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 Author  Topic: Elco 80' model 1/48 scale
Ed B

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Ed B  Posted on: Dec 3, 2007 - 5:57pm
Since this is becoming a modeler's haven, I thought I'd show off my other model - an 80' Elco (sorry about the shadows). Like my Thunderbolt, this was also made by Don Rosencrantz. It's numbered #25 of 48. I once had a list of the 48 recipients, don't know if he made more of these as well. Unlike my Thunderbolt, this one never saw an attic, and has always been encased. The only problem was, many years ago, juvenile hands got a hold of this toy and ... If that sounds like a confession, it is. Fortunately, Rosencrantz restored it in the 60's to its original glory. It's 20 long, and all metal.




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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Dec 3, 2007 - 6:17pm
Ed:

This is the same as my Rosencrantz Elco 80 Footer in the previous Thunderbolt Post. When you think of the massive time and workmanship that went into these all metal models, it is no wonder Rosencrantz had time to perform his other duties at Elco. For the longest time, I thought these were made of wood until I was lucky enough to have one donated. When I inspected it, I was shocked to learn they were machined metal pieces from the guns, to the Radar. I have many original Elco Office memo's and documents and I recall one memo from Rosencranz sent to Mr.Irwin Chase in regards to a a model for the New York Yacht Club. In the memo he tell chase that the model is half done and will require 1500 hours more time, including about 200 hours in the xperimenal Shop, with the remander to be completed at home. Total cost in 1945 was $2,600.00 figured at $2.00 per hour.


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Ed B

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Ed B  Posted on: Dec 4, 2007 - 4:33am
Frank, I thought yours was a larger scale than my 1/48, camera angle I guess. The estimate for the NYYC model, 3000 hours at completion, seems staggering, though I'm unfamiliar (and surely underestimate) the effort involved. That must have been one fine model. You have to believe something like that still exists somewhere today, hopefully on display. Now that would be a real showpiece for your exhibit!

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Will Day

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Will Day   Send Email To Will Day Posted on: Dec 4, 2007 - 7:00am
Nice looking model. It reminds me of the Elco sold by Varney way back when.....

Will

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Dec 4, 2007 - 7:58am
You know Will, it does seem as though some of the models were used as templates for other ones. The Varney Kit in my Exhibit certainly does resemble the Rosencrantz model, and I believe that one of the Lindberg kits was patterned after the varney model because the parts for the Lindberg will fit the Varney model. Ed, you are correct in that several of the models made by Rosencantz went to many different Venues during the War.

I know that Bulkeley's PT 41 made by Rosencrantz is with the Bulkeley Family. Rosencrantz had 2 daughters and I was lucky enough to talk with one of them, who said that they do not have one PT BOAT MODEL made by their Father. Rosencrantz made many other models as well after his time with Elco, including many Sailing Ships, which I believe are in the Smithsonian Museum. Over the years I have come across 2 of Rosencrant's PT BOAT MODELS in 1/48th scale. Both were for sale and both went out of my price range............


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Drew Cook

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Drew Cook  Posted on: Dec 4, 2007 - 4:27pm
(Frank, don't read any further...)

Sorry to bring up PT 109 again, but this model is identical to one JFK had in the White House while he was President. It was kept in a glass case in a bookcase in the wall, to the right side (as you look at it) of the President's desk. Of course, this is obviously a model of a late-war 80' Elco and not a 103-class boat, but it's identical to the one JFK had in the Oval Office.

There's a photo of JFK using the model to point to his position in the cockpit at the wheel when the boat was rammed, in Robert J. Donovan's book "PT 109 - John F. Kennedy in World War II."



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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Dec 4, 2007 - 10:37pm
Ed,

I found the original Elco Office Memo from Don Rosencrantz to Irwin Chase about finishing the model for the NYYC. I thought you would appreciate seeing the total cost for this wonderful model. I wonder of the NYYC still has one in their possesion.





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Ed B

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Ed B  Posted on: Dec 5, 2007 - 4:56am
Wow! At 1/24 scale, this model would be over 3' long, truly impressive. And while I'm still amazed by the number of manhours dedicated to Elco's modeling efforts, there of course wasn't much else going on at Elco at that time. I seem to recall the memo listing recipients of my size model was also post-war, dated sometime in 1948 when Elco was preparing to close the doors.

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Ed B

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Ed B  Posted on: Dec 5, 2007 - 5:09am
In re-reading the Elco memo, I notice it's not specific at all about what the model is of. It may well have been a model of an Elco yacht, not a PT, hence the interest from NYYC. The fact that the memo originated from the Naval Division rather than the Yacht Division might only have denoted Rosencrantz's employment status. If it really was a PT model, go find it for your exhibit!

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Frank J Andruss Sr

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Post a Reply To This Topic    Reply With Quotes     Edit Message     View Profile of Frank J Andruss Sr   Send Email To Frank J Andruss Sr Posted on: Dec 6, 2007 - 12:42am
According to my Employee List from Elco, Rosencrantz served in the Hull Department. He was there during the War and continued on in that Department until Elco closed in 1949. Actually, Elco did some pretty good business in 1946 and had increased sales to an almost satisfactory level in 1947. Too bad that it was too late, as the overhead of such a large assembly plant and Elco's refusal to cut down on maerials cost's for making the boats, did them in. I doubt Elco would have been making such models if they were in such financial troubles, and who knows, maybe Rosencrantz never got the go ahead to finish this product for the NYYC. You are correct in that maybe it was a Crusiser or some other Elco design he was building, but being as it was a MEMO from the Naval Division side of the business, I would have to guess it was a PT BOAT. At that size, it certainly would be something to obtain a model of that magnatude for my Exhibit. Maybe I will check it out.............


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