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 Author  Topic: 80' Elco Lighting
Blake

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Blake   Send Email To Blake Posted on: May 10, 2010 - 4:24pm
OK since Dave brought the subject up with his Stern Flagstaff light question, I guess I'll go ahead & ask my question because I was going to have to do it sooner or later anyway. I've planned all along to build my RON 33 boat(Italeri kit) with functioning lights, but am not sure of what actually to light. I realize that lights on any vehicle in a combat zone (be it land, sea, or air) are a dangerous idea & were very limited in their use, but they are too good in the modeling world to pass up.
That said, what would be lit on a boat that was at a secure location/base beyond the obvious red & green nav lights?
Would the stern flagstaff light be on & was there a bow light of any kind?
As the boats changed during the war, I know the equipment on them did too, however, lighting on combat vehicles is not the most discussed aspects of their existence & is really pretty vague.
I'm going to include some limited interior lighting, but am looking for mostly exterior lighting information. I definitely don't want a Christmas tree, but want to subtly maximize the effect of illumination on the boats.
Just for fun let's say the Mr. Hope & his girls were stopping by & touring a few of the boats tied up. What actually WAS on the boats that COULD be turned on for their visit if they wanted to.
Thanks Everybody!
PS Dave I'm looking forward to seeing your boat at the next club meeting!


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David Waples

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of David Waples  Posted on: May 10, 2010 - 7:38pm
Hi Blake,

Some good questions for our veterans!

What I think I know...

There was a bow light on the early 80' Elcos. From the photos I've seen they were removed in the field. I have not seen one make it past Panama so far. :-)

You are correct about the red and green position lights. Red on port, green on starboard, and white on the tail (mounted to flagstaff). Just like an airplane... although ships came first.

In the cockpit on later model Elco's there was an aircraft style night light mounted directly above the instruments. Could probably be modeled in scale with fiber optics. I don't know how consistent this is though. I don't see one on early model Elco's. Somebody else will have to weigh in on this. I suspect these are red lights but not sure. I've seen these on Higgins boats too.

I believe I read where there is a red light used for the door leading to the chart house but again, somebody will have to weigh in on that.

The kit box shows light shining up through the dead lights on the deck. As somebody pointed out before there is a sliding panel under each deadlight under the deck and I suspect that in most cases they kept these shut so no light would shine up through them at night. There are certainly lights below deck but not sure to what extent, where, and what color.

Good questions!
Dave



David Waples

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