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SMS Emden's "Dummy funnel"

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  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
SMS Emden's "Dummy funnel"
Posted by gregbale on Monday, March 21, 2011 11:50 AM

Here's one for the experten.

Every account I can find of the light cruiser Emden's brilliant 1914 campaign mentions her "dummy funnel" rigged to make her resemble HMS Yarmouth in the eyes of her soon-to-be victims, said funnel being rigged from "wood and painted canvas." Any ideas on what form this would actually take? Would it likely have been a 2-dimensional flat panel, or something more complicated?

One account I saw (can't remember exactly where, of course) spoke of the funnel being hauled down at the same time the Imperial flag was run up prior to attacks. That would (if true) seem to suggest something flimsy or intentionally collapsible.

Any help (even direction toward source material) would be greatly appreciated. I'm thinking of fitting out my Revell Emden in her wartime guise, and the dummy funnel seems like a neat (and historically relevant) point of interest.

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 9:31 AM

I built mine as pre-war, so can't help you with the extra funnel.  But that is a great kit.  The results have gotten me several awards. Only problem I ran into was the main guns- be very careful in the mounting of those- look for interference with the bulkhead behind them.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 11:38 AM

Don:

I appreciate the heads-up on the guns. I'm looking at some nice (pricey) a/m metal ones, so I don't want to screw anything up.

After a little more research I happened across some great photos of a dummy funnel the Admiral Graf Spee rigged up, using the same tactic a quarter-century later. These photos show the framework before and after the canvas was added. For anyone interested, the website is:

http://www.deutschland-class.dk/admiral_graf_spee/gallery/gallgrafspeeindisquise.html

I've got a Graf Spee in the pile as well, so maybe I'll do my own little "theme" series of commerce-raiders in disguise.

Thanks again.

Greg

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Denver, Colorado
Posted by waynec on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 9:01 PM

given the guns in the kit look like turrets, one option i may consider is using the WEM 5"/51 guns for arizona and building new gun shields.

Никто не Забыт    (No one is Forgotten)
Ничто не Забыто  (Nothing is Forgotten)

 

  • Member since
    April 2006
  • From: Denver, Colorado
Posted by waynec on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 9:15 PM

Никто не Забыт    (No one is Forgotten)
Ничто не Забыто  (Nothing is Forgotten)

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 8:50 AM

waynec

given the guns in the kit look like turrets, one option i may consider is using the WEM 5"/51 guns for arizona and building new gun shields.

Yes, the guns are in turrets. I should have said be careful of the turrets- they do not quite fit, and one has to do a little work in the area they mount in.  Do that early and mount the guns earlier than the directions show.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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