Subject: SMML17/08/99VOL640 Date: Wed, 18 Aug 1999 00:13:42 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Glencoe subchaser 2: Heller e-mail 3: Re: USS California Camo 4: Corrections to fleet visit in Stavanger 5: Re: Yamato/Musashi 6: Re: Type XIV U-boat 7: HMS Duncan and Mystery Photo 8: Re: 1/700 Skywave Fletcher 9: Musashi 10: Re: Vegimite 11: Re: IPMS (UK) Nationals 99 12: Lumber yard Wood for model building 13: Why are badly damaged warships sunk by its own side? 14: Re: Blue Water Navy customer service-NOT 15: Measure 21 and deck details 16: USS California Ms 32 17: Cottage Industries Models 18: GROM & BLYSKAWICA 19: Re: What is vegemite????? 20: S&S Colour chips 21: LCVP and questions 22: Re: U.S.S. Californias 23: New England Vacation 24: Re: Painting an LA class sub 25: Re: Teak deck colors 26: Russian Round Battleships 27: Re: Ward and Bainbridge and Nurton 28: SMML International 29: Conway Maritime: Going, Going... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: WEM page update and NEWS 2: NRG Web Site Update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "James M. Pasquill, II" Subject: Re: Glencoe subchaser >> I was specifically interested in a WWII Submarine Chaser. Glencoe had made a WWI model; but I understand that it was discontinued about 16 years ago. Is there any information available on how to cast your own plastic hulls, etc? I seem to remember some information on that; but do not remember where. << The Glencoe former Ringo Subchaser is out of stock temporarily according to email from Glencoe. They say they plan to do a rerun sometime in the coming year. The model is listed as in stock at some of the plastic model retailer's websites. I have bought two in the last few months. Do some hunting and you should find plenty for around $15. Speaking of the subchaser... I have read some brief references to these subchasers being used by the USCG in the rum wars. Does anyone have any information about where the USCG used these subchasers and what colors they would have used at the time? For some time I have been planning a diorama of a subchaser that has hauled in a rum running fishing schooner. While the scene will be ficticious it will be based on things that did happen and I would like to somewhat accurately paint the subchaser. For those of you that are interested I have a neat real photo postcard of a subchaser turned into a fireboat for the City of Baltimore and a USN sales brochure which shows the internal layout of this class of subchaser and a plan for converting a subchaser into a yacht as well as some other pictures. Neat stuff. I could send scans to someone for posting if desired. Jim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: KDur597268@aol.com Subject: Heller e-mail In case anyone's interested, today I got an e-mail response from Heller. Al Supersczynski had supplied me with an address that most thought was defunct. I tried it on July 30. Today (Aug 16) I got a response asking for my address so they could send spare the spare parts! Well I sent in a written request by snail mail on Aug.1, so it's moot, but interesting nonetheless. Now we'll see how long it takes for the parts - Bismarck hull halves - to actually arrive. Oh, and the Heller e-mail I SENT to was: 104360.1027@compuserve.com The one the RESPONSE came from was: 73674.131@compuserve.com Hope this is of some use to someone. Ken D -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: WFulp@aol.com Subject: Re: USS California Camo The Squadron/Signal Publications 'US Battleships of World War Two Part 1' does have a good color print of the camo but it does not show the deck pattern. The Floating Drydock sells camouflage sheets that have the deck pattern as well as patterns showing the fronts of the bridge and superstructure. These sheets are a couple of dollars a piece and can be invaluable in getting a correct pattern. I have just completed the Commanders 1/350 California in 1941 fit and purchased a 1/350 Tennessee at the IPMS(USA) Nats last month. I can't decide what ship to portray with the Tennessee kit as it include turrets for the Tennesee and West Virginia ( awesome idea from the manufacturer). Does anyone know of a source for the dazzle camouflage that the West Virginia wore around 1944? I have some good pictures of the port and starboard patterns but no deck patterns. Thanks! Wayne Fulp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Jens H. Brandal" Subject: Corrections to fleet visit in Stavanger Seems my brain was not in gear - of course I meant the *vertical* surfaces... snip >> finish of them all. The horizontal surfaces seemed to be in pretty good shape in most ships, with only a slight amount of rust in a few places - go easy on the rust-wash << snip again >> The Iroquis even had a map showing where everyone in the crew came from - I think there was only one from British Columbia... << And just to prove my ignorance of Canadian geography, what I really meant was Saskatchewan. Wonder if he (or she) feels lonely... Jens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Jonathan Parshall Subject: Re: Yamato/Musashi >> Not that I am planning to build one in the future, but I have as of yet not found any differences between the two ships. I don't mean the extra 25mm mounts for the Ten Ichi Go manoeuvre, or the extra tripple secondary turrets amidships, but other differences, small things in the bridge structure, slightly different mast etc. Are there any, or are they alike to the smallest detail? And are there references on Musashi? I have found some Yamato references (Skulski, some 1:100 drawings etc) but the Musashi material seems to be even rarer. << It is. I have never seen anything printed in English that seems to have indicated that there were any differences in construction between the two siserships other than the late-war AAA layout you mentioned above. I did speak with the grandson of the Mitsubishi worker who was a lead constructor on Musashi, and he mentioned to me that it was their opinion that Musashi was the better-built of the two ships, but I got no indication that there were any substantial variations in her construction. >> I once spoke to an employee at a dutch naval research center, who was in Japan a few years ago for a conference, and found a book in Japanese on the Yamato's, with, as he put it, many more pictures than he had previously seen, far more than the usual pics of her. He did not buy this book (slightly expensive). Does anyone know of such a publication? It always seemed a bit odd to me that so little of these ships has survived the war, and I doubt if the Japanese really burned all the material they had on these ships. << Well, in fact they *did* burn a lot of that stuff, and it has only turned up intermittently over time since then. The photos of Yamato running her trials that you see in all the standard books on her (for instance: http://www.skypoint.com/members/jbp/yampic01.jpg ) were recovered from somebody's camera in something like the early 1950's. Same thing for the very grainy shots of Musashi being sunk in the Sibuyan Sea. Now, it may well be that they have turned up some additional photos of her recently, but these won't answer the really important questions that surround her interior and construction. The standard deck plans that we all see (according to what Bill Jurens of Warship International told me once) are all basically descendants from of a set of rice-paper tracings that are sitting in the National Archives. The details that Skulski drags up are fragmentary as well... you'll note that in both his Yamato and Fuso books he has essentially zippo on the propulsion plants of either ship. Skulski's clearly has access to very good Japanese sources, and given the attention to detail he's put into his books, if that material were available, he would have included it. It's not out there, plain and simple. I remember three years ago when some workers in Kure were going through an old warehouse in Kure and they recovered a bag of drawings of Yamato's phone system--that's the biggest and most important find of Yamato-related plans that have been unearthed in the last decade. Finding good interior Yamato plans would be like finding the flippin' Holy Grail. >> One more question, are there *good* references on the Shinano? I thought it might be fun to take a Tamiya 1/350 hull and scrap away, some day. I do not mean the Garzke and Dulin drawings, but something slightly more substantial. << The Dulin and Garzke drawings are by far the best I've seen. I don't mean to be preachy, but do you have any conception of how *hard* this stuff is to locate? It's not like it's simply sitting around, already translated into English, and waiting on some shelf in somebody's personal hoard. No, it's either been destroyed (likely enough) or is sitting around on some shelf in the Self-Defense Force Archives in Tokyo, forgotten, *and still in 55-year old Japanese* (which is really hard to read for even a Japanese native). And the JDA Archives don't handle English-language requests. Ummm, that makes things a little difficult, ya know? Cheers! Jon parshall- Imperial Japanese Navy Homepage http://www.skypoint.com/members/jbp/kaigun.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: LYRAD108@aol.com Subject: Re: Type XIV U-boat I have a quick question: How tall was a type XIV U-boat? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "John Rule" Subject: HMS Duncan and Mystery Photo This is a response to a posting by Mr Vimieraa on August 12th. Unfortunately, I think your computer glitch, Shane, may have resulted in it not being received. To Vimieraa and other interested parties. I am afraid that the photo which I posted of Duncan, although a good one, is a one-off. I went in search of and obtained a loan of the photo as a result of a heated discussion that took place on SMML some months ago. Not all of the comments made fell on deaf ears, Jeff et al. A friend who was a lifer in the Royal Navy, it turned out had a photo album which contained that photo which, as I had previously said was taken from the Malaya on which he was serving at the time. He also has some small pictures he took while the Ark Royal was sinking, but I don't think there is anything new there. Hope those with an interest enjoy the photograph and find it useful. By way of an aside, the photo posted by Shane of a sloop, minesweeper or whatever, looks to me to have the Penant No. U 74 or J 74. Is that just my imagination? I still haven't managed to identify it even with these possible numbers. John Rule -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Alan Simon Subject: Re: 1/700 Skywave Fletcher According to Warship's Data 1, USS Kidd (DD661), by The Floating Drydock, 5/43 gun armament fit was as follows: 5-5"/38 single; 3-40mm twin; 10-20mm single Twin 40mm were placed amidships port & starboard and atop the after deckhouse. One 20mm (later removed) was on a platform fwd of the bridge; 2-20mm were in tubs on either side and below the bridge; 2-20mm were abaft the after stack, port & starboard; 3-20mm were on fantail. May be conflicts in photo captions. Best to confirm. Alan Simon Atlanta, Ga. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Musashi Hi Foeth A lot of the pictures in the Skulski book are actually of the Musashi. Small detail differences include bridge ladders and small UHF antenna platforms on Musashi. He also mentions that the linoleum on the aircraft deck was parallel to the centreline on Musashi and parallel to the rails on Yamato. There may have been other differences that he doesn't mention. This also happened in Royal Navy ships, a class would be built to the same design but there would be small detail differences as built. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Phil Gollin" Subject: Re: Vegimite Guaranteed way of quietening an Antipodean drinker in a pub; "Vegimite is just a weak Aussie copy of Marmite" - of course sometimes the drunk gets very loud [ :-)) ] I still have a standing order to send Marmite and English Mustard to my brother in Philadelphia (and his American Fathere-in-Law). Phil -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Andrew Hough" Subject: Re: IPMS (UK) Nationals 99 Peter, I read your recent mail with interest and having just received my latest (and probably last) copy of the IPMS Magazine, I quickly checked. Yep, you're right. All three of the ship classes (classes 51 52 and 53) are listed as "any scale", the difference between the first two classes seems to be whether it includes additional metal bits or not. Somehow I can't see any 1/700th models even being seen, let alone winning. Regards Andrew (Resigned IPMS Member. Resigned in disgust that is.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Kelvin Mok" Subject: Lumber yard Wood for model building What are the suitable common woods (read inexpensive) available in a Canadian/US lumber stores that can be used for building fairly large (up to 6 feet long) RC boats. I have a fairly well equipped home workshop (table saw, band saw, scroll saw, bench sanders, etc.) to cut the wood to any dimension. The regular 2 in x 4 in spruce studs warp if sawn to 1/2 inch thick strips for "bread and butter" hulls. Oak is too hard. I am not too sure about Basswood, if it will stand up to water immersion. For making frame type hulls how suitable is 1/8 inch thick x 4ft x 8ft mahagony door skins if I seal the outside with fiberglass and the inside with laquer varnish? Thanks. Kelvin Mok (klmok@home.com) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Kelvin Mok" Subject: Why are badly damaged warships sunk by its own side? When a warship sustains fatal damage but remains afloat sister warships hang around for some time and then the order is given to torpedo it or sink it by gunfire. Is there a naval tradition behind this? If not what is the reason? If its own side cannot salvage the ship it is unliklely the enemy would have any use for that ship either. Wouldn't it be more prudent to sink that ship immediately the order to abandon ship is given and get out of harm's way as further attacks from the enemy would be likely. Or better still why not just leave the ship to sink on its own? Kelvin Mok (klmok@home.com) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Reynaga, Tim@EDD" Subject: Re: Blue Water Navy customer service-NOT I know what you mean. I had a similar experience some years ago trying to get the missing torpedo tubes for my Blue Water Navy USS Bainbridge (DD-1) replaced. The model came to me missing the parts. No problem; I realize that these things happen from time to time, especially with cottage industries. I wrote twice and called once; the letters were not answered, and the person with whom I spoke when I called seemed suspicious of my request and indicated that he was "pouring resin" and would not have time to get to it for a while. A couple of months after that I called again, leaving a reminder on his answering machine. I never did receive the parts. Blue Water Navy, you have a fine product, but how likely do you think it is that I will ever buy anything from you again? Tim Reynaga -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Doremus, Mark" Subject: Measure 21 and deck details Felix has a good question. Yes the tops of the gun housed should have the deck color, but what about the rest of the gear. I guess the DC ready racks should be painted the deck color, but the DC's? Should we be painting the "tops" of the DC's Deck Blue, or should they be a basic gray all over? Should the tops of gun barrels have the deck color and the rest the vertical color? Mark Doremus Eden Prairie, MN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Damian Pliszka Subject: USS California Ms 32 Hi, I have quite detailed drawings with this scheme. If you are interested give me your email (I'll send scans) or snail mail address (then I'll meke the cou for you). Damian Pliszka Poland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Millen, Alan R." Subject: Cottage Industries Models And as a follow-up, Cottage Industries Models snail mail address is: 1632-B Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29407 USA For disclaimer, see previous. Alan R. Millen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Norman Alfred Sells Subject: GROM & BLYSKAWICA Although the following information is not 'model' orientated I hope it is of interest and gives some background to thse two ships and their history. Photographs of the ships and their construction came from the Whites Archives, Cowes Maritime Museum Both these ships were ordered by the pre-war Polish Government in 1935 and were designed, built and engined by Samuel White's at their shipyard at Cowes on the Isle of White (UK). The translation of the names given to them are 'Thunder' & 'Lightning'. Their yard build numbers were 1800 & 1801 respectively. GROM was launched on 20/07/1936 with her sister ship being launched 01/10/1939. A photo of GROM during her speed trials after completion show a large pennant letter 'G' on her bows just aft of anchor and between that and 'A' turret. Their trials speeds were in region of 38 to 39.4 knots ! Armament comprised of 7 x 120mm main guns and 6 x 550mm torpedo tubes. After outbreak of WWII and defeat of Poland both ships, then operating with the Free Polish Forces were attached to and served with ships of the Royal Navy. GROM & her sister ship initially served patrolling Dutch & Belgian coasts in winter of 1939. Both later served with battleships RODNEY & VALIANT prior to invasion of Norway. On 4/5/1940 GROM was attacked in Rombaksfjord, sustaining direct hits from two bombs sinking with loss of 59 brave Polish crew. BLYSKAWICA was back at Samuel Whites yard at Cowes undergoing refit when on the night of 4/5/1942 the town was subject of a heavy air raid. At the time she was fully armed which was as a result of a government directive that all ships should retain ammunition when in port (not allowed in peacetime). With over 220 tons of h.e. and incendary dropped on the area the crew manned and fought their guns all night with the result that the guns became so hot that water had to be played on them to cool them down. The gun crews were still at their post at dawn. One hero of the night was a engine driver Albert Lockyer aged over 65! who at great risk, refusing orders to take to the shelters during the raid, manned his exposed generator to make sure that the destroyer had adequate power. The actions of the ships crew on that night are not forgotten in the saving of a large part of the town being destroyed. A plaque was unveiled in 1982 on The Parade, West Cowes to commemorate the gallant efforts of the ship in saving the town by its residents. BLYSKAWICA is preserved as a memorial and floating museum at the port of Gdynia in Poland. 'Whites' was a family shipbuilders originating their buisness at Broadstairs in Kent moving to Cowes in 1803. Various ships from small lifeboats for the RNLI up to frigates, destroyers and sloops (including those of the Bittern, Egret and Halcyon class) were constructed at the yard as well as numerous commercial contracts. Any visit to the Cowes Maritime Museum would be well worthwhile. Sorry to bore you all - makes a change from the 'judging' and paint schemes?. Norman Sells -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Kelvin Mok" Subject: Re: What is vegemite????? >> Basically it's a sandwich spread made out of yeast extract. & that is covering a multitute of sins ;-)). << >> So in other words, Shane, vegemite is sort of like American Ketchup.... << A better comparison is to describe Vegemite as the yeast equivalent of (black) liquid meat extracts such as Brovil or OXO available at Safeways. When I grew up in the Far East the yeast extract (mfr. in UK) was marketed under the label Marmite. Kelvin Mok (klmok@home.com) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: "graham walker" Subject: S&S Colour chips Hi all please send me your paint mixes for the S&S chips in what ever paints you use, stating what paints you use and paint ratios, I will then compile a list giving details, I will then send these to S&S for them to include with their paint chips (thats if they want the mixes). This will I hope make life a bit easier for you folks to make up a good paint mix. I know that S&S may not like the idea that is why I will send them the results, for them to send to the people who have brought their colour chips. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: PASO34@webtv.net (Andy Greer) Subject: LCVP and questions I remember someone posting not too long ago about doing some LCVPs, LCTs, etc and were looking for models. Just wanted to pass along that if anyone is looking for a LCVP I saw a Lindberg 1/32 LCVP done as a commemorative for D-Day anniversary I believe numbered 3276? out of a total run of 5000 at a hobby shop in Waynesboro, VA over the weekend. I also have a couple of questions. First, does anyone know if a company makes plastic display cases like those now available for plastic cars(for 5-10$) for 1/700 waterline ship models(I don't know how to scratchbuild these and I don't need anything really fancy). In some cases, the ones made to hold two cars(or a plane would be almost long enough and certainly high enough) and I hope they make them or someone makes something similar. Second, does anyone know where I can get some Polly-S Model prep fluid(so you can work without gloves and put it on to remove fingerprints, etc before painting). My local stores do not carry this and according to Detailing Scale Model Ships it works wonders. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. Andy "I'll never reach my destination if I never try so I will sail my vessel until the river runs dry" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "John Snyder" Subject: Re: U.S.S. Californias >> where can I get a drawing of the Ms 32 scheme the ship wore in '44? Another thing I was wondering, are the inside of the various gun and director tubs painted to match the exterior color of the tub or are they painted another color? << Get a copy of the book _The Golden State Battlewagon_ for the MS32 info. As to the gun tubs, the insides were typically painted the same as the outsides (a vertical surface is a vertical surface). John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: ARSALAS@aol.com Subject: New England Vacation Hello All, I will be spending three weeks in New England next month. I 've got a few days to devote to whatever I want to,so the question is, what's of interest with regard to museums, exhibits or other places of interest for a fellow ship modeler. I won't get to NY but everywhere else is fair game. Allan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Painting an LA class sub >> Could someone please tell me which paints to paint my sub with? I feel Dragon's instructions are wrong; (its the LA class vs. Alfa bow kit version). Isn't the bow of the ship some kind of light gray? All Dragon says is some werid mix of colour for the top and bottom colour. Also, I suck badly at mixing paint and would rather use some kind of replacement. I only have particular lines of paint in my region. These include Model Master, Gunze water based, Humbrol, Tamiya, both kinds of Aeromaster. I don't want to order paints from the states or something as its a pain getting such materials into Canada (was the last time i tried to anyway). Thanks in advance O wise ones.... << OK, here we go again.... The best top color is a mix (yeah, I'm sorry, but....) of 9 parts flat black with 1 part white. The subs are a dark, dark gray (grey??) up close, sort of like a charcoal briquet, due to salt weathering. The sonar domes are fiberglass and can take on a different sheen. As for the bottom of the hull, I will now quote the SubCommittee's resident expert, Dave Merriman (you've seen his model work in the Hunt for Red October, among others), his recent answer for the red is: "And the answer is... dinggg!..... Krylon brand Sandable Primer, Red. This is as close to to formula #121 anti-foul red as you can get". BTW, if you are doing the Dallas vs. Alfa kit, I have to advise you, as a member of good standing of the SubCommittee and this august body, that to accurize the Dallas kit: 1.) locate nearest trash can, and 2.) deposit Dallas kit therein. The stern is all wrong (the vertical tail plates on the stern planes aren't on LA class boats), the propeller is turning in the wrong direction, the cleats are wrong and other various and sundry features are wrong. The USS Hampton is slightly better; you are supplied with the correct stern (although you have to hack off the one on the kit hull, as they used the Dallas mold), you get a new good propeller, along with the old incorrect one. The bad news is that the VLS tubes are all wrong. You can correct the kit, but it is a lot of work. I have 3 view drawings of the correct configurations, hull fittings, etc of the LA class boats (and Sturgeons and Skipjacks, for that matter). Best bet: Blue Water Navy Dallas or 688I resin kit. Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Teak deck colors >> When using your realistic teakwood deck painting method, do you first paint a coat of color 1 on the deck and then apply the crepe tape and subsequent colors (2 and 3)? << Exactly. (1) Color number one goes on the entire wood deck. (2) Stick down lots of tape strips to represent the planks in a random pattern. (3) Spray a coat of color 2. Repeat tape strips again and spray on color 3. There will be a LOT of contrast so dust the entire deck with color number one until the colors blend together to your taste. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://warship.simplenet.com/Flagship.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) From: Bruce Buchner Subject: Russian Round Battleships >> I bought one of the Modelkrak kits of the Novgorod at the Orlando Nationals. It is a nice kit but the instructions leave a lot to be desired. I did an internet search that led me to: "Vladimir Kopylov's Russian Navy Photos" http://www.invet.obninsk.ru/nether/navy/ << Unfortunately the picture of the Novgorod would not download. I sent an E-Mail to Vladimir and he kindly E-Mailed two pictures of the ship to me. One is a side view in the water and the other shows it on the building stocks with hull form. If anyone would like a copy of these photos please E-Mail me and I will forward them to you. Bruce Buchner -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27) From: ironship@usit.net (Jon Warneke) Subject: Re: Ward and Bainbridge and Nurton Hi Aylin, >> I am planning to build USS Ward and USS Bainbridge by Iron Shipwrights/Commander Models in 1/350. I am looking for build up features for both kits. I found one for Bainbridge but it doesn't have any info on painting. I don't have any references (what I have is restricted to WWII IJN and some Squadron books). I have difficulties in obtaining references and don't know what to look for. << There was a discussion on the colors of the Bainbridge a couple of years ago either on SMML or the r.m.s. newsgroup, and the consensus of the research was that she was painted in an overall bottle green (I'm assuming a color like the old Sprite bottles). Others mentions a very dark gray or black, but supposedly, a person met someone who actually either saw or was on board the Bainbridge, and that she was in this green color. >> My other concern is that I couldn't find these kits on the product listing of the manufacturer. Are they out of production or aren't added to the list yet (on their web site)? << Both of these kits are from the Gulfstream line, which is now owned by Classic Warships. We do continue to support these kits, so if you have any problems with the kits, or need replacement parts, be sure to get ahold of us, and the help will be on the way. For more information on rereleasing these kits, I'd recommend that you contact Steve Wiper, the owner of Classic Warships. Jon Warneke Commander Series Models, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28) From: Tom Eisenhour Subject: SMML International Shane, Reading through Monday's postings I couldn't help notice how international our list has become. There were postings from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland and even Texas. Wow! How many countries are represented on SMML? Best wishes, Tom Eisenhour Austin, Texas Short answer - a bloody lot ;-) Actually it's hard to say, we have people from Serbia, Hungary, South America, Asia etc. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: Conway Maritime: Going, Going... Well, Guys, I have just been in contact with Bailey Book Distribution, who distribute Conway's titles... and (no surprises there, hey Mr Lambert??), Conway's has just gone into the hands of the receivers (all the Good Guys, of course, left for Chatham Publishing a long time ago, and it seems that Conway's was being run by a bunch of "suits"), .. so, for anyone who is waiting for any of the Conway's titles to materialise... the business is effectively frozen at this time, whilst debts are sorted, and the business is dismantled.. maybe someone will come up with a rescue package? Who knows.. so I suggest getting those Conway's titles while you can. Baileys' stock is effectively frozen at this time, so we're buggered over here... Happy Hunting!! Caroline White Ensign Models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: WEM page update and NEWS Hi Guys Sorry to hear about Shane's server probs. I for one suffer withdrawal symptoms if SMML is only a few hours late.. if it's not here by 4 in the afternoon, I have to go thru old posts trying to spot stuff I haven't read already.. you know the sort of thing! Anyway, I got the "White Ensign Own Products Overview" page sorted and updated. Please check it out: There is a new set of p/e on the way.. 1/700 to 1/350 ships wheels... a whole range of sizes, and all in multiples... to suit anything from a launch to a destroyer or very early cruiser... there are now a stack of new 1/700 aircraft photos added, with some builds appearing shortly. Also, we are making P/E sets from our 1/350 Narrow Seas range available at £3.00 each for anyone who wants to update any other manufacturer's kits.. these will be listed as they arrive. http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/main.htm The 1/350 HMS Mary Rose 1916 WWI destroyer is almost there... Dave's working on the colour plan and profile right now.. for anyone with even a passing interest in WWI, buy one! The more of these little beauties we sell, the more likely we are to do more early stuff for you! How's about HMS Tiger 1916 then?? ONLY if you all buy Mary Rose's!!! http://whiteensignmodels.simplenet/maryrose/maryrose.htm We now have the etched brass design for 1/700 WWI Queen Elizabeth Class Battleships (thanks Peter!), who once again, has produced such awesome work for us.. Looks like this, rather than the 1/700 HMS Renown, is the next 1/700 Scale release.. will prepare a feature shortly. However, the Renown approaches completion now, in Brian Fawcett's hands, to be followed shortly by the P/E design in Peter Hall's hands. NEW 1/600 Scale PROFESSIONAL releases will be as follows (as requested by SMML list members).. please place your orders now.. it will take a while to get this range up and into production with current pressures (Nationals approaching for example!). Boats span both World Wars, so will kit out those Iron Dukes, Belfasts and Warspites! 1/600 SCALE: WEM PRO 608 45' motor boat WEM PRO 609 45' motor launch WEM PRO 610 35' fast motor boat WEM PRO 611 32' cutter WEM PRO 612 30' fast motor boats WEM PRO 613 27' whaler WEM PRO 614 dinghy WEM PRO 615 50' steam pinnace WEM PRO 616 45' Admiral's barge WEM PRO 617 42' launch with auxiliary motor WEM PRO 618 30' gig WEM PRO 619 16' fast motor boat WEM PRO 620 25' fast motor boat WEM PRO 621 35' motor boat WEM PRO 622 36' motor pulling pinnace These will be mastered by Brian Fawcett, as were the 1/700 Scale subjects. All My Best Caroline WEM http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/plist1.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Vincent McCullough" Subject: NRG Web Site Update I have just completed a fairly extensive update to the NRG web site "sources" pages. These changes add new information on: - Distributors/Hobby Ships - Professional Model Builders/Dealers - Books - Modeling Materials - Maritime History and Modeling Organizations I've also reorganized the site slightly, consolidating all sources for tools on a single page, and creating a new "fittings" page that brings together information previously found on both the "kits" and "materials" pages. All of these pages have additional sources identified. The most significant change is that I have created a new "Naval Sources" page that lists official, public and private sources of information related to naval history and technology. Navies of several nations are represented. This page also includes a list of links related to a relatively large number of US Naval Vessels, both current and historic. And in developing this page, I've added well over 150 new source links. The Nautical Research Guild's web site can be found at http://www.naut-res-guild.org For "sources" information use the "Sources for Model Ship Builders" link, about halfway down the page I'm always on the lookout for new links, so if you know of one that I've missed, drop me a note off-list and I'll add it in the next update. Vince McCullough NRG Webmaster -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume