Subject: SMML26/04/99VOL527 Date: Tue, 27 Apr 1999 00:19:52 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: ANZAC DAY 2: Re: What to get for my first resin model 3: USS TICONDEROGA CV/CVA-14 4: WEM Warspite 5: Re: SMML Across America 6: Re: What to get for my first resin model 7: USN WW2 catapults 8: Kurt Greiner's "ShipAmerica" trek 9: More CIWS commentary 10: Re: SMML across America 11: Upping the Ante: Skywave I-400 12: 1:72 scale aircraft carrier decks 13: Re: Pre-war Caribbean Colors 14: Help needed 15: Re: SMML Across American (and Canada?) 16: Haze grey & Radar development WW2 17: SMML FAQ & Website -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: USS Pine Island & USS Randall -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Kcompany@webtv.net (Marvin Reichman) Subject: Re: ANZAC DAY After WWII ended I was sent from The Phillipine Islands to Okayama, Japan where I served with Australian troops who were part of The Commonealth Forces stationed there. We had a great time and really enjoyed our escapades. I join you in remembering the men and women who are not with us today. May they live forever in our memories. Marvin O.Reichman K Company 21st Infantry Thanks Marvin: Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Michael Quan" Subject: Re: What to get for my first resin model In reply to Louis Costanzo who inquired about "What to get for my first resin model", IMOHO, he can do no better than to purchase one of WEM's Fl***er corvettes, either HMS Buttercup or HMS Bluebell. Though not either a CA nor CL, they are comparatively inexpensive to start with, ($25.07 as of today in USD), have unsurpassed instruction and camouflage sheets for guidance, are very complete, including PE, and spares, (should one botch up anything from a funnel lost in the shag rug, to wrestling a PE rail into a small knot), are readily available to start the process once again. This is my recommendation for getting used to working in resin and without resorting to the aftermarket or plastic kits for add-ons or better replacement parts. One "taking the (CA) plunge" could do no better than "tasting the waters" with a (PG) kit that has the greatest chance of providing the satisfaction of trouble-free completion. BTW: I am not connected with WEM in any way other than as a very happy customer of their products. PS: Kudos to Michael Eisenstadt for his superlative description of Washington DC Naval Things to Do! Mike Quan, in a somewhat dreary Garland Texas! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Jerry Slagle Subject: USS TICONDEROGA CV/CVA-14 I was on board the TICONDEROGA 65-67 and would like to build a model of her in the CVA configuration. I would also like to build her in the WWII configuration about the time frame of when she was hit by a Kamikaze, in early 45. Can anyone suggest which kits would be the best to build. Thanks in advance, Jerry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Alan Lindstrom" Subject: WEM Warspite I second and third everything that was said in the last issue on the WEM Warspite. Truly beautiful. And for less than US$90 the price is very reasonable considering everything that comes with the kit. The deck planking is so fine that I can barely see it without the aid of a strong light or with a magnifying glass (admittedly my eyes aren't the best). And the splinter shields, overhanging decks, and breakwaters are incredibably thin. Great instructions with both sides of the camo pattern and a lot of very fine brass. Excellent job of packing too. You know they have done there research so if your're short on time like me, you can have the confidence of knowing you've got an accurate replica out of the box. ONE WORD OF WARNING. When you open the box there is a note saying to be careful handling the hull because of the fragile detail. Take this seriously!!!!! The flip side of having in-scale splinter shields, etc. is that they can easily damaged if you are not careful. My copy of the hull had about a 2mm protusion under the bow left over from the casting and in the process of sanding this off my clumsy fingers have already done some damage. If you want to drill out the portholes you will also need to handle the hull firmly, so again, be careful. Other than a this caution for the less dexterious among us, WEM has again raised the bar with this effort. Alan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Kenneth H. Goldman" Subject: Re: SMML Across America Regarding Tom Dougherty's post in volume 526: Nice try, Tom. You almost have me wanting to take my next vacation back East. At least I won't have to worry about currency conversion, passports, and driving on the wrong side of the road. Or will I? :-}) I remember my dad's using his Navy ID to take me to the Brooklyn Navy Yard back in the fifties where we went aboard Gato. Maybe that is why I like to build submarine models today. Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER http://www.wman.com/~khgold/ In Southern California where last weekend it was the middle of summer and this weekend it's winter again. ARRRRRRGGHHHH! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Timothy Dike Subject: Re: What to get for my first resin model >> Well, I'm going to take the plunge and get my first resin model. I want to get something relatively inexpensive, in 1:700 scale, say $50-70. I've been looking at a couple of CA's: the Corsair Armada USS Northampton, and the Accurate image USS Salem. What do you think of these ships? Northampton got excellent reviews on the warships site. What other ships in this area would you reccomend? (CA's and CL's) I have some experience with photo etch but I'm not what you would call a master and as I said before this is my first of this sort of kit. I'm a bit aprehensive about spending this kind of cash on one ship, so I want to make a good choice! << I've been told that you should start small for your first resin kit, but for my first I went with the Classic Warships 1/700 USS Helena CL50. This kit proved to be a good choice as it is very finely cast, and went together with a minimum of flash removal. Since it is my first resin kit, I have put off finishing it until I have had a little more practice at applying photo-etch details and rigging. I would try putting PE on some cheaper kits before you tried it on one of those kits. I have heard good things about the kits that you mention above and am sure either would be a good choice. I just received the Corsair Armada USS Phoenix/Honolulu and if the Northampton is anything like this kit, then it would make a great start. I don't know how carried away you plan to get, but would recommend getting a set of plans and any other reference material you can get your hands on. But most importantly, take your time and have fun. mailto:Cadman@kc.net http://www.kc.net/~cadman/ "A still sea never wrought a skillful sailor" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Robert Lockie" Subject: USN WW2 catapults As I recollect, a few weeks ago someone posted a query about USN catapults. I have just acquired the August 1987 issue of Fine Scale Modeler, which contains an article and plans (in 1/48) on the affair. The plans were drawn by a chap who illustrates Navy TMs for Raytheon and look pretty impressive, although I have yet to compare them with the photos I took on USS Alabama. I forget whether this source was mentioned at the time but it may be of assistance. Robert Lockie Cambridge UK (Who also plays with the tanks at Duxford when he gets the opportunity but missed out on Chris Hughes's ANZAC biscuits due to domestic duties this week...) Robert, he said they were "yum". So you'll have to beg him for some more ;->>. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: BSteinIPMS@aol.com Subject: Kurt Greiner's "ShipAmerica" trek I had to fly to Tampa, Florida, last week on business, and I spent three days in nearby St. Petersburg at Albert Whitted airport. During a lull in activity, I noticed a U.S. Coast Guard station across the street from the airport, and what appeared to be a conning tower/sail of a submarine. I didn't have much time to explore, but in walking across to investigate, I was astonished to find what appeared to be a Russian "Juliet" class nuclear submarine on public display. Above and below decks tours were being conducted for the meagre sum of $8.00 U.S. Painted satin black with a bogus red star on the sail, the sub looked menacing and lethal nonetheless. Wish I had more information, but apparantly the quintessential secrets of yesterday are the marketable commodities of today, thanks to the magic of the American dollar. Perhaps Dave Baker has the inside track on this one. Bob Steinbrunn Minneapolis (where in disbelief he sits on his back deck, grilling chicken and bratwurst in 72 degree weather, reflecting on the purity of the crystal clear sky and the goodness of Killian's Red in his magic frosted mug......) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: SWO77@aol.com Subject: More CIWS commentary Rick Heinbaugh's comments re: the noise a Phalanx CIWS makes are absolutely true...never heard the zipper analogy before, but that about sums it up. To add to Rick's comments, if you stand reasonably close to it while it is firing, you *feel* as if your heart has stopped and your lungs feel, for lack of a better term, compressed. Quite an exciting experience, but not recommended:) Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: SeaPhoto@aol.com Subject: Re: SMML across America Hello Everyone, First, I would like to thank everyone who is helping out with my trip - your advice is really appreciated! When I made my original posting, I neglected to account for the lag in posting and replying, so I missed several good Texas recommendations, including the statehouse BB-35 model. Well, live and learn, so here I sit, in Mobile, Alabama - going to tour the 1:1 Alabama on Monday, and from there, it's off to Pensacola. Tuesday or Wednesday should find me at the Kennedy Space Center (OK, so they are not ALL ship stops . Then next ship stops are Jacksonville Florida, and then on to Savannah Georgia, with a possible detour to Athens Georgia. From there, Charleston SC, Wilmington NC and Norfolk VA. Washington and the rest of the East coast follows as long as my stamina holds out. Today to my trip meter just cracked the 4000 mile mark! (Good thing the gas prices are cheaper in the East!) Now, to put a little back in the pot, here is what I have found: (This might be a useful thread to put in the FAQ, because I intend to ID the major US Naval Ship Models I find along the way for future reference) (sounds good to me: Shane) In Fredericksburg, at the Nimitz Museum A very nice 1/192 scale USS Arizona by FineArt Models. My first chance to see their work and it is top rate. A 1/72 scale USS Nimitz built on the old Super Ships Hull R/C model that is on permanent display. At the USS Texas museum in La Porte, there were no significant ship models that I could find, but the ship itself is in pretty good shape, considering her age. At the Kidd Museum in Baton Rouge, there are a number of nice models. For the Naval enthusiast, the standouts would have to be: 1:48 scale model of the USS New Orleans (CA-32?; don't have my references with me), 1:48 scale model of the USS Kidd These are both builders' models. There is also a engineering model, in 1 1/2 inch to the foot (!) of the midships section of a Fletcher Class DD, showing all compartments, cable runs, piping, etc. Appears to be a Gibbs and Cox model. Complete with stacks, the model has to be easily 14 feet long, 3 feet wide, 7 or 8 feet high (approximately). Additionally, some mention has to be made of the incredible state of the Kidd - she is even better than when I saw her 5 years ago. We are talking a near total restoration to the way she looked on August 1, 1945, down to personal items in cabins, magazines and cartridge bags for the 20mm guns, gunsites for the 40 mm, helmets with straps in racks, floater nets in baskets, and much more. Easily the best DD museum in the US, perhaps the best warship period. If you like Fletchers, you owe it to yourself to visit sometime. Again, my thanks to the many of you who have (and hopefully will continue) to contribute to this thread. I am reading all of your suggestions, and will try and incorporate as many as possible into my trip. Cheers from the road! Kurt In Mobile, where it is 85 degrees and very, very humid. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Dboykap@aol.com Subject: Upping the Ante: Skywave I-400 Thru the good graces of Bill Gruner & Pacific Front Hobbies, I have just received the new Skywave I-400 in 1/700. I'll leave a review to the more esteemed among us but for a few comments. If you liked the I-13/14, you're gonna love this. The same level of fine detail taken one step further. Skywave has molded the deck and sail so that the front hatch to the watertight hangar can be displayed in either the open or closed position. The detail extends to both the inside of the hatch as well as the recess in the deck that would have allowed the hatch to swing open to starboard. Plus, the sail is hollowed out. Skywave actually recommends, via diagrams, scratch building the floor of the compartment with plastic card so as to display a Seiran with folded wings inside the hangar. The Seiran is included, along with 14 CM deck gun, 25 MM AA, props, shafts, cranes, etc., on the same sprue that was included in the I-13/14 kit. Two subs are included. There are, in my opinion, only two real problems with the kit. One, the same deck gun from the Leviathan kit is far superior. Strange, given that Skywave gets everything else so right. Second, by extension, the I-13/14 kits are in error as the catapult in these kits extends to the very base of the sail. Nor is there a recess for the hatch door. Oh, well. Out with the razor blade......... Dan Kaplan, NYC (63*F and a beautiful spring Sunday.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: gjstein@mindspring.com Subject: 1:72 scale aircraft carrier decks Has anyone in the SMML community developed a home-PC-based attempt to "draw" a downloadable 1:72 flight deck? Logically, it would seem fairly easy and would provide a base on which to display a/c. Yes, I now we could buy commercial decks at six times the cost of the aircraft, or pirate resin/plaster copies of the Hasegawa flight deck. I looking for something simple. Any ideas? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: Pre-war Caribbean Colors The colors in use depend on how "pre-war" you have in mind. Camouflage measures were being developed and implemented even before the U.S. entry into the war. However, the light-colored pre-war scheme you're probably referring to consisted of #5 Standard Navy Gray on vertical surfaces, and #20 Standard Deck Gray on all metal horizontal surfaces; wooden decks would have been holystoned on all but carriers, which had flight decks stained mahogany. Our USN Paint Chip Set #1 has #5 Standard Navy Gray and #20 Standard Deck Gray, while our USN Paint Chip Set #2 has the Mahogany Flight Deck Stain. John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Pletscher-Lenz-Schneider" Subject: Help needed Can anyone give me an e-mail address or the Fax-number of East View Publications in Minneapolis? Thanks Falk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: jakloek@kodak.com Subject: Re: SMML Across American (and Canada?) Depending on how you return from the east coast........There is a nice museum in Buffalo, NY. Present are the USS Little Rock (Cleveland hull but in missle cruiser configuration), USS The Sullivans (Fletcher DD) and a submarine (not sure which one.) If you make it to Buffalo, then you should for sure detour to Toronto, where there is a Tribal Class destroyer, HMCS Haida. James Kloek -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: BillBramha@aol.com Subject: Haze grey & Radar development WW2 Two inquiries: 1.) Can anyone suggest a match for (WW2) haze gray other than the discontinued Floquil one? 2.) Anyone know a reliable reference source for the history of radar development in WW2? Hi Bill, For a good rundown of radar development chase up the following articles from Conway's Warship quarterly/now annual: Cruiser electronics RN/USN Warship Vol 6 pp 74 1978 Cruiser electronics RN/USN Warship Vol 9 pp 46 1979 Radar Development in the Royal Navy 1935-45 Pt 1 Warship Vol 13 pp 2 1980 Radar Development in the Royal Navy 1935-45 Pt 2 Warship Vol 14 pp 117 1980 These will get the list going, as I'm pretty sure there's more on this topic. Regards, Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Shane Subject: SMML FAQ & Website Hi SMMLies, Well I've got some volounteers to help out with the FAQ. What I would like from the rest of you is suggestions about what YOU would like in it. Just post it here & we'll sort out what goes in, bearing in mind that the FAQ will grow over time. Also since I've got the APMA site(Blatent plug) up & running, I can devote some more time to the SMML site. Hopefully in the next week or so, I'll have all the back issues up & I will then be able to update them on a weekly basis, but I'll see how I go. I might be able to get a few zip files going as well, to save downloading 500 odd back issues. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: USS Pine Island & USS Randall The Seaplane tender and the Attack Transport are ported at "The Naval Base" for 19.95@ You can find these out of prod. kits under Amphib & Support at: http://www.modelshipbuilding.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume