D-Day 70th anniversary event 2014

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

oooh some people can be so cruel.

Trevor intimated that a twin A/A mount may be useful for his corvette and I have been looking at ship A/A armaments. I found a very nice picture of a Vickers Quad pom-pom gun and rushed down the shed to knock one up. If I say so myself it looks pretty good, considering I didnt have a plan, and after splashing some paint on it I think it could be useful.

Whilst finishing off the third LCM I have had a brainwave and am going to make it into a FLACK landing craft, and to this end I have made two twin pom-pom guns to mount on a raised deck..the rear gun will be superfiring. Trevor may have made something already of course in which case the flack ship will have one quad and one twin.

I did look at the possibility of a rocket armed LCM as I have a box of straws which could be used as launch tubes, but the repetition in making that many launchers put the kybosh on that idea,

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Three weekends before d-day.

Today will be spent sorting out the craft I am going to take along.

I have the planet T5 set now and need to a) see how it works and b) fit to the LCT4, nelson and Sunderland.

I have 4 r/c sets but need another 27m set for one lander.

The flack lander looks good but I have made this deck to fit on the boat with the simplified bottom and am worried about stability as it is quite high , obviously to give the guns a good view of the ducks (no, not THAT duck),I also need to find a box of Airfix army support group figures to man it as I dont really want to use my originals. However all the landing craft float very light and so can take extra ballast to suit. If it is too tender I will make a plain tank deck to fit for racing…. the thing has a "Johnson" motor in it..it is about 400 size but I have no idea if it is cooking or hot.

Now…whats all this "binding " rubbish??

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

General Needham, Sir!

What have you forgotten?….Sir!

What`s that, Sailor?

WHAT ABOUT THE ENEMY PILL BOXES?…….Sir?

I`ve saved you, just in the nick of time!……….Simple to make…..Nice awesome shapes too……..Plenty of Jerries at the ready!

Even the odd 88 Flak gun????……eh?

Cpt Bob

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Came over to Jersey to celebrate Liberation Day with the Islanders. Amazed at how well the whole community came together for the momentous day .All school children are taught their Island history and school was out for the day. I sense they will never forget . Local R.C boat club but could not find its where abouts. Ashamed to say I got lost several times Could not work out my north to south until the sun came up on the 3rd day . Glad we came over but now must get home and fine tune my L.C get and the Tetley Tea Boys up for our outing to the land of milk and honey Be safe Michael

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Mike. Celebration yes and my original thread title…changed due to some people…well, I dont know what.

Bob. I have a large coastal defence gun emplacement for my soldiers but it would look a bit small sitting by the side of the pond, ditto for pillboxes HOWEVER it is a good idea.

Have found that a spare 27M transmitter I was given years ago and thought wasnt working DOES work ok after I cleaned the battery contacts!! All boats now fitted with gear and working. My new Planet T5 works and binding the receivers was a doddle. I have had to fiddle about with the receiver location though in order to lift the rx above the waterine. This may be an issue on several models so I will not be ditching the old sets just yet.

I have also re- activated the Iowa, by using an aircraft speed controller (which is very small) and a 9.6v AA flat-pack battery. This will give me 9 boats to take!! The landers will nest into two boats, the Sunderland can travel with wing section off, the Iowa will go beneath the seats and the tanks can all go in a box.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

This gathering is all the more appropriate, as there was a big American camp in Bushy Park where Gen Eisenhower had his HQ. This was SHAEF Supreme headquarters allied expeditionary force, and it was here that the landings were planned.

As a small boy I can remember the camp still being there (some of it anyway) and there are several memorials in the park for this.

I have written to the friends of Bushy park group outlining our intentions and submitted a few pictures, and the post has been put on their website headed by a picture of HMS Nelson entitled "model of D-Day landing craft" ..ho hum !

It has been suggested that I should write to local newspapers and so on, but to be honest, as we are not a CLUB, I have no real idea of the turnout and would not want the TIMES reporter along to photograph justa dozen landing craft!! (we should have a few more than that, mind..)

ANYONE who wants to come down and boat will be welcome even if it is not a WW2 craft, after all. we could precede the landings with Dunkirk!!!!! I am sure there are loads of chaps within 45mins driving with torpedo boats and so on, even a Perkasa or two will be ok, no one will notice. RAF tenders or rescue launches are both appropriate.

I have gone for clean and tidy on the BIG lander. All the paintwork is even and lines very sharp, all the corners on the woodwork are sharp, bits that should be vertical are (although the box by the superstructure access ladder is somehow a few degrees off??). I have just spend an hour or so making rubber dingies for the big LCT4, to put on the sides. This, I have decided is all I am going to put on the sides. There was nothing much else, although I daresay there were odd fittings for ropes and wotnot but these are too small to be worth bothering with. I have added a couple of extra sailors, and Ii will see what I can pick up at the PW show in a couple of weeks to augment this.,

Todays outing with the LC(F)   (flack, it has two – twin pom-poms on it..yes they wouldnt have but I am using artistic license) was good and it looks very interesting. more so than a plain tank equipped boat. We have a couple of weeks, I will give some thought to an alternative deck for one of the other ones. A rocket launcher affair would be unusual but it involves making dozens of the same thing. Any suggestions welcome. I should have a quick surf really.

Trevor has put a rotating scanner of the flat plate variety in his "Lantern" radar on the corvette. We think it is not right, but although I have seen pictures of this lantern structure many times, I have no idea whats inside it!! I am guessing that is will be a flimsy affair like the long range radar, but this is no good for a model as you wouldnt see it turning !!

ho ho…I have just had a quick surf and it has a double cheese antenna as it was a centimetric set…. still, at the size it is, it makes little difference!

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 11/05/2014 19:02:00

Edited By ashley needham on 11/05/2014 19:12:33

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I have had a veritable flood of requests to take part in our landing-fest ( well, one , anyway) and although I have talked about "landings" I am sorry to disappoint but there is no suitable beach near to the landing stage, I have a feeling I have mentioned this before.. There is a cracking beach but in the adjacent pond, but this is away from the general public route from the car park. I am sure there are pictures in my album of the landing stage and grassy knoll where we shoot presidents from put our boats, to show the local arrangement. I am unsure about putting up tables as this could constitute "an event" , having read the Royal park rules and in any case the tables would be away from the action.

There is actually a small section of beach opposite the landing stage for those with working ramps and tanks but the exit is a bit steep. My Toyboata will actually get up this, from the water just to set a benchmark.

There is nothing serious about boating at Bushy park, anyone NOT wanting fun would be advised to not have fun somewhere else! Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Ashley, what about a spare piece of hardboard from your boat building materials stockpile on the landing stage and across into the water to make a slope ?

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Wouldn`t want to waste a nice bit of hardboard!!

I looked at the Bluebell model at the hall Weds night, and the deck before the breakwater was dark grey, behind and for the rest pale brown. The big vents were white with red centres. Looked quite nice.

Odd bridge arrangement. I have not studied a Flower bridge before, and it is a small hedged off area in the middle of a great big rectangular platform, looks odd. I thought your bridge area looked a bit funny and i was wondering what was going in it, but I see the layout now!

Ashley

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ashley

I was on the IPad yesterday, when I was rudely interrupted by a noisy Pop-up!, so I immediately thought of Ashley!…………lol

It mentioned something about a D-Day magazine somewhere?

Know anything about it?

Bob

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Pale brown because of the wooden decks probably, will have to have a look around the tester pots in the DIY stores over the week-end ("Kitchen & Bathroom" emulsion should be OK for decks and above).

Making a bigger raised bandstand for the generously donated Pom-Poms, next coat of grey due on over the week-end.

DO NOT think any of my corvette is scale or accurate (bridge structure was based on what lite-ply I had stashed away).

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Might I suggest that it would be just as important to celebrate the Little Ships that got the poor sods off the beach, by making any one of the huge number of private craft impressed for the purpose, from fishing craft (Vanguard, Paglesham) to cabin cruisers (my Uncle Ted's wee Thorneycroft).

Martin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Martin.

Exactly. As per prev posts. any and all boats welcome with a bias towards period craft as this would be the main thrust of the day.

We have a varied selection down on any normal Sunday.

Ashley

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

It must be nice to be in an active model boat club. All we have round here is a few grunty old farts at a pond in the middle of nowhere that you can't easily find!

I'm not a clubby type I suppose.

Martin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Martin. We are not a club at Bushy park, just an enthusiastic bunch of boaters and modelmakers.

The park is very easy to find and the big car park is 50 yds from the pond. It could do with being a bit longer for very fast craft, but you cant have everything.

This sundays boating is going to be landing craft, all 5 of them to make sure they are all working properly. I have a gig tonight and likely wont want to get up that early but there we are. I shall just have to suffer for my art (as they say)

The film-makers have sent a link out so we can watch the film with my boats in, but it is still not for general release. When it is, I will post the link and you can all watch it, all 14 mins (but at least two mins worth of boats!!!)

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob. I am knocking up some pill boxes. We will need some markers for the tug`o`war and I thought that pill boxes would be appropriate? I happen to have some large 5 or so inch diameter very thick card tube we got from somewhere and slices of this indeed make perfect pill boxes. I have PVA`d then and covered them in sand, as one does and now just need some paint…a tester pot may be the thing..will have to see. I have loads of grass scatter material for the bases.

I have been asked by various chaps..how many people/landing carft are going to be there: The `onest answer is..I dont know. I have made a half-dozen craft for the chaps, Trevor is making, and he is very brave, the monster corvette, and I have 5 to bring, but of course it is up to the masses to turn up with suitable WW2 era craft for not only a bit of a static display for public amusement but to add to the numbers on the water. i will knock up some flyers for handing out, containing a bit of history and pointing out the parks significance in the D-day story.

I have been urged by various chaps ( well, one in particular) to publicise this "event" in the local rags but without knowing how many chaps will be down I am reluctant to do so.I do not wish to publicise a damp squib. I have not heard of any other efforts to mark this momentous occaision so am assuming all the other clubs are not bothering.,There was a notice in the mag, and OBVIOUSLY this is read by `fahzands of readers all of whom are very active and at least a million belong to clubs… my mail address is on the 360 page in the mag, so no excuses!.

The beach opposite the landing stage I have decided will be the one for a photo opportunity. The concrete jetty is not very photogenic!

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

Corvette has now had a full coat of grey, raised circular bandstand (with railings) made and mounted, vents drying in todays sun ready for white top coat and red insides.

Will try to get a few photos of current progress tomorrow.

Have bought a CD of war film themes so we can have some rousing back ground music – now where can I get a 1:32 WW2 Naval band ?

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor. A 1/32 Royal Marine band is the closest you will get, but not common and expensive now.I have a large Guards band..? will a small guards band fit on your quarterdeck?

Have made 4 pillboxes (literally, they are circular!) for markers for the tug o war. Have some nylon cord, need to make some floating markers for the football..assuming we have enough craft tough enough to make two teams…

Also needing ships for the grassy knoll static display dont forget (it sounds so grand). I will have 6 or so for this, including a couple of small battery powered boats.

Ashley

[Trevor HollowayParticipant @trevorholloway99134]

It would be possible to load up lander with a band.

Picture taken last night of Corvette sadly run aground :

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Trevor. I think that one, or possibly two tinlets of Humbrol matt paint will cover your deck, for a slightly better colour than a tester pot.

Looking much better now in all-over grey! I will take the camera and take a couple of snaps of the Bluebell in the SCC hall tonight, just by way of ideas, and send to you.

Your pictures nicely showing the difference the light makes on "battleship grey". Two pictures, completely different colour ships and simply because of the viewing angle. It backs up my mantra "there is no such thing as the right grey for a warship".

You didnt paint the shed grey as well, did you??

Ashley

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Hi Ashley

What SCC Hall, SCC as in Surrey County Council? The Grand hall at County Hall in Kingston? As that is where I work.

Andy

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Sea Cadet Corps. The unit is called T.S Saumarez.

Sorry about the confusion.,

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Fortunately I have tabber young Ray today to bring his big Belfats and HDML down next week and a couple of other chaps.

Next weeks turnout is totally beyong my control, if there is six of us down and 10 landing craft, so be it.

I will be bringing 10 craft down..I have spent an hour this afternoon stacking them up (as the landing craft "nest" a bit) and Berengar will be drivng one and a mate of mine (yes Paul they do exist) and Mike F will be attending (good man, bring whatever you have to add to the grassy knoll spectacular).

Bob. I have made some pillboxes, these will be used as markers for the tug`o`war and also to add menace to the grassy knoll.

I have a feeling that the German vessels will be outnumbered by the British ones. I only have the LFM to bring as the German opposition otherwise.

I have a non-functional U.S Higgins LCVP complete with Airfix U.S marines, and other than propbably one or two Elco PT boats that will be that on the US front…oh no…hang on.. I will have the New Jersey and Ray has put a US number on his LCM.

Ashley

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I did forget to mention a star buy at the Plastic Warrior show we went to on Saturday, as I managed to find the coxwain that accompanies the sailors that are on the big LCT. The coxwain is standing dressed in a duffel coat and is holding a ships wheel (with a brown post affair) moulded all in one.

These sailors-and the ones on my boats are re-issues, in a bright Blue plastic..unlike the originals in white or dark blue- were made by Lone*Star and were sold as a set including the captain (with moveable binocular hand), but not the coxwain. He was made to go with the captain as part of a "kit" that was a cut out and glue landing craft. He was not re-issued so is fairly rare. He looks great on the LCT, and saves me having to super-detail the bridge (falls about larfing).

Ashley yes yes you all find that very interesting in a nerdy sort of way

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