Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02

( VI v
n eral hundred miles removed
NV from seaboard, is, neverthe-
less. the scene of daily adj
ventures In shipbulldlng.
Remarkably fine ships which are built,
Of impressive design and workmanship,
never are launched, never pulsate TO
the rhythmic throb of powerful en-
gines. and never feel the surge OF salt
favored waves against their hulls.
No, you are quite wrong, If you think
| this is the true tale Of destruction, sucn
as was staged when the wooden Meet
built over Alexandria way was scrapped,
This is not simple yarn about ships
built but to be destroyed II is the
story of the historical and educational
models which are made by expert
mechanics at the Washington Navy
Yard
The United States Navy Is preserv-
ing the memories of famous ships IN
Lilliputian likenesSes- wonderful wood
en- models which are as faithful re-
productions of noted vessels as twin
peas in green pod.
Some day when you are passing that
way. drop In at the Navy Building and
inspect some Of these diminutiVe ships,
mounted In large glass cases. You VIII
be amazed at the craftsmanship shown
4
toy vessels" which never have sa led
stormy seas You will be astonished at
the details of design incorporated IN
the models. You will marvel that
human hands could work with such
tiny and delicate bits Of material and
mold them together into fine produclS
Of mechanical art.
No finer models Of battleships, de-
stroyers, cruisers and supply ships were
ever built anywhere Some foreign
nations. which for centuries were su-
/ prene on land and sea, have also com
/ meYnorated their best ships in durable
| models. Our Nays collection 81 snip
models portrays the sequential develop
gnent Of American shipbuilding. Place
! the models side by side and they are
stepping stones Of progress In ship~
! building. They span the years from
/ the days Of the epochal Bon Homtne
! Richard, John Paul Jones famous nag
/ ship 70 the most modern battiesfllp o.
/ our existent national fleet.
Industry describes It's most outstand-
ing achievements IN museum modeis
representative Of it's accomplishments.
The history Of motor car development,
as presented III models can be under
stood and comprehended by the mill
run Gf people. Agriculture preserves
/ models Of It's t0Dl& and implements as
records Of It's forward march, Mining
irrigation, fishing, commerce, manu-
featuring and railroading all use edu-
cational and historical models most
efficiently This program Of the United
States Navy which IL recording the
eyoluiions and revolutions Of mari
time design will become more Inn
portant annually as calendar cycles
roll by
Some 30 historical models Of naval
vessels have been made at the Wash
ington Navy Yard The ordinary plan
H. To make the models on the scale Of
one quarter inch 10 the foot. This
! means that a model 10 feet in length
/ Is the abbreviated counterpart 81 .
seagoing vessel 40 feet long Some OF
our current naval vessels, however, are
50 iasge that the model scale II re-
+ duced 10 one~eighth inch IN the foot
The model Is always made from the
! set OF lines" ot the actual vessel Ia
, determine the shape and other details
, The bulls are made Of white pine eA-
| clusiyely This wood Is easy 10 work
[ ! II does not warp check or shrink II
! IS soft, fairly light IN weight. and dur
able II Is most satisfactory for Use
tn model production, just as II also Ii
, ! one ~ the fayoYite materials used by
modern toymaksrs.
The hull Of tbs model Is carved cut.