Task Force 72 Scale Model Ship Association Inc.

Navy Week Open Day 2006 Photo Gallery

The weather dawned fine and clear, the radio reported that it would be fine and clear and it looked fine and clear on the drive into Fleet Base East at Garden Island, surely this wasn't going to be a Navy Open Day? Where was the rain?  But it was.  The weather was great, the crowds came and the day seemed a success all round.

The Navy Bands played, the Clearance Diving Team did CDT stuff and a tri-service drill team entertained the crowds, as did Navy Photographic Branch displays, maritime artists, historical displays, Naval Reserve Cadets and plenty more, including Task Force 72.

The Navy Opened HMA Ships MANOORA, DIAMANTINA, SUCCESS and SYDNEY while TF72 opened some 20+ models, ranging from WW1 models such as Charles Robinson's beautiful cruiser HMAS ADELAIDE through to Jim Campion's "ANZAC" Class frigate HMAS PARRAMATTA.

The crowds came throughout the day, with many visiting the marquee in which the club was ensconced, and our members spent the day answering the questions of the visitors young and old, civilian and service.

The opportunity was taken to "spread the word" about the Regatta on the last weekend of November and we may well have resulted in a good number of people turning up at Wentworth Falls who otherwise would not have known.

There were a few hiccup, as some of the clubs gear didn't make it to the show and the Navy inconveniently forgot to feed us as promised.  Fortunately the Naval Reserve Cadets took pity on us and sneaked a few members into each of their groups heading up to the shore establishment HMAS KUTTABUL  where we received the best of "pussers food". Despite that it was both plentiful and tasty.

One partially completed model, Mike Jame's DDL model, HMAS KOKODA was brought along to help explain how the models were put together, as this had been a common question at a recent display at Blacktown.

While naturally our club's members are eager to show off completed models, having partially completed models along helps show the public "how its done" and helps spread the message that anyone can build these models, if they are prepared to give it a go.

All in all a good show, despite the hiccups, and one that is sure to see us invited back next year.

- report courtesy of Mike James.

Click on a photo to enlarge. [Back to Post Mission Reviews] - Photos, courtesy of John Konda and Mike James?