Subject: SMML23/5/98VOL188 shipmodels@wr.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: displaying 1/350 ships 2: Re: Heller KGV 3: KGV 4: HELLER King George V 5: Re: displaying 1/350 ship models 6: C C Lee kits and reference USS San Francisco 7: Old Models 8: Gambier Bay and South Dakota class kits 9: Time to go - Mighty Mo! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SHIP MDLR Subject: displaying 1/350 ships >> Does anybody know of a good place to buy various size display cases for models, such a the minicraft Titanic. I need to keep dust out of the models. Thanks. << T.J, Pacific Front Hobbies and Classic Warships produce a fine line of wood bases with plexiglass covers for ship models. Rusty White Flagship Models ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: LubenLarry Subject: Re: Heller KGV This is not a new kit. I bought one about 10 yrs ago. It is not as good as the Riechlieu. IMHO, the Riechlieu is their best kit by far. The Heller KGV was a big disappointment to me. The Tamiya 1/350 KGV is much better. Larry B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Torgeson Roger A Subject: KGV John, Sorry to say the new Heller KGV is nothing more then a reissue of the late 1970s early 1980s kit. I built one way back then and if memory serves me it wasn't to bad a kit. Didn't have GMM around like today. It's no Tamiya KGV, but it's $40.00 cheaper. I think with some good reference material and a GMM set it could turn out fine. I do remember that the time frame for it was 1943 / 1944 just before the removal of the aircraft facilities. The Kit has the external degaussing cable. As for being on par with Richlieu, in my own opinion its better in a lot of ways. Roger Torgeson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "joseph w. reyna" Subject: Re: HELLER King George V John, The HELLER King George V is a re-release of an earlier (I'd say 70's-era) release of this fine ship. The kit is a beaut; well detailed (though it could definitely stand a PEB upgrade). I've heard a few disparaging comments about the kit's accuracy below the waterline -- I've been trying to research the existence/non-existence of an anti-torpedo armor belt below the waterline (can anyone help here?), but other than that, I think this is a great kit, IMHO quite competitive to the Tamiya rendition (Heller chose NOT to do solid cranes, and though their's are not perfectly accurate, they're a darn sight better than Tamiya's blocks of plastic!). The on-board seaplane is particularly nice. It's a great kit, again my opinion, and nicely complements all the other Heller 1/400 scale re-releases (DKM Gneisenau - [where's Scharnhorst, Heller?], DKM Prinz Eugen, DKM Graf Spee, HMS Illustrious [Yeehaaa - a WWII carrier model!]). Is Heller due to re-release the venerable HMS Hood? -- only time and rumors notwithstanding about the kit molds will tell. Have fun with this pup, John. Let us know how you find the kit. Cheers. Joe Reyna ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Lars Orloff" Subject: Re: displaying 1/350 ship models T.J., I am building the Tamiya line of 1/350 ships. I've completed Bismarck and Missouri and have both in individual wood cases with Plexiglas tops. I've heard of other people displaying sets of ships together on a shelf, but the overall splendor of each model is reduced when several of them sit side by side. In other words, if you have built a model you are really proud of, the best way to showcase it is to give it its own display case. Also, the 1/350 scale is perfect for individual display - not too big, but extremely detailed, especially if you've added a GMM or other type of detail kit. The best way to go about finding a case for a ship model (or for any other model that you want cased) is to purchase the Plexiglas based on dimensions that you think are okay. I prefer two inches' space all around and one inch of space above the highest point on the model. The yellow pages should have many plastics manufacturers that will fabricate your case. Once you've acquired the Plexiglas, take it to a cabinetmaker or woodworker. It's easier for a craftsman to fit a wood base to the glass rather than trying to order glass based on the specs of your wood base - trust me. Two advantages to having the wood base custom made: 1) you get to make the base fit the model with your own dimensions rather than trying to find a pre-fab base that your model will fit on; you get to pick the wood, routed-edges, stain, etc.; 2) the quality of a good wood worker will be obvious in the finished product. Custom-made cases cost more, but consider how far you've come already. You bought a model costing $80-$90, a detail kit costing about $80, and the plastic will run you about $100-$120. It is well worth it. As for the details of the base, I have the model resting on two brass pedestals that are screwed into a display piece of wood that is slightly shorter in length and width than the model. This assembly then sits on the actual wood base sized to the dimensions of the glass. The glass (3/16" thick) sits in a groove in the wood base. This is why it is much easier to get the glass first - the woodworker can make the base fit the glass! Both the base and display piece edges are routed, and I have a small wood wedge glued onto the base with an engraved anodized brass nameplate on the wedge face. To quote the annoying MasterCard commercials: Plexiglas $110, case $240, brass nameplate and engraving $40, model $80, detail kit $75, paint, glue, and supplies $30, a splendidly-detailed model in a beautifully hand-crafted wood case with a protective top that will last several lifetimes - PRICELESS. Remember, you get what you pay for, whichever way you decide to display your model. Hope I've been helpful. Email me if you have questions. Lars ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) Subject: C C Lee kits and reference USS San Francisco From: dhjonespsm@juno.com (Daniel H. Jones) Greg, C. C. Lee - This company is out of China. Probably the text is in Chinese. They also make a kit of the Chinese gunboat MING JIAN in 1/150 scale - a class of two ships built in 1912-1913. The best pictorial coverage (and it is not much) is found in older issues of Jane's. The 1931 issue has two photos, and the names are totally different - which means some careful comparison of features to identify the ships. I have a review of this kit coming out in the next issue of Plastic Ship Modeler. Probably the ENTERPRISE kit is a re-molding of Arii under license, although this is only a guess, as I have not sen this kit yet. Re; USS SAN FRANCISCO reference, I would recommend trying to get a copy of USS San Francisco by Chuck Hansen (1981). This softcover book, unfortunately long out of print, is the best reference for this ship that I know of. It contains photos, many full page, of details as well as overall views, scale drawings, everything needed for a modelers reference. Try a search on the net for out of print book lists, or advertise for a copy. It is well worth getting. Dan Jones ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Nuno J. V. Rubim" Subject: Old Models Is there any auction site or shop where it is possible to find some out of production ship model kits ? Thank you N.Rubim Portugal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Steve Belanger" Subject: Gambier Bay and South Dakota class kits First off, thanks to everyone who responded regarding my inquiry about the Gambier Bay kit. Very informative and helpful! No bad comments, so that's good! I also have a curiosity question regarding the South Dakota or Massachusetts kits - I remember seeing in some advertisement that the sister ships could also be built from these kits, but the ships had slightly different decks I thought. Anyway, I would really like to model the Indiana as she appeared in 1944 and I was wondering if either of these kits has the parts to make her. And if so, which one! If not, then any recommendations as to which kit would be easiest to use for the Indiana (does the SD kit contain the extra 5" mounts?) Thanks again, Steve (and for a previous post regarding location in a message - I'm in New Hampshire) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Greg Lee (Listmaster - SMML) Subject: Time to go - Mighty Mo! Well, As I understand it, Mo is making her first move in a few years to Astoria today, before crossing the Pacific one last time to rest at Pearl Harbor. For those of you who are interested in tracking her journey, and learning more about what is going to happen to her on her arrival at Pearl, Check out: http://www.ussmissouri.com Greg ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume