- Getting Back In -
This
article by Kevin Bray is a reflection on his experience of having been previously
heavily engaged in our hobby, taking some time away, and coming back to it in
2025.
Prolog:
What is it like
to go back into a hobby that you left many years ago? Many years ago (1998) I discovered the hobby
when my family moved into a new home in Owasso, Oklahoma (Tulsa area). The house we purchased backed up to a 3 acre pond and the internet was just coming into mainstream
America.
I entered in a
search browser: Radio Controlled boat (I was thinking of getting a sail boat to
play with on our new pond.
To my surprise a
whole list of websites showing warships in combat! Wow! I
looked for local battlers and soon realized that the closest battler to me that
was active was a guy named Robert Rucker in OKC. To make a long story shorter, I contacted him
and that lead to many years of building and battling warships.
To be in the
hobby and truly participate one needs the following things:
-Money (or at
least discretionary monies)
-Time (It takes a
lot of time to build a ship, especially from scratch and having no local help)
-Time again, it
takes vacation time PTO
-Dependable
transportation: There are a lot of miles
required if you are going to attend events.
I currently plan to participate in Port Polar Bear events both in the
spring and summer. I also plan to attend
the “nationals” event every year.
-Building
skills: being able to solder, sand, cut,
wire, work with brass and copper tubing
-Sourcing
skills: Lots of items are needed to
build a ship and each choice you make affects your ships
reliability and performance.
January to April
2025
The Commodore
(Chris Pearce)
I have had and
made many good friends in the hobby.
Many of them have since faded away and done other things. Life happens.
Chris Pearce
would occasionally call me just to see what I have been up to. Mostly, I had no interest in the hobby as my
attention had turned to other things over the years. Even so, he would keep me up to date with all
the goings on.
I guess all the
planets lined up or the juices began to flow again and I looked around my
garage / shipyard. I had kept all of my
boats except one (Moltke sold to Brandon).
Interesting enough, I had an old swampy fiberglass hull of the Moltke
sitting around (Steve Reynold gifted it to me).
The Moltke was
arguably the best ship I ever built if you just consider the fun I had with
it. I decided to begin the process of
building her. I was always attracted to
the battling side of the hobby and would struggle to get a good ship on the
water as building was not my thing. Even
so, the Moltke, being a 4 unit ship is relatively easy
to build and can be a nasty ship on the water.
A bit like a porcupine if one were to chase her.
So, January
through April were spent getting her ready for sea trials. I remember the first time she touched water
and driving her around. The cannons were
not operational but she did handle well.
May, Port Polar
Bear “Ice Breaker”
Having decided to
attend Bob’s event at Lake Susan, Chris Pearce and I drove my Lexus up (9 hours drive). Chris
had just driven from Fort Worth area (7 hours).
Chris had a cruiser and I the Moltke.
Many new systems were built into her.
Firing switches, bilge pumps, bronze propellers, and new guns (brazed)
to name a few.
We checked into a
hotel and charged our batteries. The
next morning we arrived lakeside. We didn’t have a canopy but Tom Palmer and
Rick Whittsell were happy to share with us.
It had been many
years since I attended a battle. I
believed that if the technology had changed then certainly the reliability and
skill of the captains would have improved as well. I decided that I would wait out the first
battle and see how things go.
Tyler asked me if
I would record that battle. In fact,
former battlers make the best videos. So
many times a novice will turn the camera just as the
battling gets good. I captured many good
exchanges and sinks.
After the first
battle, I decided it was time to put the SMS Moltke into harm’s way.
The Captains in that area seem to be in love with the Japanese
navy as many NIP battleships lined up for battle. The battle went better than expected. I got off both my side mount canons and the
stern gun was a total failure.
It should be
noted here that I stayed out of the center of the battling preferring to chase
targets of opportunity. Brendon Smith
would often look for an angle to get in but would usually break away before
engaging.
Lots of fun and
discussions were had upon recovering all the ships. I met a fine young man named Owen
Ronning. He was driving the same ship,
the Moltke. His guns were arranged
differently with one being a “funny gun” bow mount angled to the starboard and
down as best as it could be done.
I think we had
hotdogs and after the days battle pizza (the Twins had won so it was half off)
in Bobs garage. I was very tired and
Chris and I departed for the hotel. I
remember falling asleep happy that my ship had survived the day.
The next day was
filled with more of the same. Chris’s ship had an electrical issue and he
pretty much didn’t battle the entire event.
The weekend
concluded and Chris and I headed back. I
felt that the event had gone well and I was lucky not to have sunk.
JUNE
Nationals was
just a short time away and much work was to be done. The really great thing about attending a
regional event is that you learn everything that is wrong with your ship and
hopefully have time to make improvements.
Nationals was in Oakboro, North Carolina
I have heard many
favorable things about this location and it did not disappoint. I got a room and to my pleasure Owen had
decided to be my roommate. I am going
to brush over a lot of the activities here because Nats is always a great place
to talk about eating too much and good food.
I met up with
some old time acquaintances (Steve Andrew’s, Matt
Moury, Ron Hunt to name a few).
Some quick
highlights of Nats were lots of interesting ships, “flag” fleets rather than
Axis / Allied, campaign, no night battle, no battle friday,
BBQ at the banquet, a window damaged by a stray bb). A rules meeting was had
and went very well compared to many years past.
I had many items that I either sold or gave away at the swap meet. One to the items everyone seemed to like was
a bunch of refrigerator magnet battleships that I 3D printed.
After the meeting
I began the drive home (14 hours). That
was not the smartest thing I did because it had been a long day and the drive
through the smoky mountains at night requires being alert. Parts of I44 were shut down as well. I probably stopped a few times to sleep in
the rest area.
It was good to
get back home. Interestingly, I realized
that I had attended the entire event and had not sunk. Lucky I guess.
July - August
Whenever I return
for a Nationals event I am either burned out or excited to work on my
ship. It wasn’t long that I was working
on more improvements and getting ready for the final battle of the year (Port
Polar Bear).
September
This time I went
early to visit my son and his new wife in Des Moines, Iowa. This breaks up the trip nicely. I often try and schedule my bathroom breaks
on the road to coincide with the location of a Casino.
Upon arriving at
the hotel, a brand new Hampton Inn of which I get an
employee discount, I was off to sleep.
The next day I was the first to arrive at Lake Susan. The water was a mirror. More Captains arrived and with that the days
batting soon began. It rained and at
times was chilly but that didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. Owen was there along with his father.
Battling at Port
Polar Bear is competitive as many of the participants are experienced. There were several sinks. Rick Whittsell was constantly annoying me
with his pesky cruiser but overall I think the Moltke
did well having now been battle tested.
Luckily, I didn’t
sink at that event as well which became noticed by Bob whom said they will need
to make sure I sink this coming spring.
Well, that’s the
year of 2025 battling from my perspective.
Lots of new and interesting people.
Will Tustin is very impressive and has done a great job in offering many
items and kits for new captains.
Mark from Canada
had a lot of jovial smiles and good nature.
In summary
I would say that
differences from past battles are that the ships work far better (I don’t
remember anyone saying out of control!), the general atmosphere lakeside is one
of friendship and good nature.
Kevin Bray,
2/1/2026