Stumbled across this today - this is what the original disaster site looks like now.........

We had two bases Cash & Doug - one for ground crew training and the Bomber / Helicopter/ Transport Squadrons - the other Aircrew training base was the real operational one - Fighter / Ground Attack / Trainer Squadrons etc etc. Much preferred the operational one - not much saluting and far less bull.
Forward airfields were the best however - if you saluted anyone they asked what you thought you were doing - all in it together. Heli pilots got up to some real mischief - watched one day as every single toilet roll on the FAF floated gently down from the sky. Some were never seen again - to make it worse they were a pale pink ! (which fact the nearby army base held over our heads for a very long time ) The Alo was heading back to main base for repairs and the pax going on R&R - must have spent hours taping the ends to the Alo cockpit to be able to roll them out en masse......... All bodies on base were searching for hours to retrieve enough until re supply - but not an official word was ever said about it........

All this panic buying reminded me of the incident.........

Same pilot got flight crew to fit very large speakers to his Alo gunship - played Rodrigo's music ( Cold Fact / Sugar Man etc ) - as in Apocalypse Now - except in the movie they used Wagners 'Ride of The Valkyries" of course

I was thinking of basic at Lackland....first thing we learned was “your name is Airman, my name is SIR!!”😮

"Polishing brass is better than cleaning the latrine🤣 "
Now there speaks the voice of experience Cash😁
Guess the latrines at Ramstein were pretty big too 😮😝
😎

Polishing brass is better than cleaning the latrine🤣

No. not this time Commodore,
We'll let you off with cleaning the Admiral's bathroom with a toothbrush!
Report to Vice Admiral Martin. 'At the rush'!!
😁 😎

Re - It's the Ersatz coffee and Schnapps that does it JB 🙊
Oh no sir! not painting the base driveway stones with a model brush, or polishing the brass nail heads in the barracks floors with Brasso again ?!😴
JB

That's a few good stories Cash - funny some of my model aircraft succumbed to a Ronden Flash Bomb a few seconds after take off - (smaller version of what the army uses on exercises) - spurts before exploding some 10 to 15 seconds later - very loud and brilliant flash as they contained Aluminum powder.

We used to play with the African version of the Tarantula - common name Baboon spider - did not think much of it till finding out some Tarantulas were highly poisonous - you were right to not enjoy its company .

I’ve had a couple of disasters. Y’all know the most recent, the loss of the PT15s superstructure with all hands. Before that, many years ago, probably about 1979-80 or so, I built a Lindberg Blue Devil destroyer. I had an old Citizen-Ship 27mhz full house full proportional system that my loving aunt bought for me around 1975. The original intent was to help me get into RC flying, but the set was way obsolete by then, and the channel I was on was right next to channel 19 on the then very active CB channel, so it was never flown. Anyway, I was taking a break from flying 1/2a u-control, and decided to rc the Blue Devil. One channel, rudder only, dry cells for power. Took her to the local rock pit, a runoff and rain filled quarry, put her in, think she worked for 2 minutes, had to fish her out. Oh, and a tarantula got a little close and I’m not really friendly with big furry spiders. The Blue Devil ended her career carrying a load of fireworks that somehow ignited on a routine patrol in our creek.
The worst disaster was all my fault. While stationed in Germany I built a few boats, mostly 6 and 7 cell nicad fast electrics. I had built a Graupner Eco Speed, which I truly loved. We ran at a small lake near Landstuhl and there was a pier I would make a fast pass at and turn at the last second..playing chicken. Anyway, I grazed, no hit the pier one day, no damage except for a small near the waterline, but as long as the boat was moving, it was a non issue..I would fix it later...but didn’t. Mistake number 1.
A few months later I installed a slightly hotter motor and took her out. I was still using Tamiya connectors as I hadn’t changed them to the green Multplex connectors I use to this day. Oopsie number 2. Anyway, during the day the plug melted, and I wanted to make ONE MORE RUN, so I stripped the wires and tied them together....of course, she lot power middle of the lake. Remember the crack? Now, it’s below the water line since the boats not moving....and she took on water and sunk. Einstein move number 3.
We recovered the boat, dried her out, I fixed the crack, installed a new esc and she was good.
We had some fun with this though. There were a couple of kids that we would let run some of our boats, one of them handled the Eco Speed nicely, and I’d let him drive it from time to time. We showed up the weekend after the sinking, and he asked “Wo ist kleine rennboot?” I answered “unter wasser”in my best broken German. Then I said blub-blub-blub and made a sinking motion with my hand. He answered “blub-blub-blub?...nicht gut!!”
My buddy watched the whole exchange and got quite tickled by it.🤣
I picked up a NIB Eco-Speed off eBay a few years ago with the optional Race drive, came with an upgraded motor. She’s still going strong.

It's the Ersatz coffee and Schnapps that does it JB 🙊
BTW Commodore,
Captain's Table 0800, dress uniform. cap off.
New charge: Insulting the Emperor!
FLEET//😎

Not bad Doug, but it sort of looks like it's passing wind😂 (either that or it's demonstrating Hans Von Ohains' jet engine😁

JB

Stand easy Commodore😉 Charge dismissed.
"It wasn't a bad looking flag but the thinking behind it was the problem!"
I still prefer the Imperial German Navy flag from WW1.
I painstakingly hand painted it on the left panel of my Garelli scooter about 52 years ago.
Union flag on the right hand panel. Was much quicker to do!😁
Guess I'll have to start looking for IGN ship kits🙄
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi George,
"I wonder if it would be an idea to have them on a model ship in Germany"
I also prefer to see the flags complete. The blank white circle looks daft.
But I don't propose to take the risk of any destructive reaction to the swastika, so maybe I'll just add diagonal crosses without the arms and legs.
Odd though, the cross on the canton (upper inner section) is pretty much the same emblem as the Bundeswehr uses today!?
Cheers, Doug 😎

"Left right, Left right, Halt, 'Teeanhut, Caps off" stand corrected Doug, couldn't think of the correct term, (bwain fade)- was trying to be sensitively, politically correct 😂 wasn't sure if anyone was watching, (computers have ears!😉😂) It wasn't a bad looking flag but the thinking behind it was the problem!
JB

Doug, I was at the Dortmund Model show and had a chat to a Fellow Modeller about the Swastikas on the WWII Luftwaffe Model Aircraft. The Modeller in questions had the swastikas on the tails but was forbidden to display them in Public. He had them covered with a bit of paper which kept blowing off. The funny thing was his Mustang which had about 15 Swastika Kill markings was not covered!! Also in Minatur Wonderland they did not display them there. I wonder if it would be an idea to have them on a model ship in Germany though but presonally I prefer them on, At least people get educated about that they stood for!

Recognised it immediately JB.
Actually it's the Crest or Insignia not the ensign.
DKM had two ensigns; 1935-38 and 1938-45.
The earlier one, Pic 3 (I hope🙄) has thicker white bands and a continuous black circle outlined in white around the hated symbol.
Pics from an official history site here!
Using/displaying them is forbidden by law.
I've heard that there is a dispensation for models. But have seen no legal confirmation.
Kits sold here have decals and flags minus swastika.
Presumably if at all then only for historically accurate museum models.
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hope you enjoyed the politically correct Kriegsmarine ensign on the stack Doug ?😉😁
JB

"did you get any German humor thrown your way?"
Plenty JB, not all of it exactly 'drawing room' 😮🙉😉
Love the rubber duck👍😁
Got to be a photoshop job! Can't believe that some nutter really built that and cruised around in it. But you never know these days.
I believe that the ducks (and swans) are shunted over to a pond in the Botanical Gardens during draining and cleaning, or they whizz off to their own favourite hidey holes.
Cleaning is done after the littl'ns have all growed up.
Cheers, Doug 😎

Is it not amazing how we have to learn the hard way Rick - 2nd Yacht was built more carefully - but as the first one sailed well before sinking used the same design but slightly enlarged - forgot to increase the keel weight and did not test her in the bath as it required a lot of water. First time out in a local dam flopped over on her side at the first gust of wind - fortunately drifted into the shallows. Next time made sure the boat was well ballasted and watertight before setting out for a sail. Never forgotten the lessons since

Re - "No shipwrecks, nobody drownin',
Bet the patrons enjoyed the show Doug, did you get any German humor thrown your way?
Got to be one of the nicest ponds around. Do they put all the ducks in dry dock when they empty it?
JB

RE- This is the site of my disastrous very first attempt at model boat building
At least you picked a very posh place to sink Peter!
JB

Watch out for Jap destroyers with the PTB MB 😮💥

"I will attempt a Big Blue as well this Summer. Need a test tank for the Submarine"
That's exactly what I was thinking as well MB👍
From what I've found in the Garden Centres and such around here so far mine might have to be a 'Big Green'!
Very trendy😁
😎

There were many Red, hot sunny day in the Biergarten...!
and several were rather attractive 'ladies' who came up with some very interesting/intriguing suggestions 😮, and invitations 😉, when I came out with me boxers clinging round ........🙈
....................................................................................................................
We interrupt this programme to bring you an important announcement from Her Majesty's Prime Minister ........!😁😂

Was a looong time ago🤔

I don't think there are words to say how you feel when you watch a boat roll over or start to sink!
Mine was my first boat the Billings Progress and the pilot house sits high, a gust of wind flipped her over and she began to take on water. The good part was the pond is only 18" deep so in I jump to save her. And so it was back to the work bench and a full repair as the water swelled the wood.
The repair went well and it was back on the water, this time with a lot more ballast to bring her down, learned a lot after that .
Rick

That's a big disappointment for you MB - know how you must have felt - had pretty much the same with the first run of the Police Boat - about the same speed . Turned out taking old hands advice re filling the propshaft tube with sticky grease was a big mistake - disconnected the motor and turned shaft - oops - grease out - used mixture of oils instead - got up on the plane at least but needed silicon grease and slightly bigger motor before it really moved. Now finally runs well on 8.4v and 480 BB motor from Overlander

I will attempt a Big Blue as well this Summer. Need a test tank for the Submarine.👍👍

My first little disaster, no casualties though, was the first and last trial of my Aerokits Patrol Torpedo boat. I built it over 30 years ago. Large MPA motor. Worked very well. Put it on the water. Chug, chug, chug, chug. Very disappointing. 1MPH. It has never run since. But soon. Nice powerful brushless going in soon. Probably hit something and sink.😁

Very dangerous Red, strong riptides LOL!!!

Martin555.

Talk about the deep blue sea Martin - talk about dangerous waters ...........

Hi Doug -
were there plenty of spectators cheering you on ? - at least you obviously don't get too thirsty when boating.............

Excellent Doug,
I am glad that i made mine.

Martin555.

Practical lady your Missus👍
Gisela would probably fill it with tomatoes and paprika 😋
Nevertheless, I plan to build one this summer.
😎

Now you know why i fitted a drain tap.
Having said that my wife did say that if i am not going to use it for a while could she grow some potatoes in it.

Martin555.

Leeks? Thought you are in Southampton not Wales Martin!
Maybe clean the sludge out a bit more often? 😁😂
Oh dear😮 Slapped wrist again😭
😎

Mainly leeks, except once when the door bell rung and on my return it was on the bottom.
I thought about diving in to go and get it but the water was to deep for me.LOL!!

Martin555.

"No shipwrecks, nobody drownin',
In fact nuthin' t' laff at at orl!" 😉

This is where I had to swim out to rescue my disabled destroyer, before it drifted into the fountains! 😮🙈 Dodgy RX to ESC connection! Complete rewire ensued🙄
Munich, Ostpark Biergarten and lake.
Lost the port prop against the wall one time.
No sign of it when they drained the lake to clean it a few years later🤔
😎

Sinkings or a sudden calamitous Waterquake and tsunami flood Martin? 😁

Hi Red,
This is the site where i have had quite a few disasters LOL!!!😂

Martin555.