Subject: SMML11/07/98VOL237 Date: Sun, 12 Jul 1998 01:02:10 +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: New Jersey colours 2: Burl's table at the US Nats 3: Re: Dealy Class kit 4: Scale Debate 5: Re: Etched Brass Wish List? 6: Yamato! 7: Classic Warships 1/700 Tennesee etc. 8: Imperial Hobby Productions kits 9: P&O Revealed 10: Model Scales 11: Rusty White's "head judge" response. 12: Profile #36 USS OREGON 13: 1/350 vs. 1/700 14: Instructions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: To Tom Harrison ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Ritchie_deutag, Colin" Subject: New Jersey colours I've decided to get back into training to prepare for the WE Sheffield by finishing off the Tamiya New Jersey, (Modernised ), that's been sitting on a shelf for a few months now. So far so good, basic sub assemblies finished and painted, and almost at the fitting out stage. OK, I've got a UK match for Haze grey, (OK its not strictly authentic, but its there or there abouts, ditto for the main steel deck, but the rear of ship has me puzzled. The painting instructions show it almost black grey, with a section immediately forward of the flight deck area itself in a lighter grey. However, (and there's always a however), photo's I have of the lady seem to show it one shade only. So who's correct, (I want to depict her around May 1986). I really don't want to get into a debate over paint shades, bearing in mind the "discussions" that broke out recently. Since I'm in the UK reference to US colour charts is I'm afraid something of waste of time unfortunately . Thanks Colin Ritchie PS I'm using Humbrol 127 for the superstructure, and 125, (Close to FS36118 Gunship Grey for the steel decks) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Burl's table at the US Nats >> I saw your note inquiring about the guy next to Tom's at the Nats last week. That was Burl Burlingame from Pacific Monogram in Hawaii. Burls email address is buzz@aloha.net and the address is also listed above. Trust this what you were looking for. v/r HBlecha << I wish I had known it was Burl behind the counter. I would like to shake his hand. For those of you who don't know, Burl (I believe) is the father of photo-etching. He was the first person to use the technique for model parts. Rusty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Dealy Class kit >> I'm looking for a Dealey class DE model (preferably 1/350 or 1/700). Have been asked to build a model of USS LESTER DE1022 for Lester School in Downers Grove, IL, Ship & school named after a Downers Grove resident who rec'd Congressional Medal of Honor (post.) during WWII. Does anybody know of any model of this class of ship? << Contact Bill Gruner at Pacific Front Hobbies. There is a company called Buerau of Small Warships and I think he carries the line. All this guy does is 1/700 scale destroyers. Maybe he does DEs now. Talk about specializing! Rusty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Ritchie_deutag, Colin" Subject: Scale Debate I've been following the posts re Scales, and it does remind me of the debate still raging in the model aircraft community. The increasing numbers of new 1/48th scale aircraft kits in the last 5 years or so has had the effect of sidelining the traditional 1/72 aircraft scale rather badly, with the majority of after market Brass and Resin parts being developed for 48th scale. Why, partly the large numbers of modellers lured into 48th with the increasing numbers of attractive kits, (sound familiar?), and partly the larger scale provides a larger canvas to work on, allowing greater amounts of detail to be incorporated, (also sound familiar?). So what has this to do with ship modelling? On a personal basis to begin with. I'm only starting in ship modelling, and I simply don't have enough skill to produce a decent result in 700th, its simply too small. I can build 350 scale ships and do a reasonable job, since the skill set I've developed building countless aircraft over the years is more readily transferable. So I'll trade money for results, (until the money runs out!). Also 350th scale kits provide a "presence" that I'd argue smaller kit's lack. The almost "in your face" size of a BB or Carrier in 350th does grab the attention especially of a non modeller. There's also an economic argument that says that in general the cost of producing a master in 350th and 700th is aprox the same. Companies can re-coupe costs more quickly(?) by working in 350th, and that obviously has an impact when cash flow is important. I'm guessing here, can anyone confirm/deny this? Bottom line, 350th is fashionable, we, as a whole, have more money to on hobbies, and can afford larger kits, and the companies are getting more sophisticated in producing larger kits. The net effect, 700th gets squeezed, and we start to move to 350th , sad perhaps but true. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Re: Etched Brass Wish List? Brad asked for Revell PT boat set. In a perfect world, perhaps sets also for some of the other old Revell and Monogram kits: USS Forrest Sherman/Decatur USS Halsey/Leahy USS Brooke/Ramsey USS Helena/Boston USS Springfield etc. ad nauseum... Cheers, Mike ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Percy, John" Subject: Yamato! Just when you thought you've heard enough of the Yamato... Check out this web page: http://www.iac.co.jp/~hlj/pages/imai/imab-28090.html at hobbylink japan. Yamato in 1/150 scale! In wood! Retails for $600. Lets see, thats over 5 and a half feet long - almost 70 inches. Put that in your living room. John Percy mailto:jpercy@clariion.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "FERNANDO, YOHAN" Subject: Classic Warships 1/700 Tennesee etc. Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone could give me some information about the quality/accuracy of the following kits: Classic Warships 1/700 Tennessee (1944) B-Resina 1/700 Repulse Samek 1/700 Alaska How complete are the kits? Would they require SkyWave equipment sets? Do any come with photoetch? (I think the Alaska might). On a different note, one subject I would like to see in 1/700 (plastic or resin) would be the USS Wasp (not the Essex class ship of course). Anyone heard of plans for such a model? Thanks. Yohan Fernando ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "John Clarke" Subject: Imperial Hobby Productions kits OK John & Daniel You have me interested where can I get a list of "Imperial Hobby Productions" 1:700 scale kits & how easy are they to get? John Clarke ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Mark Kwasnycia Subject: P&O Revealed >> Naval Base Hobbies announces this new ship kit. The Pacific Princes 1970's this is the liner that was in the TV show "Love Boat". This ship is with the Pacific-Orient Cruise Line still sailing. This kit is from Loose Cannon. << Um, I really hate to be picky, but P&O is the accepted abbreviation for "The Great Penninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company", not Pacific-Orient... Interestingly, (attempting to end on a friendly note!) P&O is rumoured to be the "root" of the word "posh", which supposedly stands for "port out, starboard home" - referring to the old days of the British Empire, where the wealthy would ensure that their cabins were on the above mentioned sides, and would avoid the worse effects of the equatorial sun on their trips to India... (Again, I hope nobody thinks this too picky!) Mark Kwasnycia Ottawa ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Mark Kwasnycia Subject: Model Scales >> I am interested in other modellers views on the subject - but I don't wish to start off a Scale War. All scales are fun to work in. And for all of the wide selection of 1/700 available it puzzles me that no one has released a 1/700 Texas or Arkansas. << Hello Lester, I really wish I could model in 1/700th scale, but for me even the largest ships are just too small and "spindley" to do a proper job in that scale . (I'm somewhat ham-fisted I guess!) Of course, it also helps that my wife looked at a 1/700 scale Hood, and then compared it to a 1/350 Bismark and remarked, "No wonder it got sunk, it was tiny!" Since that day, I haven't ventured any smaller than 1/400! But I must admit, I honestly wish the variety of classes available in the smaller scale would eventually show up in 1/350th... even if I end up in "debtors prison" because of it! Mark Kwasnycia ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com (Daniel H. Jones) Subject: Rusty White's "head judge" response. The gentleman doth protest too much methinks... (with apologies to the Bard). Dan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com (Daniel H. Jones) Subject: Profile #36 USS OREGON Sorry - no such animal. Profile number 36 covered USN Monitors - from the Civil War through the "modern " monitors of the 1890's. There was no profile published on the OREGON or any of the INDIANA class - unfortunately. I believe at one point in the series that a profile for OREGON was announced as a possible future title - but it never came to pass. Daniel Jones Plastic Ship Modeler Magazine ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Duane Fowler Subject: 1/350 vs. 1/700 Both 1/350 and 1/700 scales (along with the other odd scales available) have their good and not so good points. I tend to prefer 1/350 or bigger for the following reasons (in no particular order): 1) As a perfectionist it allows me more chances to add just one more detail. 2) As I (and my eyes) get older 1/350 starts looking like 1/700 anyway. 3) After spending $200+ on a resin kit (I bought 9 at the nationals. OUCH!) I don't have to worry about wasting my money on anything else. 4) I never have problems finding where I put it. 5) If it was any bigger I wouldn't have to worry about scale effect. 6) You can't see the crew on 1/700 (unless you dog has fleas). 7) When I glue my hand to 1/350 resin its weight will rip it off. 8) I have never been able to train my spider to rig a 1/700 ship. 9) I really needed something to fill the extra bedroom. 10) I watched "Tool Time" too much. Might make right. Seriously though, I have always felt that like so many things, it comes down to personal preferences. A good model is a good model in any scale. There are more models available for much cheaper prices in 1/700 scale but the one's in 1/350 are for the most part quite good. Most of us are in this for the enjoyment of it so it is quite fortunate that there are a number of selections in all sizes. My only problem is that after the US Nationals, I have to increase the quality of my models to be even close to what was presented! On the question of judging, I am quite pleased that I am not a judge. The differences between the top entries is so slight that the final results inevitably are personal opinion (as evidenced by the split votes) The judges have my respect for their willingness to do this difficult job and enter in the inevitable controversies. I would not enter a model to "win" but for the enjoyment of showing something that I have put a lot of work into. In a way we are all judges making our own decisions as to which models we like the best. We should not denigrate someone else's efforts but offer constructive criticisms for future improvements. I would be quite disappointed if no one commented to me. Regards, Duane Fowler ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Alberto Rada Subject: Instructions Dear friends I would like to start this thread, see if it catches up, and as we have so many manufacturers, mail orders etc. with their eyes this list, who knows, they might take into account any suggestions we come out with. The instructions that necessarily come with a model are so different from one manufacturer to another that it is unbelievable, on one extreme of the line you have models, like White Ensign ones, (honor to who deserves it) that includes absolutely every thing you need, from the ships history, diagrams, color schemes and what not, even the ships crest. And there you start a long walk that ends with kits that comes with a printed page, that to be sincere, could have been saved the trouble. I know that there are some modelers that do not need any instructions at all to make a model, they are authorities on the subject, they have bookshelves full of data, fine, but there are some of us that are just starting to walk that road and need some help along the way, like all of us I am starting also to build a library and learn the trade, but in the mean time I would like to make a model or two. The investigation that accompanies making a model is one of the most wonderful parts of it, but you need a solid start point to build your knowledge. Well, what do you think ? SALUDOS Alberto ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: To Tom Harrison >> To all 1/350 Fletcher fans, I sure the new $30.00 Flagship set 350-8 by Rusty White is going to be a fine set. As he indicated all of his set will be usable, while we as a competitor, force the modeler to toss over 40% of our set into your parts box. I hope this is because we are providing extra parts. However, we at Tom's Modelworks apologize for this inconvenience and will offer a 40% refund off our $16.00 set price (set#3508) to any modeler returning the unused 40% << Touche! Rusty White ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume