Subject: SMML12/6/98VOL208 shipmodels@wr.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Question 2: Re: Question 3: Re: LSI 4: Airfix Kits 5: Gyrodyne helicopter 6: Battleship Potemkin 7: Titanic Models in 1/1250 scale 8: Yamato, All Kidding Aside 9: Off Question: Where did Yamoto go down? 10: Re : Off Question: Where did Yamoto go down? 11: Re: OS2U Kingfisher 12: DASH ASW helo 13: Drone helicopter 14: Re: Potemkin/Aurora kits 15: RE: Heller Potemkin 16: Bismark 17: Titanic Info ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Percy, John" Subject: Question Alright, I'm finally going to risk looking stupid and ask a question: Some battleships, particularly US ones, had what looks to be a very large clock near the top of their tripod/cage masts. Is it a clock? What was it used for? Why have it (I think watches were around back then)? Do the model makers supply it with kits? Thanks for any info. John Percy mailto:jpercy@clariion.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Greg Lee (Listmaster - SMML) Subject: Re Question. Hi John, Those are range clocks, Probly the most popular ship to wear them was the USS Arizona. (Removed by 1941) Kits I have purchased (Like Arizona) have had them included, but they are a little crude, you will find better one's in GMM's Photo-Etch kit HTH Greg (Listmaster - SMML) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: LSI >> Does anyone have a line on a LSI kit? Scale and manufacturer are not critical. << I just got Combat Models 1/72 scale LCI (landing craft infantry) kit for review. They say they may produce conversions for this kit. They mention a possible open bow and rocket launching ships as possible conversion projects. Next, they are going to produce a Minesweeper (o)-1 "Albatross in 1/72 scale. They are currently working on an LST in 1/72 scale for the armor guys. Remember, these are vac-form kits. While accurate, Combat Models gives you the basic hull and super structure. All the details are your problem. They have a company they use to provide detail packs of photo-etched and metal parts for thier models. Just tell them which model you're building and they will suggest what you need. The good news is very basic shaped parts will be easier to convert than a full blown model. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: John Philip Downing Subject: Airfix Kits >> Airfix have released a range of small scale sailing ships featuring the Victory, Golden Hind and Mayflower. Does anyone know the scale of these ships to see what they're compatible with (if anything). << >> Victory is 1:180 listed in Model Expo catalog. Others not listed. << I remember that Airfix once had a line of sailing ship in 1/600, to match their modern ships. Are these what you are thinking of? They were bagged, and (obviously) very small (about 4" long). Haven't seen one in years. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Seitz_Mark/AMARC_FM@amdiss1.dm.af.mil Subject: Gyrodyne helicopter >> I am looking for Photos and information on the Gyrodyne QH-50 Helicopter Drone carried on US Destroyers in the late 50s and 1960s. It was a radio controlled ( Drone) Co-axial Rotor Helicopter that could carry 2 torpedos for ASW. Need any and all information << Dear Skip, Here in Tucson, we're lucky enough to have an example of this item in our local aviation museum. If you want me to shoot a roll of film of it, E-Mail me at: mailto:mseitz@flash.net Best of luck! Mark ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Pacific Front Hobbies Subkect: Re: Battleship Potemkin The Imperial Russian battleship Potemkin was originally laid down as "Kniaz Potemkin Tavricheskey" in 1898, and eventually became the "star" of a mutiny and and an early film by S.Eisenstein. It was re-commissioned in 1905 with the name "Panteleimon", under influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, but was re-named to "Potemkin" by the Kerensky government on 13 April, 1917 and finally as "Boretz za svobodou" by the new Bolshevik revolutionary government in October, 1917. Potemkin was a one-ship class. It is still available as a 1/400 plastic model. Her story is well outlined, with photographs, in V.M. Tomitch's book "Warships of the Imperial Russian Navy Vol. 1 - Battleships", which is still available. Bill Gruner Pacific Front Hobbies http://www.pacificfront.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Pacific Front Hobbies Subject: Titanic Models in 1/1250 scale For those of you looking for a nicely detailed small model of RMS Titanic, we will have in stock shortly both the Albatros and Carlo Marquardt versions of the ship, both completely finished and painted. We will also be getting in some of the C-M RMS Carpathias in the same scale. We have been unable to get the Carlo Marquardt models for over a year, but he appears to be back in full production. Also arriving will be Queen Eliz.I, Queen Mary, Normandie, Imperator, carrier Adm. Kusnetsov, and others. We hope to have a few to show at the IPMS National Convention July 2-4 in Santa Clara CA, and at Paul Jacobs 1/1250 "mini-convention" at his residence in Saratoga CA on Thursday evening July 2. Bill Gruner Pacific Front Hobbies http://www.pacificfront.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Duane Fowler Subject: Yamato, All Kidding Aside Hello Greg, All kidding aside, the Nichimo Yamato kit has only one thing going for it and that is size. There is an overall lack of detail - no doors or hatches except for a couple of embossed outlines on the pagoda. The lookout positions have no binoculars or mounts and is a really rough tub that has to have all the holes filled, smoothed and sanded. The anti-skid diamonds are ridiculously oversized as is the deck planking. The valleys (chasms) between the deck sections and the deck to hull joints are huge. There are lots of pin marks, flash, misalignments, and cooling sink holes. The main turrets are too small. The secondary turrets are not shaped right. The periscopes on the turrets are either missing or crudely shaped. There are several portholes missing from the superstructure, and the list goes on. I really did scratch build the entire crane before I received the excellent PE kit from Loren Perry. You will still need to rebuild the base and luft supports as they are not included in the PE kit. And the part about the 1/400 and 1/700 railing is true. If you cut them into single bar sections, they make great hand rails, which there were a lot of on the Yamato. Anyway, with A LOT of hard work, it can be made into a good model. It isn't as bad as a Lindberg, but it's a long way from Tamiya or even ARII. Regards, Duane Fowler (P.S. the part about the glue melting brown gloss paint was true too - ouch!) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: jim burt Subject: Off Question: Where did Yamoto go down? Does anyone know where the Japanese Battleship Yamato sank in WW2? Has it ever been found? And what sank it?? Thanks, Steve ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From : Greg Lee (Listmaster - SMML) Subject : Off Question: Where did Yamoto go down? Hi Steve, (The following dates/facts from Skulski's Anatomy) Yamato met her demise 14:23hrs on 7 April 1945, after a barage of 10 torpedo and 8 bombs from U.S.Forces, which caused severe listing, and a gigantic explosion of on-board ammunition that broke the hull. There are three theories on the explosion: 1 : Projectile fuzes struck the deck as the ship rolled. 2 : Fire aft ignited magazines 3 : Yosemite Sam blew it to Smithereenies! (Lesser recognised Theory just put forth by my Nephew :-) She sank west of Tanegashima, on a planned course toward Okinawa. The wreck was examined 1 August 1985, and there is a sketch on the last page of Skulski's Anatomy, this sketch has left me craving MUCH more info on the wreck, however, other than this sketch, I have been unable to find anything - and If anybody knows anything, or has any idea where Skulski got this info from, I would dearly love to hear from you. HTH Greg (Listmaster - SMML) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Re: OS2U Kingfisher Larry O. wrote: >> I first visited the USS Massachusetts in Fall River MA in the late 1960's or early 1970's. My fuzzy brain cells seem to recall one catapult and a Kingfisher installed. << I recall reading somewhere that this OS2U was actually a fiberglass mockup. Maybe it was acquired by one of the other battleship memorials. I think the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola has a real Kingfisher in its collection. The only one I've actually seen is the one the Smithsonian Institute has stashed away in one of its warehouses at Silver Hill, Maryland. They open the facility to the general public once a year but also offer tours if arrangements are made in advance. Anyone interested can probably find out more from their Web site. Mike ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Bill & Kaja Michaels" Subject: DASH ASW helo Flying Modles had an article in their Scale RC Boats section in an issue in the mid 80's. As I recall, the author said he could only find photos of one side of the unit, so he had to guess at the other. The article was about converting a Lindberg Fletcher class destroyer into a DASH-equipped ship. I'll look in my archives-- I may have saved a copy of the article. If I find it, I'll post the info to the list. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com (Daniel H. Jones) Subject: Re: Drone helicopter >> I am looking for Photos and information on the Gyrodyne QH-50 Helicopter Drone carried on US Destroyers in the late 50s and 1960s. It was a radio controlled ( Drone) Co-axial Rotor Helicopter that could carry 2 torpedos for ASW. Need any and all information << Skip. I don't know whgere you live, but the Pima County Air Museum has one (or they did last time I was there) on display. It is in very good condition and is kept inside a hanger, out of the weather. Maybe someone in the area (Tucson AZ) could take pictures of it for you. Daniel Jones Plastic Ship Modeler. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com (Daniel H. Jones) Subject: Re: Potemkin/Aurora kits >> The Potemkin kit was re-issued as the Aurora by a Russian company, but the molding isn't nearly as clean and crisp as the Heller kit. I believe Heller reissued the kit under the Aurora name as well. << Rusty, I am sure several will respond on this one, but, just in case..... Potemkin and Aurora are two separate kits. Potemkin is a battleship and Aurora is a armored cruiser. Both played a significant role in the Russian Revolution, which is why the Soviets commissioned Heller to make the kits. Potemkin is as she appeared in about 1917, while the Aurora is a model of the ship as she exists today as a museum ship. Aurora has been modernized over the years, so it requires a "conversion" to make her compatible with the Potemkin. Both are very good kits. Daniel Jones Plastic Ship Modeler Magazine ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Eleta S.Malewitz" Subject: Re: Heller Potemkin Heller made kits of the Battleship Potemkin of fame in the classic Eisenstein film. I have two of them and they are quite good kits, although a bit of photo-etch would bring them up. Heller also made a kit of the Protected Cruiser Aurora, of fame as the ship which fired on the Winter Palace, thus beginning the October Revolution in 1917. This builds up as a fine kit, comparable to the Revell Emden. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Morley, James (Frankfurt)" Subject: Bismark Following up an older thread here.... There are a number of references that show Bismark with yellow turret tops. However, there is a well known picture of Bismark from Prinz Eugen taken after the action with Hood & Prince of Wales on the 24th May. Bismark is clearly down at the bows from a 14" shell hit (thereby dating the picture, since the 2 ships parted company the next day). In this photo, the ENTIRE TURRETS (but not the barbettes) of the main and secondary armament are clearly a different (and lighter) colour than the rest of the ship. I'm no expert on B&W photo interpretation, but I suspect that they are indeed yellow. This would tie in with the recon report from the air that the turret tops were yellow, since presumeably it would have been difficult to determine what colour the turret sides were without getting shot down! Another point of interest... Robert Ballards wreck photographs also show that there were swastikas painted on deck in both the bow and the stern areas (this I have not seen in any reference at all). James Morley ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Welch Paul Subject: Titanic Info With ref to 'Titanic info' (see below) in vol207 I contacted Harland & Wollf a few weeks ago about thie 'modellers pack' but they had never heard of it! The last I heard they were trying to find out where 'Model Boats' got the information from. The only items H&W have on Titanic are those on their web site http://ds.dial.pipex.com/town/square/hp97/index.shtml Shame, as the pack sounded pretty good! Regards Paul ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume