Subject: SMML19/06/99VOL581 Date: Sat, 19 Jun 1999 23:58:02 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Viking ASPB 2: Re: Travel 3: Landing Craft and others 4: Re: Mediterranean theatre 5: GALVESTON Stuff, still dawdling in... 6: Revell Olympia?? 7: Re: Travel 8: New subscriber 9: Belts for Dremel saw 10: Re: HMTS Olympic color schemes 11: Re: Travel 12: Fighting Steel 13: Re: Argo 14: Arms & Armour Press 15: USS Washingto BB-56 16: New subscriber -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: For sale: WASA BATTLE STATION 2: New Arrivals AND 1/600 News 3: RN Colours -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Ed Grune Subject: Viking ASPB Hello SMMLies: Mike Leonard wrote ... >> The other models in this series are a River Patrol Boat (PBR) Mark 2 and a Light SEAL Support Craft (LSSC). Can a PCF "Swift Boat" be far behind? << Well, I don't know about a Swift Boat, but in Dan Joplin's previous life (BV - Before Viking), he made the both the PBR and the LSSC. He also made a Monitor which I'd expect to see out before the Swift. The Monitor isn't too bad - but it needs a few bags of Evergreen rod stock to make the bar armor. The forward turret looks like it came from a disposable salt shaker -- too tall & too narrow. The anchor winch frame needed to be re-built and all the gun barrels replaced with ROCO weapons. The big cargo area also suffers from its emptiness -- it needs something to close it off. A few years back (BV) - when I bought the monitor from Dan at the Arlington, TX show, he said that the ASPB and Swift were in the works. Ed Mansfield, TX Shane -- too bad about the cold there. Its been beautiful here, but then again I'm sure you were laughing in the warmth at the description of the snow plough wars from last Northern Hemisphere's winter. We'll be complaining about the heat soon enough. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Mike Settle Subject: Re: Travel >> I will be traveling from Philadelphia to New Bern, NC, thence to Hilton Head, SC, from there to Atlanta, GA, and back home to Philly in the second week of July. Besides the USS North Carolina and the CSS Neuse, are there any sights to see close to these destinations? << The Beaufort Maritime Museum in Beaufort, NC, about 30 or 35 miles from New Bern is nice. It is small, but quite a few models on display. The models are mostly sail or coastal type vessels. The last time I was there they had a 1/48th scale Fletcher class destroyer on display. This was about 4 years ago, and the model was on loan, so I doubt that it is there now. Beaufort is an old coastal fishing village. Many of the houses were built in the late 1700s-early 1800s and are now historical sites. The Cape Lookout lighthouse is also near Beaufort. You can check out the Beaufort Maritime Museum web page at: http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/maritime/default.htm Mike Settle -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Cooper, Mike" Subject: Landing Craft and others Dear All I mentioned an IPMS Landing Craft Special Interest Group for the UK. Contact is: Allen Hill, 29 Huntington Wat, Tyoch, Swansea SA2 9HN Other SMML-related Groups are Carriers - Paul smith, 26 Sherbourne ave, Bradley Stoke South, Bristol BS12 8BB Battleships - Nigel Denchfield, 12 Monte LOng Close, March, Cambs. PE15 9DW Cruisers - Graham Walker, 249 Horniglow Rd North, Burton upon Trent staffs, DE13 0ST (And I haven't forgotten your stuff Graham!) Fleet air arm - Martin Hale, 25 Cromwell Rd, Parkstone, Poole Dorset BH12 2NW Subs - Paul hughes, 16 Stonecliffe Gardens, farnley, Leeds LS13 5BA USN aircraft - Alan Carr, 5 Roslyn Gardens, Gidea Park, Romford Essex RM2 5RH Needless to say these are all UK, and are really for IPMS members. I'm not a member of any of them, which should come as a recommendation!! So how come IPMS has such a non-SMML reputation. I think I've maligned the old society! Mike Cooper, Reading UK -(Its a lovely day in Reading! AND I've got all weekend off to play with my Algerine and watch the Cricket...) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: Mediterranean theatre Jean-Cyrille: Alan Raven is currently working on a series of books on Royal Navy WW2 camouflage. I don't know when the first is due out, but they will undoubtedly contain the information you're seeking. John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys (with only Berwick Blue and B-6 yet to match/mix later today for RN Set 1) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Rick Heinbaugh Subject: GALVESTON Stuff, still dawdling in... Rusty, I don't know if somebody already mentioned this to you off-list, but here's some more input: There wasn't a pitch for "Cruisers of the US Navy 1922 - 1962" by Stefan Terzibaschitsch. This is a favorite of mine, even though there a pair of photos swapped - ALASKA photos on the page where LONG BEACH belongs, and vice versa. I don't know if our primary research-oriented folks approve of the book, but I like it. There is a photo or two of each US cruiser from that period with comments about the modifications or camouflage visible in each. Also a thumbnail operational history of each ship and a profile drawing of each class. I find the comments about radar and weapons upgrades to be correct; don't know about the correctness of camouflage descriptions. The postwar CLG conversions are treated as separate classes from the CLEVELAND class section, with numerous photos & profiles. I prefer this book to Friedman's as a modeling reference; I'm not so interested in the design history and all the "what might have been" discussion that are part and parcel of all of Friedman's great series of books. Standing by for incoming rounds... Also, there was a good article on GALVESTON herself in Warship Quarterly #18, with several valuable photos, including an outstanding aerial view almost directly overhead, showing deck layout and areas of wooden deck, courtesy of USN, via A.D. Baker III. Thanks, Dave! Renwal kit-wise, The hull from the waterline up is fine, less the castle-wall style railings. And the forward superstructure, guns and Terrier launcher are good for TOPEKA. (The only CLG with the right combination of 2 forward 6" turrets and Terrier.) Even TOPEKA, though, requires that you scratch-build a new tripod mast, two BIG lattice masts and a pair of huge SPG-49 fire-control radars that look like searchlites. But heck, Rusty, if you're going to do any significant work on the kit, I'd think OKLAHOMA CITY would be the natural subject for you. As the last of the CLGs in commission, and longtime Fleet flagship to boot, there should be lots of primary reference material around, reunion groups and such; and probably something in Oklahoma City itself. Just throw away all except the hull, a 6" turret, a 5" mount, the stacks, some boats and the anchors. Then buy some stock in Evergreen Sheet Plastic and get started! I'm going to do all my CLGs on the Skywave kit, though. Good luck, Rick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: JVT7532@aol.com Subject: Revell Olympia?? Hello to all, just wondering if anyone has heard anything on the release of the Olympia? I had heard in June but see no signs of it's release soon on any web sites or from Revell. Best regards, Jon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: CokerRE@aol.com Subject: Re: Travel In reply to Allen Millen's request, be sure to visit the Mariner's Museum in Newport News and the Hampton Roads Museum in Norfolk. If you are intersted in Civil War blockade running go to the New Hanover County Museum in Wilmington. They have two 1/2" scale models of the blockade runner Dare and of the ironclad Raleigh. The latter has the starboard side of her casemate open to see the gun arrangements inside. This is undoubtedly the finest model anywhere of a Confederate ironclad. In Charleston there is Patriot's Point and in Savannah the Ships of the Sea Museum. Further south in Georgia is the Confederate Naval Museum in Columbus south of Atlanta and the naval air museum in Pensacola. P.C. Coker Charleston -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: TomFoller@att.net Subject: New subscriber Hi I have been building ship models for over forty years and a friend sent me a copy of the information on your site. I found the information very interesting and I would like to be add to the list to receive this information. At present I have been building RC models in 1/96 scale and have completed the USS Virgo AKA-20 (57"), USS Belleau Wood CVL-24 (76") and the LST-487 a little less than 4 foot. Also have in the works DD-500, DD-731, DE-50, DE-51, CL-8, CLAA-54, CLAA-119, CVE-58, CVE-93, BB-57 and LPH-9. These are hulls hanging from the ceiling in my work shop. Thanks Tom -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Denis & Marilyn Campbell Subject: Belts for Dremel saw Rusty, First, any miniature saw blade with the correct size hole (1/2 inch, I believe) will work on the Dremel but some have a smaller diameter than the Dremel blades so your depth of cut will be reduced. I have bought slotting blades from Micro Mark and they produce some very fine cuts in wood - but I seldom cut any wood over 1/8 inch thick anyway. Second - belts. You might try a local sewing machine sales/repair shop - I suspect you can find a belt of the same length as Dremel's. It will probably be round in cross section rather than flat like Dremel's but if it is narrow enough to fit in the slot on the drive pulley attached to the motor, it will probably work. I bought 2 belts directly from Dremel about 2 years ago so I have not thought about replacement belts for a while Denis Campbell Avon MA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Douglas K. Howard" Subject: Re: HMTS Olympic color schemes There's a portside photo of the Olympic on page 16 of the book titled "With the 364th Infantry in America, France and Belgium," published by The Knickerbocker Press, New York, 1919. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: GRIMMKT Subject: Re: Travel Hi all, While in the Hilton Head area, Patriot's Point about an hour north in Charleston, SC. Moored there is the USS Yorktown, a Coast Guard cutter, a Destroyer escort (sorry...I don't remember the name), and a submarine (don't remember that one either). I only had time to visit the Yorktown which was in excellent condition. If I'm remebering correctly, I believe one ticket gets you onto all the ships as well as a mock-up of a Viet Nam Riverine forces base camp. If you have the time, Patriots Point is well worth the stop. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Marc Flake Subject: Fighting Steel Hey SMMLers: Somewhat off topic (but not much). I've been waiting for more than a year for a particular computer simulation wargame to be released. It appears imminent--like sometime over the next three months. The game is Fighting Steel. It is set in WWII between 1939 and 1942 -- some of the most interesting naval years of the war. And Yes, it is a NAVAL wargame simulation. It's all guns and torpedoes, no aircraft. Historic battle simulations include the Platte through Savo Island. What really intrigues me most is the Random Battle Generator. That and the customizing option that also allows you to fight unhistoric battles. For a sneak preview of the game go to: http://www.gamecenter.com/Peeks/Fsteel/ You'll have to hold your nose when you see the Yamato in Regia Marina style camo using USN greens. (The text says you can choose from six camo schemes, but this seems to be the only vice.) All the screen captures on this site are static. A few months ago I went to the Strategic Simulations Inc. site and was able to download some animation. Smoke curls, wakes sparkle and move, guns falre -- it's impressive. You can access the SSI site from the sneak preview text. Thought many of you would want to know. Marc in Mansfield (Who's about to become Marc in New Mexico for a week of mountain hiking and fishing. See y'all later!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Marc Flake Subject: Re: Argo The Amati Greek Warship has about as many problems as the Aoshima North Carolina class battleships. A more accurate representation would be the old Heller Roman bireme. But you'll have to make your own oracle beam. However, the only true model of the Argo (complete with oracle beam) as seen in the movie "Jason and the Argonauts" can be purchased from: http://www.monstersinmotion.com/ Go to the product page and click on the Ray Haryhausen Collection. The only problem is that you also have to buy the 11 inch tall Talos figure chasing after the Argo. All for only $110 US. They have other scenes of this classic movie reproduced, as well as the soundtrack with it's galley-oar drumbeat opening. Pretty cool stuff for any Argophile. Marc in Mansfield (And the only ports I'll be near are the White Sands Spaceport and that place where the alien ships docked near Roswell -- or were those really Naval weather balloons?) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: John Clements Subject: Arms & Armour Press >> Is there a website or a list of books from this publisher (although I heard it's a combination of publishers)? I'm trying to get a list of all their books (I want V.E. Tarants "KGV-class battleships", among others) << Sadly this firm ceased to exist as an independent publisher quite a few years ago. The owner sold the business and name to Cassels, who published, for example, Whitley's books under the A&AP name, but he has also published naval books under his new imprint, Greenhill Books, for example, the English translation of the Koop and Schmolke Bismarck Class book (which I understand was considerably reduced in content for cost reasons). Most of their books are out of print, and it would not now be possible to get a single list to cover all the books published under the A&AP name. It was always a very commercial operation (as I know by being exploited to translate a French book on the Peninsular War at minimal fee) and often received ideas and manuscripts which would have been wonderful for us modellers but were turned down as uncommercial. I remember doing some work on a German book which I think was a reprint of a Kriegsmarine camouflage study carried out in 1942 or 3 - he didn't think it would sell, but kept the original, and - this will really make you cry - there was a fully worked up book on British destroyers in WW2 (though not I think by Raven & Roberts) with wonderful plans and colour plates which never got published, again on cost grounds, as I recall. If anyone would still like some information, I would be willing to see what I can discover from my contact (an old friend who has done most of the design and editing work on these books over the years). John Clements -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: CBNJBB62@aol.com Subject: USS Washingto BB-56 Hi every one, Does any one know the camouflage paint job the USS WASHINGTON BB-56 was in at the Naval battle of Guadalcanal in November, 1942. All I have are photos of the ship afterwards in Measure 22. Now the SOUTH DAKOTA was in measure 21 at the time. You know recently the discussion about SARATOGA'S air group certainly highlights how much the ENTERPRISE over shadowed the other prewar carriers. Look at RANGER as an example. She just many plane types as did the Big E. Her career wasn't as glamorous though. I think some of the Ranger's achievement were the following 1. First built keel up US carrier. 2. Served in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets in peacetime. 3. Only fleet carrier to serve in the Atlantic supported the invasion of North Africa? Well enough from me Craig Bennett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Pavel Vacata Subject: New subscriber Hi, I have just found out about your site and am most intrested. I am unsure as to the exact service that this site provides. Hope that you will be able to help me as to information on the French Battlecruiser Dunqurke (I am building the Heller 1/400 kit), what I need to know is what colours to use? Many Thanks for any help you may provide. Regards Pavel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: JVT7532@aol.com Subject: For sale: WASA BATTLE STATION Hi, just cleaning out the closet and found a kit I bought some time ago, since my taste for ships has changed a bit I'm sure this one needs a new home. The kit of the Wasa Battle Station is made by Corel and the scale is 1:24 it is new in box all parts and plans included, it is currently on sale at model expo for $99.99 plus shipping. If anyone is interested I will sell mine for $80.00 plus shipping about $5.00 with insurance in the USA. Please contact me at mailto:JVT7532@aol.com Thanks Jon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: New Arrivals AND 1/600 News Hi there, Just thought I'd post details of the latest arrivals... some prices are down, principally on Heller and Airfix AIRFIX 1/72 E-Boat 21.23 GBP ($33.76) AIRFIX 1/600 ARK ROYAL 6.80 GBP ($11.08) AIRFIX 1/600 HMS AJAX 5.10 GBP ($8.10) AIRFIX 1/600 HMS HOOD 6.80 GBP ($11.08) DRAGON 1/350 USS HAMPTON (SUB) 8.51 GBP ($13.53) DRAGON 1/700 SAIPAN 12.75 GBP ($20.28) HELLER 1/400 FOCH 18.71 GBP ($29.76) HELLER 1/400 SCHARNHORST 17.01 GBP ($27.04) HELLER 1/400 Z-31 DESTROYER 5.10 ($8.10) HELLER 1/400 GRAF SPEE 11.05 GBP ($17.58) HELLER 1/400 BISMARCK 17.01 GBP ($27.05) HELLER 1/400 TORPEDO BOAT 8.51 GBP ($13.53) HELLER 1/400 GNEISENAU 18.71 GBP ($29.76) HELLER 1/400 RICHELIEU 18.71 GBP ($29.76) Now for the 1/600 Scale news: We have the WEM 1/600 HMS Hood detail set designed and going into the phototool stage. Peter Hall has done a beautiful job on the catapult and crane.. the relief etching is mind-boggling!! I think that this fret is his best yet... despite the fact that the kit was a SERIOUS pig to design a fret around! The instructions will be ready by the time the brass frets arrive (should be about 2-3 weeks). In the meantime, Brian Fawcett has mastered the 1/600 Fairey F-3-F which will be available separately at 2 to a pack, with their own beautifuly designed photoetched brass fret, courtesy of Peter again. The fret will be priced at 16.13 GBP ($25.65) and the aircraft/etch combo will be 2.95 per pack ($4.70). Incidentally, the 1/700 Bofors PE upgrade set is currently under design by Peter, and is going to contain the following details for upgrading any placcy details or for addition to the WEM PROFESSIONAL items. 12 each of shields, sight bars and rear guard rails for quads 12 each sight bars and rear guard rails (to replace cast on splinter shields if required) for twins 4 x bits for Hazemeyers. Yagi aerials, guard rails, sights etc 4 x loader's guard rails for MkVII single 12 each loaders platform & rails and sights for MkV single 12 x sights & rails etc for MkIII single This will be the ULTIMATE detail set for all you photoetch "junkies" (read EXPERIENCED, GOOD, INTIMIDATING ETC (!).... modellers) out there. Talking of photoetched brass junkies, please take a butchas at Ian Ruscoe's WEM 1/350 HMS Hood build that was featured in Tamiya magazine last year (the model was on show at the Feb 98 Trucks n Tracks). http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/irhood/irhood.htm Cheers! Caroline Carter http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/index.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Snyder Subject: RN Colours Well, the chips for RN Set 1 are all painted, the pages are printed, and I'm about to start putting chips to pages. We're ready to take orders (though it will probably be a week or so before we're ready to ship in any volume). Retail for the 22-colour set will be $20 + $2 shipping/handling domestic, $4 shipping/handling overseas. As always, dealer inquiries welcome. RN Set 2 will follow, probably in August. Feel free to e-mail off-list with any questions. John (bleary-eyed) Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume