Subject: SMML30/8/98Vol287 Date: Sun, 30 Aug 1998 19:58:02 +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: Re: Close In Weapon System 2: Re: Escort Carriers. 3: 1:350 Nimits and Airfix... 4: 1/350 Yorktown CV10 5: 1/700 Tamiya "Mogami" seaplane deck 6: Re: Airfix lobbying 7: Cost of manufacturing a new kit 8: authors 9: Re: New Airfix kit(s) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Close In Weapon System I am scratchbuilding a 1/35 scale model of the Close In Weapons System (CIWS) found on all modern US Naval warships. (You know, the gatling gun with the big white dome) I have tons of photos on the subject but I can't find one showing the latest version. The latest version fires 4500 rounds per minute and requires stablizing braces attached to the barrel. What I need is ANY photo or drawing showing this bracing and how it attaches to the gun. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Vimieraa@aol.com Subject: Re: Escort Carriers. This is one of the problems with authors. Most of them do not do anywhere near enough checking when they receive material. Thay take what they are given on blind faith and just pass it on to the public. A good example is the recently published book authored by H T Lenton. It is in fact a rehashed and expanded version of the book; Warships of World War II, published in the nineteen sixties. I have been told by a very reliable contact that many of the original errors are repeated in the new volume. A good example of sloopyness is where the author shows what is captioned as a photo of the cruiser Arethusa. The author probably took the caption that the IWM supplied along with the photo on blind faith. It does not help ones credentials when (as in this case) the caption that lists the radar fit does NOT match up with the photo. NOT GOOD! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Jens H. Brandal" Subject: 1:350 Nimits and Airfix... >> What about it? Anyone want a 350th Nimitz? << Yes please. I'll risk the habit of repeating myself, but I am surprised it hasn't been done before. Although I cut my modelling teeth (biting parts off the sprue) on Airfix kits - including the 1:600 ships, I see that as a lost cause as 1:700 and 1:350 are gaining a foothold as the "standard" scales. Because they are my preferred scales does not mean they are the only "true" scales and that you should not sign petitions to Airfix. Just don't hold your breath for a new kit - rereleases will appear by the time you've built all the models in your closets... >> p.s. I really enjoy this forum, but please, no more knot questions!! ;-) << Why knot?:) Jens ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: DrT388@aol.com Subject: 1/350 Yorktown CV10 Just received the 1/350 Yorktown CV10 from Toms Modelworks. The resin is a little rougher than his other kits, but overall everything looks good. It appears to be very accurate for the 1943 version of CV10. The flight deck is all one piece so there is no piecing it together and the trouble that that can bring to some. The price of the kit is: waterline $360.00 and full hull $410.00. Not a very bad price considering other 1/350 scale aircraft carriers. Thought everyone might be interested in knowing that Tom is starting to mail out this new release. (first 25 now and others on the waiting list in Mid Sept.) David Turner ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: John Clements Subject: 1/700 Tamiya "Mogami" seaplane deck >> I am starting to build the Tamiya 1/700 Mogami as modified with the seaplane deck in liu of the two aft 8" gun turrets and was wondering if anybody had any ideas as to the accuracy of the dimensions and shape of the flight deck as provided by Tamiya. I have one reference which shows an overhead view of Mogami circa April 1943 and the flight deck is substantially different than that provided in the kit (but not so different that the Tamiya deck could not be easily modified to match). Is the kit supposed to represent some later retrofit or is it possibly inaccurate? << Dear Tom, I have a Japanese magazine devoted almost entirely to detailing the Mogami class cruisers. Unfortunately I can't translate the words so I don't know what the title is, and I bought it at least 15 years ago from a book wholesaler in London. It was one of a series devoted to the 1/700 waterline kits, each issue being centred on one class of ship. Someone out there might remember it. It has 1/700 plans of all four ships including the converted Mogami which I used to produce the entire class in different configurations, and is quite easy to follow from the pictures and drawings. Yes, the Tamiya deck is quite inaccurate but can be recut or replaced fairly simply. If you can't find it, or a more recent source (I think there is a Russian or Polish book published more recently), I would be happy to photocopy the relevant pages. John Clements ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "joseph w. reyna" Subject: Re: Airfix lobbying OK, Shipwrights, With the kind assistance of David Wells (thanks, Dave!) I have produced below a draft letter which I encourage you to reproduce and forward to Airfix (could someone check the accuracy of the address, please?). David and I discussed the approaches to getting the attention of Airfix, and we both agree that there is impact in numbers, and if a number of us forward letters to Airfix, they just might take notice of our interests. A suggestion to all: feel free to personalize the letter, but I strongly suggest that we keep the number of proposed kits to a realistic minimum. I am proposing that one kit we all request is an HMS INVINCIBLE aircraft carrier, and a second (and third, max) recommendation of your choice. Let's firmly cross our fingers and hope this works. Thank you all for your words of encouragement! Cheers. Joe Reyna ************* DRAFT LETTER *************** Airfix Models Humbrol Limited Marfleet, Hull England Gentlemen: I am an avid plastic ship modeler, and a regular purchaser of Airfix models. I have always found Airfix models to be quite good, especially considering the price. While the Airfix line of 1/600 scale naval ships have produced many fine subjects, it has been well over a decade since any new kits of naval ships have been released. While the existing kits are very good, I and many of my fellow ship model builders would like to see more of them. There are a number of modern Royal Navy ships that have not been released by any model company in a full hull form, and I feel that this would be an excellent opportunity for you. I would like to suggest the following as potential subjects: - HMS Invincible - This is of course, one of the carriers that fought in the Falklands. There are no plastic kits of this that I know of for this ship. There would be no competition. Minor modifications could be used to produce the Illustrious and the Ark Royal. - Type 42 Destroyer - The Sheffield and her sisters are well remembered from the Falklands. They would probably be easy to market. By producing the weapons and details on one sprue, and the hull and deck on another, you could probably make kits of all three batches of the Type 42 with only minimal re-tooling. SkyWave makes their 1/700 waterline Type 42s this way. I strongly prefer 1/600 full hull to 1/700 waterline, and I know that many others agree. - Type 22 Frigate - Early examples of Type 22 frigates also served in the Falklands. There are no competing kits that I know of. Later batches of the Type 22 (Batch 3 is my personal favorite) could be made with minimal new investment if methods described for the Type 42 were used. I hope that you will consider these and other additions to your line of 1/600 scale ships. Best wishes for continued good luck with your company. Sincerely, ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ironship@usit.net (Jon Warneke) Subject: Cost of manufacturing a new kit Jim McCormick wrote: >> I personally would like to see some manner of a PHM-1 Pegasus kit(I know about that little 700th blob, but I think a 1/350th resin kit would be rather neat, the bigger the better. What about it? Anyone want a 350th Nimitz? How about a 350th Ark Royal? Thanks in advance!!! << A PHM-1 class kit in resin is a sensible kit since the size and complexity lends itself to a resin type of subject, but the other two suggestions don't (if it's assumed that these are to be produced in resin also) and here's why. Basically it comes down to size and economics. The size of an Ark Royal is approximately the same as (using US carriers as an example) an Essex or Yorktown class CV, and thus isn't too great a restriction to production, but the costs of research and production would. The amount of resin necessary would result in a kit about 15-20 lbs., and a cost of $450-$700 US, which wouldn't lead to a great demand from the "common" modeler (i.e. not the "has to have" modeler). A Nimitz class CV is an even greater undertaking. The hull itself would be approximately 37.5" x 4.5" x 7"(full hull) or 5.5"(waterline). That would make the hull alone weigh about 20 lbs. Then you'd have the flight deck with an area of about 38-40" x 6-8", which ould be extremely difficult to cast in resin, which is notorious for warping. All together, a Nimitz in resin would legitimately approach the $1000 mark in ship parts alone, and would more than likely reflect a newly commissioned ship with none of the aircraft, deck gear, vehicles, etc. It's very unlikely to see a Nimitz in resin, and somewhat unlikely to see a US producer build an Ark Royal due to the initial costs of plans (about $250 for a complete set from the UK), and lack of demand beyond the initial release. This is how I've learned to evaluate future subjects, but could be different for other producers. As injection kits, the Nimitz is the most likely to be seen of these three, since there has been a clamor for a decade for it, and would be the kit most likely to recoup the production investment for a company (estimated to be over $100,000 by some). However, unless some economic factor in Japan changes, don't expect to see it from Tamiya. In talking to their reps in Columbus, there are two factors to take into consideration. They concentrate on the Japanese market, and the rest of the world is a nice source of additional income, and nothing bigger that a heavy cruiser is planned. In other words, if the Japanese market doesn't demand it, forget about it (i.e. where's the rumored Essex?). Also, with the weak Yen, the costs of development have greatly increased, so I wouldn't expect any 1/350 scale kits from them, unless it's like the Fletcher produced from ten year old molds (that kit was ready in 1986, but delayed due to legal problems stemming from the death of the designer, or so what rumors have said). This last part is conjecture for the most part, but is based on what was discussed during the development of the Tom's Modelworks Essex. We were concerned at the time that Tamiya was about to release one, but were told what you see above by others in the business there. Right now, ship models are not viewed as financially positive by the major manufacturers, but some of the newer injection companies are rumored to be developing 1/350 kits. If someone wants new kits, I'd suggest looking at where the latest injection kits are coming from, and taking that direction to proceed. There'd probably a better chance of seeing what you'd like there. Jon Warneke Iron Shipwrights ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Vimieraa@aol.com Subject: authors As a postscript to my complaint about authors, could we not have some in depth reviews on new and out of date publications, ones that relate in various ways to ship appearence, configeration etc. What does the boss say? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Jeffrey Roberts" Subject: Re: New Airfix kit(s) Count me in on any petition lobbying Airfix for new kits. Renown would be great. And they should definately reissue Hood, too. In a perfect world, I'd love to see a kit of either HMAS Sydney (ex Phaeton) or HMAS Perth (ex Amphion)--two of my favorite ships of World War II--I'd love to see a kit of one of them from any source! Jeffrey Roberts North Hollywood California USA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume