Subject: SMML06/06/99VOL568 Date: Mon, 07 Jun 1999 00:34:26 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Anchor Buoy's 2: Re: CSS Arkansas 3: USS Boise et al 4: Re: sub, container ship, etc. 5: Re: BSW Ships 6: Re: Diorama of Hood and PoW 7: Re: SS US & gravity davits 8: Re: ARIADNE Details 9: Re: I'll be at the IPMS(USA) Nats 10: RAN Colours (note correct Commonwealth spelling) 11: Re: IPMS(USA) Nationals 12: Re: Japanese Vosper torpedo boat 13: Re: CSS Arkansas 14: U-99 15: Re: some more 16: Delphis tanker kit 17: 1999 IPMS(USA) Nats 18: Catching up on Decals 19: Gravity Davits 20: Re: 1999 IPMS(USA) Nats 21: U.S.S. Gambier Bay 22: Mine loading hatches on HMS Ariadne -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: New Classic Warships web site 2: New Naval Wargame list/pre-1850 3: WEM PROFESSIONAL UPDATE 4: 1:350 LCT4 kit in preparation 5: APMA webpage update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: ALTON007@aol.com Subject: Anchor Buoy's I'm going to anchor my Salem to a buoy. Does anyone remember if a CA used anchor chain or rope tying up to a buoy? On my DD we used rope if we were staying 3 or 4 days. Thanks .... Andy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Re: CSS Arkansas Hi SMML, I hate it when this happens.... After I sent off my post about the CSS Arkansas, I came upon the Lone Star site, and saw the listing for a 1/192 Arkansas. Has anyone built this kit or another Lone Star Civil War ship? The 1/600 Thoroughbred kit costs $9.00 and the Lone Star kit costs $60.00, so it would be nice to know if the extra money for the latter would be worth it. Thanks, Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Lisa and Bill Wiseman Subject: USS Boise et al Gene, The USS Boise is an "improved" Los Angeles class attack boat (SSN 764). They are the same size (approx) as an LA attack boat but they have 12 cruise missile tubes forward and under ice minelaying capabilities along with internal improvements. Testor / Italieri, as part of their Model Master line, released a Los Angeles Attack boat as a tie in to "The Hunt for Red October". In the kit you got a 1/700 (1/720?) model of the USS Dallas SSN 700 and a model of the "Red October" Typhoon Class SSBN. The kit is out of print but I have seen it at several shows here in the Northeast. You could start with the Dallas and scratch build the cruise missile tube doors on the bow. The external size differences between the standard L.A. class boat and the improved are negligible. Both are 360 ft (109.7m) LOA, 33 ft (10.0m) beam and draft 32 ft (9.75m). The differences are in displacement 7147 tons submerged for the improved vs 6927 for the standard. The only real external differences would be the cruise missile doors on the bow two rows of 4 on the mid line and two pair out board (one pair each side). As for the freighters and others Modelcraft re released an old (frog?) kit of the Shell Welder Coastal tanker. It's' "fit the box scale" at about 1/125. I built it last year; it's not an entirely awful kit but better than average skills are needed to make a decent model out of it. Hope this helps, Doc Wiseman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: sub, container ship, etc. >> I have received a query from an model builder. He is looking for a source for kits of a sub (USS Boise), a container ship, a supertanker, and a modern freighter. Can anyone offer suggestions? << Hi Gene, What scale does he want these in? Depending on that, I might be able to help you with the submarine kit. USS Boise (SSN 764) is a late model 688I class submarine, built at Newport News. In 1:700 the very best kit is Ralph Ratcliffe's limited edition polyurethane resin kit. Can be done as early or late LA, as Ralph provides two different sails, two different propellers and the anhedrals found on the late LAs, like Boise. In 1:350, Blue Water Navy makes an excellent late 688I in resin. There is also a styrene DML (Dragon) version, but it needs some work to correct the stern, and the VLS tubes are not in the right configuration for any 688 except for SSN 719, USS Providence, the original VLS test boat. Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Timothy Dike Subject: Re: BSW Ships Mark Knowlton writes in part; >> I'm amazed at reading the posts on the subject of Mark closing up shop with BSW. When he was producing the ships, he wasn't overly busy with orders for his fine ships and now everyone is wondering why they aren't in production anymore. If you want to see a manufacturer stay around, you have to support them. << I agree that we need to support those manufacturer who are producing what we want. But I only found out about BSW last month, and had just sent him a letter asking if he had a catalog. I was told that he produced the kits I was looking for, but I guess I'm too little too late. >> He probably won't be interested in selling the masters as he wants to build all the individual WW2 ships he can. << I sincerely hope you are wrong, as there is a definite need for the destroyer kits that he offered. I've heard good things about them and I want to build several of them. If BSW is dropping his line due to lack of interest, it might be that there is very little exposure of his kits. I only learned of the existence of this company recently, and have found nothing on the web about them. So are there any other small companies out there lurking that make any 1/700 Benson class DD's? mailto:Cadman@kc.net http://www.kc.net/~cadman/ "A still sea never wrought a skillful sailor" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) Timothy Dike Subject: Re: Diorama of Hood and PoW >> I agree with those who suggest not worrying too much about the distance between the Hood and Prince of Wales in your diorama. I think you're entitled to some license, and, in any event, the two ships really were pretty close; that's why the Germans had no trouble switching their fire to the PoW after the Hood was sunk. << In model railroading terms they call that selective compression, and I see nothing wrong with it, especially when you are modeling ocean. I bet if you were to model the actual scale distance your ships may be in different rooms anyway! mailto:Cadman@kc.net http://www.kc.net/~cadman/ "A still sea never wrought a skillful sailor" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Alicja & David Lombard" Subject: Re: SS US & gravity davits From: crofoot@bfm.org (Crofoot, Christopher) >> Secondly, does anybody have any plan and profile views of SS US? It's a 1/600th kit so I'm not looking for scratchbuilders plans just to see how accurate the deck fittings are. << Abe Taubman has 1:225 plans. >> Alright...a bonus question.... for the benefit of my own curiosity....gravity davits...Exactly how were they deployed. I understand how they looked once "swung out" but how did they move from the stowed to outboard position...by hand crank perhaps? thanks << Gravity davits are required to be capable of being deployed without *any* power, manual or shipboard. The entire movement from stowed position to water is powered by gravity and controlled by a brake on the windlass. While it's possible for one crew member to deploy a boat, two or three is preferred. The davits are arranged on a 45 deg angled track. When the davits are at the top of the track, they're fully inboard. As the davits roll down the track, they move outboard, Just above deck, the track curves down to a vertical orientation, the bottom of the track is just below this curve. As the davits moves through this curve, it rotates, moving the boat outbard of the vessel. Once the boat is at the bottom of the track, the davits have moved down and outboard as much as they are going to. The boats themselves could have a motor, oars, or hand propulsion, a.k.a. "swedish steam". The last one involves a series of vertical "levers" that were simply moved fore and aft. A crank and gear arrangement translated this motion to the propeller shaft. It's more reliable than oars. For more detailing, there is always a wire rope fitted between the davit heads above the boat. Two or more lifelines are suspended from this rope. The lifelines are reach the boat when in the water. There is also a stowed coiled ladder, but that will just appear as a box on deck at the after end of the boat. Gripes and tricing pendants are also present, but perhaps not visible at that scale. David Lombard Rossmoor, Orange County, CA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Steve Sobieralski" Subject: Re: ARIADNE Details >> I am now curious as to the actual shapes of the mine loading hatches and the crane for same. Any and all help is most appreciated. << Bob: There is a detail photo of the builder's model of Ariadne's sister ship Latona in Royal Navy Warship Camouflage 1939-1945 by Peter Hodges (Almark, 1973) which shows the crane and one of the hatches. Steve Sobieralski Hi gang, General question: Just how accurate is Peter Hodge's book now. I have access to a copy (since I can't find one of my own) & would like to use it in the future. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: I'll be at the IPMS(USA) Nats I'll be there if the world doesn't cave in. (It did a couple of years back. Transmission blew on the van so I had to stay home. I lost my room deposit, entry fee and banquet tickets. I'm not griping, that's just what happened). I'm currently scheduled this year to do one ship seminar. Check out the IPMS home page for the schedule. I hope to see everyone there. Also, what is the status of the 1/700 destroyer build? How many should I expect? Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. IPMS head ship judge http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: John Snyder Subject: RAN Colours (note correct Commonwealth spelling) Well, well. We just turned up some information on RAN WW2 colours, and have more on the way. Not surprisingly, they're basically Admiralty colours, but the cross-referencing between early and replacement colours, and color descriptions are useful. But here's a question for those of you in Oz: Any idea of the precise shade of "Chicago Blue" and "Sky Blue"? These are ostensibly both ship colours, from Defense Ministry sources. John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys Hi John, Good to see you using the correct spelling ;->>. As to your query, I'll try & find out some more at next week's APMA meeting. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: IPMS(USA) Nationals I'll be there, at a table between Steve Wiper of Classic Warships and Mike Czibovic of Corsair Armada. A SMML get-together of some kind is a good idea. John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Jean-Cyrille WAAG" Subject: Re: Japanese Vosper torpedo boat There is a Maru Specials about this boat: N° 13: Patrol boats & landing support ships Hope this helps Jean-Cyrille -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: CSS Arkansas >> It turns out a friend had an ancestor on the Civil War warship CSS Arkansas, and would like a model of it. I see that Thoroughbred Models has a 1/600 kit of the Arkansas; is that the only one out there? I thought Lone Star Models made some kits of Civil War-era warships, but I can't find anything on it. << Hi Art: Lone star indeed makes a 1/192 scale CSS Arkansas. It's their model number LSM0031 for $60. Has a 2 piece hull, white metal parts. Mike West's website is: http://www.lonestarmodels.com You can fax a credit card order to him at 281-242-4481 Tell Mike I said hello and that he'd better get that new Passaic Monitor kit afloat or I'll come down to Texas and kick him in the slats :-) Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "David Zimmerman" Subject: U-99 Dear Fellow Ship Modlers: A friend has asked our help in locatining information on U-Boat 99. He needs the colors for the hull, deck, conning tower and so forth. He also needs information on any special markings the ship had. If you have any information please let me know. Thanks David -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Erwin Van Deynze Subject: Re: some more >> 10.) You check the ingredients on a can of chicken noodle soup to see if it contains echinacea. << Not here in Belgium! We check on PCB's and dioxine now. (What's for dinner tommorrow? There's isn't anything left in the shops !) Wienne (Not starving yet, because I'm the only one in the family who likes fish ;-) ) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: CHRIS DRAGE Subject: Delphis tanker kit Hi Gang, I am interested in the Delphis resin tanker model Iridio Mantovani (a lovely kit by all accounts) but haven't any background history to the ship or her sister ships: Franco Martelli, Giulio Giordani, Sergio Laghi. Can anyone offer any leads to information, references, photos or drawings which will help me ascertain whether I can put this Italian, W.W.II, motor tanker into a diorama with RN vessels involved in some way? Cheers! (Incidentally, due to the rather inclement and unseasonal weather we are experiencing over here, C.C. has, sadly, shelved all bikinis in the bottom drawer - any 'modelling' is right out of the question) Regards, Chris He tao rakau e taea te karo, tena he tao kupa kaore e taea te karo.... (Te reo Maori) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Duane Fowler Subject: 1999 IPMS(USA) Nats Hello Craig, I'm planning on being there. Would anybody be interested in a SMML lunch or dinner like we had last year? Best regards, Duane Fowler (P.S. If John shows up in his sailor's uniform like he did last year, I just might bring mine along too. Gotta show the USCG colors too!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Duane Fowler Subject: Catching up on Decals Hello All, Please let me extend my deepest apologies for taking so long to fill some of the decal orders I have received. I was recently sent overseas by my "day job" and fell quite far behind on creating and filling orders for decals. I am only now catching up. Thank you all for your extreme patience and I hope I have not inconvenienced anyone too much. Best regards, Duane Fowler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: Duane Fowler Subject: Gravity Davits Gravity davits were designed to be operated by - gravity. Actually they were electrically operated but in the event of electrical failure, they were designed to slide down their tracks and extend when they reached the bottom end. Most had a automatic breaking system to prevent them from deploying too fast. If you look at the them from fore or aft, you will see that the lifeboat is suspended from the davit arms which are attached to a carriage. The carriage is on a frame with inclined rails. When the boat is deployed, the carriage slides down the rails to the end. A pin on the base of the davit arm is engaged and causes the davits to pivot outward, unshipping the lifeboat and hanging it at the proper level for boarding - or at least that is how it is supposed to work. Several books on ocean liners have diagrams of these style of davits. Best regards, Duane Fowler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: Bruce Burden Subject: Re: 1999 IPMS(USA) Nats >> In a month or so the' 99 IPMS(USA) Nationals in Orlando are taking place and I am going to it and looking forward to it. Is any one else going? Perhaps we SMMLies could meet. << There is a rms (rec.models.scale) social scheduled for Thursday(?) evening around 7:00. That might be a good time to meet. Past experience indicates around 12 folks show up. (Like me, the rest probably forget the date/time!). I believe the Nats web page has the scheduled for the rms social, and I would encourage all interested parties to verify the date and time. Yeah, do your own research, thats the ticket! :-) Bruce -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: RGSPEMKT@aol.com Subject: U.S.S. Gambier Bay If anyone on this list has built the 1/16" scale Gambier Bay model, or has the kit and is planning to build it, please email me off-list. I have a few questions about the kit I'd like to ask before I purchase one. Thanks in advance, John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "Robert Lockie" Subject: Mine loading hatches on HMS Ariadne I have a set of plans acquired from a fellow-SMMLie in NZ (Thanks, Arthur) which show the loading hatches and cranes on Ariadne well. I can put copies of the relevant sections in the post if you like. The Warship Profile of Abdiel class minelayers also has plans which show both features. Robert Lockie Cambridge UK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: New Classic Warships web site Go to the Warship home page and click on the Classic Warships banner. It takes you to nice interactive web site where you can order kits and accessories as well as see photos of some Steve's kits. The url is: http://warship.simplenet.com/classic.htm Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Minadmiral@aol.com Subject: New Naval Wargame list/pre-1850 Hi; I am starting a new discussion list. > WoodenWalls@onelist.com<. The intent is to discuss naval wargaming from the ancient period thru the Crimean War. We will cover miniatures, boardgames, and computer games. The emphasis, though, will be on miniatures and boardgames. A naval boardgame is one where you use a piece of cardboard instead of a miniature, in fact most naval boardgames can be played with miniatures. I mean, of course, most tactical boardgames. Strategic games usually use a counter to represent more than 1 ship, this makes it hard to use for miniatures. Not impossible, usually, just hard. We will be discussing both tactical as well as strategic boardgames. Welcome abord and furnish your own boarding pike. Chuck Duggie -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: WEM PROFESSIONAL UPDATE Hi! Please check out the latest update to my "Professional 700" pages at the following location. Many new pics of items such as Twin and Quad Bofors, Twin Oerlikons and Pedestals, single bofors and more. I have also added "Euro" prices as well as worldwide prices. http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/professional/wempro.htm Thanks! Caroline Carter http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/index.htm White Ensign Models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Tim Perry" Subject: 1:350 LCT4 kit in preparation Hi all, I am in the final stages of preparing my first resin naval kit, of a British Landing Craft Tank 4, in 1:350 scale. This model has been previewed by Rob Mackie and this can be seen along with a couple of photos at: http://warship.simplenet.com To help me gauge production volumes, and hence the final price, I would be very grateful if anyone interested in this vessel can either contact me off list, or drop a line to Caroline and Dave at White Ensign Models at white.ensign.models@dial.pipex.com Thanks, Tim Perry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Shane Subject: APMA webpage update Hi gang, Well, I've nearly finished a major update to the APMA homepage, with just a few more model scans to go. The update consists of more club member's model pics (including fellow SMMLie & APMA Treasurer: Simon Wolff's kits, which include HMS Sheffield). Sample articles from the APMA magazine over the last few years & an update on the NSW Challenge Shield. So pop over to: http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/apma.htm & enjoy. Regards, Shane APMA VP -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume