Memories ~
From Falls Church to Kilmarnock
© 2007 Abilini's Computer Services
Pyromaniacs At Large (1967)
I think it was the summer of 1967 that Billy, Bobby and I spent three weeks building a 6 ½ foot long model of the
Bismarck. We assembled the hull using rubber cement. Then we installed modified M-80’s (Modified by adding
additional length to the fuses). The M-80’s were placed every 4 inches, inside the cavity of the hull and
secured utilizing model cement. Additional model cement was used to secure the fuses to each other, so the
fuses could be ignited in succession. We then installed the first deck plate which completely covered and
sealed the M-80’s. After making several small glass vials, approximately ½ by ½ inches in size and filling
them with gasoline, the vials were attached using rubber cement to the 1st deck cover. We installed the second
deck cover, mounting it to the vials with model cement. A small amount of gasoline was then poured down the
center of the 2nd deck cover, and allowed to dry. Regular fire-crackers were then placed and mounted down the
center of the 2nd deck. Before mounting the 3rd deck, small pin holes were made to allow fire to pass through
to the 2nd deck. Then the 3rd deck was mounted to the hull, using model cement. (Small note: Model cement is
highly flammable, even when dry. Rubber cement doesn’t burn but it does float.) The 3rd deck is the last
internal deck. On top of the 3rd deck we placed lady-fingers (small firecrackers) and covered them with model
cement. We then mounted the gunnery deck. We made small holes, in the gunnery deck again, so fire could
penetrate. We then hollowed out the guns and filled them with wick-wire fuses that passed through the
gunnery deck onto the 3rd deck. The rest of the deck was assembled as per the assembly instructions. We
would add a few drops of kerosene and gasoline and model cement to simulate fires on the deck - if they
actually caught on fire. We then let the whole project sit and dry for 2 days – longest 2 days of my life.
Dad got some pictures (I will include them if I can find them!)
Saturday, finally arrived. We carried the Bismarck out of the house and down to the cove. First, we had to do
some ‘float testing.’ Billy and I would hold on to the ends of the ship and then let it go. If it started to
lean, we would add counter-balance to the ship – usually an extra firecracker or two would do the trick. Once
the ship floated evenly, we placed a one-ounce sinker and about 5 feet of fishing line to the anchor hold. The
sinker had to be placed so it would fall overboard when the shipped rocked. We shoved the ship out into the
cove and then threw big dirt-clods at the bow and stern of the ship. After several attempts, the ship rocked
and dropped ‘our’ anchor. The ship was resting about 15 feet from shore, near the middle of the cove. My parents
knew I was crazy and they pulled a hose down from the house, just in case.
Now the fun part! Billy, Bobby and I started throwing balsa-wood planes at the ship. Not a big deal except
these planes had model cement on the nose and wings and were on fire when we threw them towards the ship.
It took close to a hour before we started hitting the ship. Most of the time the fire on the plane would go
out before it made it to the ship. Billy made a perfect toss. The plane, on fire, crashed right into the
forward guns. We sat on the bank and watched as smoke started rising from the center bridge. Then the
lady-fingers started going off. They sounded like machine-gun fire. Heavy smoke was billowing from the
gun turrets. We sat amazed by the smoke and the popping sounds coming from deep within the ship. Then
there was a big flash. We assumed that one of the many gasoline vials had erupted. A huge fireball shot up
from the center of the ship. After maybe 10 seconds, there was a very large explosion. One of the M-80’s near
the mid-section of the ship exploded. It blew the ship in half. The front section was fully involved in fire
and the back section was smoking and heading towards the shore. We started throwing dirt-clods at the back
section to keep it away from the grass on the shore. Then we heard a small pop from the front section and then
a series of five or six large explosions. Several of the explosions were under water so it made it appear as if
torpedoes were hitting the side of the ship. We weren’t paying attention to the back section, still floating
towards the shore, when another huge fireball shot up the back section followed by a big explosion that
obliterated the entire stern of the ship. The explosion sent burning plastic everywhere and created a gas fire
on the water. It was only seconds before the stern of the boat was gone. Dad with hose in hand put out the
fires that made it to shore. The bow of the ship was still burning in the middle of the cove and was surrounded
by burning gas on the water. Then the last M-80 exploded. We estimated that it was at least 18 inches underwater.
The explosion obliterated the bow and sent small minnows to the surface. We collected the minnows and used them
for bait to catch flounder the next day!
The whole process, once the ship caught on fire, lasted about 30 minutes. Dad walked over and said “Now, have
you gotten that out of your system?” He then paused and also said, “You should have waited until it was just
about dark, then it would have looked really good.” We thought about it and then looked at each other and said
“we can always build another one!”