Subject: SMML16/09/98VOL304 Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 20:21:43 +1000 (EST) shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Great Service 2: Re: Conversion Kit Suggestions 3: Re: Hangar deck color 4: Re: Bending PE parts 5: Floater baskets 6: LCT part-built and then the possibility of making an LCG 7: Re: Carpathia 8: Re: Model of RMS Carpathia 9: Re: Carpathia 10: HMS Exeter 11: Re: Essex paint 12: Re: Carpathia 13: Floater nets 14: Re: Carpathia's Final Disposition 15: HMS Rodney camo 16: Re: "Fiasco" 17: Re: Bending P/E 18: Kaga detail 19: Re: Kirov 20: Re: Yorktown hanger bay -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Naval Base Sale Items -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Great Service I want to thank the guys at Commanders Series models for their prompt attention to my problem. I have a Buckley class destroyer I received as a gift. Somehow it was knocked off the desk and the bridge was badly damaged. I needed the bridge parts to fix it and I have had the model almost 2 years. I got a whole bag of resin parts in the mail 5 days later. Even though the Buckley has been canceled they still replaced the parts.A note was included that they will replace parts for ANY reason. I feel it's important to let modelers know about a company that treasures customer service as well as company profits. Well done. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Conversion Kit Suggestions >> Rusty, how about a 1/350 conversion for the Tamiya New Jersey so the Iowa, Wisconsin or Missouri could be built. Just a thought . << I'm currently working with a company to produce a line of model kits. I'm looking for good conversion kit ideas. I'll keep score. In the meantime, lets hear from SMMLrs. BTW I believe Tom's Modelworks makes a conversion kit for the 1/350 Iowas. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Hangar deck color >> Someone suggested white, both for the walls and floor, but this doesn't sound right to me. Anybody out there have better intel? << They paint the carrier hangar deck white for the same reason they paint the insides of tanks white. It's pretty dark on the hangar deck with none, none or few of the overhead doors open (during a battle for instance). White walls really help visibility when not much light is available. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Bending PE parts >> However, bending pieces with triangular shaped sides into 3 dimensional object, like a pyramid shaped pedestal for example, presents a different set of problem. So, what do you use to get your best bends? How do you handle bending a small piece with triangular shaped sides? << Here's a technique that works with photo-etched parts and doesn't cost a dime. Cut a section from a Styrofoam egg carton. Using a number 11 blade, lay the part on the egg carton, place the edge of the blade where you want the bend, and push down. Since the Styrofoam gives with pressure it will not cut the part and it makes a clean, sharp bend along the edge of the blade. You can use this technique to bend any PE part. If nothing else, this will allow you make a halfway bend and finish up with your fingers. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Doc Data Subject: Floater baskets I sure hate to sound this ignorant but after a 20 year career in the Navy, I cannot remember, even once, anyone referring to 'floater baskets' so I have to ask... what are they? Duh, thanks! Doc Data -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "RLOCKIE" Subject: LCT part-built and then the possibility of making an LCG Tim Perry mentioned having an LCT part-built and then the possibility of making an LCG. I assume you are referring to the affair with the 4.5" guns but does anyone have any decent plans (I have seen a small one which is a bit thin on detail) for the one with two turrets for 17pdrs or 25pdrs? They were used at Walcheren where at least one was photographed sinking but there seems to be very little coverage in the way of photos other than the few taken at that time. By the way, I have seen it suggested (in PSM, I think) that PE ladders can be used for floater net stowage by cutting to length and folding round a piece of wire etc. None of my models has got that far yet (!) but it seems like a workable idea. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: HGYL@aol.com Subject: Re: Carpathia Plans of Carpathia were published in issue 63 (March 1988) of "Model Shipwright" together with an article describing the construction of a small scale model. Plans of Californian, again with a construction article, were published in issue 102 (December 1997) of "Model Shipwright". Although both of these plans are published at a very small scale (100ft. to the inch) they are very detailed and I have found that they enlarge well. Carpathia was built by Swan Hunter, does anyone know what happened to their plan archive? Did it end up with the National Maritime Museum? According to Kludas(volume one, page98), Carpathia was hit by three torpedoes from U55 on 17th july 1918 whilst en route fromLiverpool to the USA and sank 170NM from Bishop's Rock. Harold Lincoln -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Pacific Front Hobbies Subject: Re: Model of RMS Carpathia There is only one model of the Carpathia available, to the best of my knowledge, the Carlo Marquardt 1/1250 painted & assembled metal miniature. It is an excellent model, and a nice companion to their 1/1250 Titanic, also an excellent model. We have a few of each in stock. Thanks, Bill Gruner http://www.pacificfront.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: jmaine@golden.net Subject: Re: Carpathia >> whatever happened to Carpathia? Was there ever a kit of her made? << Hi Greg, According to my information, Carpathia was sunk in 1918 by U 55 while enroute to New York. John Maine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: jmaine@golden.net Subject: HMS Exeter Hi everybody, Need some help here: I recently bought the Matchbox HMS Exeter for my Battle of the River Plate set (I'm presently working on the Graf Spee). This kit had apparently been released in the East because the original instructions are completely overprinted in Japanese or Chinese - I don't know but I can't read it! The problem is the painting guide which indicates seven different colours, still coded "a" through "g" on the instructions. Can somebody who has the Matchbox Exeter kit (in English!) please tell me the colours that correspond to these letters? Also, anyone have any additional info on the appearance of the ship at this time (Dec.13/39)? My references indicate that the two forward main turrets had the recognition letters "EX" on the turret tops; did the aft turret have this device as well? Any other info would be helpful. Thanks, John Maine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "David P. Judy III" Subject: Re: Essex paint Kelly, BWN's Enterprise kit inst's. call for the hanger deck as Deck Blue and the interior walls white. One of his listed references is "USS Enterprise CV-6" by Steve Ewing publ. by Pictoral Histories. On page 53 is a photo of the hanger deck with the elevator lowered to that level, the shades seem to match. As for the walls they are a light color (white?) Best I could do! Dave Judy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: VessIrvine@aol.com Subject: Re: Carpathia >> Who knows, there may be someone somewhere with the information needed to build a model. Lets hope so! << You could dive the wreak and take measurements (joke)..... Vess Irvine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: BSteinIPMS@aol.com Subject: Floater nets Rusty White gave a good overview of the purpose and appearance of floater nets the other day and I'd like to amplify his remarks just a little. He is correct in stating that floater nets and their associated baskets were attached to almost every U.S. warship in World War II and that they were installed in a number of locations on each vessel. Basically a life-saving floatation device, the "nets" were designed to float out of their baskets through the process of their parent ship sinking from under them. The floats were made of cork and were 9 inches long. There were no nets, per se, just a line connecting the floats together. This allowed multiple swimmers to locate and hold on to the line. An actual net would have offered danger through entanglement. If you have a number of references on FLETCHER class destroyers, for example, you will see the floater net baskets appearing in a number of different locations depending on whether the ship is a round or a square bridge version. These locations will vary further as the ships went through refits and upgrades, especially anti-aircraft additions which tended to displace floater net baskets from their original locations. Even the baskets themselves appeared in a variety of styles: open diamond screen mesh, solid half-cans, or longitudinal slats. None of this means much in the smaller scales, but in 1/192, for example, the baskets proper for your particular ship can be easily scratch-built. The frames can be made from Evergreen .20" x .20" strip styrene, brass model railroad screen can be used for the baskets, and the floats can be made from tiny sections of insulation cut from micro wire, strung on another wire strand, and cemented in place with a touch of cyanoacrylate. After painting, the floater net lines are flaked down inside the baskets fore and aft in several layers. Floater net baskets made in this fashion add quite a bit of "busy" detail to these larger ship models.There are a just a few models available in 1/192 just now, but the scale is becoming more popular and you're likely to see more releases in the near future. Bob Steinbrunn Minneapolis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: AllenFW2@aol.com Subject: Re: Carpathia's Final Disposition Yes, Carpathia was indeed sunk by a German U-Boot (U 55) on 17 July 1918. She was torpedoed (x3) while en-route to New York (I believe she was @200 miles from the coast of the UK when she went down). The vast majority of passengers & crew survived. To the best of my knowledge, @5-10 crew died. A sad end for such a noble little ship. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Keith Butterley Subject: HMS Rodney camo Hi all, Can anybody give me the Humbrol or Testors Model Master colour equivalent to Admiralty code No. MS 1, No. B.5, No. B.6, and No. 507C? It doesn't have to be dead accurate although thats probably not possible anyways, but anything that is close will do. I thought I would like to try that wild camo scheme that HMS Rodney carried. I have the Tamiya 700 scale kit and am waiting for the WEM PE and I am all set to go, but first we need paint. Keith Butterley PS Don,t forget to send in your votes for the Airfix petition, please do if you haven't already done so. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: KDur597268@aol.com Subject: Re: "Fiasco" Since so many folks here mentioned the book "Fiasco," on the Brest break-out and Channel dash, along with the article in "Sea Battles" - which seems based on the book, with the exception of mentioning the secret agent Hilarion (?!) - that this is one of the most alternately inspiring, frustrating, saddening, but throughout engrossing sea stories I've read. Not only the tragedy of the British blundering - especially in light of the brilliant German plan and execution - and the resulting "waste" of heroic actions, but also the fate of the German ships involved. They were great ships to be wasted like that, even if they were on the "other side!" For me it also renews my amazement that the RN had no dive-bomber doctrine! Not that it would have been possible in the weather of that day... There is actually a modeling angle to all this: "Sea Battles" shows a an aerial shot of Prinz Eugen in dry dock - it is an astonishingly clear shot, beautiful! It instantly made me think - "diorama!" Does anybody know, has this been done? Thanks for listening Ken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: KDur597268@aol.com Subject: Re: Bending P/E >> However, bending pieces with triangular shaped sides into 3 dimensional object, like a pyramid shaped pedestal for example, presents a different set of problem. So, what do you use to get your best bends? How do you handle bending a small piece with triangular shaped sides? << Good question! Ken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: KDur597268@aol.com Subject: Kaga detail Hello folks- Just got a copy of the HA 1/700 'Kaga' - and I have a question based on the box art, which may or may not be correct. I'm sure y'all can answer either question! It concerns a detail on the large spars that support the forward part of the flight deck over the forecastle: at the top there seems to be a lattice work support splaying out to the underside of the flight deck, similar in configuration to a square-riggers futtock shrouds. My question(s): is this accurate? That detail is not provided on either of the TM PE sets. If it is accurate, is there a PE set which includes them? Thanks in advnce - Ken Durling -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: Re: Kirov >> I wasn't aware of the fact that there was a kit available - my issue of FMS arrived a couple of days later (we get out issues of FSM a month later here in Norway). As ca. ?54 or $100, can anyone say what the kit looks like? Good and bad points? << Hi Jens, The price works out at $87.00 U.S. plus shipping.. not sure what the exchange rate is for yourself at the moment in Norway. Art Nicholson, who currently has one in his possession, and is a regular contributor to SMML ("Hi Art!") is qualified to give an informed opinion as to the virtues or otherwise of this kit... I'm not allowed to do that, as we actually sell them (however, anyone can E-Mail us for photos or/and our opinions on ANY kit at ANY time... all part of the service!) There are a number of other folks on SMML who have received this kit from us, and might like to voice their opinions as well, -ve or +ve, on this kit, to enable people to make a more informed decision.. Cheers Caroline Carter SMMLlie old WEMblie and proud of it!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: "Michael Czibovic" Subject: Re: Yorktown hanger bay Let me introduce myself. I'm Mike Czibovic, a.k.a. Corsair Armada Productions. I've been lurking in the background of this newsletter for about a month, but haven't had anything to contribute until now. White is correct for the bulkheads and overhead (ceiling), but you should use 20-B Deck Blue for the decks. White is usually used in interior spaces because it doesn't have to be color matched for touch-ups, and it reflects and disperses available light well, which reduces the number of fixtures required to light a compartment. Another thing to remember is that if you are doing a dazzle camouflage pattern, the undersides of all the horizontal overhangs (decks, platforms, etc.) were also painted with white counter shading to reduce the effect of shadows on the camouflage pattern. This is mentioned in the camouflage books from Floating Drydock. I have some color photos from a wartime article in National Geographic on the USS Princeton that show white bulkeads in the hanger. While the accuracy of color photos from that era is questionable, it is consistent with other Navy ships I have visited. You might be able to get a more definitive answer by calling or e-mailing the Tail -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: Naval Base Sale Items Dear SMMLer's TILL THE END OF SEPTEMBER DOYUSHA - Yamato, Musashi, Shinano 1/250 scale 41" long 138.00 includes shipping TAMIYA - Yamato, Musashi, Prince of Wales, KG-V, Bismark, Tirpitz, Missouri, New Jersey 1/350 scale 57.00 includes shipping -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume