Asunto: SMML22/4/98VOL157 shipmodels@wr.com.au ============================================================================ *****NOTE TO ALL READERS WHO DON'T CHANGE SUBJECT LINES****** ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLEASE - When replying, Change Re: SMML dd/mm/yyVolxyz to a RELEVANT subject line. I have had to make up subject lines for more than 50% of the postings in the Last 3 SMML's. SMML already takes me hrs to prepare - so please, help me out a little. Thanks Greg (Listmaster - SMML) ============================================================================ MODELLERS INDEX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1: P/E Fire Hose Nozzles in 1/350 2: Revells Blucher 1;720 3: Hong Kong model shops 4: 1/1200 scale 5: Re: Pro Model Building 6: Re: Pro Model Building 7: US Navy Colors WWII 8: Re: Iron Shipwrights expands production 9: Re: Pro Model Building 10: Re: Making money in the model business (Dave) ============================================================================ TRADERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS INDEX 1: Re: 1/700 Scale corvettes 2: Warship Update: Nagato is here! 3: Re: Warship Update: Nagato is here! ============================================================================ MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From : Greg Lee (Listmaster - SMML) Subject : P/E Fire Hose Nozzles in 1/350 Hey All, Just started playing with the GMM P/E 1/350 fire hose nozzles for my Modern USS MISSOURI. Why the heck didn't Mr Tamiya mould any details into the forward main deck bulkheads? Anyhoo, my problem here is getting those microscopico nozzles glued on cleany, without any globs? I found even with a pin its still to much glue. And whats the best way to handle them? They are so small. I have been botching so far, so I am in desperate need of some good advice, can anybody help? Greg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: robin Subject: Revells Blucher 1;720 Hi All, I have just finished building Revell's Blucher in 1:720 Scale (the WWII Cruiser, not the WWI Battlecruiser), & I was wondering if there was anyone else who has built this kit? I found personally that it was quite good overall, but there was quite a bit of flash around the smaller parts, especially the radars & some of the bridge components.... Also some of the holes either did not exist, or the parts did not fit properly or was not aligned... has anyone else had this trouble? Apart from that & being in a funny scale, it was a good kit... & it had some spare bits for any repairs (or to confuse you), & there was some flash around them, I wonder when the moulds were made..... anyway.... for now, Cheers & 73's, ordrazz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Gary Au Subject: Hong Kong model shops >> Hi guys, having seen the great feedback on the location of good Italian ship model shops, I wondered if i could repeat the question with regard to Hong Kong ship model or just model shops. Are there any good shops and are the prices any advantage to elsewhere. many thanks << >>> Try Hobby Link Japan web page. Good prices good selection. <<< I live in Hong Kong and I think There are no Hong Kong Internet Model Shops. Beside, ship modelling is not so common in Hong Kong. Is there any other SMML subscriber live in Hong Kong? Gary. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: John Philip Downing Subject: Re: 1/1200 scale >> In regard to the inquiry by James Gray regarding builders of 1:1200 ship models, there are builders in both 1:1200 and 1:1250 scale. These are especially popular in Europe, but there are some builders in the U.S. Most collectors in this scale purchase pre-assembled models. << This, to me, is the real problem with scale, the lack of kits for the model builder. There are only a few makers The set of 12 ships currently by Revell, but others in the past. A few by Airfix, now hard to find. The hard to find "Table Top Navy" by Pyro in the 60's. These an more ships were previously released by Eaglewall. I've never seen one. The set of 12 US Navy ships by Renwal, which included some Auxilaries . A few "accidental" box scale models. Most of the (truly vast selection) Metal ships in this scale come pre-assembled and painted, with a price to match. Thus while it is a great scale for the COLLECTOR, it is not that good of a scale for the BUILDER. Or am I wrong in this? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Mike Settle Subject: Re: Pro Model Building >> Anyone out there make a decent living building models? I keep thinking about changing careers from office slave to model builder. Any observations, tips, encouragement/discouragement? << My opinion is not based on personal experience, but upon observation and conversations with others. If you want to make a living building models, you should probably go to work in Hollywood for a special effects studio, or go into architectural model building. A third option would be to start your own aftermarket parts business, although most of these are cottage industries run by people in their spare time after their full time jobs. I get my "being involved with the industry" fix by working part time at the local hobby shop. A fellow that has come in there a few times is fortunate enough that he has sold a few ship models professionally. His best sale was of a sailing ship, sorry, I don't remember which one, for $17,000 to a museum. Even at that princely sum, he told me he lost money if he figured his time as worth $10 an hour. And last but not least is one other factor to consider. As a hobby, model building is enjoyable and relaxing. As a business, it becomes a matter of meeting schedules and deadlines, and paying all the bills, etc. There is a big chance that what used to be fun and enjoyable turns into another daily grind. Good luck and I wish you the best if you decide to pursue model building as a profession. Mike Settle ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: LubenLarry Subject: Re: Pro Model Building In reply to Dave, Do the words "Starving Artist" ring a bell? I've sold some of my ship models and I think it would be very hard to make a living at it. Until and unless you develop a name and reputation, it is very difficult to get a realistic amount of money for the time invested. I can get $300 - $400 for a 1/350 battleship in a case. Probably 100 hours labor and $150 materials cost. Not much of an hourly rate. I have a good firend who scratch builds sailing ships. He recently sold a J-boat through an art dealer in Annapolis. Price was $3,000. Dealer got half. My friend probably had 400 hours invested in the ship. Again, not much of an hourly rate. Larry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: BECJPARKER Subject: US Navy Colors WWII This past weekend I attended the Third Steel Ship Modelers Colloquium at the US Naval Academy, sponsored by the US Naval Academy Ship Model Society. One of the topics that was discussed was US Navy colors. Don Preul one of the members of the Society presented this block of instruction. If you are not familiar with Don's work you have never seen what ship models can really look like and that goes for the models of all the Ship Model Society staff at the Academy. As a group and as individuals they are some of the best modelers of naval subjects in the world, be it steel ship or sticks and string. Here is Don's the color recomendations made at the colloquium : 5P Pale Grey 50% Haze Grey -Floquil 50% Boxcar White- Floquil Railroad 5L Light Grey 75% Haze Grey -Floquil 25% Boxcar White- Floquil Railroad 5H Haze Grey Haze Grey- Floquil straight out of the bottle 5O Ocean Grey Ocean Grey- Floquil straight out of the bottle 5S Sea Blue 50% Ocean Grey-Floquil 50% Navy Blue-Floquil 5N Navy Blue Navy Blue- Floquil straight out of the bottle 20B Weather Deck Blue Weather Deck Blue Floquil darkened with Black to match Polly-S Weaher Deck Blue. Polly-S Weather Deck Blue Straight for brush painting Anti Fouling Red 1 Bottle insignia red-Model Masters FS 31136 1/2 oz 1/4 oz bottle Testors Tan #1170 20 toothpick drops black Boot topping Flat Black (your choice) Black in Camo patterns add a little white to soffen the color black One last comment these were not sight unseen recomendations. Don had a number of models he had done in collaboration with Bob Sumrall and other members of the group and they were fabulous models and the colors looked great. These colors work and will produce the best results you can get. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Ives100 Subject: Re: Iron Shipwrights expands production Jon, I've got a whole list of really interesting submarines that are begging for a really good model (SSNR Triton, USS Seawolf SSN575 [the FIRST nuclear Seawolf], USS Albacore, SSN Skate, SSG Growler). These are all the limited run or one-off subs during the great experimental postwar era of the '50's......all have interesting lines and are from the era back before we settled on building nuclear powered cigar shapes..... Tom Dougherty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Ives100 Subject: Re: Pro Model Building This was a topic recently in the RMS group. The short answer is, that it is very difficult to make a living building models, and what's worse, it becomes.....A JOB!!!! Most of us are in this for the enjoyment of a hobby. We lavish time and energy on improving our skills and building a better model each time. Just for fun, keep track of how much time you spend on building your next ship, and figure out how much you would have to charge for the finished model when you factor in cost of materials and your time (even at the McDonald's rate of $6.00/hr). I think you'll come to realize that except for those few rare individuals who work for Hollywood FX outfits or have contracts for professional models, it just isn't feasible from a financial standpoint. What's worse, it may not be fun anymore. Tom ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Pacific Front Hobbies Subject: Re: Making money in the model business (Dave) There's an old saying, Dave, in the model business...if you want to make a little money in it, start out with a lot of money. Bill Gruner Pacific Front Hobbies ============================================================================ TRADERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Dave Carter Subject: Re: 1/700 Scale corvettes Re 1/700 Scale corvettes (no, not the car), WEM do such a kit.. Parts straight out the box with hull lower: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/avenue/xdt22/bluebel1.jpg and http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/avenue/xdt22/bluebel2.jpg Check out the etched brass that comes with it: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/avenue/xdt22/flower.jpg and part of the superb instructions... http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/avenue/xdt22/bluebell.jpg It is priced at 15.38 pounds, post free anywhere. By the way, the etched brass CAN be bought separately to help detail the Jim Shirley kits at 5.08 pounds per sheet, post free worldwide. There are a lot of people on this mailing list who are currently building at least one Bluebell, and can provide build tips if neccessary. Cheers Caroline http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/avenue/xdt22/ FREE WORLDWIDE AIRMAIL SHIPPING mailto:xdt22@dial.pipex.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Rob Mackie" Subject: Warship Update: Nagato is here! This week's Warship (http://warship.simplenet.com) update is devoted to the IJN Battleships Nagato and Mutsu. 1. Paul Eisenberg's incredible scratchbuilt 1:200 Nagato. Seeing is believing. 2. Jim Gordon's 1:700 Aoshima Mutsu goes in for a refit. The pics will have you shaking your head in disbelief, not to mention the newly discovered USN combat photos of the Mutsu under attack in early 1942. 3. A review of the ultimate 1:700 kit, the Hi-Mold Nagato. Thank you, God. 4. Jon Warneke looks at a great book value, the Profile Morskie Nagato/Mutsu Profile. Stop by and take a look. We welcome visitors. Rob Mackie Warship http://warship.simplenet.com The New Standard ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From : Greg Lee (Listmaster - SMML) Subject : Re: Warship Update: Nagato is here! Just a short note to all readers here, I have seen a preview snap of Paul Eisenberg's 1:200 Nagato, and I really must second Rob, It truly does have to be seen to be believed! Do yourself a favour - Swing by for a look! Greg (Listmaster - SMML) ============================================================================ End of Volume