Subject: SMML05/07/99VOL597 Date: Tue, 06 Jul 1999 11:34:59 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: 1/700 BB's 2: Re: Sub Props 3: Black Decal Lettering 4: Enterprise flight deck colors 5: Missoiri kit 6: Good site for naval reference books 7: Fighting Lights 8: Re: 1/700 Battleships 9: Re: Ships Windows 10: Re: Ships Names 11: Condenser Inlet and Outlets 12: Fujimi 1/700 Kitty Hawk 13: Re: Missouri models 14: Marines Magazine 15: Fighting Lights -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: NEW VIDEOS and COLOUR CHIPS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS Hi gang, My apologies for the lateness of this issue. My mail server went down. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Lisa and Bill Wiseman Subject: Re: 1/700 BB's Thanks to all for the input I'll look up the Nelson kit as opposed to the Hood. Mike Taylor made a suggestion; instead of sister ships to go with different classes: New Jersey and South Dakota, Bismarck and Graf Spee, Yamato and Kongo etc. Sounds like a cool project. A size study of the various classes. I already have the NJ, Yamato, and Graf Spee on the shelf waiting for P/E. Thanks again for all the help. Doc Wiseman Hi Bill, The Tamiya(1/700) & Italeri(1/720) are still widely available, so you can make a choice between the Nelson/Rodney & Hood if you so desire. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Sub Props >> Most submarine screws are shrouded when in drydock for basic security reasons. If it becomes known that you have a seven bladed prop, then the guys in the sonar shack can use that data to not only figure out who you are, but figure out how fast you're going (blade rate => RPM => speed). If they don't know for sure the numbers of blades on your screw it becomes more of a guessing game. << The reason they are shrouded is that the specific shape of the propeller blades greatly reduces "blade rate" noise. This is a specific low frequency noise that carries some distance in water; it is less of a "speed" indicator than a "presence" indicator. For a technical discussion of this problem, see Friedman's "US Submarines Since 1945". There is a single photograph of the crescent shaped blades of an LA (688) submarine in drydock in that source. Guys "in the know" (i.e: ex-submariners) in the SubCommittee purposely shape their radio-controlled sub screws subtly "wrong" in ways they won't (and shouldn't) discuss. The Navy has of recent been somewhat more open about some aspects of submarines, but the props are still shrouded in a large canvas cover when in drydock at Groton. It is known that in later 688s, a ring has been added at the outer circumference, welded to the tips of the blades, probably to reduce vortex noise from the tips. Ralph Ratcliffe's 1:700 Los Angeles class models in resin come with both the new ringed prop and standard propeller fit. Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: John Sheridan Subject: Black Decal Lettering The Black Hull Numbers will be available from one of the shipmodel makers in the next several months. And no, I cannot say which one......just be patient. John Sheridan @ Microscale Decals http://www.microscale.com If I'm talking Decals, then i'm talking for Microscale, Otherwise I am speaking for myself. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: John Sheridan Subject: Enterprise flight deck colors I have even a better question about the Enterprise (CV6): Did she really appear in 1943 wearing measure 14 Camouflage ? John Sheridan @ Microscale Decals http://www.microscale.com If I'm talking Decals, then i'm talking for Microscale, Otherwise I am speaking for myself. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: kenny_II Subject: Missoiri kit In regards to the Missouri model, I'll volunteer for the early version kit. I'm not the fastest guy in town, but my roommate says I'm pretty anal retentive, so the kit should turn out OK. ;-) Tim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: LYRAD108@aol.com Subject: Good site for naval reference books http://www.scholarsbookshelf.com - The Scholar's Bookshelf. I recently found this site online and I have already bought several items from them. I've looked through the naval books and the prices are good most of the time. The prices on the jane's books are especially good. Oh, the items I bought: Jane's Avionics, 1993-1994 edition, $4.95 Brassey's World Aircraft and Systems 1996-1997, $9.95 Also, still looking for inexpensive copies of '98-'99 Combat Fleets, Good condition. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Fighting Lights Hi Bernhard I'll try to answer your questions. Firstly whether lights were on or not varied. They were usually on all the time during an engagement and could be flashed to aid recognition. As to where they could be seen from they would have had been no use long range where it was even difficult to spot searchlights and battles at night. The lights were located in visible positions on masts and yardarms. They would have had 360 degree visibility. Most lights were white, green or red or different combinations of these and each light could be switched to 3 different colours. Marc Flake refers to Cape Esperance, the combination for the US ships for that night was green over green over white and in fact one ship was nearly fired on because the globe covering the light had broken and was showing white. The Japanese combination was white over red flashing. As long as the ships remembered to switch them on and used the right combination. The 26th Destroyer Flotilla forgot to use them totally until late in the action. Fighting lights were used by most navies, though the Italians used flare signals. As they had not really developed night fighting tactics this kind of device would have been a bit beyond them. I don't know about the Germans or the French. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Marc Flake Subject: Re: 1/700 Battleships Doc: I knew the "Graf Spee" was pretty short, but what amazed me was that the USS Texas (BB35) has about the same waterline, although she is somewhat wider in beam than the German ship. Another size comparison that struck me when I started making models within the same scale was that "Ajax," "Achilles," and "Exeter" also were all about the same length along the waterline as "Graf Spee." Of course they were somewhat narrower in the beam. When watching the movie "Pursuit of the Graf Spee," I never understood why the radio announcer kept referring to the "pocket battleship" as a "monster," or to its great size. That was until I went aboard the "Texas," realizing that the "Spee" was comparable in length. Modelling really puts a new perspective on history. Marc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: Ships Windows Andy, and anyone else, If you are trying to paint a solid surface to look like glass, this is my suggestion. Use metallic silver, with a touch of sky blue mixed in. Let dry. Tilt model at 45` angle and apply a light was of Tamiya "Smoke". You want the wash to settle into one corner of each window. This will give you a reflection look, plus the sheen of the glass. Steve Wiper/Classic Warships -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: Ships Names For anyone interested, The USN during WWII painted out the ships names with the appropriate camo color in the name plate area. I do remember seeing one not painted over, but this must have been an extremely rare example. When not at war, the name plates were painted gloss black. I think the individual plates (letters) were 24 in. tall. Steve Wiper/Classic Warships -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Jay Schantzen Subject: Condenser Inlet and Outlets Help! I'm going to include Condenser inlets and outlets on my WWI era 4 stack destroyer in 1/96 scale. A few questions: 1. These openings had gratings of some type over them to try keep out debris. Does anyone know the location of these gratings e.g. flush with hull or deep inside opening where it becomes a pipe to the condenser. 2. What about correct hull bottom paint color for a circa 1920 destroyer? Any other color information would be helpfull. I'm building the USS Dahlgren DD187 - as built, so no camoflage as far as I know. Thanks, Jay Schantzen Keeping a watch out for jungle animals here in tropical Minnesota -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Gary Au" Subject: Fujimi 1/700 Kitty Hawk Just bought the last pack from the Hobby shop of a 1/700 Kitty Hawk Airwing set which include two clear plastic spruce #1 with each spruce contain six F18, four F14 and two Seahawk, decal for CVW2 & CVW5 at 1998. The quality is very good which I think is better than the Skywave S-12. Very exciting to see the Fujimi 1/700 Kitty Hawk later. Gary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Burl Burlingame / Pacific Monograph Subject: Re: Missouri models Odd, but a couple of months ago I talked to the Missouri folks about models and they were disinterested in them. Claimed that they were constantly getting models mailed to them without asking... Burl Burlingame Pacific Monograph, 1124 Kahili Street, Kailua HI 96734 A historical interpretation company. Visit our web site at http://www.PacificHistory.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Clifford Franklin Subject: Marines Magazine I would like to get a copy of the new Marines Magazine about the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Does anyone stock this particular series. I have tried contacting Marines Edition in France, but they have failed to respond to letters, emails and faxes. I am not interested in taking out a subscription, but would like to get the occasional issue, especially this current one, and the previous one: #16 Allied Bases in the Med, Sept 1939. Anyone know where I can them by mail order? cheers, Cliff Franklin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Vimieraa@aol.com Subject: Fighting Lights On the question of fighting lights, I believe that the lights fixed to brackets that are hung from the foremast at spaced intervals down the mast, are in fact used in most cases for IFF purposes. Fighting lights are used to send emergency messages on a general basis to a GROUP of vessels immediately preceeding and/or during action. This use of coded visual communication maintains security. The use of fighting lights at night in the Royal Navy was almost never used, (far too dangerous). In the Royal Navy the fighting lights were positioned along the lower foreyard; the number and precise location of lights varied from ship to ship according to the type of vessel, the time frame and the style of rig. Large ships often had additional fighting lights carried on dedicated spurs just below and/or above the lower foreyard. By 1943 a number of ships had a later type of shrouded fighting light fitted, that reduced the degree of omnidirectionality, but that did not reduce the effectiveness for surface communication. For a good view of the shrouded type of fighting light, refer to the photos on page 321 in British Cruisers of WWII by Raven and Roberts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: NEW VIDEOS and COLOUR CHIPS Hi Guys Firstly, last weekend (8 days ago), every address on our server was mail-bombed (other PIPEX subscribers will probably be aware of this). The server ground to a halt... messages were taking up to 5 days to arrive with us.. we know of several that didn't. Also, it seems that some outgoing messages never arrived. If anybody sent us a message over the past 9 days and haven't yet received a reply, please resend, as we are almost back to normal now. We have just received (this morning!!) the Snyder and Short Royal Navy colour chips and they're looking pretty good (thanks John!). Most of them are a dead match for our own set we have here (don't ask!!). The price for Royal Navy Set One is 14.42 POUNDS ($23.00), plus shipping at cost worldwide. U.K. and E.U. Europe add 17.5% VAT (16.95 pounds) and we are shipping pre-ordered chips first class this afternoon. Also, we have a bunch of new videos just arrived. These are all PAL format (you need a PAL-playing video player if you live in North America where you have the NTSC format). The following prices are in British Pounds for U.K. Europe and include VAT but not shipping. Divide by 1.175 for a cheaper export price. Shipping at cost BROADSIDE High budget documentary series tracing the development, construction, deployment, and combat history of warships with superb new footage, combat film, interviews and expert opinions. There are 2 profiles on each extra-length tape. Each 96 minutes, Colour/B+W DD 3080 Volume One AIRCRAFT CARRIERS and BATTLESHIPS 12.99 DD 3081 Volume Two CRUISERS and DESTROYERS 12.99 DD 3148 KRIEGSMARINE-THE FORGOTTEN SERVICE Using rare film of the German Navy from British and German archives, and all new footage including the final resting place of the Tirpitz, this video profiles the German Navy in WW2 52minutes Colour/B+W 12.99 DD 3337 STUKAS OF THE SEA the nickname for the high-speed German patrol boats of WW2, proving deadly, they sunk 40 warships, including 12 destroyers and destroyer escorts, as well as more than 100 merchant ships. In turn, almost 150 of these small craft were destroyed by Allied fire. This is their story. 65 minutes, B+W 14.99 VICTORY AT SEA An epic account of Allied naval operations during World War Two in every theatre of war. Award-winning series, packed with combat footage and makes extensive use of captured German and Japanese maritime film DD 992 VICTORY AT SEA VOLUME ONE The Battle of the Atlantic 1940-43, early naval engagements in the Pacific plus war in the Mediterranean 1940-2 and the heroic defence of Malta. 210 minutes B+W VIDEO DOUBLE PACK! 14.99 DD 993 VICTORY AT SEA VOLUME TWO The Graf Spee and the German raider, the Atlantis, plus convoys in the Med and the Arctic, British Commando raids on Norway, US carriers in action in the Pacific and D-Day naval ops 208 minutes B+W VIDEO DOUBLE PACK! 14.99 DD 994 VICTORY AT SEA VOLUME THREE The last great naval battles in the Pacific and the Kamikaze menace, US submarine operations, amphibious landings in Southern France, the Russian fleet in action and much more 260minutes B+W VIDEO DOUBLE PACK! 14.99 DD 2422 THE BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET The official commemorative video. Britain’s WW2 Pacific fleet was the largest single force ever assembled by the Royal Navy. See it here in action, with rare newsrool footage selected by the men who served in the Fleet 55 minutes B+W 12.99 DD 2085 THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC: THE U-BOAT WAR 1939-45 The most complete account of the U-Boat war ever produced. Narrated by Julia Somerville, this new extra-length tape includes dramatic film footage of the Atlantic Convoys, and exclusive interviews with men of the Merchant Navy, Royal Navy and surviving U-Boat crew 90 minutes Colour/B+W 12.99 DD 2922 SINK THE BISMARCK! NOT the film, but a documentary.. using rarely-seen film footage, and the first hand accounts of survivors and eyewitnesses, this unique video traces the events that led to arguably the most famous, violent and bloody sea chase in the history of naval warfare 86 minutes Colour/B+W 14.99 DD 3093 THE BATTLE OF THE JAVA SEA On February 24th 1942, a fleet of battleships from Britain, Australia, America and Holland made a valiant attempt to hold back the Japanese offensive against the Dutch East Indies. This extra length 1996 "Best Documentary" winner tells the story of the battle that followed, with exclusive interviews with Naval personnel on both sides 138 minutes B+W 12.99 DD 3188 THE GERMAN IMPERIAL NAVY 1919-1935 With the scuttling of the Fleet in Scapa Flow in 1919, the Emperor’s fleet ceased to exist, and the Imperial Fleet which followed was severely restricted. Using original newsreels, many of them extremely rare, this unique tapelooks at the rebuilding of the German navy between the wars. It was then that the "Pocket Battleships" of the DEUTSCHLAND CLASS were built as well as the cruisers EMDEN, NURNBERG and LEIPZIG and the KOLN and KONIGSBERG. 58 minutes B+W 14.99 DD 3189 GERMAN DESTROYERS OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR Armed destroyers were built for the German Navy from the mid-1930s. These all-purpose warships were deployed with great versatility during the war. Using original and very rare documentary footage, this video looks at the multitude of roles the detroyers played from 1939 to 1945 and includes much of the best surviving footage of these ships. 50 minutes B+W 14.99 DD 2396 THE SCHARNHORST-THE EARLY YEARS A superb historical documentary tracing the history of this infamous German battleship with extensive use of archive footage and exclusive interviews with former crew membersTraces the early history of the ship from the launchand sea trials to its dramatic dash through the English Channel back to Germany in 1942 Part One of a 2 Volume set 75 minutes Colour/B+W 16.99 DD 2999 THE SCHARNHORST PART TWO The second part of the best-selling Scharnhorst story, taking up with the account with the planning of the North Cape operations which was to decide her fate. On 26th December 1943, the Scharnhorst was engaged by elements of the British Royal Navy and sank after a furious battle. Out of the crew of 2,000, only 36 survived. Features rare archive film and exclusive interviews 55 minutes Colour/B+W 14.99 DD 3094 INDIANAPOLIS-SHIP OF DOOM The greatest disaster in the history of the US Navy. How official blunders allowed sharks to decimate the survivors of a sunken warship 52 minutes Colour/B+W 12.99 DD 2960 USS SUBMARINE WARFARE US submarines in action in the Pacific,as recorded by cameramen on board 50 minutes Colour/B+W 12.99 DD 500 THE SEA WAR WW2 action with U-Boats in the Atlantic and American and Japanese carrier fleets clashing in the Pacific, 56 minutes, Colour, B+W 10.99 DD 2380 THE MOST DANGEROUS MOMENT The race to save the British Fleet moored in Ceylon in 1942 as a massive Japanese armada moved in 61 minutes Colour/B+W 12.99 U-BOAT WAR The British TV series, available on video for the first time. 52 minutes each DD 2824 Part One SEA WOLVES U-Boat strategies, campaigns and leaders in the early days of WW2 12.99 DD 2825 Part Two ATTACK AMERICA 1942 U-Boat Wolfpacks had arrived in force on the American seaboards and were devastating Atlantic merchant shipping 12.99 DD 2826 Parts Three IRON COFFINS A look at the German U-Boat crews. Of the 38,000 men who went to war in U-Boats, 30,000 were to die in their grim "iron coffins" 12.99 DD 2886 HIGH SPEED LAUNCH 102 The restoration of a WWII high speed launch captured in full, plus wartime accounts and rare archive footage 45 minutes Colour/B+W 14.99 Best Regards, Caroline Carter http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/index.htm The Best Research and Patterns, the Best Casting and the Best Instructions make the BEST ship kits in the world! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume