Many years ago when I joined the RAN as a signalman, it seemed commonplace for ships to have a
crest or cartoon-like character painted onto the back of two or more of the ship's 10 Inch Signal
Projectors on the Flag-deck.
After joining the Guided Missile Frigate HMAS ADELAIDE in early 1990, I sought permission from the
Commanding Officer to come up with a design that we might be able to paint onto the back of our signal
projectors. He gave approval for it to be done.
Basing the design on the Adelaide Crows' AFL team mascot, I soon had the lights done, much to the
pleasure of the CO. It started to become popular with other ships to do the same and I was approached
by several other ships to come up with a design, which they could have painted on their lights.
The next ship to be done was ADELAIDE’s sister ship, HMAS DARWIN. After leaving the ADELAIDE, I
joined HMAS HOBART, where a design was also applied to her four signal projectors.
During Sydney’s quest for the Olympic games, the Frigate HMAS SYDNEY was often used as a platform
for promotions for the games and it was decided to paint the logo onto the backs of her lights. Once
the games were in announced in 1993, the lights were cleaned off. Then again prior to the games being
held, the SYDNEY again approached me to paint the new Sydney Olympic symbol with some modifications
onto her lights.
Many members of the crew expressed an interest in the designs of the light backs and so with a
little help from Allan Pew of APS Models, a half sized back of a 10-inch signal projector (Which is
actually 14 inches across. The reflector inside is 10 inches across!!), was moulded. Onto this 1:2
scale back, crewmembers that wished to have something to remember the ship by, would have the design
of the ships lights painted onto it. The plaque would be mounted onto a polished timber board and they
could hang it at home. This has proved very popular and I have hand painted over 60 of them since
their inception.
If you have a design you wished painted onto one of these “Light-back“ plaques, please
and we will see what we can do for you.
This Page last edited: Saturday, 15 July 2006 21:59:49
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