Subject: SMML24/06/98VOL220 Date: Wed, 24 Jun 1998 19:39:08 +1000 (EST) shipmodels@wr.com.au --------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://warship.simplenet.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Friscomania 2: CC Lee Yamato 3: Re: 1/200 Nichimo Destroyers 4: Bluejacket models 5: 1/250 Doyusha Shinano 6: Preservation 7: Meaning of SMML 8: Re: Meaning of SMML 9: Saved ships 10: Dedalo Spanish carrier 11: Re: Aurora Enterprise 12: Subject: Ships that shouldve been saved 13: Arizona Casemate Guns 14: Yamato etc, is this a record? 15: RE: Beautiful Ships & Ships That Should Be Saved 16: Russian paints 17: Re: Houston kits 18: More On Ships That Should Have Been Preserved 19: Re: Humbrol Paints 20: Re: Gunze-Sangyo color matches 21: Brush quality of Acrylic paints. 22: Re: scrapped/expended 23: Re: Olympics starboard paint scheme ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS INDEX 1: Resin kits, specifically Houston 2: SMML Lunch at the Nationals 3: Lots of funnels but we want more! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Damian Pliszka Subject: Friscomania Hi everybody, I'm building model of beautiful classic heavy cruiser USS San Francisco in 1944.Since 5 years when I bought card model in 1:200 I'm looking for references to this ship. Today I have Polish monograph about USS San Francisco, plans and photos from Floating Drydock and of course my original model. Well still some details are hidden. I'm looking for photos, drawings (even hand made schemes) of details back of bow superstructure, station between stacks (all wievs - especially forward and aft), hanger (door section) and full scheme of antennas, railings and other lines. Can anyone help me? Maybe someone have Chuck Hansen's "USS San Francisco" to sell? Sorry for my English. Greetings Damian Pliszka (Poland) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: khglam@ucdavis.edu Subject: CC Lee Yamato This message is in response to an earlier posting regarding a company called CCLee, and the recent Yamato messages. CCLee makes a 1/350 scale Yamato. The box art is identical to that of the Tamiya ship. However, the Tamiya logos are replaced with a generic "Item No. ..." The contents are exactly the same as the Tamiya ship, but the quality is definitely worse. The sinkholes on the 18 inch guns are deeper than that of the Tamiya kit. The raised lines (decks, planes, etc.) are uneven. The details are not as crisp. However, the price is also ~1/2 that of Tamiya (~$22USD). The only indication of the manufacturer is in the instruction sheet. The Tamiya logo is replaced by the CCLee logo. Chung ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: khglam@ucdavis.edu Subject: Re: 1/200 Nichimo Destroyers >> but the other kits in the Nichimo 1/200th line are a different story. There are four WWII offerings and, I think, three or four modern JMSDF ships. The four WWII kits are the destroyers Kagero and Akizuki, and submarines I-15 and a Type IX U-boat. The destroyers are very nice and, with the addition of some photo-etched railings and other details, can be made into exquisite models-the Akizuki is a particularly handsome and impressive ship. One nice feature they all share is a two piece hull split not longitudinally, but at the waterline. I'm not sure about the current availability of these other kits, but for 20+ year old plastic kits they are well molded, fairly well detailed, and worth acquiring if you're a fan of large scale warship models. << I agree that these kits are excellent although the IJN Akizuki/JMSDF Asagumo/Minegumo seem to be much better than the JMSDF Kikuzuki. Does anyone other than GMM make photoetch parts in 1/200 scale? Also, does anyone have references (photos/drawings) for the JMSDF ships? As to availability, I was unable to get these kits in the US. However, they are widely available in Japan. Every hobby shop I've been to carried a few. I assume you can order these through Rainbow Ten or Hobbylink Japan even though these ships are not listed in their catalog. Chung ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: khglam@ucdavis.edu Subject: Bluejacket models Does anyone have an opinion on the Bluejacket USS Kidd or USS Gambier Bay? I am curious as to the quality, ease of building, etc. These 1/192 kits might look good next to the 1/200 Nichimo destroyers. Chung ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: khglam@ucdavis.edu Subject: 1/250 Doyusha Shinano Does anyone have an opinion on the 1/250 Doyusha Shinano? Chung ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Ritchie_deutag, Colin" Subject: Preservation >> Above all, I wish someone had saved the Warspite... Maybe not the most beautiful battleship, but she's always been my own favorite. << Shame on you, As my wife says every time she sees me, "Handsome is as Handsome does", Ok I don't understand it either, but it sounds good. Actually I think all the modenised Queen Elizabeth class BB were exceedingly attractive ships, and their war record more than re-paid the costs or their re-building in the '30's . all I can say is roll on the WE Warspite , (350th of course) Colin Ritchie SMML Sad Modellers Maintain Lists (Sorry Greg) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Mike Settle Subject: Meaning of SMML >> Greg (Listmaster - SMML) P.S. SMML = Some Marriages Must Lack:-) << OK, Greg, how about SMML = Spouse Mutinied Monday Last Mike Settle ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From : Greg Lee (Listmaster - SMML) Subject - Meaning of SMML - Aliases SMML = So Many Models Laundered SMML = So Much Money Lost SMML = Ship Modellers Mainly Legends SMML = Simple Minded Modelbuilding Losers Greg. P.S. SMML = Should Mind My Language :-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: Saved ships I also believe that the usage and destructure of the USS Oregon once it was already a museum had no logic what so ever. It should have held the same place as the USS Olympia. Thanks Shaya ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Roberto Paredes" Subject: Dedalo Spanish carrier Hello again, Had the ex-spanish carrier Dedalo (ex-USS Cabot) wooden deck? How was the desk and hull color? Regards, Roberto. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: ModelerAl@aol.com Subject: Re: Aurora Enterprise C'mon guys! Surely *someone* has some comments about this kit. Is the deafening silence because I'm not asking about the Yamato, or do y'all just not like me??? ;-p Al ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "John S. Altemueller" Subject: Re: Ships that shouldve been saved The greatest crime against naval history in this century was the scrapping of the USS Enterprise.CV-6 was the most significant US fighting ship since Old Ironsides. I've read the circumstances of her demise many times and still can't believe how short-sighted this nation was-a real tragedy. John ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) Subject: Arizona Casemate Guns From: fleetnut@juno.com (Stephen C Gustafson) Les, Try to locate a copy of Paul Stillwell's terrific book entitled Battleship Arizona. He has included three or four good photos both the inside and outside of these guns. I think that most of your questions will be answered here. Best, Steve Gustafson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Douglas Martin" Subject: Yamato etc, is this a record? Folks, Just to let you know, my kits ordered last week, sent on Friday arrived today, all the way from Japan! Is this a record, was there a 747 standing by? Anyhow, I now have both 'ugly sisters', time for some ship building methinks! Douglas (Scotland) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Felix Bustelo Subject: Re: Beautiful Ships & Ships That Should Be Saved I would like to add my opinion to this subject by pointing out the plight of one particular ship. What was/is probably one of the most beautiful ships ever built is lying idle and rotting on Pier 82 in Philadelphia. She is the SS United States. Launched in 1952, the S.S. United States was america's flagship in the then booming trans-Atlantic shipping business and the largest nonmilitary vessel made in this country. She was a technological marvel with no equal and the proof is that she was the fastest liner ever built. She was the last ocean liner to win the Blue Riband, the ceremonial prize for the fastest time crossing the Atlantic from New York to England. The United States did this on her maiden voyage, July 3, 1952, crossing the Atlantic in 3 days, 10 hours and 40 minutes at an average speed of 35.59 knots (about 41 miles per hour). She dethroned the Queen Mary as the fastest liner on that voyage and the United States also holds the westbound crossing record as well. Please keep in mind that the United States is 990 feet long, 101.5 feet wide and displaces about 31,000 tons, so 41 mph was not a small feat. This accomplishment was the nautical equivalent to breaking the sound barrier. All of the ships that the SMML family have suggested these past several days are all worthy candidates (I too have a soft spot for the HMS Warspite), I can't think of a ship that is more deserving to be saved than the SS United States. While the others are long gone, she is still afloat awaiting a better fate. If anyone is interested, you should check out this website http://www.ss-united-states.com Thanks for your time; I'll step down from my soapbox. Sorry about the lengthy missal, Greg. Felix Bustelo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Alberto Rada Subject: Russian paints Hi Roberto If you give me the Gunze-San... numbers I'll give you the Humbrol counterpart SALUDOS Alberto ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "David P. Judy III" Subject: Re: Houston kits Mark, There are two Houston kits available in 1/350 resin, one is Blue water Navy( I built their Louisville, which had 4 hull sections 2 upper 2 lower. The Houston is basically the same ship. Now I belive these are now 2 piece hulls upper & lower) These are very nice kits! Classic Warships will be reissuing the Gulfsteam line which includes a Houston kit. These kits are not much more difficult than injected kits, though you need to use CA glue( super glue) in their assembly. The nice thing about these kits is "no seam or mould line scrapping" as with injected kits! There is some "cleanup" but very little. You did not say if you had experience in photo etch brass, but it is no different than brass for an injected kit! The Northhampton class ships ( Houston is one) have tripod masts, now they can be a little tricky to assemble & get straight! Some of the small resin parts are delicate, so you need to be careful handling these. Dave Judy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: YHSAIO@aol.com Subject: More On Ships That Should Have Been Preserved I'm glad the discussion about Yamato is dying down (I hope to build the revised Tamiya kit soon). I'll add my two cents or tuppence, depending on where we hail from, on ships which should have been preserved: USS San Francisco (CA-38)-A great candidate, because she was one of the most decorated ships in the USN and second only to the Big E in battle stars with 17. Also, 4 of her crew were awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Second Naval Battle of Guadacanal (2 posthumously). USS Saratoga (already mentioned) HMS Renown-The last RN battlecruiser and veteran of both wars. It's a shame that the RN never preserved a BB or BC as a representative of the great traditions of the White Ensign Any of the surviving Queen Elizabeth class HMS Victorious-Her part in the Bismarck chase as well as her war service and post-war exploits make her worthy. USS Essex HMS King Geroge V Jean Bart (the last battleship to be completed, albeit post-war) Any of the Brooklyn class CLs A four-stack destroyer. Don't know if I can think of any more ships, but I guess I'll see more in the next issue of SMML. Also, thanks to Jeff Herne for responding to my questions about RN cruisers. I'll be sure to ask you and Alan Raven tons of questions and buy your book at the IPMS Nationals. Yunchi Hsaio ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Re: Humbrol Paints Robert de Vlam wrote: >> Humbrol acrylics are not bad.....not all the colors are available in Holland, as the demand is small..... Humbrol also uses plastic containers for acrylics. << Wow! Humbrol makes a line of acrylics? Does anyone know of a North American distributor? I was informed at a local hobby shop not long ago that apparently the Testor's Model Master acrylics were not selling well and were being discontinued. Thanks in advance, Mike ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: "David & Alicja Lombard" Subject: Re: Gunze-Sangyo color matches >> I have 2 Russian ships, but I don't know how is thier colors. The instructions use Gunze-San...but my hobby shops don't have it. They have only Humbrol, Testor and Tamiya. << A nearby shop has all of those. If you tell me the G-S color numbers, I may be able to give you a cross reference to one or more of the others. David Lombard Rossmoor, Orange County, California ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: b29@ix.netcom.com Subject: Re: Brush quality of Acrylic paints. Yes, as Dave and Rob said, I do prefer Polly S for hand brushing. I find that they never, ever, leave streaks or brush marks, regardless of how thick or thin the paint goes on. I am less satisfied with Polly S for air-brushing. Paul Jacobs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: Dave Carter Subject: Re: scrapped/expended Hi David, Graeme et al, I wholly agree about the preservation of Warspite... 2 World Wars and in the thick of it all the way...more battle honours than any other British ship... however, with successive British governments, preservation of our maritime history has always had a low priority.. look at the sorry state of affairs with HMS Cavalier... it grieves me... I have letters here from Government ministers of both persuasions saying that £25,000 per year is too high a price to pay to maintain this ship (the last British WW2 destroyer). Preserved warships (and military modelling of all persuasions, for that matter), teach history.. they teach us by way of tangible evidence (the ship, the tales, the crew..) of many of the rights, the wrongs, the triumphs and tragedies, and the fact that many lessons can be learnt from such history... our younger generation are already losing touch with the "reality" of the last war.. this government has sanctioned around £1 Bn?? on a plastic bubble in Greenwich for the Millenium... which has about as much historical significance as the Spice Girls underwear... Incidentally, the last Jutland veteran is in fact HMS Caroline (great name that!!) the light cruiser... she lives in Northern Ireland, and, in few of her heritage (she has been in reserve for many years), active preservation is now under discussion. Cheers Caroline Carter White Ensign Models, http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: robin Subject: Re: Olympics starboard paint scheme Hi all, I've just moved house & have logged on for first time in days, so I'm catching up with all the news... I noticed someone (Duane Fowler I think) wanting info about the Olympic's dazzle paint scheme during WWI.... I have got tons of pictures of liners & warships, because I have been into ships for 12 years, & I did photocopy pictures out of books I dont have (ie. library etc.), & now I have access to a flat bed scanner so I am putting my pictures on computer (also getting the books again & scanning better quality).. I am laying no claim to the pictures, as they probably are copyrighted, but i do not think people would mind it for educational & model making refs. Anyway, getting back to the point, I have a picture of the Olympic during the war years, & it is a photo showing both sides of the ship, because for no particular reason, the starboard side of the olympic was not photographed often... the picture is a wee bit grainy, because it is a scan from a photocopy, but it certainly is viewable... if any body wants it they can email me... I'll dig it out of the lots of other pictures i have scanned... Also, check out my personal web page, I have lots of ship pictures on them, including my own Olympic class ship page... Also, thanks for the info on the Prinz Eugen, now I know how she is after 50 years... Any info on the Nagato, or any of the other unfortunate ships of the bomb tests by any chance??? Cheers & 73's for now, ordrazz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: John Sheridan Subject: Resin kits, specifically Houston Blue Water Navy currently makes a 1/350th USS Houston. It can be found at: http://www.navismagazine.com/bwn-sale/bwn-sale.htm John Sheridan @ Microscale Decals http://www.microscale.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Subject: SMML Lunch at the Nationals To: "SMML" Hello All, I will be at the Nationals this year (my chapter pres. roped me into volunteering for the reg. desk among other things). Well, I was wondering: Would any of the SMMLers (SMMLies?) who will be there like to get together for lunch/dinner one of the days? Let me know ahead of time and I'll make the reservations. Also let me know what your favorite type of restaurant is. Perhaps we can get a couple of the vendors (Caroline, Ted, Loren?) to join us (and listen to our lobbying/wish lists). My address is: dlfowler@apple.com Regards, Duane Fowler ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Dave Carter Subject: Lots of funnels but we want more! Hi Guys, White Ensign Models will be releasing a 1/700 Askold pretty soon... after Edinburgh and Warspite.. She was a 5 funnel Tsarist cruiser commissioned in the Royal Navy as Glory IV at one stage... She is rather a splendid beast... however, we have rumour that a French Pre-Dreadnought armoured cruiser somewhere way back had SIX funnels... now that WOULD be cool... so... is there anyone out there who can i.d. this ship for us, and, even better, point us in the direction of a set of plans, or good drawings? Cheers Caroline Carter White Ensign Models ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume