Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-02
NAVY Making Ships Which Never Will Be Launched

| dies to form tiny rails. stanchions, etc
Special graSS-line thread is strung as
imitation lifelines through these rails.
Did you ever think that there might
be 'cowpathS" on battleship? There
are the lanes or lines of traffic used by
officers and crew which link one part OF
the deck with another During stormy
weather these walkWayS would become
wet. slippery and dangerous. Hence
they are caTpeted with coconut mating
"a non-skid covering. The details OF
the ship model are SO true to life tina,
limitations of these mats are painted
permanently along the decks.
AS result OF the development and
perfection of radio biography, the
models of modern naval vessels have to
be equipped with radio appliances
Small glass beads are used as radio in
SulatorS among the tlShline rigging OF
the TOY ship" Celluloid is used rs
imitation glass IN pilot house windows
and airportS, Each small airport Is pro-
vided with little ring of brass equipped
with n shoulder into which the circle OF
celluloid fits Snugly.
Searchlight brackets are made of flat
brass, cut. shaped and bent 10 the de-
sired form The glass in the search
tools, TO make 1t look rs though il were
composed of several pieces of plate glass,
such as are used in marine SearchlightS,
Oaken gratingS are cut by hand with
special dies and punches to initiate
those found on ships, Many of the
metal parts are made of brass and are
assembled by expert mechanics with
solder. I4ifeboatS, work boats and
launches are carved from wood. The
interiors are followed out. and what
ever minute equipment would be char
acteristic of the actual boats is repre-
scented in the cleverly made models.
One of the models which Is extreme
~ interesting Is Small~scale dupli-
cate of the Vermont, sister ship OF
the Constitution. This model has three
gun decks and carries los cannon. II
Is large three masted model provided
with the two sets of rigging-one set OF
standing or permanent rigging and
second set of running or workable rig
ging There are more than 1000 BLOCKS
ON this model OF the u S. s. Vermont,
About 400 yards of flshline are used
In equipping the Vermont with repre-
sentative rigging,
One of the finest examples Of ship
modelling art IL that Of the Richmond,
I0.000~ton cruiser. recently completed
and placed on display at the navy yard.
The Richmond is sos feet long, The
model is IL feet Q inches in length.
while its beam il IA inches II Is
wonder work of curious. unhenlded
art, IL features skill In design and
creation. 1t is an example OF the Solu-
ton OF many perpleNing riddles in
extraordinary ways. II incorporates I'M
genuity. inventive ability aud artisan
resourcefulnoss
The rigging ON the Richmond con-
slstS of 275 yards Of grassline thread
This thread is used instead of wire be-
cause II is easily held in taut posi-
ton and does not klnk as wire would
This model IL the first in navy yard
history to he equipped With cata-
pults, which carry two airpianes and
provide the essential platform from
which the aircraft can be projected for
sea flights This model Ii So complete
as to detail as to he equipped with
3 and 4 inch drill guns All her
STAYS and shrouds are insulated with
glass beads 10 satisfy radio require
ments The Richmond model Is also
equipped with paravanes. large pipes
which are lowered by means of spe-
cial chain and are towed under the
water aS submarine kite to protect
the vessel against mines This ship
model Is equipped with portable tracks,
used in launching mines. IL carries an
armament OF "A dozen 6~inch guns, four
3~ineh anti-aireraft guns and two Sa~
luting guns.