Subject: SMML04/03/99VOL474 Date: Thu, 04 Mar 1999 23:54:51 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: HMS Collingwood... archive? 2: Re: Removing Paint 3: Re: Fuso book 4: IJN Akashi 5: Propellors 6: Re: Floating Drydock dio 7: FUSO BOOK AND ARDS 8: USN Destroyer collision 9: Re: Ripped flag 10: Book availability. 11: Classic Warships USS Arkansas (BB-33) 12: HMS Edinburgh 13: Re: Floating Drydock 14: Re:USS San Francisco/ AIM Service 15: Thanks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Lusitania 2: WEM... we're back in circ. again.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: DKrakow105@aol.com Subject: HMS Collingwood... archive? In researching the Admiral Graf Spee, I came across a photo of her bridge and radar in a book "Radar at Sea". The photo is credited to "HMS Collingwood". Can someone tell me what this might mean? Is this an archive? I would like to see if this source has any other photos of the Spee and your help would be much appreciated. I also need the phone number and address for the London Science Museum. Thanks! Cheers, David Krakow Frankfurt P.S. I also noticed in one of Whitley's books an "HMS Excellent" cited as the archival source for a technical manual. Wot's all this about? Isn't HMS Collingwood a shore establishment? - Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: jakloek@kodak.com (James Kloek) Subject: Re: Removing Paint I have removed paint from a resin hull with oven cleaner, and it worked fine. Off course, the paint wasn't sticking very well in the first place, which is why I was removing it, but it did not seem to damage the resin. Like all things though, I'd recommend trying it on a place that does not matter. If, for example, you have a waterline model, try the oven cleaner on the flat bottom and see if it attacks the resin or not. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Re: Fuso book I don't think the problem lies with NI Press but with the British publisher Conway Maritime. They were actually due to launch the book in November 1997, but only just got round to doing so. During this time they had plenty of time to correct and check everything but as Mike said produced this botch up. Other faults are P104-105 the lines are printed in steps rather than as a whole like they should be and P128 where there is a deviation in the drawing of the mast. This is a pity because it is an excellent piece of work but if I were Janos Skulski I think I would look for another publisher. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Reynaga, Tim@EDD" Subject: IJN Akashi Hello I'm looking for reference on the IJN Repair Ship Akashi. In particular, I'm trying to find an article by J. Itani and H. Lengerer which appeared in Warship 1990. Does anyone have a copy of that article? Thanks for your help. Tim Reynaga -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "efoeth" Subject: Propellors Quote It's not unusual that a ship would have both three an four-bladed screws. The reason for this is that depending on the engine arrangement of the ship, the outboard shafts may turn faster than the inboard shafts, or vice versa. The four-bladed screw has more surface area, and thus moves more water per revolution than a three-bladed screw, producing more thrust at the same number of rpm's, or an equal amount of thrust at lower rpm's. Evidence the TITANIC, which had two three-bladed screws and one four-blade. The outboard reciprocating engines turned faster than the low-pressure Parson's turbine on the center shaft. End quote First, different propellors as often a result of bad vibrations, and a new screw with a different number of blades is used. This is to change the blade frequency (no of revolutions times no of blades = blade frequency), so that excitation of the ship is now in a frequency other than a resonance frequency (hopefully). Also, it might be to counteract cavitation problems, by lowering blade loading (but all propeller cavitate above 20 knots (surface ships)). Recall that the Iowa's also changed their inner props, due to vibration problems, which is hardly suprising, as the inner blades are positioned in the outer props turbulent wash. Also the twin skeg generates a very unpreferable wakefield (and the skeg has a large drag) As for a 4 bladed prop moving more water than a 3 bladed one and thus generates more thrust is not entirely true: Thrust is influenced by diameter, pitch (angle between blade (seen from aside) and axis), rake (angle between blade (seen from aft) and perpendicular on the axis), surface area, profile geometry, skew (tricky to explain without sketch), also no of blades, direction of revolution (clockwise ore counterclockwise), number of revolutions per second, propellor depth (immersion below waterline), propeller wake field, propeller loading and axis torque. (explained in my upcoming article, although don't expect it within a few weeks) A 4 bladed screw migh very well have a lower efficiency (same geometry) due to increased surface friction. A problem with designing a new prop for an existing ship is that you are greatly dependent of the existing powerplant, which will operate in a narrow band of No of revolutions. Turbines operate best at high speeds, so you would not want to lower their no of revolutions. You could place a new gearbox, but this is extremely costly (it's like building a new cellar after your house has been built) Also, gearboxes in the early 1900 were not very reliable. The gearbox did increase overal propulsion efficiency, as now the no of revolutions of the propeller axis is no longer depending on the no of revolutions of the main turbines (it will gear down at a constant ration). The US gearboxes gave the Iowa's an edge over the other battleships (with a stunning 33 knots! Even though Yamato was better armed, the Iowa's could always run away if needed). Actually making a gearbox is a complicated task, as the margin for bad workmanship is very small. If the manufactoringprocess is not done with high precission, your gearbox might rattle itself to pieces in a very short timespan. A 4 bladed screw with the same geometry as a 3 bladed screw might perform worse. If more bladed props were better, we would see a lot more multibladed screws. Generally speaking, a larger diameter results in higher effeciency, although blade friction will determine a maximum optimum diameter. Naval ships have large propellers, sometimes protruding below the ships keel. The inner propellers also operate in a different wake field, influencing the design. Outboard propellers usually have a lower efficiency. The keyword is effeciency. Modern propellers have the ability to change their pitch, for optimum conditions. This can have various reasons. For instance, in heavy seas, to maintain speed, more thrust is needed for the same ship speed, and increasing the no of revolutions to move more water will not work (higher no of revultions than designed for results in lower thrust). Changing the pitch of the propeller might. More often than not, the efficiency is then lower than the optimum efficiency of the original pitch in normal condition, but higher than if the original configuration would operate in that off-design condition. Evert-jan Foeth -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: Floating Drydock dio Stationary! Very, VERY stationary! Undereway refueling or unrepping was bad enough a maneuver.... John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Baker Subject: FUSO BOOK AND ARDS Before whacking the USNI Press, Mr. Bishop might have noted that the Anatomy of the Ship book about the FUSO is published by Conway Maritime Press in the U.K.; the USNI Press merely handles it in the U.S.A. (and puts their name on the spine and title page, a common practise). Often, import books are not given the same carefly going over that a domestic book might receive, especially as the project arrives more or less in a "take it or leave it" form. As to the question about the Corsair Armada kit for a USN ARD, neither class of ARD was self-propelled; the only reason one end was closed in a ship-like bow form was to enable the craft to be towed at a higher speed. ARDs were meant for emergency hull repairs when built during WW II, although, of course, in more recent years the survivors have been used by many navies for normal dry docking procedures.They most definintely, of course, could NOT dock a ship while under tow! A.D. Baker, III -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Ian MacCorquodale" Subject: USN Destroyer collision Hi Folks, Does anyone know the Name of the USN Destroyer that was involved in a collision last week? Can't even find it on CNN! Ian http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9089/ Mac's Navy Links -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Darren Scannell Subject: Re: Ripped flag Lot's of replies so far, One more for the pile, use Testors Dullcoat out of the bottle. No need to spray after! Holds light rigging as well. Darren (Blew all night & day, just snowed now raining, just ducky eh?) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Douglas Martin" Subject: Book availability. Folks: After querying where my book orders have gone, Waterstones tell me that the 'Warship 99' annual will be issued by the wholesalers at the end of March (1999). Anatomy of BB Fuso will be issued in the next couple of weeks, so say 'Batsford'. Have just got the Profile Morskie book from WEM on the CA Tone, can't understand Polish or Japanese, quite funny really, Polish books on Japanese Warships....and on UK ships, is there no demand for these books to be translated into English? Douglas (Scotland) (80 F and sunshine, what does this mean?) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Michael C. Smith" Subject: Classic Warships USS Arkansas (BB-33) Does anyone know what time period the upcoming Classic Warships kits of the battleship Arkansas (1/350 and 1/700) will be? I expect 1944-45, but I'm hoping 1918, as I'd like to model it as of the time my grandfather was on it. Assuming that it is available only in the later configuration, can anyone suggest a mold material to use to copy and re-cast the hull so that I can cut away the later additions (blisters on the hull, etc.) to get back to the as-built form? Something more durable than plastic but softer than resin - I'd rather work from a copy so I can start over if necessary? I don't mind scratchbuilding, but I'd rather kitbash the kit if I can, and just add the photoetched cage masts. Michael Smith Marshall, Texas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: YHSAIO@aol.com Subject: HMS Edinburgh Just received my WEM HMS Edinburgh (puts the B-Resina Belfast to shame - great job Dave and Caroline). As the kit is of Edinburgh in her 1939 fit, I would like to know more about Edinburgh's appearence during her final, infamous mission when was sunk with all that gold aboard. Here goes: Am I right in assuming that her radar and AA fit were similar to Belfast's in the same time period? If anyone tells me to look up in the info in Whitley's book, forget it, 'cause I have the book and frankly it's not the greatest (my copy is missing the war service record of HMS Bermuda- does anyone else have the same problem). Also, what camo measure was Edinburgh wearing at the time? (If these questions can be answered, I'll order another Edinburgh from Caroline-I promise. Now can WEM and MDC cast 1/700 scale gold bars?). Finally an invitation to Mike Connelly. I'll be going back to good old SCU next quarter, trying to work on a master's in Computer Science. If you have the time, I'll buy you a beer and we can talk ships. We can swap ship tales and I can regale you with stories about what we did as freshmen (stories which will put the WEM July 4th party to shame. I didn't have the time to build ships then, but my roommate had a model of the Airfix Belfast on our bookshelf.). Are you on? BTW, is the "Hut" still around? Yunchi Hsaio (SCU class of 1986- I think we were the first class to be referred to as SCU, but don't quote me on that) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: ECammeron@aol.com Subject: Re: Floating Drydock It would be moored - with lots of anchors out to keep it exactly stationary. If you have the book 'The Pacific War Remembered', check the article by Admiral James, "Christmas in the Iowa" for the docking of the Battleship IOWA in a Floating Drydock. Eugene Cammeron -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re:USS San Francisco/ AIM Service >> I received my 1/350 San Francisco last Wednsday. I won't get into a review, Bradford did an excellent job in SMML 26/02/99 Vol468. However, I do want to comment on the excellent service provided by AIM. A careful study of the enclosed parts and parts list uncovered a few missing or damaged pieces. After a quick e-mail, I received the missing parts yesterday, only 5 days after I received the kit! Bravo to Jon and Jeff for a great kit and great service! << Thank you for your kind comments on my first foray into kit reviewing. I certainly want to second your comment on AIM's excellent service. Jon took it on himself to contact me regarding some of he defective small parts I mentioned in my review, and immediatly old me hat he would be sending enough extra parts to insure that I had more than enough to do he job. The parts arrived within a few days. AIM and Jon and Jeff certainly get a gold star in my book for customer service. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Shane Subject: Thanks Hi gang, Thanks for all the help re: ripped flag. I'll now try & fix it. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Jeff Herne Subject: Lusitania Hi guys, Just turned up an old photo album here in the museum I work at, and lo and behold, there's some great shots of Mauretania during WW1. So, while I'm still motivated in this potential project... I'm looking for the old Entex kit of the Lusitania to convert. Anybody got one laying around they're willing to part with? Jeff Herne Accurate Image Models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: WEM... we're back in circ. again.... Hi Guys Well, I have to say I've really missed you SMMLlie people out there... we've only just got the net-connected PC back after the TruxnTrax weekend.. a good time had by all. Nice to meet quite a few of our European SMMLlie folk as well as a sprinkling of Brits. The sour note of the weekend was leaving Folkestone on Monday morning to discover the Discovery had had 3 windows smashed.. and our beautiful 1/700 Askold build given to us by Jim Baumann had been stolen... probably because, although well out of casual view, a glimpse of the hand-made padded carry-case must have looked like a camera or a video recorder or something.. models are not generally a target to your average quick-sale, quick-reward yobbo-druggie-type.. They probably slung it over the cliff 200 yards down the road.... gut-wrenching or what.. as a result of the show, this incident (4 hours in Ashford waiting for perspex to be fitted..), a day fighting it out with the insurance companiess, and an effectively immobilised vehicle... and we're still vacuuming up glass from the crates of books.. we are running approx. 6 days behind schedule. We will be working solidly over the weekend though to try to cover everyone's orders. Better news is that we have Peter Hall's Atlantic Models 1/130 Shell Welder tanker etched brass set at 11.02 pounds in stock now. We have the Shell welder kit in stock by Chematic at 14.42 pounds Also, we have new Kombrig ships in stock (we actually got to chat to the owner who apologises to folk for the poor quality of his earlier runs of Kombrig and Poltava kits). We gave him considerable input on improving his instruction sheet quality over the current photocopied plan, profile and lines sheet that he provided and he seemed to be quite taken with the 1/700 Bluebell instructions.. I gave him a set to take away with him, so... we might see kits with better instructions in the future from this manufacturer. . New Kombrig kits in stock (only a couple of each left by the time we got to choose..) 1/700 Navarin Russian pre-dreadnought battleship.30.60 pounds 1/700 Suvorov 1904 Russian pre-dreadnought BB. 30.60 1/700 Borodino 1904.30.60 1/700 Orel 1904 Russian BB 30.60 Pounds IN STOCK NOW: the excellent WSW 1/700 range of kits, including re-releases of former Doc Modell subjects: S.M.S. Saida 1917 Scout Cruiser 1917 27.19 pounds 700-04 S.M.S. Baden 1918 German Battleship. 56.98 pounds 700-05 SMS Bayern 1916 German Battleship 56.98 pounds 700-06 USS Borie 1943 Clemson Class destroyer 16.98 pounds 700-07 USS Ward 1944 APD Fast troop transport. 16.98ponuds 700-08 USS Callaway APA 35 Attack Transport 1943. 37.40 pounds 700-09 USS Markab AD 21 1942 Destroyer Tender 37.40 pounds 700-11 USS Quincy CA 39 h/cr 1942 39.11 pounds 700-12 SMS Lutzow 1916 German B/cruiser 56.98 pounds All resin and white metal (no etched brass) Please note that although we stock the above, we no longer supply the B-Resina range (1/700 Warspite, Suffolk, Belfast, Ajax, Cossack etc.) supplied through the the above company. Also have just received the following 1/700 Scale WEM aircraft WEM AS 7124 Boeing B47 Stratojet x 2 WEM AS 7128 Heinkel He177 (you can try to sink the WEM Warspite!)x2 WEM AS 7129 B24 Liberator x2 WEM AS 7130 Convair B58 Hustler x2 WEM AS 7131 EE Canberra x 2 WEM AS 7134 Curtiss SC Seahawk x 3 WEM AS 7151 Focke-Wulf 190 WEM AS 7152 Heinkel 111 WEM AS 7156 Messerschmitt 110 WEM AS 7160 Republic P47 Thunderbolt WEM AS 7164 Regiane 2001 WEM AS 7165 Bristol Beaufighter WEM AS 7178 Mitsubishi Zero WEM AS 7179 Messerschmitt Me 410 WEM AS 7180 Messerschmitt Me 262 All between 2 to 5 planes per bag at 2.95 pounds per bag... Re the 1/600 PROFESSIONAL range... high quality resin castings... this line is being produced in response to much hassling by various folks on SMML..as yet, we have NO orders for these items.... Brian has completed the twin 4 inch but unless we get some positive interest (and that means orders!) then this range will be dropped before it's up and running, which will simply prove to doubters why 1/700 is THE dominant scale... For anyone who is considering a build of the Airfix 1/600 Warspite, Suffolk, Belfast, Hood, Nelson, Ajax, Cossack, Hotspur or Victorious kits, you NEED this range of accessories (not forgetting that we're about to release the 1/600 Warspite, Belfast, and Hood etched brass sets to compliment them.. prices in pounds.. and today, One Pound equals 1.61 dollars. Shipped post free worldwide...we look forward to hearing from you soon! WEM PRO 601 4" QF Mk XVI in twin Mk XIX mount x 4 2.51 WEM PRO 602 Vickers quad 0.5" machine guns x 6 2.51 WEM PRO 603 Quad Pom-Poms x 4 2.51 WEM PRO 606 8-Barrelled Pom-Poms x4 2.51 We have just received supplies of the WR Press Fletcher, Sumner, Gearing Class Destroyers by Jeff Herne, priced at 19.95. Also, we have the Atlanta Class Cruisers book on the way by Glenn Arnold... as seen at Trucks n Tracks last weekend with good acclaim. This volume is also 19.95 pounds, shipping overseas at cost. BTW, we have a price reduction on the Academy 1/350 Titanic kit. It is now 31.48 pounds. The 1/400 Titanic is available at 25.52 pounds (UK/EC add VAT at 17.5%) We have added the following items to our lists: Accurate Armour 1/35 Type VIIC 1940 waterline kit 285.00 Pounds.. one mean beastie! Accurate Armour 1/35 Type XXIII U-Boat waterline kit 140.00 Pounds Restock on the following: DOLPHIN 1/400 Resin Kits with White Metal and Photoetched Detail parts.. can be built either full hull or waterline Scire WW2 Italian submarine. 15.31 pounds Sauro modern Italian submarine.13.61 pounds From a WEM-Kit perspective, Brian Fawcett has almost completed the 1/700 Renown masters... and they are looking absolutely stunning. Just one huge etched brass fret and a sheet of instructions to go before release. Other news.. The WEM 1/700 HMS Inflexible is now being reworked as the Invincible 1916, and the 1/700 HMS York and Exeter patterns are also undergoing the Fawcett treatment. The Type 23 frigate HMS Norfolk 1990 has almost been completed... Look out for some of the coolest kits around for 1999!! Will work my way thru 6 days and more worth of SMML and see if we can help any of you folks out in the process! Best Regards, Caroline Carter White Ensign Models E-mail xdt22@dial.pipex.com http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume