Subject SMML13/10/98VOL331 Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 20:37:45 +1000 (EST) shipmodels@wr.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: USS Mohawk Whereabouts? 2: Heller kits 3: Floquil Paints 4: Subject: copied plastic parts 5: A couple of tech notes 6: Airfix ship models 7: Re: 'E'Boats 8: copying plastic parts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: WTD : U.S.S. PYRO AE-1 AND NITRO AE-2. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Michael Eisenstadt Subject: USS Mohawk Whereabouts? Folks: I was just wondering, does anyone know what happened to the WWII era US Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk that used to be a museum ship in Delaware? She has moved, but to where? And what state is she in (in all senses of the word)? I used to admire her in her appealing, well-preserved Measure 16 (?) camo scheme when I would take AMTRAK's eastern corridor line service through Delaware. You could see her through the window of the train. She was the closest thing you'll find in the states to a Flower Class corvette in a Western Approaches scheme. (Oh oh, I hope I'm not starting another Fl**** thread now!) Any info would be appreciated. Yours truly, A very sentimental and wistful Mike Eisenstadt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: John Clements Subject: Re: Heller kits >> I just came across a catalog that's selling quite a few of these for what appear to be decent prices. I'm hoping some of the more experienced readers of the list could give me some feedback on the quality of these Heller kits. Are there any that are particularly good, or poor? Does anyone have any general observations? Any info would be appreciated. << Dear Mark, I have made a number of Heller kits over the years, and have more in the storecupboard. I can't give you a comprehensive assessment, as the range is much bigger than might be imagined and only a few are available at a time - at least in the UK. I started buying them because they made ships not available elsewhere, such as the French and smaller German ones. Other than these I stick to 1/700 scale. In general they are quite old kits and the standard of detail varies but is always below modern expectations. Having said that, there is always some bit with a surprising amount of detail and fineness, so they are inconsistent. Occassionally, they do something quite bizarre, such as in the KGV kit about which I commented to another enquiry a few weeks ago - the guns have strange lumps on the end like muzzle brakes on WW2 tank guns, and the configuration of some of the detail doesn't actually fit the KGV at all, but others in the class. What I like about them is that they capture the shape and feel of each ship very well, so that the basic platform from which you are working is sound, and with a good set of plans and PE you can add the missing detail. As far as PE is concerned, one had to mess about with 1/350 sets but now GMM do 1/400 sets and I see that Toms Modelworks also have some in hand. They are certainly not up to the standard of modern resin kits but are much cheaper and can be made quite respectable if you have the sources and patience to do so. My favourite is the Narvik class destroyer which has enough alternative bits to make up all but the late war 'Barbara' refits and really captures the feel of the ships, at least as apparent from photographs. I would snap them up if the source you have were in the UK! Good luck. John Clements -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Sheridan Subject: Floquil Paints >> I do not know what their intentions are for the Pollyscale paint line, but Pollyscale does carry about a half-dozen of the USN colors (Haze Gray, Navy Blue, 20-B, etc). I'm not sure anyone actually uses these paints currently, or knows that they exist. I've used them in the past on armor (sorry) projects.<< I'm about to use the Pollyscale Navy Blue, Ocean Grey, Haze Grey, and Weatherdeck Blue on my 1/350th scale USS Massachusetts. I'll let everyone know how I like them after I try them out. John Sheridan @ Microscale Decals http://www.microscale.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Tim Perry Subject: Subject: copied plastic parts Hi Mike Czibovic, I do hope I am not seen as a hornet! But it does go to show if you stick your head over the parapet, you are likely to get shot at! No need to apologise though! I do take your point about asking for permission to use Skywaves items, and not getting a response. That does put you in a difficult position, but I still think it would have been better to either press your question further, or done your own masters in the first place. Whatever the rights and wrongs of using the plastic parts, with a little care original masters will be substantially better than plastic items simply because of the greater freedom you have in the geometry of the master. It can have undercuts, finer details on all faces, not just in the plane of the mould split, and no need for draught angles on everything. It can be near scale proportions as well, because it doesn't have to be robust enough to be dragged out of a steel tool without getting damaged. You only have to make one original as it can then be cloned up for production, and the types made can be exactly the ones you need for your model, not limited to ones produced by Skywave. I hope my point is coming over; I just think originals are better on all counts, and copies are just worse. Good luck with the product development, I hope you can find time to replace the copied items soon. Knowing personally just how much effort goes into running such an outfit I do wish you all success. But I would be much happier purchasing your products if I knew the masters were 100% your own work, and not lifted from someone else. Best wishes, Tim Perry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Burl Burlingame / Pacific Monograph Subject: A couple of tech notes Aloha! A couple of tech notes: * A chap referred to Sintra as a product like Gatorboard, essentially thin foam with a cardboard layer on each side. Not so! Although there's a degree of "foaminess" to Sintra (to lessen weight) it's essentially sheet PVC. It was developed by Europeans as an outdoor sign material that wouldn't fade -- that's why it comes in many colors. The nice thing about it is the crittical millimeter thickness. You can laminate it while carving a master and have a "contour map" as it is shaped. Cuts like basswood without a grain. Glue it with CYA or PVC pipe solvent. * Another fellow squawked about the work involved in sanding a part flat. Try a heavy-duty cutting tool on a Dremel and gouging out the middle MORE than what you need, leaving about 1/2" around the edge. Then all you have to sand is the lip. This method actually makes flatter pieces because of the sanders' natural tendecy to ride up on the edge. Burl Burl Burlingame Pacific Monograph, 1124 Kahili Street, Kailua HI 96734 A historical interpretation company. Visit our web site at http://www.PacificHistory.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: CHRIS DRAGE Subject: Airfix ship models Hello all SMMeLies, Don't want to cause a panic, but when I phoned a repected and well known dealer here in Britain on Saturday and asked if he had an HMS Daring I was greeted by a general sense of foreboding and was told that Airfix had been so badly 'stung' by the lack of sales of their recent releases that that was it as far as ship models is concerned. No more will be produced! Can anyone else confirm...? Hope I haven't put the proverbial cat among the pigeons...... Regards, Chris Drage -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Vimieraa@aol.com Subject: Re: 'E'Boats >> What colours were the decks of 'E' Boats in WW Two. << References show that many were light in tone while some show a medium to dark tone, additionally what areas of the decks were covered in a non-slip material. and would these areas be of a different colour than those not covered? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Denis G. Campbell" Subject: copying plastic parts I was trying to stay out of this one, but I have to put my two bits in. It seems that what we are really talking about is the general moral climate of our times, which has steadily changed (I say deteriorated, but that gets me into arguments with the wife and kids) since the mid 1960's. It started with "do your own thing" ( especially if it caused offence to the "establishment") mutated to what was called the "me decade" in the 80's and now has become a swamp where each group defines right and wrong to suit their own position. We now have a situation where, in our highest circles, it is considered OK to smoke marijuana "but I didn't inhale" and now, we are arguing over whether oral sex is or isn't sex. When Nixon was impeached (nearly) what testimony saw the light of day was full of "expletive deleted" s but now it is quite proper to publish the gory details in the newspapers and on the internet - expletives and graphic details are now part of everyday life, even for our children. The whole idea of right and wrong doesn't have any clear definition today. I think Roberto hit the nail on the head with,"It's Ok if you steal a little but not if you steal a lot" - I think, today, we have to add, "or if you get caught". Denis Campbell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: b29@ix.netcom.com Subject: WTD : U.S.S. PYRO AE-1 AND NITRO AE-2. For model building, I need good photos and drawings of the deck details of PYRO and NITRO. These ships served in the U.S. Navy from the 1920's through WW II. Can anyone provide these or a good source to find them? Paul Jacobs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume