  of  the  group.    I  only  wish  more  SMA  members  would  take  advantage  of  the experience!  

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Famous Museums: US Naval Academy Museum 

Don Dressel 

  The  United  States  Naval  Academy  Museum  is  a  public  maritime  museum  in  Annapolis, Maryland, United States.   Being part of  the United States Naval Academy,  it  is  located at Preble Hall within the Academy premises.  The museum has an area of 12,000 square feet with four galleries.  The Museum is open seven days a week, from 9am – 5pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and 11am – 5pm on Sundays; it is only closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.   

  The Museum’s history dates back to 1845 when it was founded as the Naval School Lyceum.  In 1849, President James K. Polk directed the Navy’s collection of historic flags be sent to the new Naval School at Annapolis for care and display, establishing one of the Museum’s oldest collections.  After the Civil War, the Navy Department began forwarding many types of objects to the Naval Academy Lyceum, including  trophies of war,  items  from  exploration/survey  expeditions, diplomatic missions,  and naval related art.  The Lyceum also became the repository for the collections of the U.S. Naval Lyceum at the New York Navy Yard  in 1892, and  received an extensive collection  from  the Boston Naval Library and Institute in 1922, significantly growing the collection. 

  The Naval Academy Lyceum of  the 19th and 20th centuries was  located  in several places around  the  Naval  Academy  Yard,  before  the construction of Preble Hall in 1939.  From 2007‐2008,  Preble  Hall  underwent  a  complete renovation  to  turn  the  building  into  a modern museum,  which  officially  reopened  in  the summer of 2009. 

  The  collection  reflects much  of  American  naval  history  and  partly  the  naval  forces  of  other countries.    This  includes  thousands  of  two  –  and  three‐dimensional  objects  such  as  flags,  uniforms, weapons, medals, books, instruments and photographs as well as art.  Major collections are The Rogers Ship Model  Collection,  the Naval  Academy  Art  Collection  (including  c.  1,200  paintings),  the Malcolm Storer Naval Medals Collection (including ancient coins) and The Beverley R. Robinson Collection (prints of naval history). 

  The main emphasis of  this  article  is  the  collection of  ship models  and naval  items which  are housed in Preble Hall.  Your editor was fortunate enough to have attended the 2010 NRG Conference in Annapolis  at  the  Sheraton Hotel.   One  of  the major  tours  at  that  conference was  to  the U.S. Naval Academy  Museum  in  Preble  Hall  as  well  as  the  Academy  itself.    This  was  one  of  the  best  NRG Conferences put on by the NRG for many years.   Don Preul (then Director of the NRG and current ship model curator at the USNA) and Jeanne Pollard (then secretary of the NRG) did a wonderful job putting together the conference.  Since there is so much to show with respect to this conference, the article will be written in several sections, this section concentrating on the upper floor level and the extensive and 

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magnificent  ship  model  collection  of  English dockyard  ship models  (sometimes  referred  to  as Admiralty  Models)  based  on  the  collection  of Colonel  Henry  Huddleston  Rogers  (1879‐1935) composed of 108 ship models.  The only book (so far)  published  on  this  ship  model  collection  is Henry  Huddleston  Rogers  Collection  of  Ship Models,  published  by  the  United  States  Naval Academy  in  1954.    This  collection  was  recently renovated  (see  picture  here)  and  is  now  in  a beautiful and well  lite display with period  figures posed to augment the Admiralty Models, many of 

which are in contemporary cases. 

  I will  select  several  ship model pictures  I  took while at  the  conference and  I hope  you enjoy them.   There are way too many for this small newsletter, so here we go.   The descriptions of the ship models are taken from the plaque that accompanied the model. 

  The first model depicted  is a “British Third Rate  70‐Gun  Ship,  c.  1715  with  Length:  150’  2”, Beam:  40’  10”,  Crew:  440  men,  Scale:  1:48.  Designed to separate  into upper and  lower halves, this rare “pull‐apart” model affords the observer an unobstructed view of the ship’s below‐deck spaces.  Unlike most dockyard models, here all of the cabins and storerooms beneath the waterline are present, each fashioned with remarkable precision.  A dozen 70‐gun two‐deckers were added to the Royal Navy between 1707 and 1718.  This model is believed to be  a  faithful  replica  of  one  of  the  last  of  these ships, possibly the Oxford of 1713 or the Monmouth of 1718.  Model #34”  It is interesting to note that the book indicated above and published in 1954 also described this model with pictures, but referred to 

the ship as a 66‐gun ship.   

  “Leda  or  Phoenix,  British  Fifth  Rate,  36‐gun 18‐pounder Frigate of 1783, Length: 137’ 4”; Beam: 38’ 2”; Crew: 260; Scale 1:48.   Smaller and swifter  than  two‐  and  three‐decker  ships  of  the line,  frigates  were  designed  as  cruisers  whose primary  missions  included  fleet  reconnaissance and  commerce  raiding.   The Phoenix won  lasting fame  in  1803,  when  she  captured  the  French frigate  Didon  after  a  classic  ship‐to‐ship  duel 

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fought for almost four hours.  The name of the model builder is lost, but a number of tell‐tale features leave no doubt that he built the model of the Canada, also part of the Naval Academy collection.” 

  Next  is  the  following: “British Third Rate 70‐Gun  Ship,  c.  1725.    Length:  151’  0”;  Beam:  41’  2”, Crew:  480;  Scale:  1:48.    Seventy‐gun  Third  Rates were generally considered the most reliable and cost effective  line‐of‐battle  warships  in  the  Royal  Navy from  the  1660s  until  the  mid‐18th  century.    This particular  model  is  an  early  example  of  solid‐hull construction.  Unlike older English models, with their distinctive open‐framed  lower hulls, here  the hull  is instead  composed of  several  flat  layers of pine  that were  first  shaped  individually,  then  glued  together “bread and butter” fashion, and finally hollowed out to save weight.   By the 1740s this technique had become standard practice among British shipwright‐modelers.  Model # 54.”  Once again the model number, checked with the 1954 book mentioned above, does  not match  completely  the  description,  calling  the model  a  66‐gun  ship  with  slightly  different dimensions.  I am not sure if the model number has changed over the years or more extensive study has been given to the models since 1954.    I do know that the models are continuing  to be studied with a potential new book coming out sometime in the future. 

  Another model  is of a 50‐gun ship: “English Fourth  Rate  50‐Gun  Ship,  possibly  the  Portland  of 1693.    Length: 125’ 3”; Beam 33’ 7 ½  “; Crew: 230 men, Scale 1:48.  The most intriguing feature of this model  is the small coat of arms carved on the stern railing  just  above  the  ornate  rudder  head.    It belonged  to  a  distinguished  British  naval  family named  Purvis.    In  1710  Capt.  George  Purvis,  RN (1680‐1740) commanded the Portland, a small two‐decker of  the  same  size and date as  this model.    It seems  likely  that  he was  once  the model’s  owner, the  arms  having  been  added  while  it  was  in  his 

possession.”  This plaque did not have a mode number on  it, so I do not know which model number  it may have been.  It is interesting to me in the fact that it is fully rigged, but no mention is made as to if the rigging is contemporary or not.     

  The next model is definitely in the book, as both the book and the description I took a picture of at the U.S. Naval Academy Museum name the model Grafton and identify it further as model # 32.  The book has the following description: “Rigged model of the Grafton, English third rate 70‐gun ship built at Woolwich in 1679.  Rebuilt in 1700, 64 guns.  The Grafton was the flagship of Admiral Lord Dartmouth in the  expedition  of  seventeen  vessels  to  dismantle  the mole  and  evacuate  Tangier  in  1683‐84.    Her 

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dimensions were:  length  on  gun  deck:  150’  8 ½”;  beam:  40’  10”; Depth  of  hold:  10’  2”;  1102  tons.  Admiralty  Model  made  of  boxwood;  bottom timbers painted white;  two narrow wale strakes; outside  of  bulwarks  painted  dark  blue;  carved gilded circular wreaths around gun ports on main and  half  decks;  conventional  lion  figurehead; single  quarter  gallery;  decorated  with  cupidons and Prince of Wales feather; on the quarter deck bulkhead is the carved and gilded Dartmouth coat of arms quartered with  those of  the Washington coat  of  arms  and  surcharged with  the  blazon  of Villiers; stern decoration are shield with  the coat of  arms  surmounted  by  crown,  flanked  by mermaids and cupidons; masts are natural finish, 

yards painted black; three stern lanterns. 

  Size of model:  length overall 53”; width at main yard: 22”; height: 38”; Scale 1:48 

  This model was formerly in the collection of J.  Seymour  Lucas  of  the  Royal  Academy  and was acquired by Colonel Rogers  from  the artist’s heirs, as Lucas refused to part with  it during his  lifetime.  It  was  rigged  by  the  late  Mr.  Henry  B.  Culver.  “Tangier Smith”, Mayor of the Royal City of Tangier, returned  in  the  Grafton  when  the  city  was demolished  and  evacuated.    Samuel  Pepys accompanied  the expedition, having been ordered to go by Charles II as the wise counselor.  (See the “Tangier Papers” of Pepys.)” 

  The plaque in the U.S. Naval Academy Museum today is much shorter as follows:  “The Grafton of 1679 was one of the twenty English 70‐gun ships built between 1678 and 1680.   She participated  in no fewer than seven major battles  in the 1690s and early 1700s before her eventual capture by three French warships on 1707.   Observe how closely  the model  resembles a contemporary drawing of  the Grafton.” 

  There  is  one more  Admiralty Model which  I  feel  I must  have  in  this  first  installment  of  the presentation  of  these  great models,  which  is  as  follows:  “English  Third  Rate  56‐gun  ship,  c.  1650.  Length: 145’ 0”, Beam: 34’ 4’, Crew: 280 men, Scale: 1:48.  This is one of the oldest surviving scale model ships in the world.  It represents a Third Rate two‐decker constructed during the commonwealth years of 1649‐60.  Fifteen such ships were built during this period, many of which saw extensive action during the three Anglo‐Dutch Wars fought between 1652 and 1674. 

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  The model was altered sometime in the 19th century.  After its purchase in 1922, Colonel Rogers had  it  restored  to  its  present  state.    Note  the  square  gunport  wreaths,  a  feature  of  many Commonwealth ships.” 

 

  In the book Henry Huddleston Rogers Collection of Ship Models, the description of the model is a  little different as follows:   “Rigged model of an unidentified English fourth rate 56‐gun ship of about 1650.    Length on gun deck: 144’ 0”; beam: 34’ 6”; depth of hold: 14’ 0”.   Admiralty model made of boxwood; no planking on  sides;  two narrow wale  strakes;  carved  gilded  square wreaths  around  gun ports;  lion figurehead; single quarter gallery; stern decoration  is female figure of Justice holding sword and balance  flanked by  two cupidons;  three  round  stern  lanterns; masts are natural  finish; yards and bowsprit painted black.  Size of model: Length overall: 50”; width at main yard: 21”; height: 44”; scale: 1:48.  I have included two black and white photos of the model from the book. 

  This  article will  continue  next month  with  more Admiralty  Models from the U.S. Naval 

Academy.  Although  all  the models  exhibited in  the museum  on the  second  floor, which  comprise this  collection, 

cannot be show  in the SMA Newsletter due to the size of the collection,  I will show additional models that  I  took pictures of while  I was  fortunate enough  to  attend  the NRG Conference.    Following next month’s article, I hope to be able to also show additional features of the U.S. Naval Academy Museum as well as the U.S. Naval Museum. 

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SMA Dues are Due!! The editor wishes everyone in the SMA and related organizations a very Happy New Year. For the members of the SMA, this means Dues are again due for 2015. Remember, we have to pay for our club meeting place, unlike some other lucky organizations, so please contact our treasurer, Mike DiCerbo. Dues for email members is still $25.00, while dues for snail mail SMA members is $40.00, primarily due to huge postal costs at this time. Email SMA members, beyond 100 miles from the meeting site, is still $20.00. NRG Conference to be held in Mystic this year Look for details on the upcoming NRG Conference in Mystic, Connecticut this coming October. It should be a great conference. Potential location for upcoming SMA Show As the announcement was made at the January meeting, it is past time for the SMA to put on a ship modeling show and demonstration, possibly with the assistance of other clubs in the Southern California area. Please inform any officer if you have any suggestions for a venue for such an event. Treasurer’s Report Mike DiCerbo reports that there is $1,080.54 in the SMA account for the end of January. Web Manager’s Report The Webmaster, Doug Tolbert, is pleased to announce that there are now 480 SMA Newsletters of the past on line in pdf format on the SMA website. The issues go back to 1974. The latest 12 issues are restricted to SMA members only.

Chart of the hits experienced by our SMA web page through the end of Jan. 2015

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The GLUMPH

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

Next meeting Wednesday, February 18, 7:30 PM, Hillcrest Park Red Cross Building

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