Subject: SMML02/07/98VOL228 Date: Thu, 2 Jul 1998 18:03:42 +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: WEM HMS Sheffield 2: U.S. Sub in Action...Thanks! 3: U-Boat references 4: Re: JAG credibility. 5: Horror Stories.... 6: Re: Dedalo 7: GMM Yamato PE 8: Re: Submarine references ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Re: Moskva Plans 2: ATTN - MARK KNOWLTON ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Ritchie_deutag, Colin" Subject: WEM HMS Sheffield Everyone is unique, an irreplaceable individual, well maybe that's true, but to-day I'm a touch more unique, for you see at home where I've just left it is the first WEM HMS Sheffield kit, No.1 off the line, and its an honour, thanks Caroline. OK What's it like. Is it worth the money, Is it worth it, YES, a hundred times yes. Prove it I hear you shout, well here goes. The hull casting is a 23(ish I haven't measured it yet) single piece, (I have the waterline version), and the detail incorporated is quite simply awesome. The portholes all have eyebrows, the deck planking is to scale, the faiheads are all in place and to scale. The list just goes on and on, needless to say, NO Flaws anywhere in the casting, truly a work of are in design and casting. The resin fittings , superstructure, turrets, and the mass of additional fittings again appear to be substantially better than WE's Hood, almost no flash, clean, crisp, and beautifully formed. There are some slight casting plugs to be removed, but otherwise appear to be almost Tamiya level in detail definition, (My fav so far, the cylinders on the Walrus engines are there, unlike Tamiya's). The PE Frets, (2) contain the remainder of the fittings, Handrails, Aircraft catapult, yards, beautiful Type 79 radar array's, and 13, (13!) separate designs of hatches complete with locking handles, all in all a work of art . The secondary weapons, Pom Pom'[s 4" tin mounts and the .5" multiple mounts are all as per Hood, but with an extra degree of fineness, as tho' the design had been refined, again superb execution. The instructions, all 25 pages of them are a real tribute to Dave Carter's abilities as even a complete ship modelling novice can follow and understand them, great work Dave, and any additional wrinkles have been worth it. Overall the quality of research both in the instructions, and the paint schemes , (don't try the winter 41 scheme unless your psychotherapist says its OK ). Summary, The state of the art in ship modelling has just been advanced by another couple of notches, a wonderful kit beautifully presented . I apologise for the brevity of the review, I've had the kit in my hands for approx. 2 hours so far, and I haven't stopped grinning yet . Caroline and Dave , you've done it again, way to go! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Seitz_Mark/AMARC_FM@amdiss1.dm.af.mil Subject: U.S. Sub in Action...Thanks! Thanks everyone for answering my question regarding this apparently out of print title. I'm glad to know that my mental capacities haven't slipped that far! The lady at the hobby store is generally very nice, so I won't beat her up about not knowing Squadron Signal quirks...it's primarily a car shop anyway. If it does come out in July, I may pick up a copy, but I ended up taking the plunge and ordering Norman Friedman's design history volume. Probably a bit much for a 13 year old, but I needed something on subs anyway. Now, does anyone have any suggestions/comments for the Revell Lionfish??? Again, Thanks everyone!. Mark Seitz ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Cataldo Torelli Subject: U-Boat references Hi, I have two tiny U-Boats (1/700 Hasegawa): a type VII and a type IX, and I'm looking for references about them. What about the Squadron Signal book? I'm planning to improve a little the kits: railings and rigging mainly. And, any help on painting ? The kit instructions aren't very clear for me. Thanks in advance, Cataldo Torelli Madrid, Spain ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Sue & Ben Subject: Re: JAG credibility. Hi Greg, I have to agree with you, JAG is way down on the accuracy list as far as we modelers are concerned. But in their defence, one has to realise that they shoot their takes where they can and when they can. The Navy has more important things to do than bend its schedule around that of a television show's production. Considerations of cost also entails the use of stock footage which is, at times, less than appropriate. This is especially true of the first season's shows since the concept seemed to be floundering (ie doing really badly in the ratings). The change of network appears to have fixed that, it's now doing very well. About the ship's names. I think Don P. is consciously trying to avoid using the name of ships in service. Using Coral Sea may seem funny to a history buff but it certainly doesn't tick me off as much as his totally fictional 'Seahawk' used at other times. Finally, keep in mind that the show isn't really about the Navy. It's just another lawyer show but with a slight twist. If anything the show at least tries to extoll military virtue, which is a nice change if you ask me. It also has decent production values being reasonnably well shot and decently acted. Since the only alternative, at least here in N.A., is 'Pensacola - Wings of Gold' a cheesy jingoistic action show (on command.... VOMIT! [badly written,badly produced, badly acted and even worst on accuracy) don't knock JAG too hard. Just my .02$ worth. Ben Monteral, Canada ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: John Prall Subject: Horror Stories.... Horror Story 1 All this talk of horror stories brings me to the first 1/350 ship I ever built. It was the Tamiya 1/350 Missouri with the GMM PE. I decided to paint the ship in the Measure 22 pattern used at the signing (gotta start out small at first!! :) )... I painted the hull and everything was going fine, then I got to the deck... I got some Tamiya Deck Tan and started painting away... I got the first coat of paint on and noticed that the color was off... it looked like the paint was contaminated with another color either from my brush or the paint jar... I then got a new bottle of paint and a new brush... I stupidly painted over the old paint with out trying to rub off the old paint with alcohol... mistake number one.... Then I saw the streaks were still there, so I applyed a third coat... it helped a little but not enough... Then the fourth coat goes on... no help there and now I was losing deck detail... Hmmmm time to bring out the alcohol... nope the paint was just too settled in and in my rubbing I broke the deck... So I called Tamiya and got a new deck sent out to me... This time I painted it properly and I was happy with the outcome... Well I finished the boat and wanted to put some sealer on it... Not today it was a one of those southern day long thunderstorms... That night the storm broke long enought for me to dash outside and spray on a flat coat... I came in and saw that my entire boat had gotten covered in some flacky white matterial!! It turns out that when it gets real humid outside the spray forms flecks that get stuck on the boat!!! Needless to say I always wait for the air to be dry whenever I flat coat models now.... Just last month I discovered that if I spay a gloss coat over that stuff it will get rid of the fleks..( don't ask I discovered this accidently) So I managed to salvage the boat, but I also noticed something else... My light grey section on the bow has a strong downward angle!!! it is supposed to be straigt!!! instead I have what looks to be an isosolese(SPELL) triangle there!!! Ohh well, I am happy with what came out anyway... I am not too much of a perfectionist and do not care to enter in competitions.... Horror Story 2 This not exactly naval but it has to do with horror stories... I got myself a Hasagawa F-16C block 50 something... Well I started it and the kit was coming out great.. Then it came time to put on the nose cone... I need some weight in the front to keep it from becoming a tail dragger so I went to put some clay in there... hmmm no clay around... oh well... Ahh what have we here!!! Squadron Green Putty!! (I do not know what the H@ll I was thinking.... that stuff melts plastic like there is no tommorow..) I filled up the nosecone and slapped it on the plane... The next morning I come down to have a look at my wonderfull peice of work!! What the....???? My nose had melted down like it had been hit by some sorta of flame and the putty was now on its way through the table!!! I scraped the putty and molten plastic off the table and threw it into the METAL trashcan... grrrr... I had to sand the front of the F-16 down and to this day I still have not finnished it!! John Prall jrp0315@rit.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Re: Dedalo Mea culpa! I wrongly told Cataldo Torelli a few days ago that Independence and Dedalo/Cabot were different class ships. Not true; both are Indpendence class CVLs and therefore he should be able to build Dedalo from the Revell (ex-Skywave) kit. Mike ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Duane Fowler Subject: GMM Yamato PE >> I Believe GMM offers a PE upgrade for Nichimo's Yamato. I'm wondering if these add-ons can result in a significantly improved model. << The set costs $80, is huge and is worth every penny! Will it be a significant improvement? ABSOLUTELY! Regards, Duane Fowler ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Submarine references The Book "US Fleet Submarines in Action" has been around for years. It's put out by Squadron/Signal, and widely available. BTW, tell your friend to consider the new Nautilus Models upgrade kit if he is going to do the Lionfish kit. The upgrade is a resin conning tower and guns, which are infinitely better and much more accurate than the Revell kit versions. Tom Dougherty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Moskva Plans If anyone still wants copies of my 1/600 scale Moskva plans contact my email address at: mailto:shipmdlr@aol.com Rusty White ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From : Greg Lee (Listmaster - SMML) Subject : ATTN - MARK KNOWLTON Hi Mark, Just a short note to let you know I got the xerox's today - AWESOME! Thanks very much, I know what I will be doing tonight:-) Thanks again! Greg (Listmaster - SMML) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume