Subject: SMML10/07/99VOL602 Date: Sun, 11 Jul 1999 01:15:30 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: 600th issue 2: Re: HMS Amazon and Ambuscade 3: Mothball Fleet Book 4: Confederate Submarine H. L. Hunley Reminder 5: Admiral Dan Gallery's books 6: Re: 1/350 Hood rumor 7: Re: HMS Ariadne 8: Eskimo 9: USS Alywin pattern 10: Re: Ariadne 11: Scale Ships 12: Re: USS Alywin questions 13: Re: Admiralty Camouflage Documents 14: Big E Hanger deck and lighting 15: Blücher conversion and travel help -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Re: Tribal Discussions 2: Fw: Navismagazine.com - JULY ISSUE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Kenneth H. Goldman" Subject: Re: 600th issue >>I'll crack open a flagon of single malt :-) Regards, Bradford Chaucer << >>> It figures you start a flagon where I can't get at it ;-)). Shane <<< Is that the flagon with the dragon or the vessel with the pestle? By the way, though I forget the exact number of milliliters in a dram, according to the Talisker Distillery, the UK dram has been brought into conformity with the European Union, to the benefit of single malt afficionados. The wee dram is a little less wee. This, of course, has nothing to do with ship modeling, apart from splicing the main brace. Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER http://www.wman.com/~khgold/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Rick Heinbaugh Subject: Re: HMS Amazon and Ambuscade Brian Selzler wrote: >> These two ships built in 1926 were prototypes for evolving a standard destroyer type which became the A to I classes of destroyers for the RN. One was from Thornycroft and other from the Yarrow yard. Is there anyone out there in SMML land who knows the distance from the stems to the foc'sle breaks on these vessels? << Brian, There's a great detail drawing of AMBUSCADE in "British Destroyers" by Edgar March. It gives us 118' from the stem to the break of the foc's'le. To further stir up my interest in "things to do with an Airfix HOTSPUR kit", there is also similar drawing of INTREPID. It shows the length of the foc's'le also to be 118' down the centerline, but 114' to the break on the side. This is because there is an amidships compartment that juts aft on the centerline on the I class, whereas the prototypes' foc's'le break was a straight line athwartships. Photos make it look as if all the A-I class were similar on this feature. "Royal Navy Warship Drawings" by Norman Ough has a drawing of DARING that shows this compartment sticking aft also. I can't tell for sure about A-C classes. Rick Seattle, WA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Mothball Fleet Book A new book that should interest some readers, coming from the USNI Press: "FORGOTTEN FLEET The Mothball Navy" by Daniel Madsen "A pictorial history of the U.S. Navy's mothball fleet, this handsome book takes a rare look at the so-called fleet behind the fleet, from the end of World War II to the present. Through photographs of theships and shipyards where they were laid up and brief ship histories, it tells the story of how these ships were paid off and preserved, how some were reactivated, and how most left the reserve fleet to be broken up. Additional photos of the ships in action remind readers that forgotten though they were while in mothballs, many made their marks on history. Year after year the warships lay quiet and lifeless, like boarded up old houses once full of activity that had outlived their usefulness. The row upon row of mostly now-anonymous vessels, hatches sealed shut, offer a bleak contrast to the drama of their wartime operations. You can almost hear the wind whistling through the masts and superstructures stripped of radars. Below decks there is only the sound of the dehumidifiers, removing moisture from the air; retarding the buildup of rust and deterioration. Berthing areas, repair shops and radio rooms have been frozen in time, looking exactly as they did when sealed decades before. Among them are such well-known ships as the Enteprise and the Midway, as well as little-known ones like the Fall River, and some that were laid up almost as soon as they were completed, like the Oregon City. Here too are the frigates and nuclear submarines of a later age. These are the ships of the forgotten fleet, built for war but resting at peace in coastal parking lots on both sides of the country, their story told for the first time." Mike L Alexandria, VA USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "John Harloe" Subject: Confederate Submarine H. L. Hunley Reminder Just a reminder that the movie "The Hunley" premiers this Sunday night on TNT. The Hunley was the first submaine to sink another ship in war. Hopefully the true history of the brave crew(s) and the remarkable engineering of the Hunley will get the recognition they (it) so richly deserves regardless of the cause they fought for. Mark Ragan who has written two books on the Hunley and submarine warfare during the civil war served as historical consultant; therefore I have some basis for optimism regarding the movie. I personally look forward to the day the Hunley is retrieved, and its crew given a military burial with honors. The Hunley will then be restored and placed in the Charleston Museum for all to marvel and reflect on the sacrifices made . We live in a remarkable country and this story is just one proof of that fact. John Harloe Charleston Distributors http://www.cottage-industries.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Loren Perry Subject: Admiral Dan Gallery's books I read Admiral Dan Gallery's "Stand By-y-y to Start Engines" when my dad gave me a copy as a lad. One of the stories contained therein (besides the great tale of the barrel-rolling transport) was an alleged incident involving a naval aviator who, while riding on a passenger train (road unnamed), apparently received substandard service to the point that he harbored bitter feelings for some time afterward. A few days later, while flying his Navy jet fighter over said railroad's tracks one day, he spotted one of the road's crack streamliners in the distance about to enter a long tunnel. Our hero then quickly located the other end of the same tunnel and then dove down to treetop level and lined himself up on an approaching course to the tunnel entrance just as the train entered the opposite end. At this point, he switched on his landing light and maintained his heading as long as he could before having to pull up to clear the terrain. The engineer in the lead locomotive naturally interpreted the blinding landing light as that of an oncoming train and instantly threw the trains brakes into emergency, promptly flattening all the wheels on the train and otherwise ruining the road's bottom line for that month. Of course, he had a tough time explaining his actions to his supervisors when no trace of the second "train" could be found. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: 1/350 Hood rumor >> I have heard about a company in Europe, I think they are called ICS or something similar, that produces injection molded models. I understand from my local dealer that they are coming out with a 1/350 scale of the HMS Hood. << I have heard the very same rumor about the same company from a very reliable source. From what I understand ICS produces high quality kits. Let's hope this rumor is true. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah, I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Bob Pearson" Subject: Re: HMS Ariadne Yohan Fernando writes . . . >> I've got a couple of questions for some upcoming projects of mine: 1) I just got a Matchbox 1/700 Ariadne kit from eBay, and was wondering how accurate the painting instructions are? If they are incorrect, what would the correct colors be? << Yohan, As I am also doing a Matchbox Ariadne and have had a fair amount of help from other SMMLies on it (thanks guys), I guess I can answer this one. Among the stuff I was sent was a drawing of the camouflage pattern carried by both Apollo and Ariadne. They are in B55, B30 and B15 and dark grey decks. A notation states "Matchbox recommend a rather different camouflage pattern, which although an official design for it exists (and is shown as Plate 5 in Peter Hodges' Royal Navy Warship Camouflage 1939-1945), seems in fact to have been abandoned in favour of the lighter scheme given here." If you intend to make an accurate model all detail will need to be removed. In fact all I am using from the kit is the hull, basic superstructure and funnels. If all goes to plan and I don't screw it up too badly, it should be in a future issue of Internet Modeler. Regards, Bob Pearson Managing Editor / Internet Modeler http://www.internetmodeler.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: CHRIS DRAGE Subject: Eskimo Correction..... >> I have a photo of Cossack diorama in the second battle of Narvik with her bow shot off on the Warship site. Check it out. << What I meant was HMS Eskimo with her bows shot off. Cossack had a similar paint scheme and as far as kits are concerned a WEM Cossack is the one you want to try and obtain. Despite using early casting techniques, it still builds into a stunning little model. Incidentally, I checked out the best video footage of Cossack. It is to be seen in the Naval Video Time Capsule: Britannia Goes To War. There is a fine view of her returning to port with all the Altmarck prisoners on board: dark grey (507a probably), black funnel band at the top of the fore funnel, black boot topping and no pendent number. Regards, Chris He tao rakau e taea te karo, tena he tao kupa kaore e taea te karo.... (Te reo Maori) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Jeff Herne" Subject: USS Alywin pattern Yohan, USS Alywin wore a Measure 31/6d design pattern. In the photos I have of her, it doesn't appear that she followed the design sheet too closely. Colors were 5-H, 5-O, Dull Black, with 20-B deck blue and 5-O on the deck. I've emailed the design sheets to your email address. Jeff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Re: Ariadne Hi Fernando I don't know about the colours but the camouflage pattern of Ariadne is correct for 1943 when she was commissioned. I'm planning to redo my Ariadne sometime so this is something I'm interested in as well. Chris -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: CA139JOHNF@aol.com Subject: Scale Ships Has anyone heard of a company called Scale Ships of Marina del Rey, California? Do they have a web page or e-mail address? What products do they sell? John Frohock USNSM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Reynaga, Tim@EDD" Subject: Re: USS Alywin questions >> I want to build the USS Alywin in dazzle camo, but can only find photos of the paint scheme for the port side as in this photo: http://navsource.org/Archives/DD/DD-355_Aylwin4.jpg Does anyone know of photos of the starboard side or will I have to fudge it? Also, what colors would be used in this scheme- are they the grays and blacks used in most DD schemes or is there any blue in it? I can't tell from the photo. << Yohan, I don't know which measure the Aylwin wore or what the colors in the scheme were, but I happen to be reading Typhoon: The Other Enemy about the Third Fleet and the Pacific storm of December, 1944 by Capt. C. Raymond Calhoun which has a portside photograph of the Aylwin taken in September, 1944. It is similar to your Navsource picture, but from slightly ahead of the ship. There is also a portside photo of her sister, the Dewey, which shows that they carried the same dazzle scheme. Although there isn't a starboard side pic of Aylwin, there is a very nice one of the Dewey from December, 1944 showing the starboard scheme, which would of course be the same on Aylwin. Incidentally, if you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it. It has a great account of the Aylwin's ordeal, including her near loss after taking repeated 70 degree rolls in the storm. It makes for harrowing reading. Tim Reynaga -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Re: Admiralty Camouflage Documents Hi Kim, I've never been able to find CB 3098 at the Public Record Office, though that doesn't mean it's not there. I think I've searched the class list for CB's (Confidential Books), which I think is either Adm 234 or 239, and haven't seen it. The Naval Historical Branch in London has some colour chips that I suspect came from CB 3098, and it may have a complete copy of the publication itself; if you contact me, I'll give you the contact information. I saw the chips when I was visiting the Admiralty Library (which did not have CB 3098), and my understanding was that they came from the Naval Historical Branch. One Admiralty camouflage file that IS at the Public Record Office is found at Adm 212/124, which has a lot of information, including several pages of RN (and some USN) paint chips and a listing of camouflage paints in order of reflectance (the lower the percentage the darker the colour). I think the file is from about 1942, so you won't find any of the later-war chips there. There are several other camouflage files in Adm 212, but Adm 212/124 is the most interesting, I think. I understand that the Public Record Office is gearing up to put its class lists (like Adm) on its internet site so you can search them from the comfort of your home (or office); this was supposed to be up by June 30, but I haven't checked yet to see if that's the case. Hope this helps! Good luck. Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Stefan Radkowski" Subject: Big E Hanger deck and lighting Hello! I just started building a Tamiya 1/350 Enterprise. I would greatly appreciate if anybody could send me info (pics, links etc.) about scratchbuilding the hanger deck and lighting the Big E with fiber optics. I am especially interested in pictures of scratchbuilt hanger decks and plans of the hanger deck to see how its dimensions are ( i.e. height, width etc. ) Thank you very much in advance, Stefan P.S. Does anybody know where http://www.biomedical.com/~bige) has gone? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Peter Mispelkamp" Subject: Blücher conversion and travel help Rich: Glad I could help. I don't remember if the Heller Hipper comes with the top tower radar set - my unbuilt kit is still lurking in the boxes of unbuilt kits waiting to be released - but I am sure you would be aware of this already. PE will do wonders for the Blücher, and you are lucky that she never carried the 20mm vierlings. This is the only thing - apart from the sheer expense - that is stopping me from re-building or updating my Heller Kriegsmarine fleet - I have already seven of the ten major ships and several of the smaller units. BTW: Have you seen my article on the Blücher? If not, I will be glad to give you the publication details. Now everybody - My company is going to send me to training course to Roseville, in the vicinity of Minneapolis. Are there any good hobby shops or naval book-stores in the area? Thanks, Peter K. H. Mispelkamp. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: Re: Tribal Discussions Hi Guys As Chris mentioned WEM re the Cossack/Eskimo, I thought I'd better pipe in here. Unfortunately, we no longer produce Cossack as a kit. However, we do have 8 hulls here... and a selection of SOME small parts... we have decided that some of you out there with some experience of scratchbuilding, might like to make use of these, so the deal is this.. (bear in mind that the original UK retail was 27.95 pounds) the package consists of one hull, Check out pix: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/coss1.jpg http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/coss2.jpg Plus a full set of instructions, a full colour plan and profile of Cossack in 1939, a set of Tribal etched brass (this was Peter's first effort at photoetched brass for a WEM 1/700 kit, and although not up to his current computer-generated standards(!), is perfectly adequate for the job... usually 1.69 pounds. Also included will be WEM PE 714, 1/700 Rails and Ladders (enough for a battleship actually!), usually 1.49 pounds. The kit will contain a "pot luck" selection of small parts. These are from an early run from our former caster, Rutland Casting (who never provided enough small parts for these hulls..)The casting quality on the main hull is reasonably good, but small parts quality is rather average... However, upgraded parts are available from the PROFESSIONAL 700 range, which of course are MDC-cast. The instructions are good enough to scratchbuild any part where necessary. You can have one of these little guys for the princely sum of 11.00 pounds (U.K. add VAT). Post Free anywhere. Once gone, they are gone.. this master will not be used again (if we do another Tribal, this will be a start-from-scratch-job for Brian Fawcett!) BTW the "NVTC Colour Camera at Sea" is an hours worth of unique and gorgeous footage rescued from various archives over many, many years by Roland Smith, and is a "must" for anyone with an interest in the colours of HM Ships in the last war. U.K. price is 25.73 pounds. Overseas, the price is 27.56 pounds, and includes airmail postage. Either PAL or NTSC formats are available. Thanks! Caroline Carter For plastic kits, GMM etched brass, videos, books, colour chips, and Plastic Ship Modeller magazine: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/plist1.htm For an overview of WEM resin and photoetched brass kits, photoetched brass and resin upgrades, aircraft in 1/400, 1/500, 1/700 and 1/350 scales, and decals, please click here! http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/main.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Kenneth H. Goldman" Subject: Fw: Navismagazine.com - JULY ISSUE Hi Shane, Here's the contents of the July issue of NavisMagazine. The 1:48 Supermarine S.6B diorama is my contribution this month. Although it isn't a ship, it does have floats. :-}) Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER http://www.wman.com/~khgold/ In the July issue of navismagazine.com: (available 7/18) - The Guadalcanal campaign - Part VI (The First Battle of Guadalcanal) - Exclusive photographic reportage from the FLEET AIR ARM MUSEUM at Yeovilton - Russian KRIVAK I and II missile frigates walk-around - Lockheed C-130H Hercules walk-around - Round up the Fletchers! 1/700 kit comparison - Sikorsky SH-60B Seahawk walk-around - Building an F-117A Stealth Fighter in 1/48 - Building USS California (BB44) in 1/350 - Building a Supermarine S.6B diorama in 1/48 - Building IJN Hiei in 1/700 - Building an Aichi D3A1 "Val" in 1/72 - Building IJN Furutaka in 1/700 - Building a Mitsubishi A5M4 "Claude" in 1/72 - Building USS Lake Champlain CG57 (AEGIS cruiser) in 1/700 - Modeler Profile: Phillip Gore - Model Showcase:(1/350 RMS Titanic * 1/48 Focke Wulf FW190A-8 * 1/700 HMS Sheffield * 1/72 North American F-86K * 1/700 USS Lexington CV2 * 1/72 Messerschmitt Me 109K-4 * 1/32 USS Lexington 1775 brig) - On the market - product reviews - DOZENS of new kits and aftermarket products for aircraft and ship modelers - Naval reconnnaissance - news from the seven seas - News from the kit industry - upcoming releases, new modeling products - Task Forces - Operation Zitronella (battleship Tirpitz's only action) - New Books - Photo-history (aircraft) - Japanese Air Intelligence recognition cards - Photo-history (ships) - Torpedo boats of the Kriegsmarine - Virtual places - SSI's "Fighting Steel" review plus 10 original scenarios - 10 original scenarios for "Fleet Command" - Letters - Bulletin Board WIN KITS AND DETAIL SETS WITH OUR GAMES: - Mystery Photo (Air) - Mystery Photo (Ships) - Trivia Quiz -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume