Subject: SMML06/12/97VOL021 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDEX 1: SS United States 2: USNI Press IJN Cruiser Book 3: Re: New Books 4: Arizona 5" guns/Humbrol 5: Camouflage ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: McKellar Subject: Re: New Books Hi Ken, I agree wholeheartedly with your appraisal of the Japanese Cruisers book.. Chatham are the UK publishers ( as a result it retails over here for an even more horrendous £60.00!!) You are right, many of the pics have NEVER been published before. It is a magnificent tome and a "must" for any serious IJN enthusiast. I phoned Conways yesterday re. the Takao. The original release date was November and we were getting itchy fingers.. however, they informed us that it won't be ready till July!! Oh well.. Caroline White Ensign Models,Gardeners Cottage,Cowarne Court,Lower Eggleton, Ledbury,Herefordshire,HR8 2UF,U.K. Tel: 01432 820403 Fax: 01432 820830 http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/avenue/xdt22/ Don't mind my husband Dave, he's just a smart ass through and through!!!!!! And you have to wonder what kind of woman would marry such a man???? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Dan Goodpasture Subject: Arizona 5" guns/Humbrol Anybody have any suggestions for improving the 5" guns on the Revell Arizona? They look way too thick to my eye. I was thinking about using small brass tubing, but then I'd lose the taper. Also I need a prompt, reliable mail-order source for Humbrol paints in the US. The outfits I usually deal with seem to have trouble filling orders in a reasonable amount of time. Thanks, Dan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: John Snyder Subject: Camouflage A couple of weeks ago, a thread came up on the WW2 list that led to a discussion of a US Navy type aboard the RAF Catalina that regained contact with BISMARCK. Someone (Brooks Rowlett) mentioned that the person in question, RADM Joseph H. Wellings (then a LT or LCDR) had been on assignment to the RN to exchange technical information, and had later written a book titled _On His Majesty's Service_ about the experience. I've managed to obtain a copy, and it's fascinating reading, a series of excerpts from his official diary, unofficial diary, and letters home to his wife. He traveled to England in a convoy in September 1940, and had this to say about the ships: "Distinguishing Marks of Ships. Mechant vessels had no distinguishing marks. Combatant ships--Sides and superstructure painted a very dark gray which approached black in color. The H.M.S. EMERALD's three funnels were painted a very light gray. The foremast of the same ship was painted white above the fire control station. The destroyers had various combinations of wide and narrow red horizontal stripes around each funnel. The funnels were painted with the same very dark gray as the sides. In addition the barrels of the forward and after guns on some of the destroyers were painted either red [!] or very light gray. About half of the destroyers had a white wave painted on each side of the bow...." He is writing of RN vessels, of course, but the similarity to the USN's Measure 1 (and the Measure 5 false bow wave) is striking. I'll likely post more from the same source from time to time as my reading progresses. After arrival he was posted to Scapa Flow and has some comments about various vessels there, such as HOOD's AA arrangement. John Snyder ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume