Subject: SMML03/04/98VOL138 shipmodels@wr.com.au ============================================================================ MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Rigging 2: Re: 1/400 Italian Cruisers 3: fly tying polyester rigging 4: Re: USS Missouri to New Jersey (Round Bridge) Conversion 5: Re: Tauro 400 scale Italian CBs 6: Re: Titanic Funnel color 7: Toothpaste wakes 8: Tauro 1/400 Zara class CA's 9: Aircraft carriers 10: USS New Jersey WWII Camo ============================================================================ TRADERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS INDEX 1: Kits for sale 2: Round 2! Iron Shipwrights OOP closeout ============================================================================ MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Sue & Ben Subject: Re: Rigging Hi gang, Mitch Fisher wrote: >> For very small rigging line, look no further then the the top of your head. Human hair works quite well. << I know a few people whom use that one, including the wife of a friend whom did very well at the U.S. Nationals last summer. However I feel a small caveat is in order. I've always avoided using human hair because of its ability to stretch or contract in reaction to relative humidity conditions. That's why human hair can be used for the active component in high school science project's hygrometer. Personally I feel safer using very thin transparent strecthed sprue. I don't even bother paiting it. HTH Ben ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Sanartjam Subject: Re: 1/400 Italian Cruisers Hi List, I have not built any of the Tauro 1/400 Italian heavy cruisers (Pola, Zara, Fiume, or Gorizia), but there was a short article in Plastic Ship Modeler once about doing a Gorizia out of, I think, the Fiume kit (I thinkt that was before the Gorizia kit came out). Also, there was a long, two-part article by Robert Dick in Model Ship Builder Nos. 104 and 105 on building the Fiume; you can get copies from Model Ship Builder (modelship@aol.com) for a fee. Although there has been an amazing rush of Italian subjects in 1/700 by Regia Marina and Delphis, to my knowledge no Italian warship has come out recently in 1/350 or 1/400, much less an Italian capital ship. I heard rumors once that someone like Tauro might do a 1/400 Littorio or the like, but I don't know if there's anything to it. If anyone has better info (and I'm sure they do), please advise. Hope this helps, Art Nicholson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: ALROSS2 Subject: fly tying polyester rigging Ben wrote: >> I would not use my hair because its gray. Use fly tying polyester or silk. You can get this stuff in 0.005" diameter. I use it for ships and WW 1 airplane rigging. << Mine's gray, too, but it's crew-cut length at the moment, so I guess I won't be rigging anything too large... :-). Actually, I have used hair with success. My wife's hair used to be so long she could sit on it. When she cut it off, I saved a bunch of it and used it to rig models I built for the 1/12 scale dollhouses. Adding to Ben's comments on fly tying thread, it works very well. I've used 8/0, 12/0, and 18/0 gauges, the latter being called "spider web". You don't have to wax this stuff, it can be colored with stain, paint, or "magic marker", and is relatively inexpensive. I think the spool of 18/0 cost about $2.50 at my local sport shop. Al Ross ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: montreal@usit.net (Jon Warneke) Subject: Re: USS Missouri to New Jersey (Round Bridge) Conversion Hi Joe, Here's another option that may help. Right now there is a conversion kit for the Missouri -> Iowa 1943/44 available from Tom's Modelworks. This may (emphasis on may, since it's been awhile since I did any reading on these ships) provide a basis for the conversion. Also, get the book, "Iowa Class BB's" by Robert Sumrall. This will give you some good pictures on the bridge area of the NJ to use. Jon Warneke Iron Shipwrights ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: montreal@usit.net (Jon Warneke) Subject: Re: Tauro 400 scale Italian CBs Hi Gene, >> This is my first SMML message, so please no flames. Ever build the Tauro 400 scale Italian CBs? Realism, difficulty, fit, finish, etc.? Does any firm make other 350 or 400 scale Italian capital ships? Anyone know where I can get a Heller 400 Richelieu or Jean Bart? << No flame retardant jammies needed here. We're a pretty friendly bunch, and plan to keep it that way. The Tauro kits are all very good straight from the box, and will look even better when tricked out with p/e railings and other stuff. There are no other 1/350-1/400 Italian kits other than these that I'm aware of, but that's always changing. The best place I could recommend for finding the two French BB's is either Bill Gruner at Pacific Front Hobbies, or Charlie Pace at APC Hobbies. I know Bill will see this, and you'll probably get a heads up from him, and Charlie's a regular poster to the cage match that R.M.S. has become, so give a look there for his e-mail. Welcome to the list! (BTW, Greg, you're doing a great job!) Jon Warneke Iron Shipwrights ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: louellet@uism.bu.edu Subject: Re: Titanic Funnel color "T. J. KOENIGSFELD" wrote: >> P.s. Does anybody know what color the funnels are on the Academy Titanic model? << Unless the kit's directions have been changed over the years, there is a formula listed that tells you how to mix some common colors to get the "White Star Buff" color of the funnels. Those who have used the mix say that it looks good. If Academy has removed the formula from the instructions, I can dig out my Entex version and put it on the list. Larry Ouellette Volunteer, USS Salem (CA 139) U.S. Naval & Shipbuilding Museum, Quincy Massachusetts http://www.uss-salem.org/ (USS Salem model kit information available) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Paolo Pizzi Subject: Toothpaste wakes >> I was on the Navismagazine website and I saw your idea for making waves ect. with common toothpaste. I tried it and the toothpaste never dried. It keeps its shape and looks real and great, but it is very soft. Is there a way to make it so it doesn't stay so soft? After the application, seal with a hi-gloss varnish: not only it'll dry rock hard but it will also prevent the toothpaste from turning flat and starting to crack. There are several products that do the job, each one gives you a different finish ranging from silky semi-gloss to shiny supergloss, so you may even experiment and combine them (just watch out for chemical incompatibilities first!) For example "marine" varnish (meant to protect wooden hulls) is a lot glossy and it's perfect for a calm open sea (harbor and coastal waters aren't that shiny) whereas porcelain glaze has a much finer texture and it's actually semi-gloss and therefore does a great job when simulating rough seas. Also, never apply the toothpaste out of the tube, always thin it with distilled water first (regular water in the long run may leave nasty calcium deposits that don't look good at all: I know that from my personal experience.) Paolo Pizzi http://navismagazine.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Paolo Pizzi Subject: Tauro 1/400 Zara class CA's >> This is my first SMML message, so please no flames. Ever build the Tauro> 400 scale Italian CBs? Realism, difficulty, fit, finish, etc.? Does any firm make other 350 or 400 scale Italian capital ships? Anyone know where I can get a Heller 400 Richelieu or Jean Bart? << You must be thinking of Tauro's 1/400 Zara class CA's. They're pretty well researched and reasonably accurate and they're a good starting point to make an accurate replica. Unfortunately the fit is lousy and sometimes it really requires a lot of work, like for example when you fit the weather deck onto the hull. Also main turrets aren't tall enough and you should add 2mm. styrene sheet cutouts to their bottoms. Paolo Pizzi http://navismagazine.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Roberto Paredes"
Subject: Aircraft carriers Hello, At this moment, I'm finding the plans or the models kits (1/700 scale), to: - Spanish 'Principe de Asturias' aircraft carrier. - Italian 'Guiseppe Garibaldi' aircraft carrier. In addition, Do you know any web site with these? Kind regards, Roberto. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Michael Eisenstadt Subject: USS New Jersey WWII Camo Folks: Just an additional footnote to my posting last week concerning colors worn by the USS New Jersey during WWII. I was going through my files last night and noticed some photos from the National Archives dated October and December 1944, in which the New Jersey was painted in Measure 21 with Deck Blue (20-B) decks. I should have remembered this since I once did a GHQ 1/2400 scale New Jersey in Measure 21 with 20-B decks. So it would be correct to finish the New Jersey with either natural teak or Deck Blue decks for those of you building her in Measure 21. When were her decks teak, and when were they 20-B? The photos I saw depicting her in Measure 21 with natural teak decks were undated. Sorry I can't help with this. Best wishes to all, Mike Eisenstadt ============================================================================ TRADERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Malcolm Subject: Kits for sale We can supply Matchbox Ariadnes at 5 pounds each and Exeters at 10 pounds each. Both plus shipping.Take Visa and Mastercard KingKit ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: montreal@pop.usit.net Subject: Round 2! Iron Shipwrights OOP closeout I'm taking a chance here, but here it goes... (gulp) Iron Shipwrights is closing out it's remaining stock of USS California BB44 kits. Sales price is $165 including shipping , and here now is the legal stuff... Foreign orders add 10% for shipping, NY residents add 8% sales Tax There are ten left as of 4-2-98, and no, this doesn't mean that Iron Shipwrights, or Commanders, or anyone else is going out of business. Just clearing old stock. Get ahold of Ted Paris at: 551 Wegman Rd. Rochester, NY 14624 Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to duck... Jon Warneke Iron Shipwrights ============================================================================ End of Volume