Subject: SMML02/04/99VOL503 Date: Fri, 02 Apr 1999 23:58:03 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Skywave Sumner and Gearing responses 2: What Do I Build Next 3: Re: USS ALABAMA 4: Re: 40mm guns for Fletchers 5: HMS Loosestrife 6: About Detail & Scale and Popoffkas 7: Re: Alabama color 8: RADFORD REDUX 9: Rubber molds 10: Re: 1/1200 scale!!!!!! 11: Re: Carrier deck paint scheme 12: Re: "flare" vs "sheer" 13: Sea War 1939-45 book 14: Re: Tamiya FLETCHER Camo Plan 15: 1:72 fittings 16: Spruance masts and ladders -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: US Subs in Action 2: Warship Perspectives 3: SMMLie in the new Internet Modeler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS Happy Easter to all SMMLies Shane & Lorna Jenkins -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "FERNANDO, YOHAN" Subject: Re: Skywave Sumner and Gearing responses Hello, Thanks to everyone for responding to my question and clarifying what exactly is wrong with these hulls and ways to correct them. Now, all the problems are clear as day! Unfortunately, I built my Sumner almost 2 1/2 years ago, so fixing it now is pretty much out of the question. Perhaps if I get around to building another one I will work to make it more accurate. Yohan Fernando -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: ALTON007@aol.com Subject: What Do I Build Next I'm 3/4 the way through the building of the Salem and my thoughts are starting to turn to whats next. I'm thinking of a CVE. What is the best 1/350 kit out there on the sea's? I once saw one 33" long on the net and the hull was made out of balsa wood but cant fine it now. Any ideas out there? Also someone today wrote about more 1/200 kits. I would love to make them over 1/350 kits as IM paying more on eye glass that kits........ Thanks Andy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: USS ALABAMA Yes, she would have had her decks painted Deck Blue 20-B. John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Rick Heinbaugh Subject: Re: 40mm guns for Fletchers Dave Krakow wrote: >> I am thinking about completing my 1:700 scale Fletcher in time for the Nationals this year. What are my aftermarket parts options for the 40mm Bofors? Will WEM have their "Professional" 1:700 scale brass kit available anytime soon? Also what etched brass sets would be appropriate for other Fletcher details? << I know of sets available from Gold Medal Models, Tom's Modelworks & Flagship Models, each tailored for US DD/DEs. Additionally, Eduard makes one for USS San Juan CLAA 54. Obviously, you can't use all the pieces from that set, but many work. Eduard's shields and platforms for quad 40s are great.(Then it's up to the modeller to pick a plastic gun to use... (Skywave's gun is pretty, but it might be a tad too large) The set also has nice double-etched doors and searchlight lenses, bracing for the bottom of the s/l platforms, torpedo tube enhancements, both air search & surface search radars and lots of railings and ladders. I don't think the stern depth charge rails are as nice as GMM. And the platform and antenna for the 5" director radar is not as intricate as the one in the Tom's Modelworks set, but appears to be a smidgen easier to use. Toms' set has more character to the railings with more diagonal supports at the stanchions. The depth charge racks for the sides of the ship (K-guns?) are nicest on Tom's & Flagship's, though Tom's are so fine that if your watchmaking skills are short, you may scrunch things in progress. Flagship's are sturdier, but still have good shape and nice detail. (Make sure you get paint on the inside of these folding structures; you can see inside them easily.) 20mms are made differently by each mfr, you have to pick & choose. Flagship has very nice davits, but only two and a Fletcher needs four, and Flagship's propeller guards are easier to use than Tom's, though the construction is less accurate for those with hi-powered magnification and good light. Flagship has slanted rails for the bow, but they are flat-bottomed, so conforming to the curve of the sheer is up to you. GMM's bow rails are curved and the stanchions are slanted. GMM also has liferings. Tom's has the nices railings on inclined ladders; Flagship's stanchions on the inclied ladders are properly slanted and GMM's are perpendicular. Nobody has the amidships spray shield for a Fletcher; Flagship & Tom's have it for a DE. You can make it from .0010" sheet plastic. What a selection! Is this a great hobby or what? Thanks, Loren, Tom, Rusty and ..Mr. Eduard(?) Rick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: CHRIS DRAGE Subject: HMS Loosestrife Happy Easter to all SMMLies! I have been trying to research HMS Loosestrife (Flower Class) but can find very little apart from the one photo and camo drawing (both '44) in the Flower Class Ensign book. I am adapting a WEM Buttercup and need to know: 1. Was she equipped for oropesa mine sweeping in '44? 2. Were the four sponsons holding the 20mm Oerlikons arranged symmetrically down the aft deck house or were they staggered as is shown in the aerial photo of HMS Azelea? Any help most gratefully accepted. From the south coast of England in 18 degrees of sunshine. Roll on the summer! Regards, Chris He tao rakau e taea te karo, tena he tao kupa kaore e taea te karo.... (Te reo Maori) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "F J Hueso" Subject: About Detail & Scale and Popoffkas Following my post about Detail & Scale I'm sorry to say that Mr. Walkowiak send me today a mail confirming the bad news: No books. About Poppofkas, Model Shipwright 104 includes an article about them by P. Akkerman which is very detailed an rather curious, as it includes details on how they were docked. As for colours, he stated underwater red lead, hull black and grey, decks matt grey, superstructure, boats, funnels and platforms pale yellow, interior of boats and guns black. His main reference the same quoted by Falk Pletscher;: Warship International 1974 -III. If someone is interested in that article let me know. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Dave Judy Subject: Re: Alabama color Thom, Yes Ms22 does call for weather deck blue 20-b. Dave Judy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Baker Subject: RADFORD REDUX Mr. Grune today kindly mentioned the RADFORD entry in my column in the USNI PROCEEDINGS, so perhaps I may be given space for a short update (the lead-time for the column is such that it is handed in just a bit over a month before the issue is published). RADFORD is to be repaired at the Norfolk Navy Yard, and the cost has now been determined to be about $35 million, quite a bit lower than the initial, quick USN estimate. Close-ups of the damage in dry dock show that the bow bulb of the SAUDI RIYADH punched right through the RADFORD's hull, and you can see daylight right through her; it may have been an optical illusion, but it also appeared that the entire bow, forward of the collision point is bent to starboard by a couple of degrees. Should be an interesting repair job, but certainly not an impossible one. Cheers/A.D. Baker, III -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "J. Lamontagne" Subject: Rubber molds Can anyone steer me to a good source for rubber mold casting materials as well as instruction books/ pamphlets? Canada and U.S. Thanks John Lamontagne Monty@recorder.ca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: 1/1200 scale!!!!!! I know! I know! I meant 1/1200 not 1/200 for metal kits in my earlier post. Crap, I sure wouldn't want to fool the guy who would carry in a 1/200 metal Yamato! Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Carrier deck paint scheme >> Can someone give me some ideas on how to handle the markings on the flight deck. I am doing the Revell Yorktown. << Darrell, I would recommend getting the Floating Dry-dock book on "Camouflage 2, Fleet Carriers." It's one of the best reference books for the money out there. I believe less than $12.00. It covers every Camo. Scheme for every class of carrier during WW2 and covers deck colors. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com Subject: Re: "flare" vs "sheer" >> Another problem I noticed with the Skywave Gearing kit was the freeboard (I hope that's the right term) on the bow. The bow freeboard was way too extreme. Gearings and Sumners had very little curve from the deck to the keel while the Skywave kit had a very extreme curve. << >> Actually, I think the term you are searching for is "flare" and the Skywave Gearing and Sumner hulls do indeed have way to much of it. In reality, if we are talking about the same problem that most modelers find disturbing about the kits, the correct term is not ³flare² [A spreading outward.] the opposite of ³tumblehome² [The inward inclination of the sides of a ship above the waterline.] but it is ³sheer² [The longitudinal upward curve of the deck of a vessel when view from the side.]. << Actually Hugh, I do know the difference. The problem referred to in the first posting (curve from deck edge to keel - or waterline) is "flare" as I stated - and the Skywave has this problem also, as well as the angled sheerline! There are TWO major problems with the hull shape - too much flare at the bow and the angled sheer line! Of the two, the bow flare is the easier to correct, a matter of adding filler and reshaping. Both of the problems are dealt with in the previously referenced article by Larry Gertner in PSM. Daniel Jones -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: DILIANE@aol.com Subject: Sea War 1939-45 book Hi! Just to let you know about a book I recently bought at a Barnes and Knobles. It is called A Pictorial History Sea War 1939-1945. It is put together by Paul Kemp and Arms and Armor press. The ISBN is 1 86019 8570. It is an excellent book, with many fine photographs. Especially of British ships, which isn't too surprising, as it was printed in London. It runs about 192 pages, and every page has great photo's. Try it, you'll like it. Jim Campbell Chippewa Falls, WI which is close to being half way between the equator and north pole. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: Tamiya FLETCHER Camo Plan Jon: They're in the mail--with some pencilled annotations. Compliments, John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "STEWART DAVIS" Subject: 1:72 fittings Hi there, I'm trying to source 1:72 scale ship fittings for WW2 ships. This includes weapons. If you can point me in the right direction please. Thanks, Stewart Davis -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Jens H. Brandal" Subject: Spruance masts and ladders Be greeted SMMLies near and far, I have been battling with the masts of Dragon's Spruance the last days, and the notorious Dragon fit (or lack of it) has yet again tried my patience. The problem was getting the middle platforms (part nos K13 and K20) to line up with the lower in side view, front and aft and then the centerline of the ship. Ignore the holes in the platforms, fill them with plastic rod and sand smooth. Sand the attachments on the mast tops and then glue the platforms to the tops of the rods, carefully aligning them in all three directions by eye. The hole for the single pole mast on the aft mast (part. no F29) may need some drilling up to make things square up. The front one (part L1) lined up no problem, but the "nodes" in the framework below the lower platform will leave gaps best taken care of with super glue. The top of part E23 is too mushroom-shaped from what I can see of my references, so maybe a resin copy of part K7 will do the job? Anyway, on to the ladders. Using the photo on page 29 of "Modern Naval Combat", I managed to find two cut outs in platforms 2 and 3 (counting 1 as the lower) on the aft mast where the ladder went up to these levels. I can find no such reference on the fore mast, and the kit shows the no.3 platform (part F28) has a brace (part E18) that apparently supports the platform on the centerline. This will obscure the ladder if it is run forward of the mast, and there doesn't seem to be much room aft of the mast for a platform either. Can anyone shed some light on this? A scanned image would be welcome, but should be sent in private email to save bandwidth. Happy Easter to all! Jens Yes, please don't send pictures to me to be included in SMML. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Doremus, Mark" Subject: US Subs in Action I have an extra copy of Squadron's "US Subs in Action". Good condition, purchased last spring. Would like to trade for Squadron's "Fletchers in Action". Email at mddoremus@aol.com or mark.doremus@itron.com for more information. Mark -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: WRPRESSINC@aol.com Subject: Warship Perspectives On yesterdays list there was mention of retail prices for copies of warship perspectives titles, which was a small mistake. The titles are available from hobby shops and book shops who set there own retail prices. While on the subject of titles. matters are proceeding apace with the forthcoming Flower Corvette volume authored by John Lambert. There will be a section that includes for the first time a large amount of identification data worn by R/N vessels in the form of funnel bands, emblems, numbers etc, etc. There will also be over two dozen camouflage designs illustrated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Bob Pearson Subject: SMMLie in the new Internet Modeler Greetings all, Well you now have a chance to see the work of our esteemed host Shane Jenkins. Just head on over to Internet Modeler to see his 1/700 Krivak . . and in the new releases section is the volume on the Atlanta Class Cruisers by Glenn Arnold. Regards, Bob Pearson Managing Editor / Internet Modeler http://www.internetmodeler.com/ Bob forgot to mention his own work in this months IM, with a fine profile of the Krivak, amongst other fine profiles. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume