Wonwings Diary-a blog with a difference.

[wonwinglo]

Richard,what about 'Janes Fighting Ships' WW2 edition,I have all of the aircraft editions but not the ship one ? just a thought.

Just wait until we get to see the tiny submarines.

[Guest]

Barry, we are there at the same time, as usual!! I decided after quite some time that Janes Fighting ships, WWII would be the best book to get to grips with these models so I will be having a look on Amazon soon for a copy.

The three cruisers are also interesting as they look very similar but they are obviously three different vessels. I even spent some time reasearching Basset Lowke but they proved to be dissapointingly sparse on past models.

[wonwinglo]

Surprisingly a lot of these famous manufacturers did not record much information about their products,a friend once deeply involved with collecting Lone Star models got to the stage of actually visiting their factory,they made him most welcome and showed him what they had left in terms of their famous cowboy guns range ( remember them,fired caps and made a lowd bang as you said 'stick em up' !) eventually they took him over to a big filing cabinet and opened the door,inside were the remnants of the companies history,yes all five of them ! five boxed models where as they had produced hundreds of different subjects over the years,the enthusiast in question was an expert in Lone Star products and was rattling off his knowledge to them,in the end they gave him the models for safe keeping,so it seems that we just cannot always rely on these manufacturers to come up with even their own history ? so perhaps even here with this modest collection we are tapping into forgotton history,once we have dealt with these I will show more treasures from days gone by,some will amaze you as to what has been produced over the years.

My dream model museum that was once to have been set up under railway arches in Bridlington sadly never got off the ground,British Rail were happy to rent the property on a seasonal basis,but the Bridlington council would not allow me to advertise the museum anywhere off the road,as the arches were off the beaten track it would have needed some form of directions,but alas it was not to be.

A lot of these things were earmarked for that museum,I think that I have mentioned it before that Bridlingtons main claim to fame are its wonderful land ladies,and the biggest shop in the country selling ladies and gents underwear in every size imagineable !!

[wonwinglo]

Something that I must mention about old diecast models that is important,many of these models suffer from what is termed 'Metal Fatigue' this is due to the instability of Mazak or Zamak in the casting process,well not strictly true as what caused the fatigue is the habit of the casters in throwing any old junk metal such as strapping from packaging,straight into the hot metal,this created great instability on what is a fine process and critical metals,so over the years as the metal contracted it just splits and crumbles into dust in extreme cases,this is why so few of these older models exist today due to the fatigue problems,modern mazak is a much softer material and can sometimes be eased into position,but be very careful,if in doubt leave well alone.

I will go into detail about preserving such artifacts in the future,and ways that can stop the rot.

Notice that the Queen Mary has a ding in the side,this was a manufacturing fault caused one again by warm parts dropping into heavy stillages,best left well alone as any attempts with a pair of pliers would quickly end in disaster.

[Guest]

Just bought a second hand copy of Janes Fighting Ships of WWII from Amazon USA for just over six quid. Can't go wrong really!!

Hang on to those ships Barry!!!

[wonwinglo]

***That was cheap Richard,dread to think what the postage was as these are heavy tomes,well done a useful purchase for your maritime library and a piece of history in itself.

For those not familiar with the books of Fred.T.Jane these are classics and were produced in demand by the industry to know more about ships,aircraft,fighting vehicles etc,every newspaper office worth its salt would hold copies,the retail price of a new copy of these publications runs to hundreds of pounds,but just like Richard has found one here they do appear,usually ex library or factory copies,my latest find in a junk shop was 'Janes All The Worlds Aircraft' for 1953,a crucial time for the aircraft industry,they are well laid out by country.

Reproduction books have appeared over the years sometimes the only way to get them,both WW1 & WW2 aircraft were acquired in this way,they are what I call doorstop publications !

Just bought a second hand copy of Janes Fighting Ships of WWII from Amazon USA for just over six quid. Can't go wrong really!!Hang on to those ships Barry!!!

[Guest]

The six quid includes the P&P. It was a really good deal.

[wonwinglo]

***Generally books do not sell too well on E-bay,to make them attractive this is what the sellers do make an all in price,but you really did excell on this one,I bet that you have a big heap of goodies when you get back home ?

The six quid includes the P&P. It was a really good deal.

[Guest]

I usually go home to a really interesting pile of goodies!!

[Guest]

I usually go home to a really interesting pile of goodies!!

OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHH Richard !!!!!!! Whatever will Annette think ?:nono:

[Guest]

I just tell her it's because I'm worth it!!

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-Vintage Diecast Ship Models

Warship#3







This one is carefully marked 'Cardiff' in Indian ink underneath,is she Cardiff ?

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-Vintage Diecast Ship Models

Warship#4 I think these must be original recognition models.





Warship#5

[wonwinglo]

Wonwings diary-A Scale-Model Sussex Postmill.

Model Postmill.

Well what exactly do you do with a bag of 10,000 matchwood pieces ? my choice was to design and build a working model of a typical English Postmill,this model is based on one that survives in Sussex that has been preserved and is cherished by its owners.

The basic construction follows laying down the side panel drawings over which is placed a plastic clear membrane to stop the adhesive from sticking to the drawing,once this is in place then a framework is built to the edges of the drawing,then the tediuos matchwood infill can take place,the internal gearing is Meccano which will drive the main sails and ancillary equipment.

This version of Postmill can be easily swung by hand into wind.



The base was made from Beech carefully jointed as per the original mill,the mainshaft spindle together with pulley can be seen in this view.



The inside is lined with milli ply and the roof supports are balsa.



Front view of the Postmill showing the subtle shape,once the woodwork has been varnished it should really start to look the part.



The sturdy base of the Postmill around which the millhouse revolves for pivoting into the prevailing wind.

[Guest]

Where do you get these really differrent and interesting ideas from?

I just love wood, any wood in any shape or form and to see varnished natural wood is the best.

This model wil look stunning when it is finished and will, as always, be a credit to you Barry. Will the final model be motorised or will it occassionally be allowed out in a breeze just to see it working?