Subject: SMML03/09/98VOL291 Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1998 20:35:15 +1000 (EST) shipmodels@tac.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Nuclear Task Force 2: Wish list - last gasp 3: 1/700 Yamato 4: Re: Japanese 1:700 kits 5: Ark Royal III 6: Tam Fletcher for ship tyros 7: Re: Thanks to Phil Toy 8: Re: Make your own kit 9: Airfix Repulse to Renown 10: JGordon's "Wish List Nausea" 11: Re: Japanese 1:700 kits 12: 1/700 Kaga? 13: Airfix Petition 14: HMS Ariadne 15: JMSDF Ships 16: Seawolf SSN575 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Albert Foster Subject: Nuclear Task Force I'll admit as an ex 575 sailor I have an agenda, but how can I lobby someone to produce a series of the "First Nuclear Task Force" (Enterprise, Long Beach, Bainbridge, Seawolf) or a Seawolf series SS-197, SSN-575, SSN 21? I think either one is a winner. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Gene Larson Subject: Wish list - last gasp I finally need to provide a request that will probably expel me from this forum. No specific ship, except perhaps a cruiser, Cleveland class. However, I do not personally care for the small sizes of the 1/700 and 1/350. They are difficult to see in a display setting such as a club exhibit. If a magnifying glass is required, then it is not a "display" model, IMHO. This does not mean, however, that it is not otherwise an excellent model. That is why museums and the USN like 1/48 except for the largest prototypes. Now the wish list: I would like to see a manufacturer move up to a scale of 1/192 (1/16"=1') or even 1/96 (1/8"=1'). Can you imagine casting a resin hull in that size? Don't. Make the kit even more multimedia! Join forces with the fiberglass hull producers - there are a couple of excellent ones. Then do the same current dedication devoted to the 1/350 kits, and produce the superstructure and the rest of the fittings in resin, pe, and metal (no lead content please). Make it a superdetailed kit at this scale. The cost? You get what you pay for. Rebuttals will be answered in a few weeks as I am leaving the country on the NRG tour of maritime UK. I'm not really dodging replies. Gene Larson, Alexandria, Virginia mailto:genenrg@Naut-Res-Guild.org Nautical Research Guild, Inc. http://www.Naut-Res-Guild.org "A non-profit, tax exempt, educational organization with international membership, dedicated to maritime research and accurate ship model building." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: 1/700 Yamato To answer David Krakow there is another 1/700 Yamato I have access to Nichimo 1/700 Yamato & Musashi with a Full Hull cut at the water line. I've never built one of them but if someone knows about them let us know about it. The price on them is 26.95 not including shipping. Thanks shaya@erols.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: John Philip Downing Subject: Re: Japanese 1:700 kits >> In the wake of Tamiya's Yamato release (no pun intended) I've been wondering why no other model company made a better 1:700 kit of the Yamato in the meantime. Or why are there no Japanese companies making a decent Bismarck? Is there is some kind of shady non-competition agreement among Japanese manufacturers in 1:700 scale? Anybody know what goes on inside the industry in Japan? Just wondering... << When the Water Line Series was started some 20 years ago, the four companies (Tamiya, Hasegawa, Fujimi and Aoshima) split up the Japanese navy among them, each being assigned a class. First they did Heavy Cruisers, and then Battleships, Carriers, etc. They did nearly a hundred kits, and then moved onto to other navies, doing mostly battleship and carriers. So Tamiya owns the "rights" to Yamato, and none of the other three would touch it. A few years ago Fujimi dropped out of the group, and the other three have made new versions of some of the Fujimi ships. Aoshima has the Bismarck. If there is to be a better one, they would have to do it. Frankly, I would rather they bring out some of the ships never done (like slow US battleships, Warspite, French and Italian, etc. than make new versions of old kits. You can always clean up the errors to your liking... that is part of the challenge. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Eldridge, R. (Robin)" Subject: Ark Royal III Can anybody help with some details of the Ark Royal III please 1/ The structure under the 8 barrel AA gun immediately behind the funnel, I have pictures showing this open, others with it boxed in, was this added when in service ? It is difficult to tell from the pictures I have but it looks like some differences at the front of the bridge island also. 2/ What colour the deck ? and was it different at the bow area around the catapults, it looks it on the B & W photos. 3/ The airfix model has about 8 arrester wires, was there really this many 4/ apart from the sticking out bits was the flightdeck symetrical about the centreline Good luck with the partition to Airfix, do you know that the Invincible class carriers have different 'ski slope' angles, (7 or !2 degrees) some remodelling would have to be done to make the Ark or Illustrious. Robin Eldridge ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: KDur597268@aol.com Subject: Tam Fletcher for ship tyros Very interesting to read Rusty's comments about the Tamiya Fletcher being ideal for beginners. I'm new to ships, but not to modeling, so I was kind of 'gearing up' (ok, pun intended) to build that kit - it's such a beautiful kit of probably my all-time favorite ship, I didn't want to "screwitup" - by working on others. Like I'm working on a 1/700 Z-Boot with just a few rails and ladders and radar. But I think his point is well taken - it's a very "clear" build. I have the GMM set - maybe I'll just go ahead and jump in! I can always build another - but the $70 outlay (kit & PE - that's not counting reference books!) is sobering. It's what makes me want to start with a smaller investment to risk. Thanks for listening ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Thanks to Phil Toy Phil, I just wanted to publicly thank you for the GREAT photos of the CIWS. Just what I was looking for. I had been working with the Navy for about a month trying to obtain any photo(s) of the bracing on the CIWS. (Incidentally, the bracing on the barrel is due to the higher rate of fire (4400RPM) to stableize the barrels when they heat up.) Phil heard my plea yesterday and the photos were in my computer this morning! What service! Thanks again phil. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://warship.simplenet.com/Flagship.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Make your own kit I agree with the guy that suggests to scratch-build a model you truly want. This is exactly how Flagship Models got started. I wrote to GMM a number of times requesting modern naval detail sets. The interest I suppose just wasn't there. So I designed my detail set! I made a deal with Model Technologies (Now Teknics) to provide them with drawings for photo-etching service and Flagship Models was born. I have recently run into the same brick wall regarding model kits that I want. No one makes them so Flagship Models will soon introduce our first model kit. Once again, I traded out photo-etch design for casting with a well known model company. I am finishing up on the masters and will soon begin casting. I've never designed a model kit before so I rely on the help of my friends in the business to help me out. Keeping the subject close to vest for now, it will be a series of kits NO ONE in the world produces. But it's a kit that I want and I hope others will want as well. So doing things that no one else would do has become almost a full time business for me. So do it yourself and quit waiting. It could be a long wait. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://warship.simplenet.com/Flagship.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: RCM612@prodigy.net Subject: Airfix Repulse to Renown Does anyone know if the Airfix Repulse is easily convertable to the Renown? Both ships were modified and overhauled during the war, especially Renown since she survived, so perhaps the trick is to find some good photos and start from there. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Robert Morgan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Douglas Bauer Subject: JGordon's "Wish List Nausea" Three cheers for Mr. Gordon's voicing his displeasure over the interminable "wish list" postings in SMML. Everybody wants his/her special kit, like all a manufacturer has to do to produce these things is wave the magic wand. I wholeheartedly agree that modelers need to get back to the basics: stop waiting for a resin or plastic kit of a much-desired subject to be produced...start scratchbuilding! As Mr. Gordon says, anyone can detail a model, but those who scratchbuild are going back to the roots of modeling; but, alas, in our age of instant gratification, many of us haven't the patience to see a long scratchbuilding project through to fruition. But, like the other skills we've acquired throughout our modeling experience (e.g., applying tiny P/E parts, working with various media, etc.), practice will steadily improve our techniques and the result will be an unique "dream kit" that was made with our own hands..."the only one of its kind on the block." So break out the X-acto knife, straightedge, styrene sheet, rod, and tubing, CA and liquid glue, and whatever else you need and start scratchbuilding! Doug Bauer P.S. I thought the "knots" answers would never end! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Paolo Pizzi Subject: Re: Japanese 1:700 kits >> In the wake of Tamiya's Yamato release (no pun intended) I've been wondering why no other model company made a better 1:700 kit of the Yamato in the meantime. Or why are there no Japanese companies making a decent Bismarck? Is there is some kind of shady non-competition agreement among Japanese manufacturers in 1:700 scale? Anybody know what goes on inside the industry in Japan? Just wondering... << David, There ARE insistent rumors about Hasegawa and Aoshima picking old Fujimi and Aoshima subjects in 1/700. Reliable sources in Japan informed me about upcoming Iowa class kits from Aoshima and Lexington/Saratoga from Hasegawa (the carriers of course, it would be great if they did the battlecruisers...) But don't hold your breath, it has already happened that these companies change mind, change subjects or scrap the entire project. Tamiya did incredibly well in Japan with their new Yamato kit, as a matter of facts it sold out in a couple of weeks and forced them to a quick second run. This is good and bad at the same time, IMHO. Good because it's yet another proof that ship kits CAN sell and can represent a sensible investment for a manufacturer. Bad because it's yet another proof that the average customer buys only the most popular subjects and therefore Tamiya may even consider re-doing a 1/350 Yamato instead of releasing the promised Essex kit. Paolo Pizzi ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: KDur597268@aol.com Subject: 1/700 Kaga? Is there/has there ever been a 1/700 kit of "Kaga?" Anyone know where I can acquire one? Thanks Ken ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Malcolm Subject: Airfix Petition Well I wish you all luck but..........Airfix need to sell 10000 min of any reissued kit they put back into production. Theyve had their fingers burnt on some they have reissued in the recent past, I believe they still have 4000 in stock of Montys Humber which they rereleased 5(?) years ago and deleted 2 years thereafter. Recently they had a phone call from the Morris Marinas owners club who demanded the kit was reissued and proudly told Airfix they had 634 members.....the response was come back when you have 10000. There was aproposal to release the 4 WWII destroyers as a boxed set to commerorate the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic...it was decided that it wouldnt sell in sufficent quantities. I note Jon Warneke comments about what has been produced to satisfy 1/350 modellers by cottage industries, Airfix are in a different ball game and see their market as little johnies been bought a kit by mum. Theres nothing with the possible exception of the Hood (which we still sell 2-3 a week of from the remaindered stock we bought from Airfix when they dropped it) which has mass market appeal. As to new tools forget it. The current owners of Airfix dont want to invest at all despite the success of the 1/48 Spits and Lightnings. I understand that they have not even approved another 1/48 kit which has been proposed for next year Malcolm Kingkit ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: YHSAIO@aol.com Subject: HMS Ariadne Hello: I just acquired Matchbox's old 1/700 Ariadne and would like some suggestions as to how to make it meet 90s standards. While this isn't the greatest kit, neither is it Aoshima quality (an oxymoron for all SMMLers, if ever there was one-don't flame me, their Tone is quite good). I have some questions. (1) What is the correct camo scheme for Ariadne circa 1944? I don't think Matchbox is serious when including a mix for Mountbatten Pink as part of the camo. Where is Alan Raven when we need him? ( I have the Abdiel profile, BTW). (2) Has anyone out in SMMLworld any suggenstions as to how to replicate the light AA? Twin powermount Oerlikens and Hazemeyer Bofors are beyond my abilities. Caroline, we need you to produce these as part of the WEM Pro line. Otherwise, I'll be building Abdiel, as her AA fit is available. (3) Finally, Ariadne was armed with a twin US 40mm Bofors. How was that mounted, directly on the deck or in a gun tub? Also, was the director for the 40mm included? All help is deeply appreciated. Thanks. Yunchi Hsaio ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Ralph E. Batykefer, Jr." Subject: JMSDF Ships Hey Rick, Is it possible for you to make the photos available through e-mail? I have the Skywave 1/700 Kongo Aegis DDG and wanted photos. Ralph Batykefer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Seawolf SSN575 I was the one who posted the information on Seawolf SSN575 and its' sodium reactor. Your friend, Capt Greer, guessed correctly; the only other US nuclear submarine built with a conning tower was the SSRN Triton. The Seawolf conning tower was small, fitted under the Guppy-like step sail. It turned out not to be as practical as the more intergrated attack centers seen in later boats, although it did allow for deeper periscope depths. It also alleviated one problem in the Nautilus design. The steering stations (helm and planes) are on the lower deck of Nautilus because there was not sufficient room in the compact attack center. Moving some items into the Seawolf conning tower allowed the steering stations to be brought up one deck. Modern boats have the attack center with the helm all in one control room. Tom Dougherty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume