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Topic: New Model Projects |
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Alex Johnson
Advanced Member
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Posted on: Feb 27, 2008 - 1:19pm
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First of all, thanks Earl for your kind words and your Navy service. We model builders are honored to learn about PT Boat history from the men who fought in and lived aboard the boats. Last year I built a 1/24th scale model of Bulkeley's PT 41 for Frank Andruss' Mosquito Fleet Exhibit. Garth Connelly was kind enough to post the article I wrote about the project on his website. Anyone interested can see my write-up on the 41 Boat's construction (complete with pictures) as well as a 1/72nd scale model of PT 167 I made back in 2006 for a former crewmember. These along with a number of other articles about PT Boat models by other modelers are available at Mr. Connelly's site which is:
http://www.ptboatworld.com/models.htm
Thanks,
ALEX
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CJ Willis
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Posted on: Feb 28, 2008 - 8:42am
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Alex: Our boat was at Rendova when the 167 came in after being hit by the Jap torpedo that went through the bow just below deck and above the water line. The torpedo had not run in the water to arm itself consequently did not explode. If I hadn't seen it I wouldn't have believed it. It was a zebra stripped boat.
C. J. Willis |
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 28, 2008 - 8:46am
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Hey guys-
I just thought that I'd relate to everyone the inpact that scale models make on the general public, especially school aged kids!
I have this diorama of a PT boat base of Tulagi that I love to display whenever I can. The whole thing fits into my Pontiac Montana van. I was invited to a WW II veterans show in Fernandina Beach, Florida about three years ago.
My display includes the sounds of an dogfight between a Japanese Zero and the actuall sound of a F4U Corsair. On the tape I've also added President Franklin D. Roosevelt's adress to Congress on Dec. 8, 1941. A busload of college students came in to observe the displays-uniforms, weapons, patches, jeeps and so on.
One young couple approached my display and we started chatting as I discribed my diorama. Just then the recording of FDR address to Congress came on the tape player. I said, " Listen guys, That's President Roosevelt speaking about the attack on Pearl Harbor!" The young girl "college'" student then pipes up and says, and I quote, " OH, Pearl Harbor? That's somewhere in North Carolina???!!!"
Needless to say I was absolutely FLOORED! Here is a college student that had NO CLUE about Pearl Harbor!
The following week I made a pact with the local school system and I started to bring my diorama into the school systems to teach these youngsters just what it was like to serve in the South Pacific and the activity of the impact of the PT boats on the Second World War.
It is very satisfying to see the smile of a group of kids when they walk into a class room after a set up the diorama display! I look at it this way folks! If i can get to just one young mind and the light goes on and they start talking to their parents or want to learn more about the PT's and their role in the Second World War, I've done my job for the day! It's a fantastic feeling that I just can't describe in words here!
Thanks for letting me share this!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Feb 28, 2008 - 8:51am
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Hey CJ-
I have seen the picture of your PT boat after that dud torpedo rammed right through the bow . The picture is Frank Johnson's book of PT Action of WWII. It's a fantastic book! it's an amazing shot!
Thanks Frank Ryczek
Modeler/ Friend RON 10 PT -169
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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ducati650
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 Posted on: Mar 2, 2008 - 4:50pm
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I discovered that the location of theday cabin hatch in the kit was wrong so I had to put a plug in it after I had glued the day cabin roof in place. luckily the hatch covers most of it. I have to fit the hatch but it is white glued in place for the photos. I also finished adding the deadlights and fit a support for the SO radar. I posted 4 photos in the album. Here is one:
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TED WALTHER |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 2, 2008 - 7:15pm
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Frank;
Good for you!!!!! I comend you on you work with your local school system... BRAVO ZULU to you!
I had just moved down to Virginia with my parents and i was going to Private school when the kid next door, who was going to public school said his teacher was teaching them that the south won the civil war!!! This was 1978!
Now I am 44 years old and I am completely dumbfounded by how much stuff they just pass over in the public school system today. I am so glad I had a father who was in World War Two, who was an officer in Naval Intelligence(3rd Naval District) who wa wire tapping/bugging and safe cracking Japanese and German establishments in NYC, who walked on Omaha Beach as a Beachmaster( two weeks after D-Day), Later he was transfered to Uderwater sound school and then to the UDT demolition school at Maui, and who later went to deliver reinforcing/replacement Marines at Kwajalein,Truk, Enewetok, Tinian, Siapan, Guam, and Okinawa. He retired in 1970 as a LCDR USNR (Ret.). Because of Dad at an early age I was reading history books. My uncle wa in the 77th Inf Div in the Phillipines, My brother was a radarman on a DD off Korea. The first book I really read was Flying Fortress by Edward Jablonski. The first model I made at age 7 was PT 109. I guess now I was fortunate because I was surrounded by World War Two, Heck, even one of my Dad's co-workers at the New Yok Telephone Company,and one of his best friends was on "THE SHIP THAT WOULD NOT DIE" The U.S.S. Laffey DD-724, the ship tha was attacked by 22 kamakazes off Okinawa in April 1945.
Keep up the good work, Frank, in MY humble opinion our schools are focusing on too much crap, and not focusing on the things that really make this country great and the best country to live in on the planet.
Charge on my friend and never give up!
Take care,
TED
P.S. If this offends anyone reading this forum sorry...my excuse....24 years(12 years in NAVSPECWAR) in the Navy, just back from another deployment last month, and still going strong! KATN HTWATTD GOD BLESS AMERICA!
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ducati650
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Posted on: Mar 2, 2008 - 7:29pm
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Right on, Ted!
I made the bullnose tonight:
Frank,
I will be in JAX the week of March 17. I would love to buy you a beer.
Ed
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EARL RICHMOND
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Posted on: Mar 2, 2008 - 7:43pm
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FRANK R I KNOW FROM WHENCE YOU ARE COMING. I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK TO A "FEW" CHILDREN AT A LOCAL COMMUNITY CENTER ABOUT MY GTROWING UP YEARS AND THE PT BOATS.I MADE PHOTOCOPIES OF SOME THING AND PT BOAT PLANS.IT WAS ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE SHORT TALK OF ABOUT 15 MINUTES.QWHEN I GOT STARTED ABOUT THE BOATS THEY WOULDN.T LET ME STOP.QUESTIONS,QUESTIONS.THEY WERE SO HUNGRY FOR ALL THE INFORMATION THEY COULD GET ABOUT WW2 AND THE BOATS.THEY ASKED ME TO COME BACK AGAIN AND TALK "OFF THE CUFF".THOSE CHILDREN SOAKED UP INFORMATION AS FAST AS I COULD GIVE IT.I ALSO HAVE 2 GRANCHILDREN THAT WROTE ESSAYS ABOUT "GRANDAD" AND THE PT BOATS.MY GRANDAUGHTER TITLED IT "MY HERO".YOU CAN IMAGUINE HOW THAT MADE ME FEEL.THERE WERE ALSO ADULTS AT THE CENTER AND THEY COULD NOT THANK ME ENOUGH FOR TALKING WITH THEM AND THE CHILDREN.IT SEEMS LIKE THEY NO NOTHING ABOUT "THE OLD TIMES./
c
C.J. WAS IT AT RENDOVA,GREEN OR TREASURY THAT THE BOATS MOORED ALMOST UP ON THE BEACH UNDER THE TREES FOR CAMOFLAGE I CAN,T REMEMBER WHICH?
earl richmond |
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CJ Willis
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Posted on: Mar 3, 2008 - 9:31am
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Earl: It was Treasury where we tied up under the trees. They were huge trees with limbs 8" - 10" in diameter overhanging the water 20 feet or more. The water was deep close to shore. We tied up to the limbs which kept the boat off the bank. At Treasury each boat did their own cooking. We had two tents set up on shore and had a field gas propane range and a drum cut in two for stoves. We operated with Ron 9 and Commander Kelly. We moved there after the the Vella La Vella base was abandoned due to the disasterous fuel dock fire which killed two Ron 19 base force men and destroyed PT 239. We were only at Treasury from December 15th,1943 until December 28th when our 242 boat was shot up by Jap barges and we were sent to Tulagi for repairs and new Mk 13 torpedoes. At Green we tied up at bouys anchored out from the dock. It was too shallow along the shore to tie up.
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FRANK |
TOP BOSS
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Posted on: Mar 3, 2008 - 1:08pm
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Thank you Ted and Earl-
One of the "best" seminars displays of my diorama took place at Baker County High School in Nassau County here in Florida. I was invited to show my display to High School Jr. ROTC Air Force Cadets.
When I pulled up to the school I had absolutely no clue as to where I was headed. A spiffed out Jr. cadet approched my van and said, "Excuse me sir, I'm Cadet so and so, and I was on the lookout for your white van. Please follow me, Sir!"
He led me to the back door of the class room where at 6:30 AM sharp the class was already waiting for me to unload the van which was loaded to the roof with diorama sections. As I popped the hatch, one youngster told me, "Please, sir, we were told and further instructed by our Commander NOT to let you unload the van yourself! We"ll handle it from here!" WOW!!!
My wife Lori and I were stunned to say the least! I instructed the class of perhaps 16 or so and they told me to go inside the class room and advise them where each section was to go! Talk about the royal treatment!
The Commander came in and introduced himself to me and I told him I never had so much help at any one time like I did here. " It's all part of the lesson, Mr. Ryczek", the Commander told me.
Part of my display includes a simulated "dog-fight" between a Marine F4U Corsair and a Jap Zero models in 1/32 scale. These models are attached to wires and a acrylic rod that then attached to a battery rotisserie unit located under one section of the diorama. When I turned on the unit, you could have heard a pin drop!
At 7:15 the bell sounded and I was introduced to the class! At that precise moment these cadets all rose out of their seats and snapped to attention and sulated me! MY GOD IN HEAVEN, I NEVER FELT SO PROUD IN ALL MY LIFE!
My lecture started with just how and why I created my diorama and the all important fact that these PT's played in helping to win the war in the South Pacific. These kids hung on every word! I then mentioned that my diorama is a memorial to all of the brave men who served aboard the Islands and moreso the PT's. I had these kids in the palm of my hand!
After about an hour I opened up the floor to questions, not knowing how learned these kids were when it came to WW II military aircraft!
One cadet piped up and said, "Sir, I really love the way you displayed the model aircraft! The Corsair model, is it a type A , or a type B class?"
I was stumped by a 16 year old kid!! I told him honestly that I had no idea!
The class bell rung and I had a free period. I spoke with the Commander and told him how embarassed I was not knowing the answer! He told me this kid is an expert on every type of warbird that ever flew in both the European and Pacific wars. He then went on to say, "These kids are really sharp, Frank. After all, they are Air Force cadets, remember?'"
At 4th period I had some of the kids from 1st period but I didn't know what to expect! These kids were receiving their new ranks and awards and Iwas there to see it first hand! Man these kids made me proud that day.
At 6th period I had a class of all new cadets and it was just like the first period, very sharp, very smart and very polished!
At the end of the school day, I told my wife that we may as well start packing up as we had a long ride home. Just then, as they must have been reading our minds came all the cadets and I didn't lift a finger as they loaded up the van the same way they unloaded it. A young girl approached me and handed me a card signed by each and every cadet present that day. I'll NEVER forget that day as long as I live! I lived out my dream to be a history teacher for a day! Yep, I was bustin' buttons off my shirt for a long, long time after that, believe you me!!
Thanks for letting me share this little tidbit of mine!
Frank Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON 10 PT 169 " ZEBRA SNAFU "
HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!
YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY! |
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