Subject: SMML14/03/99VOL484 Date: Mon, 15 Mar 1999 00:00:20 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Favorite Airbrush 2: Re: SMS Derfflinger 3: Re: Driftwood and Wooden Decks 4: Torpedo ??s 5: Harland and Wolff by Tom McCluskie 6: Re: Mk48/ADCAP 7: Re: Hood vs Hood 8: Re: Bilge Keel Question 9: Should I buy these books? 10: Re: Classic Warships Web Site 11: Re: Alfa class paint jobs 12: Re: OzMods HMAS Melbourne 13: Bismarck book -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Video of the Confederate Submarine is Here 2: Plastic Ship Modeler #19 3: Carrier videos 4: A VERITABLE HOAX (For US subscribers) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Favorite Airbrush Due to neglect by its owner, my old Paasche VLS airbrush is pretty much beyond salvage at this point. Any comments on a good replacement would be most welcome. Has anyone tried the new "hi-tech" Aztec model by Testors? Mike L Alexandria, VA USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Re: SMS Derfflinger Hello SMML, I'm starting to regret starting this.... My understanding is that the WSW 1/700 kit of the battlecruiser Lutzow is out, but that the WSW 1/700 kit of the Derfflinger is not yet out. I don't know when it is due either, though I hope it's soon. Magnificent ships.... Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Re: Driftwood and Wooden Decks Hello SMML, A friend who wants to try Loren Perry's method of painting decks recently had trouble finding Floquil Driftwood, and was finally able to get a bottle from "The Dromedary" in El Paso, Texas. No e-mail that I know of, but the telephone number is (915) 584-2445. I saw several of Mr. Perry's models at Nationals with decks painted in this way, and was very impressed. Still, I am interested to hear about anyone using other combinations of paints or stains to achieve a realistic wooden deck. Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: JGordon262@aol.com Subject: Torpedo ??s Roger Torgeson wrote: >> After working almost 30 years on torpedoes, it's nice to know they work. << Excellent! A torpedo expert. I've just been reading about the myriad faults of the US's torpedoes in WW2. I have a number of basic questions: 1. What powers these weapons? I assume an internal combustion engine supplied with compressed air and fuel. I vaguely recall that the WW2 models used a modified flat head Ford V8, or is this a fiction? 2. Is the torpedo engine started prior to launch, or does it start automatically during launch, and if so, how do they ensure this? 3. How often does this weapon need overhaul in peacetime conditions? Very interesting that (70), 5" shells had no effect on this maritime vessel, but that one torpedo did the job. I'm surprised they did it this way because of the risk of a huge oil spill. Thanks JG -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Dave Swindell Subject: Harland and Wolff by Tom McCluskie Has anybody seen the book Harland and Wolff - Designs from the Shipbuilding Empire by Tom McCluskie? It's on offer in my book club magazine and purports to have drawings from company archives of 44 of their ships including Titanic and HMS Belfast. Is there enough detail on these drawings for small scale models (say 1:700) to be built from them? Its a Conway book which until recent comments I would have taken as high quality, looking for any opinions before I leap in and buy. Dave Swindell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Arjun Sarup" Subject: Re: Mk48/ADCAP With all due respect to Roger Torgeson for working on torpedoes for almost 30 years; seeing a Mk-48/ADCAP work on a crippled ship may represent an efficient means of disposal, but hardly worth mentioning that the torpedo worked on short notice and sank a stationary target! If that's the proof, the test method leaves something to be desired. For a more credible result, try an ASW destroyer for the next test... Arjun Sarup Quatre Bornes Mauritius 32C, just past tropical cyclone Davina, and still afloat! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Dave Judy Subject: Re: Hood vs Hood After perusing Rob's review on the battle of the Hoods, I find the fairest comparison is visual, and the photo set was the most objective means to convey to a would-be customer the pros & cons of each kit! As I believe Rob to be,in earnest,an impartial "bystander" in this arena, I feel he has done a fine job in preparing this review. Had he had an example of BOTH much improved kits, his article may have met with Dave and Caroline's approval. Having examined both kits, I personally prefer the IS kit. As I maintain, ALL kits (as I have seen) have negative and positive points, these points to be determined acceptable or not acceptable by the individual modeler! If anyone perceives Rob to be biased in his text.....then let the photos speak for themselves....aside from some fancy and expensive photo retouching.....pictures don't lie.... Dave Judy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Robert Morgan" Subject: Re: Bilge Keel Question Thanks for the information. There's nothing like getting an informative answer from the source. Also, the AIM San Francisco is a great kit. BUY ONE! Robert Morgan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Douglas Martin" Subject: Should I buy these books? Folks: Although the WR series were mentioned in the original post, I would have to say 'grab them while you can'.....that is any book with info on ships you are interested in (funds of course permitting). I recall the HT Lenton series and Navies of The Second World War books which I first read in the library, then bought as soon as loot filled up my coffers (early 70s). I then got the 'Warship Profiles', topped up with 'Ensign' and 'Man of War', then subscriptions to 'Warship'. Yes, there were many articles of little interest, but what I did collect, I never regretted, and as many of you know the editions of the above can command hefty prices now if you can find them........ The errors in the Fuso book are irritating, not perhaps as much as could have been, had they been related to 'historical' events. I have the 'Atlanta' book on order, can't wait. Buy what you can! Douglas (Scotland) PS. Even now more 'updated' info is becoming available on historical events and their backgrounds, such as has been revealed by 'Ultra' etc. This does not mean that older books were incorrect, just that all the info may not have been available to the author at that time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Alan Woodward" Subject: Re: Classic Warships Web Site Hi, Well, that explains why I couldn't find the ships listed in the latest WEM price lists on the site when I visited it! I'm looking for some auxiliary and amphibious ships in 1/700 waterline. I know WEM are producing a Dale class tanker from WWII, but I cannot find anything else from that era. Any suggestions? Alan Woodward Torbay, England (Snow?? whats that? I KNOW rain. Plenty of that!!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Alfa class paint jobs >> I used H82 dark gray as per instuction for the lower hull and it seems good to me. Of course I'm colour blind, so don't take my word for it. I've seen a few built kits on the navis site in the gallery and they're both painted differently! << It is my understanding that the Soviets used a slightly brighter version (than the US paint) of red lead for the bottom halves of their sub hulls. I have seen R/C Alfa subs in this light gray/dark gray color scheme at the SubCommittee SubRegatta, however. I don't know how accurate the DML information is, judging by some of their kits, maybe not so good. Unfortunately, the DML kits of US and former USSR subs are the only show in town when it comes to styrene models; but the models (especially their Typhoon class) have their share of serious errors. The resin Blue Water models are superior. Tom Dougherty visit the SubCommittee at: http://www.wolfsong.com/SubCommittee/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Darren Scannell Subject: Re: OzMods HMAS Melbourne >> That does not mean this will happen, but if it does, there will be some very intersting comparisons te be made, as Karel Doorman and Melbourne are very different variations on the same theme (1942 light fleets wih an angled deck). BTW anyone thinking about a conversion to a Bonavature, think again. This was a very different ship from both Melbourne and Karel Doorman. << The Karel Doorman is a Collossus class and the Melbourne is a Majestic class. Both the Bonaventure and the HMCS Magnificent were Majestics also. From what I can see, the Majestics seem to vary significantly from vessel to vessel in the same class. IE: Maggie has a straight deck and the others have a slight angle. I do see some differences between the Bonnie and the Melbourne, but I believe the hulls will be close enough to do a decent conversion. I could do a better comparison if I had a line drawing of the Melbourne. Anyone? Regards Darren Scannell PS Any Canucks out there have a drawing of HMCS WARRIOR? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "russell/joyce powell" Subject: Bismarck book Hello fellow enthusiasts, Do any of you wish to part with, or know where I might obtain Breyer's book: "Battleship Bismarck- the Technical Aspects?" Christian Schmidt tells me it is out of print. Any help most appreciated. Russell Powell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "John P. Harloe" Subject: Video of the Confederate Submarine is Here Modelers and Historians: The video the the Confederate Submarine H. L. Hunley is now up and running on the e-commerce site: cottage-industries.com http://www.cottage-industries.com I certainly hope you enjoy seeing history that took almost 130 years to locate. The Hunley was the first submarine to sink a ship in war. She lost three crews in doing so which included one of her owners, Horace Hunley. In February, 1864 the Hunley sank the USS Housatonic using a spar "torpedo". After the sinking, the Hunley was able to send the designated signal "a blue light" to the batteries on shore to light bondfires enabling the ship to find home. However soon after sending her signal, the Hunley mysteriously sank 4 miles offshore Charleston. The crew is still in the ship. Brave men regardless of their cause should be remembered. Enjoy. John Harloe Charleston Distributors -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com Subject: Plastic Ship Modeler #19 PSM 19 will be delivered from the printers on Monday. Almost a month ago I announced the arrival of this issue. Unfortunately there have been a series of delays in the printing production - mainly due to a new high speed press that wasn't - at least until the bugs were worked out. The promised delivery date was revised and extended three times. As of yesterday (Friday) all the pages were printed and the job was sent to the bindery. By next weekend all copies of number 19 should in the mail. To all of my subscribers I apologize for the delays, which unfortunately were caused by circumstances beyond our control. Editing and writing for Plastic Ship Modeler Number 20 is well underway and we are projecting this will appear at the end of May. Daniel H. Jones Plastic Ship Modeler magazine P. O. Box 2183 Arvada, Co 80001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "arthur" Subject: Carrier videos To anyone interested in carriers:- A national supermarket chain has put out a 4 video series called "Carrier" The aviation history of the American Flat-Top. It is produced by Aviation Video International, Tasmanian Technopark, Dowsings Point, Glenorchy, Tasmania, Australia 7010. It covers every CV from the Langley to the latest projections. There is a lot of avaiation footage and it also covers a lot of the more famous actions. The Doolittle Raid is covered in depth in the first video,(there was some questions recently on the list). There is also detailed footage of the ships and the escorting cruisers and destroyers. Whilst the original film is not of the best quality, there are enough stills and cameo footage of ships to make the set a worthwhile reference point to modellers. They retail here for NZD$10-00 each, $40-00 for the set. If anyone is interested in a copy, drop me a line at arfabuck@ps.gen.nz and I will grab what is left and send them on. Arthur NZBG -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Baker Subject: A VERITABLE HOAX (For US subscribers) Having been semi-fooled by a story some months ago that came up again on SMML this week, I thought the following might be of interest to U.S. SMMLrs worried about the alleged legislation in Congress to allow long distance telephone companies to charge for Internet access. Bottom line: it's a hoax (probably concocted by the "vast right-wing conspiracy"). Following E-mail from Vermont Congressman Sanders appeared today on my wife's geneology list-serve. Dave Baker -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Bernie@mail.house.gov >> Sent: Friday, February 26, 1999 12:36 PM Subject: email from Congressman Sanders, re: Internet Access Charges chain email Thank you for contacting me about Internet access charges. I am pleased to inform you that, according to the Federal Communications Commission, there are no such plans to allow local phone companies to charge you a long distance toll for accessing your Internet service provider (ISP). Let me also say that there is no bill before Congress which would impose a tax on internet usage. The confusion stems from a recent ruling by the FCC which said that a substantial portion of Internet traffic is interstate and therefore subject to federal jurisdiction. However, according to the FCC, this decision will not affect your phone bills. In fact, now that the FCC has full jurisdiction over ISP fees, your phone bill can not be affected as the FCC has exempted ISPs from long distance charges. This is FCC policy, as established in 1996, and will not be modified in the foreseeable future. Rest assured that were this policy to change, my fellow Members of Congress and I will do all we can to prevent its implementation. If you would like more information on the FCC's decision please visit: http://www.house.gov/bernie/mail_central/nominute.html Also, the Department of Computer Incident Advisory Capability, a branch of the US Department of Energy that monitors the Internet, has added this Internet Access Charge chain email to its site of Internet hoaxes. This site, which is continually updated, can be accessed at: http://www.house.gov/bernie/mail_central/CIACHoaxes.html I will continue to monitor the situation and, if a long-distance charge is ever seriously proposed for ISP calls, I will be one of its leading opponents. Thank you again for contacting me about this issue, and please do not hesitate to contact me again in the future with any questions or comments. Sincerely, Rep. Bernie Sanders Independent -- Vermont << -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume