CAPTAIN W.D. EVANS - (BAMA-Dave)

For me this odyssey started around 1980 give or take a year. I was home from school, sick in bed when I heard a wondrous story told by Mr. Paul Harvey on his radio program. He spoke of a great naval engagement where massive battleships fought it out to the bitter end. He ended his story in typical fashion by letting us all know not a single sailor was harmed nor a single ship lost. Yes, it was our little hobby, model warship combat. I spent the rest of that day dreaming of vast fleets of battleships dueling to the death.

To my dismay in the months and years to follow I could find no information nor any reference to radio controlled combat. Typically I built static models of ships, planes and trains and had a small variety of R/C cars, boats and even a one foot tall R2-D2.

For years out of a subconscious habit I scanned modelers and R/C magazines looking for some reference to model ships that actually fought. Then in the spring of 1996 I received a subscription to WWII Magazine. Little did I know at the time this single magazine would shape and define most every spare moment from that day forward. In my usual fashion I read over the compelling articles, skimmed the action packed photographs and then turned to the advertisements in the back. All the usual stuff was there. WWI and WWII replica medals, pewter miniatures and a variety of model ship, tank and plane manufactures. Then I came to a single, rather humorous looking advertisement. A funny little skunk in a sailors hat. It was an ad for Swampworks Manufacturing telling me I too could build and battle my very own R/C warship.

The very next day I placed a call to Swampy ordering his promotional video. After about one week of viewing the video over and over again I placed an order for my very first combat model, the USS Houston. Little did I truly understand what I was in for. At this time I was stationed at Ft. Riley Kansas and living in a small apartment. When my kit arrived from Swampy the only tools I owned were a hammer and a drill. After thoroughly reading my kit instructions I understood how daunting yet challenging this would be. At this time there were no other combat captains in the state of Kansas. I immediately found it necessary to purchase two things, a reinforced cut-off wheel and a computer.

By the end of 96, with the help of Swampy by phone, a vast number of e-mails and through scrutinizing of web pages I had completed construction of the Houston or so I thought. In truth, over the next three years I tore Houston down to the hull and rebuilt it no less than seven times.

By 1999 we had a strong new club called MWC and I, with the help of David Wilson, Craig McLean and Rick Whitsell had formed a strong Kansas chapter called CENTAG-WEST with five members. At this time I also started construction of the USS Alabama, a ship I played on many times as a child and admired all my life.

In late 99 I took about a year off the hobby and life in general to move back home to Mobile, Alabama. At which time I formed the new MWC chapter of BAMA with some old friends. Currently BAMA is growing with the advent of a strong fleet and a new very well stocked shop.

Current restart of construction on the Alabama should be complete by mid January 2002. Future personal projects include the 1932 version of the HMS Barham for which I already have another flawless Ralph Cole hull. Future dream projects include the HMS Prince of Wales and something big, bad, fast and German. Hope to see you all on the water. (BAMA Dave)