Castles of Steel, 1880 - 1914 *Group Build* (pg 17)...

Maine's a lovely state, but virtue has nothing to do with the fortunes of ships honoring the home town. I'm from the Twin Cities. The only BB Minnesota was sold for scrap in what seems to have been record time. An earlier frigate had to be saved by a floating wheel of cheese from the hands of Virginia. The USS Minneapolis played a prime role in the battle of Tassafaronga which I think even tops Savo as the worst day in the office for the USN in 200+ years of history. At least at Savo the Japanese force was very powerful and had surprise. At Tassafaronga the US force was very powerful, had surprise and still managed to utterly whipped by a few IJN cans. (And like Maine, no Minnesota team has won a Super Bowl: of course we've had a NFL team for fifty years.) I think there's a Minnesota coming to the sub fleet - hope it has better luck than "Minnie."

Eric

EBergerud

I think that's a fine name: can't leave out the 20th century unless we leave Mikasa on the bench (at least historically) - and don't we want anyone to tackle Zvezda's Dreadnought?

As for the badge, the artist muse runs deeply on this forum. I hope, however, that we can think of something better than the Maine. I know it is a wargrave and brave men died. But a few years back on a naval list there was one of the periodic threads on the "worst warship in history." I made the argument (supported by only a few I admit) that the "worst warship" should always lead off with ships that blew up spontaneously at anchor. It's amazing, but there's a kind of cult around Mutsu in Japan - a BB that did almost nothing except blow up at anchor. Maine just picked an interested anchorage to blow-up in: but blow-up she did. How about a ship that fired a shell in anger even if it didn't hit anything?

Or maybe a Mikasa/Olympia montage: coal burners that made history without blowing up at anchor:

 

 

 

bondoman

Tracy White:

 

bondoman:

Castles of Steel.

 

aaaand watch the trademark/copyright take-down notices come in....

 

I thought about that, but it's a phrase in the public domain because Churchill wrote it in a letter in his position as First Lord..

Plus it goes back to Macabees.

Tracy White

 

bondoman:

Castles of Steel.

 

aaaand watch the trademark/copyright take-down notices come in....

Plus it goes back to Macabees.-EDIT oops, wrong quote.

bondoman

Castles of Steel.

Shredded Steel

Can't help thinking of the damage caused at the Battle of Jutland 

SMS Seydlitz. Showing her damage from the Battle of Jutland.

HMS Lion’s ‘Q’ turret showing the damage done to the turret top during the Battle of Jutland

bondoman

Castles of Steel.

aaaand watch the trademark/copyright take-down notices come in....

Castles of Steel.

p38jl

The Navigator:

Name for build:

Buff Yer Funnels- 19th & Early 20th Century Modern Navy Group Build

 

or....

Coal-Naughts- 19th & Early 20th Century Modern Navy Group Build 

I think that's a fine name: can't leave out the 20th century unless we leave Mikasa on the bench (at least historically) - and don't we want anyone to tackle Zvezda's Dreadnought?

As for the badge, the artist muse runs deeply on this forum. I hope, however, that we can think of something better than the Maine. I know it is a wargrave and brave men died. But a few years back on a naval list there was one of the periodic threads on the "worst warship in history." I made the argument (supported by only a few I admit) that the "worst warship" should always lead off with ships that blew up spontaneously at anchor. It's amazing, but there's a kind of cult around Mutsu in Japan - a BB that did almost nothing except blow up at anchor. Maine just picked an interested anchorage to blow-up in: but blow-up she did. How about a ship that fired a shell in anger even if it didn't hit anything?

Or maybe a Mikasa/Olympia montage: coal burners that made history without blowing up at anchor:

The Navigator

Name for build:

Buff Yer Funnels- 19th & Early 20th Century Modern Navy Group Build

or....

Coal-Naughts- 19th & Early 20th Century Modern Navy Group Build 

Name for build:

Buff Yer Funnels- 19th & Early 20th Century Modern Navy Group Build

here's one of the USS Maine.. she's supposed to be in the other pic, that someone just posted with all the ships at sea underway...

[View:/themes/fsm/utility/:550:0]

here's another of the USS Maine memorial in Bangor Maine.. about 25 miles from my work..

Prolly not a good badge choise.. but nice looking.. its the scroll work from the bow of the Maine:550:0]

Here's an edited first pic:

How about these:

I did them as thumbs to better show them as badges.

The Navigator

How's this for a pic?

Okay, here's the Group Build rules:

1) Any ship launched between 1880 and 1914 that would be considered a battleship, crusier, battlecrusier, crusier or dreadnought.

2) Start date is 9-15-2011.  Ending date is 3-15-2012.

3) Vance Crozier is designing the GB badge.  Open to suggestions on the badge design and name of the GB since I am not a naval expert to the degree I am in other areas (although I did briefly serve as the German Naval attache' in Tokyo from 1936 thru 1937).    

I didn't understand that the grand inspiration would be pre-WWI. The whole thing kind of melded into the war. And while it was the era of the Big Gun no doubt, everything was changing. The torpedo and how to deliver it was one of the hottest items in naval circles the world over. (The fine naval historian John Sumida has argued Fischer thought before 1914 that it would not be long before navies would junk dreadnoughts in favor of submarines, torpedo carriers of every kind and aircraft.)  Navies were among the first to buy military aircraft or even airships. I'd suggesting beginning a GB when sails were retired even if it was just to save coal (around 1880) and go through WWI. I know there are resin pre-war and wartime subs and torpedo-boat destroyers etc. I'd think there'd be room for pre-1918 naval airpower. Must be early CVs in resin. Couple of fleet use biplanes out there. The Great War GB was almost entirely biplane fighters and some tanks. Only two or three ships I can think of, not counting my soon to be launched Konig - I will be done before Armistice Day.

And don't worry about the Japanese - we've broken their code. They'll give in.

Eric

I'm here, just really busy this week. I've sworn to finish the Emden by Friday.

Of course this Chinese Battleship, if it ever shows up, and next would be SMS Scharnhorst Combrig resin full hull in 1/350.

We'll see about that...

SHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

p38jl

F-13

Blast - you got me!!!

F-13

Manstein's revenge

Hmmmmmm...this will be my third Group Build in two years...maybe one day I will be considered a "serious" modeler...

 

...Bondo?

......Bondo?

.........Bondo?

  Manny ?...

  ........Manny ?

 ..............Manny ???...

aah... don't kill me !!

.............Manny ???...

The Navigator

How's this for a pic?

....looks like something is burning in the galley....

I love the look of the pre-WW1 ships, I'll be seriously lurking this one for sure.

Hmmmmmm...this will be my third Group Build in two years...maybe one day I will be considered a "serious" modeler...

...Bondo?

......Bondo?

.........Bondo?

How's this for a pic?

P38jl - you just missed sinking my destroyer!   My shot: A2...

Manny - shipbuilding showdown badge - PM me the details & I'll assemble my crack team of design monkeys over the next couple of days.

p38jl

E-12

Manny's submarine is in danger.

Would be nice to have a Holland sub kit of the same era..........

I need a GB Badge...Vance?

E-12