Subject: SMML08/10/98VOL326 Date: Wed, 7 Oct 1998 19:00:28 +1000 (EST) shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Blast bags 2: Re: Whose Olympia? 3: Re: Bending radar screen 4: Re: Blast Bag function 5: Re: 1:350 Tamiya Enterprise 6: Re: 1/96 scale Bismarck 7: RN CVE colours 8: Re: Olympia question & Temp mounting -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Duane Fowler Subject: Blast bags >> When removing seams on my Missouri's main battery, I was pondering over why blast bags are called just that if their purpose is to keep seawater out. << I am not sure (I never served on a vessel with large guns) but having watched films of the big guns firing, I believe it may have something to do with the outrush of air from the turret when the guns fire. The recoil of the guns are several feet which displaces a large volume of air. When all the armored doors are closed, the air has to go somewhere without destroying all the ventilators. When the guns fire, the bags puff up like balloons and deflate as the barrels return to their original positions. Just a WAG but it seems reasonable to me. Regards, Duane Fowler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Re: Whose Olympia? Jon asked - >> Question on the Olympia, I was wondering if anyone knows if the Lindberg Olympia kit is the same as the Revell kit? << Don't believe so. Don't think Revell & Lindberg shared any molds. The Revell kit is far superior to the LifeLike/Pyro model although virtually the same size. MWL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Bending radar screen >> I am wondering how to bend 2 dimensional PE part, radar screen, to get it in a proper shape, i.e. three dimensional as a spherical one. There must be some good advice out there ;o) << You'll have to cut a thin, "pie slice" section from the center to the out side edge or the circular screen. The size of the "pie slice" will depend on the depth of the dish. The convex dish can be created using a marble or other hard, round surface. The big trick is to glue the screen together while looking like a solid screen and not filling in any of the screen. Can't help you there. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Blast Bag function >> When removing seams on my Missouri's main battery, I was pondering over why blast bags are called just that if their purpose is to keep seawater out. I mean, "blast" to me seems tied up with the blast when firing the guns... Am I sailing in the wrong sea here? << I'm sure everybody and their dog will answer this one but I'll give my two cents worth. Blast bags were used on nearly all surface vessels with 5" or larger guns installed in turrets. In the event there was an explosion inside the turret due to ignition of the powder bags (as with the Iowa several years back) the bags were designed to blow away releasing pressure to the outside instead of blowing holes in the hull. This way, even though the turret was out of action, the ship could still continue to fight or retreat for repairs. The bags were made from canvas and appeared in different colors. The IJN used white for some vessels while the US and others used black or gray. Check your photos to verify the color. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "joseph w. reyna" Subject: Re: 1:350 Tamiya Enterprise I emphatically second Jens' call for a conversion kit to backfit Tamiya's 1/350 scale ENTERPRISE to pre-mod configuration! The eye-catching beehive phased array panels, though not nearly as successful as the much later developed AEGIS system, proved an innovative design for her time. As an alternative for those who want a large scale "before/after" CVN-65 ENTERPRISE, I heartily recommend the Arii/Otaki products, which provide 1/400 scale kits for both versions, as well as proper period aircraft for each (though you need an Aurora/Monogram ENTERPRISE for the A4 Skyhawk and F8 Crusader aircraft). As I've said before, I personally regard the Arii/Otaki ENTERPRISE to be of superior quality and detail, though it too is missing a hangar deck as does the Tamiya kit. Cheers. Joe Reyna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Gene Wisner" Subject: Re: 1/96 scale Bismarck I would also like to see this discussed. I am building the USS Missouri in this scale and I would appreciate any ideas on how to proceed. I would like to be included in any E-mails. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: jmaine@golden.net Subject: RN CVE colours Hi everybody, Since I received such great assistance from people on this list with the colours for my Matchbox HMS Exeter kit (now partly completed), I thought I'd make another request regarding an RN subject. I recently purchased the Tamiya (ex-Skywave) USS Bogue which I want to make as one of the RN "Attacker" class CVE's operating in the Atlantic ca. 1943-44. The problem I'm having is in interpreting the b/w photographs in my references. I have pictures of HMS's Battler, Attacker, Chaser and Pursuer (plus some good pic's of HMS Biter and Avenger from the Long Island class), all of which seem to show a large, irregular band or patches of a very dark colour on the hull above the waterline (507A?, G10?). This very dark colour seems to be accompanied in almost every case by two other colours, one a much lighter, sort of "intermediate" shade (blue?, green?) and the other a very light shade indeed, possibly even white (maybe Western Approaches white?). My questions to those in the know about RN camouflage: 1) was there aa assigned combination of colours for RN CVE's (I can certainly see from the photos that the *patterns* varied considerably from ship to ship, but were the colours used usually the same?) 2) did the colours employed depend on the particular theater of operations at all? (e.g. Western Approaches vs. the Arctic vs. the Gibralter convoys, etc.) Any help anybody can give me would be much appreciated. I've already gotten a whole lot of inspiration (and a sizeable inferiority complex!) from looking at the superb diorama involving HMS Tracker on the Warship website. Thanks again for the help, John Maine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: Olympia question & Temp mounting >> I will hopefully soon be buying my 1st cast resin warship (Alaska). How do you folks handle a large warship model in construction? I was thinking of screwing it down to the base, with a sheet of wax paper over the base to protect it. Any other suggestions? Also, how do I hide a large cash transaction from my wife >(hehehe)? << I would finish tthe hull bottom, paint and then mount as if it were finished. The wax paper is a good idea to prevent damaging the base. >> Question on the Olympia, I was wondering if anyone knows if the Lindberg Olympia kit is the same as the Revell kit? Also I promised some people photos of the Iowa and the Forrestal, I have a problem with my a drive and as soon as it's fixed I will send them out to you. << No they are not the same. The Lindberg/lifelike model has molded in rails and boat davits among other differences. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume