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» Forum Category: PT Boats of WWII
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» Forum Name: PT Boats - General
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» Topic: Special Thanks
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With our PT-374 project just about completed, I thought I would take this time to thank three wonderful friends who have helped make this project such a success. Frank Ryczek, Alex Johnson, and Stan Pienkowski are three of my dear friends, who have generously donated their time and talent to this project. They stepped forward right from the beginning when I had this idea to honor my friend, Wallace Mickey McNeish.

Frank Ryczek without a doubt was the driving force behind this project, He toiled long hours in his work-shop creating everything from Palm Trees to Grass shacks. Whenever I asked him about something, he just spoke up and said "No problem Frank, I'll make it for you". Without his talents and determination to see this project succeed, we would still be in the early stages of the project. I owe him a great deal, and thanking him here on the message board is the least I can do. When we were short on tree's I was going to purchase some, He got mad at me and said he would make them, when I needed buildings, he said no problem, when we needed bushes, he said no problem. Not once did he ever refuse to build something. Frank is a true friend and really enjoys and loves PT Boat History. Thanks Buddy.

Stan Pienkowski is another wonderful friend, who has built many boats and diorama's for my Mosquito Fleet Exhibit. We go back a long way, and when I approched him about first doing a Quonset Hut for this project, he went ahead and built it. He showed his true colors when he refused to take any money for the Quonset Hut, then understood when I decided not to use it in the Diorama. I am blessed to have Stan as my friend, who also took the time to construct the massive case for our project. He will be bringing this over my house on December 26th to attach to the base, and meet the McNeish Family. Thanks Buddy.

Alex Johnson is like a Kid brother to me, and when I discussed this project with him, he jumped at the chance to help. Parts that were constructed were shipped to Alex, who toiled for over one year in his spare time to finish this project. Many phone calls and E-mails were placed to Alex so that we could coordinate everything and discuss where things should be placed. I bet Alex snapped and sent me well over 150 photographs. Each thing that was done had to be seen by me for approval and this was time consuming but well worth the effort. Alex worked on this project many times after working all day, playing with the Kids, and when they were off to bed, went into his workshop to construct our project. Many times he would work until the wee hours of the morning. His attention to detail and his love of this project can be seen in the final product. I am blessed to have him as my friend.

In closing let me say that these three wonderful friends are the best three guys anyone could have as buddies. I base this not because of their work on this project, but because they are like brothers to me, who over the years have shown what friendship is all about. I can count on them and they can count on me, and that is worth all the money in the World. Thank You my friends for helping me to honor a dear friend. If Wallace Mickey McNeish were here today to see the effort's you guys put into this project he would say "Job well done, God Bless you all"..................



Posted By: Frank J Andruss Sr | Posted on: Dec 17, 2010 - 2:59am
Total Posts: 3497 | Joined: Oct 9, 2006 - 6:09am



Thanks Frankie A . for all the kind words regarding the PT- 374 Memorial Diorama project. I'm very glad that I stepped up to the plate to help out with this one-of-a-kind historical diorama. I have to agree that you really did have a home run team with Stan Pienknowski, Alex Johnson and myself. I think we knocked this one out of the park!!

Frank forgot to mention the biggest work task for me and that was the "water" base that the PT model is sitting upon. I first told Frankie A. that I would do this BUT I also had to send this massive base to Stan Pienknowsi so that he can take measueements to construct the case,

I guess many of the modeler's out there who have attempted to make water to place your finished models on will agree with me that "The color has to be perfect !"

Normally, I use waterputty and then then place the model into the putty. This could not be accomplished long didtance nor was Alex anywhere near completion with the PT model. To make matters worse guys, now hang onto your hats now, because I'm COLORBLIND!!!

I know what you're thinking already. How the heck did I manage to get the color right for the water? Well, I took a ton of digital photos and sent them to Frankie A. Granted, plenty of color combinations didn't work out!!

I then thought about a project I did long ago for a local museum and used a light diffuser panel for a ceiling light to replicate the water. Being clear plastic and with the crackled texture, it looked just like ripples on water. I painted the clear plastic and snapped away.

I first went with straight up artist's oils on the plastic panel. That didn't work as the oil paint wasn't drying fast enough. I then went with acrylic artist paint in a tube. After a ton of trail and error mixes Frankie A and I agreed on a color. I went for it and it came out beautiful. I then added about four coats of MOD PODGE high gloss decopodge to the top of
the panel to give it the glossy shine of surface water. I was happy with it and shipped it off to Stan. Stan took the measurement for the case then shipped the base on to Alex. WHEWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

The base I know should have been bigger, I'll grant you that BUT again, Frankie A. has to handle this thing by himself when he does a show and the base combined with the case is indeed very heavy and tippy and had to fit through a doorway besides. We tried all kinds of way to display this diorama from a forced perspective to deep jungle. What you see is the way Alex and Frankie A. would go with.

When I spoke to Stanley P about the height of the case I told him to make it a certain height. Stan built the case to what I had told him and it proved to be way too high and then Stan had to cut it back. Every little trial and error was met head on and accomplished by all how had a hand in this project. We all worked together and what we have amassed is a masterpiece!! Thanks Alex, Stanley and Dallas. Yeah I call Frankie A. Dallas. Hey he likes the Cowboys, what can I say!

Frank J. Ryczek, Jr.
Modeler/Friend RON-10 PT-169 " ZEBRA SNAFU " BASE Tulagi





HIGH TIDES ALWAYS!

YOUR FRIEND THROUGH SCALE SHIP MODELING AND PT BOAT HISTORY!

Posted By: FRANK | Posted on: Dec 17, 2010 - 7:33am
Total Posts: 349 | Joined: Oct 7, 2007 - 2:09pm