Subject: SMML01/01/98VOL046 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- INDEX 1: Covered (?) railings on modern USN ships? 2: Titanic/Re: Civil War ships/USS Missouri 3: Jap Cruiser Book 4: Re 1/350 USS Missouri ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Les Dorr Jr." Subject: Covered (?) railings on modern USN ships? Again, please excuse what's probably an obvious question. I'm rather a newbie to ship modelling. I've seen photos of many USN CVs and surface warships that have what appear to be a bright white (or gray) covering where I'd expect to see railing or sheet steel. USS America, the ship I'm currently working on, has these around her bridge (Jane's 1991-92, p.726). USS Yorktown (CG-48), USS Bunker Hill ((CG-52) and USS Belknap (CG-26) all show these coverings (or whatever) in the same Jane's issue. Can someone tell me what these are? Are they just some ceremonial bunting to make the ships look smart in harbor? Would they show on a ship (particularly America) underway? Les "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: TANewell Subject: Re: Titanic/Re: Civil War ships/USS Missouri There was a question about painting the teak decks of the 1/350 Titanic a while back, and also a question about references. As for the decks, I would refer them to the Navis website (http"//www.navismagazine.com, I think) ...look up an article by Loren Perry called "Tale of the two Arizonas". Mr. Perry details a method for painting wood decks that has worked well for me...I did a lengthy post to the group a while back relating my experiences with his method. As for the references, I used "Titanic - An Illustrated History" by Don Lynch...I found the many Ken Marschall paintings in the book to be as helpful as the photos. Robert Ballard's "Discovery of the Titanic" is another good one to get. There was some discussion of kits of Civl War ships...when I visited the sad remains of the ironclad CSS Neuse in Kinston, NC I picked up a model of it at the gift shop. It's a 1/600 scale waterline kit, so it's a little thing, about 3 in long and 5/8 in high, including the funnel. It's in white metal and the only parts are the ship itself, which is basically a casement on a flat deck, the funnel, and a flag staff. But it's fairly detailed, with the pilot house, etched decking, hatches, etc. The kit comes with a wood display base and nameplate. The instruction sheet lists 40 other ships that are available, all in 1/600 scale. Sample pricing is $13.50 for the CSS Virginia(Merrimac) and $7.90 for the USS Monitor. The manufacturer is Thoroughbred Figures 3833 Buckhorn Place Virginia Beach, VA 23456 (804) 471-5918 I must have been a good boy this year...Santa left me Tamiya's 1/350 USS Missouri for Christmas. First impression is...this thing is HUGE! Son Ryan got Tamiya's 1/350 Prince of Wales, and the hull of the poor ol' PoW will fit right down inside the hull of the Missouri. Overall, it looks like it's going to build into a real nice model. Construction is what I'll call "wedding cake" style...that is, starting with a flat main deck, each successive deck and its supporting bulkheads are molded as one unit, and they are stacked on top of each other, like layers of a cake. The problem with this type of construction, apparently, is that it does not lend itself to allowing Tamiya to add mold-in details on the bulkhead walls...The only places where the bulkheads are detailed with doors, portholes, conduits, etc. are where Tamiya used separate bulkheads on the large conning tower and funnels and on separate parts that are used to "skin" some of the larger expanses of blank bulkhead. I still prefer the type of construction that features separate bulkhead walls that are placed on top of the lower deck, then the upper deck on top of the walls (much like the real ships) My 1/350 Titanic and Lusitania were done this way. BTW, I'm also working on a Tauro 1/400 kit of the Italian cruiser Zara, and it has the separate bulkhead construction....it's got some nice detail...but back to the Missouri: I've decided to paint her as she looked at the surrender ceremony, which is measure 22, which called for all horizontal surfaces, including wood decks, to be painted Deck Blue. But the instructions for the Gold Medal Models PE set said that the decks had been holystoned to show the wood grain for the surrender. Now you know how I love to simulate wood grain, so I was happy to read this. I've since gotten Paul Stillwell's "Battleship Missouri" book and he says that the decks were not sanded down until a few weeks after the surrender...and in the pictures of the ceremony in his book it sure looks like the decks are painted, but I'm staying with the wood grain. I mentioned the GMM PE set for this kit...I have to say that I'm somewhat disappointed with the fret. For example, the set has just 16 watertight doors, not enough to do the entire ship, and there doesn't seem to be enough vertical ladder stock included. And there are no gunsights for the AA guns, and only shields for the 20mm guns. In comparison, the GMM set for Ryan's Prince of Wales is a work of art, with 40 watertight doors, both open and closed, sights and rails for the 2 pdr guns, and incredibly small sights, shoulder rests, elevation wheels and shields for the 20mm guns. Gold Medal offers separate sets of just watertight doors, ladders and sights/rails for the 40mm guns for about $5 each, but doesn't have a set with 20mm parts...I could get another PoW/KGV set which would provide me with enough parts for the Mo's 52(!) 20mm guns, but another $36 seems kind of steep...maybe I'm being too critical, but after using GMM's fantastic Titanic/Lusitania and Arizona sets, the Missouri set seems uninspired. Anyway, if anyone would like to relate any hints and tips about building this thing, it would be greatly appreciated. Tim Newell ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: witsie/ken mckelvy Subject: Jap Cruiser Book Would anyone want a copy of this book? Senility has struck again: I managed to double order it and second copy was delivered today. If anyone wants a copy, you can have this one at my cost $60.00 (US), that's my discounted member's price, plus shipping/postage. If you're interested, email me quickly for otherwise I will return it to USNI Press. Relative to ship/post, this sucker weighs in excess of 8-lbs. (according to my bathroom scales -- I'd be happy to hear they read high). Ken ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Greg Subject: Re 1/350 USS Missouri Hi Tim, (Still waiting for that address:-) Just thought I would draw your attention to page 76 of Stilwells Illustrated History, where there is a photo of the holystoning taking place, and the description states that the crew are removing the deck blue a few weeks after the ceremony, so it is safe to say, the decks were painted at the time of the signing, but Hey, this is whats so great about modelling, If you want to do the Mud/Driftwood/Walnut routine, go right ahead! There are no rules! Just be sure to send me some snaps when your done! Greg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume