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Shotlocker

NRG Member
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Everything posted by Shotlocker

  1. Interesting article. I think this type of WWI mine-laying submarine would make a great model kit. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/3d-map-reveals-why-german-sailors-sank-their-own-submarine/ss-AA1l8L4M?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=d7c816a499af4dd6b8c865758d68fd48&ei=146
  2. Scott, I began building that model when I was I was twelve, finished it when I was 13 (1960...whew!), then won a 1st place trophy with it the next year at a USNR model contest. Amazingly, it's still intact. I just dusted it off last month and all of the masts and spars are in excellent condition, perhaps because for many years the ship was stored in a wooden crate during my many moves around the country. I'm happy that you're restoring yours and hope that one of our sons will someday treasure mine as well. Best Regards, Gary
  3. Quite the machine all right but methinks I would set it on something a bit more stable than those two blocks of wood!
  4. Nice! A challenge for the kit manufacturer would be to reproduce the structure that was beneath that monstrous turret. Considering the secrecy that was in place during Yamato's construction, tho', that information may not be available now.
  5. One tip concerning silica gel - once saturated, it can be restored by popping the packet into a microwave for a period of time, depending upon the size of the packet. It works, I've done it, just keep an eye on the thing while it's being zapped. Heating it in an oven also works.
  6. Bill, That must have been quite a pleasant surprise to discover a forgotten ship model kit hidden away! As to build or not to build, I think you should construct it - it'd be a great addition to display. Off topic, have you finished the Mary Celeste yet? Gary
  7. You're welcome. During General Quarters, my battle station was in the radio shack, so I never got to see actual sweeping operations, although I'm certain those cables floated. We never had to sweep live mines on my tour, just dummies, but I'll always remember the 40mm cannon on the bow shaking the entire ship when it was fired at one (at least I think it was a 40mm). Also, I always kept in my mind the image of a giant photo in the Minelant headquarters building in Charleston of a South Korean minesweeper being blown to bits after hitting one.
  8. GB, Nice looking vessel you've built! I've also not heard of an MSB even though I was a radioman operator onboard three different MSO's on the east coast. One comment about the cable on the reel - the cables on board our ships all had segmented floats on them. The photo is the stern of the USS Alacrity, 1969, as an example. Sure don't know if those river boats had them tho'. Gary
  9. That spoke was/is known as the "King's spoke" and it was differentiated from the others in various ways.
  10. Or it could be the spoke indicating that the rudder is amidships....
  11. Outstanding meticulous workmanship. Way above my pay grade!
  12. "One rule to rule them all...one rule to bind them."
  13. You, sir, are indeed a master craftsman - beautiful work to behold and admire!
  14. I actually began building this model in 1978 but it's spent most of the time since then languishing in a box packed with Styrofoam peanuts as I moved around the country. Now it's complete at last freeing me up to finish other incomplete ships. My apologies for the mediocre photos. Best Regards, Gary
  15. Allan, I will certainly do that and try one of those hoagies if they still have 'em.
  16. Good grief! I had to keep closing my dropped jaw - just...wow.
  17. Much better a small space than none at all!
  18. Fascinating machine. I'm trying to imagine what it would be like as one of the "hamsters" inside those giant wheels all day long...what a job!
  19. I use no. 11 xacto blades almost exclusively unless the situation requires the curved scalpel blade. I also resharpen the no. 11's over and over, using fine honing stones, sometimes until the cutting edge develops a concave shape at which point they don't seem to hold the edge for very long; only then will I replace the blade. That habit probably stems from growing up with minimal funds for hobby supplies when I was a young'un.
  20. I dunno, Literalman, from what I've read about duty on board those ships, it wasn't so great, especially during long periods of inclement weather with that foghorn bellowing 24/7 plus being anchored in one spot for weeks/months at a time. The sailors actually started a cottage industry, tho', by passing the time making baskets to sell.
  21. Bill, I have to agree with Wintergreen in that, because of the dearth of information on that ship, I became the "master shipwright" and just decided to build the deck furniture and fixtures as I saw fit, knowing that it in no way probably resembles the original. Sure took the frustration out of the build by doing it that way and I have a nice-looking model that I and others can enjoy looking at. Pretty sure I won't be questioned on it! Cheers, Gary
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