Subject SMML28/08/99VOL651 Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 01:33:34 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: A Word from our Sponsors...... 2: KM Scheer's Blue-grey color 3: Re: 1/350 Enterprise 4: Re: ships named after women 5: Destroyers Named After Women 6: Re: Really off topic 7: HMAS Australia 8: USS Canberra 9: HMS Battleaxe 10: Bis & PE AA Dir. 11: Re: US Navy ship names 12: Re: BWN - an observation 13: 1/350 Enterprise etc, Trumpeter USS Enterprise 14: Re: Nick sanding tool 15: Re: Peacetime Hood Colours 16: Re: First ship model 17: Re: Sanding tool 18: Re: SMML covention 19: Nasty class PTFs 20: USS Savannah CL42 Color Scheme 21: Sanding Tool 22: International Survey, etc. 23: WEM 600 Scale Products 24: Re: ship trivia (HOPPER) 25: Re: Naming of Ships 26: Re: White Ensign's 1/600 Warspite set 27: John Wayne 28: Warship Pictorial #4 29: Polish Vessel MAZUR 30: USS Enterprise - Thanks 31: DD NAMED FOR A WOMAN 32: Yamato Project '99: Day 7 (More storm delays) 33: Yamato Project '99: Day 8 (All Major Hull Sections Now Located) 34: Yamato Project '99: Day 9 (Survey Almost Complete) 35: Yamato Project '99: Day 10 (Project Complete) 36: US Warship named after a woman 37: Nichimo 1/500 Japanese Ships 38: 700er Treff 39: Re: White Ensign's 1/600 Warspite set 40: SMML Convention -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Model Expo Tamiya sale 2: SHIPS CLASSES AT THE UK IPMS NATIONALS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS Hello again everyone, Mistress Lorna is back. Just couldn't stay away from you all I guess ;-). Shane has put some strain on his back due to working a bit harder than he should at this point in his recovery, he should be ok in a day or two but his orders are to rest it at the moment. Once again I must stress *it wasn't my fault* :-)) On another note, while I was putting together tonight's SMML, a post came in. As a general rule, for a number of reasons, I know Shane would not post this type of message although he appreciates it. However, I am very proud of the job he has done and it's nice to see that recognised, so I have posted it below. He's pretty good even if he does have this unholy fascination for things maritime ;-) Mistress Lorna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Chris Drage" Subject: A Word from our Sponsors...... Hi Boys and Giggles, I just want to make a public announcement regarding our host and list master Shane and his..sorry,..... OUR mistress, Lorna: Over the past year I have steadily watched SMML develop and grow under Shane's sure touch. I have particularly liked the way he has allowed discussion to flourish but not to the point where it becomes a pointless war of words. This has allowed folks to get their opinions and feelings out and to share important concerns with fellow modellers. After all as this list proves, we really do live in a global village. I like the way Shane has permitted advertisers to have the space they require to tell us their news and his less restrictive approach generally. Greg Lee may have done a great job starting it all off but I think Shane and Lorna have helped SMML to rise to greater heights. Just remember lads and lasses, that he does this for us at his own expense in terms of time and effort. It grieves a Kiwi to have to say this about an Ozzie but ..."well done Ocker! Stick with it mate. We all luv yer" ....and all that in spite of his derogatory remark about my dios in PSM 20 ... :¬þ Regards, Chris He tao rakau e taea te karo, tena he tao kupa kaore e taea te karo......(Te Reo Maori) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: GrafSpee34@aol.com Subject: KM Scheer's Blue-grey color Took a look at the color illustration of Panzerschiff Admiral Scheer in Stern's book on the Kriegsmarine this morning. I think Stern's blue is a bit too pronounced. The KM did stock a shade of blue grey for their high seas fleet (actually they officially referred to it as "Blaugruen, dunkel") which is pretty close to the modern US Federal Standard Color (FS) 15177. The Scheer might have been painted this shade, and my color photos of Scheer do come pretty close to it. Or it may just be a case of plain dark grey fading to a middle blue grey, who knows? For a model of the Scheer, I would say a commercially mixed panzer grey (a dark blue-grey) properly lightened with white would work. The correct color would be more grey than blue in any case, and the Stern book color is more blue than grey, to my eyes. Dave Krakow (Just returned from Bundesarchiv Freiburg where I was informed that the blueprints I had come to see were "recently lost") -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Joseph W. Reyna" Subject: Re: 1/350 Enterprise >> Thanks to the posters re: the aircraft for this monster. Do I take it then from the resounding silence on the other question that everyone thinks I'm completely nuts to contemplate back-dating the island to the old beehive structure?? << James, I for one do NOT think you completely nuts for your efforts at backfitting the BIG E to BEEHIVE superstructure configuration, and I hope you share the results of your efforts. If successful, I would love to see your work result in the development of a conversion kit. The rows of broadcast horns on the ECM beehive are quite a site, as well as the distinctinve "billboard" planar arrays that for years distinguished ENTERPRISE from any other carrier. I already have the ARII/OTAKI 1/400 ENTERPRISE with Beehive superstructure and with the post-refit superstructure (will build them as my 3-year old permits!), but it would be so wonderful to be able to build pre- and post-refit E's in 1/350. Best of luck to you in your endeavor! Joe Reyna PS: Any comments in SMML-land re: HELLER's brand new 1/400 CHARLES De GAULLE nuclear carrier? Joseph W. Reyna, CPMS Certified Plastic Model Shipwright Kits for Sale at: http://members.home.net/jreyna/ForSale/KitSale.html mailto:jreyna@home.com "We are all shephards" - Jordan Black -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Les Pickstock Subject: Re: ships named after women From: "Caroline Carter" >> I know.... GOT IT!! Battleaxe... named after our only female Prime Minister! << And in case we forget, the WWI cruiser H.M.S. CAROLINE. Les Pickstock. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: DaveRiley1@aol.com Subject: Destroyers Named After Women >> For those of you who like trivia questions, which destroyer was the ONLY one ever named for a woman? << >> That would be USS HOPPER (DDG 70), named in honor of Rear Admiral Grace Hopper. << I say, Huhh ???? The ONLY one?? What about USS HIGBEE (DD-806)? Dave Riley Portsmouth, RI -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Les Case" Subject: Re: Really off topic >> Cheers, Felix Bustelo who is no longer ducking for cover in the Subway because the torrential rains this morning flooded most of them! PS - To any Texans that make the SMML CON, I would be honored to have a round or two with you. << A round or two of what? Drinks or fisticuffs? Les Case -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: HMAS Australia Hi Max Australia was stripped of small fittings and part of her superstructure. She was then towed to just outside Sydney harbour and ceremonally scuttled. This would have meant opening the seacocks and allowing the ship to settle. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: USS Canberra Hi Rick The naming of the US cruiser after Canberra was political as well. When the USN scuttled Canberra after Savo Island the Australian government got rather annoyed. Especially as a lot of effort was spent in trying to salvage Vincennes whereas the Canberra was rather quickly despatched. The British government also gave the Australians HMS Shropshire for the same reason. Chris Langtree Hockey is pretty boring but try hurling - now thats interesting. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Loren Perry Subject: HMS Battleaxe With all due to respect to Caroline Carter, I disagree with her assertion that that particular ship was named after Britain's esteemed first female PM. To all with a proper education, it should be more than clear that the vessel's namesake was actually an American - the United States' first female Attorney General (The current First Lady is too young to have been considered at that time.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: KDur597268@aol.com Subject: Bis & PE AA Dir. Peter Mispelkamp wrote: >> Bismarck. The answer is yes. The foreword ones were protected by a dome, while the aft pair were left uncovered. Heller got this wrong, as did almost every other firm that ever modeled the Bismarck and Tirpitz. In fact, I can only remember the Revell 1/570 and perhaps the Tamiya 1/350 kits as being correct. FYI, the forward pair of AAA directors on the Prinz Eugen were only given their domes after she arrived in Brest. << Ah. Thanks for the very useful info, Peter. I was wondering where the GMM instructions on making a railed, non-domed AA rangefinder might come to bear on my PE/Bis project. It describes what you do re: Bismarck, but no mention is made of Eugen. Since I want to depict her at Denmark Straight, it bears. Of course I just *assembled* those domes . . . but I think I'd rather replace the tower with tubing anyway, so... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: James Corley Subject: Re: US Navy ship names >> How do you get around the Winston Churchill? << Mum was an American who married a Brit. JZ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: James Corley Subject: Re: BWN - an observation >> I just want to chime-in about some of the negative responses to those who have dealt with BWN. Mike Bishop, the owner of BWN works in a one person shop with himself as the sole employee. He must deal with orders, processing, manufacturing, QA, and a whole lot of other little things that make a small business run. Oh, and above all; he has to deal with you the customer as well! Sometimes he gets it right and the customer is completely satisfied; sometimes he gets it wrong and we all hear about how he is Satan himself. I would like to see some of you people in his shoes for a few days just to realise how hard it is to own and operate in a niche market! I am not excusing him for making mistakes and screwing-up order; it's all part of owning a business and having big shoulders to bear those burdens. But cut the guy a little slack and above all; communicate.....communicate......communicate! << I tried to communicate with MB, but after a while he quit responding. I then answered a post to rms with my opinion of this idea of QA & CS.....he responded by publicly declaring I was an "email terrorist" and made oblique statements that I only wanted free parts. My problem was satisfied by Charlie Parker, who was affiliated with MB Models at the time....the rumor mill states he was half owner/investor & father-in-law, but I have no direct knowledge of that.... and usually showed up at shows in the southeast selling the MB line (BWN mostly). If your defense of him is based on his overworked atmosphere, then he has noone to blame but himself. If he chose to, he could simply hire somebody to pack the boxes or fold the instructions, etc. Based on my direct observation of MB, I have determined that his personality type precludes him from trusting anybody else to "do it right" and he, therefore, does everything himself. That is why, IMO, he is a one man shop. The classic thing I got in one of his kits (FFG-7) was the instruction sheet with the "masters built by John Ficklin" marked out with a magic marker!! I have several kits of his, bought before and after the HOUSTON incident. Some have come from him at hobby hows, from shops, from mail-order and even one at a Garage Sale! (I bet his wife didnt tell the guy she was selling his $150 kit for $20!!!!) Mike does make a good product, but it has been my experience that if it aint all there, you are SOL. JZ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Chung Lam Subject: 1/350 Enterprise etc, Trumpeter USS Enterprise James Morley wrote: >> Do I take it then from the resounding silence on the other question that everyone thinks I'm completely nuts to contemplate back-dating the island to the old beehive structure?? << Contrary to a post about a month ago, Trumpeter did "knock off" the Tamiya 1/350 Enterprise. Interestingly, it comes with the beehive superstructure in lieu of the new one provided by the Tamiya kit. Otherwise, the kits are identical, e.g. same F18, F14, etc. Anyways, I'll be curious as to what you are going to do to back date your kit. I am going to have to do the same to the Trumpeter kit if and when I get around to building it. By the way, the beehive superstructure provided by the kit is awful. You are probably better off building it from scratch. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Lisa and Bill Wiseman Subject: Re: Nick sanding tool Mark, I found the same tool in a "Western Auto" store for sanding scratches in auto body finishes. I've found that a little dish of water with a drop of soap ( actually windex) to break the surface tension works to keep the dust, which contains glass fibres, down. The water also lubricates the tool and makes wiping the area easier. It's great for surface blems but deeper stuff like ejector pin dimples are a bit much. The tool came with 2 replacement "brush" ends and ran about 6 bucks. I also use it to texture palstic used for cast steel on armor models. Doc Wiseman I live in NY but I'm a transplanted Californian. Go Padres!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: AllenFW2@aol.com Subject: Re: Peacetime Hood Colours Frank Allen of the "Battle Cruiser Hood" web site here. The Italeri kit represents Hood circa 1933. With minor modifications (moving of fire control directors, boats, etc.), it can be made to represent 1931-1934. To represent Hood up until the war, a few more modifications would be necessary (armament changes, boat changes, minor modifications to the bridge structures as well as enclosing the after superstructure). As for the colours she wore in the early 1930s, the answer is AP507A (dark grey). Her wooden decks were unpainted teak. Her metal decks (on the shelter deck were dark grey. Her bridge decks were corticene (reddish brown). Hope that helps Frank http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Workshop/2966/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: First ship model Michael, I wouldn't do one the big battleships for your first (or second) time out. There is a LOT of PE rails that need to bent and lots of round areas to tackled. In short, I would save the battleships (and carriers) for more advanced modelers accustomed to working with PE ship parts. The problem with large projects like BB is you can work on them for days and not notice any difference. This leads to loss of interest in the model. Why not try something smaller? Build a 1/350 Tamiya Fletcher destroyer. The perfect first time ship builder kit. I am currently building one and the kit is very nice, fits well, has lots of history behind it, lots of reference material available and there are several PE detail sets made for this model. You can make it as difficult or as simple as you want. They carried everything from complex dazzle schemes to simple overall Haze Gray. The decks are mostly straight with no difficult areas to bend PE rails around so you won't get discouraged. There isn't that much railing to apply anyway. I cut mine at the waterline boot, put it in water, and added my Flagship Models detail set to it. It builds into a striking little model about 12" long. Once you get some experience with the Fletcher you can move on to the Mighty Mo with much more confidence. My 2 cents worth. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah, I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Kelvin Mok" Subject: Re: Sanding tool >> Ken asked about sanding in tight places. I found a gadget at a local home improvement center, it may also be available at auto parts stores. It's about 3/8" diameter and has a 1/4" nose that is a bundle of glass fibers. << Another possible source is the electronics parts store as we use this tool to clean electrical contacts. Kelvin Mok (klmok@home.com) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "Kelvin Mok" Subject: Re: SMML covention >> I plan one taking pics of all who do and posting them (John Sheridan, help me out here). << Please do put some sort of scale - a coin, a pen, a black and white measure stick, a ruler - near to the ship when you photograph it so that we can have an idea of the model's size. Kelvin Mok (klmok@home.com) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Robert Lockie" Subject: Nasty class PTFs Still going back through recent SMMLs, in reverse order... Friedman's book 'US Small Combatants - An Illustrated Design History' and published by NIP sounds like a good starting point. It has several photos (none close up), a deck plan and starboard elevation drawing of a PTF with two 40mm and two 20mm, as well as a longitudinal section. At the back, there is a chapter on weapons with a photo of the mortar/MG mount (I recall seeing another one in a brown water boat in Warship magazine although I forget which issue). I might have a drawing of the mount as a friend was intending to build one for his monitor model but that would need more delving. The 40mm mount looks very much like the WW2 USN version, which was drawn rather well from several angles and in large scale in Vol.2 of Lambert and Ross's Allied Coastal Forces of WW2. Said book also has numerous drawings of various 20mm mounts. Robert Lockie Cambridge UK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: WFulp@aol.com Subject: USS Savannah CL42 Color Scheme Does anyone out there know if the USS Savannah (CL42) wore any other camouflage scheme besides MS22? I know that some of the Brooklyns wore dazzle camo measures but I really want to build the Savannah. Thanks! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: Malcolm Waite Subject: Sanding Tool A Warning!!!! Noticed yesterdays posting about a "retractable pen" type sanding tool, be careful with it. As the person said the sanding element is a bundle of glass fiber rods, I have used such a tool. As I dusted away the debris a got lots of little glass fiber shards embedded in the ends of my fingers. I have since discovered a brass rod version which has none of these problems and works just as well. I can only advise people to be very careful when clearing away or get the brass version. Malcolm Waite Liverpool UK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: TechnoInfidel@webtv.net (John Collins) Subject: International Survey, etc. SMMLmates: For survey purposes: I am German, but currently live in Alpharetta, Georgia, a suburb north of Atlanta. I've also lived in Asia, Europe, all over the States and the Republic of Texas. Concerning an SMML convention, I would be interested in attending. Whether I could attend is dependent on when it is, and, of course, availability of cash. It is a long way to Salem, Mass. I was particularly amused by comments about US full body armor football versus the manly-man style football played in Australia. Those Aussies really earn their money and don't whine when they get hurt. May I propose another survey? Current projects: what's everyone working on? Mine are: Iron Shipwrights PC 461, a Corsair Armada USS Detriot, a Skywave Spruance class DD for the SMML Dallas 2000 project (are we still going to do that?), and a Classic Airframes Westland Whirlwind. Good modeling! John Collins Alpharetta, Georgia where is still hot and humid Greetings Mark and Hugh -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: Felix Bustelo Subject: WEM 600 Scale Products Hello all, Well, I am truly grateful to WEM for having the courage to create such first class photoetch and resin upgrades for Airfix kits. I hope that the sales of these items have made it worthwhile for WEM and that everybody is dusting off their Airfix kits now that they can be built with some semblance of credibility. If you buy, they will make more. Regarding the instructions, yes I did criticize the instructions included in the Warspite and Belfast sets but the criticisms did not fall on deaf ears as the Hood instructions are proof. But, no matter how excellent the instructions are, there is still no substitute for reference photos and plans and good quality line drawings to complement the instructions. Case in point, I completed the Airfix Iron Duke kit using the WEM set. While I am not an expert modeler, I did come out pretty good if I do say so myself (and a couple of SMMLers did see it at the Festival at the Seaport) and this is in large part to the WEM brass, which had very good instructions with a plan and profile noting where parts went. But I also used a p&p from the RA Burt Book, which is excellent and more detailed and it helped a lot with the placement of certain items and helped clarify some other points. So, if you want to build a good model, ya gotta do the leg work. I will have photos of the ID in my October update of IMM. Regards, Felix Bustelo Webmaster and 600 scale fanatic http://members.tripod.com/~Febus65/imm.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: SantMin@aol.com Subject: Re: ship trivia (HOPPER) I had the honor and pleasure of meeting Gracy Hopper during my working life and I used her "easier to beg forgiveness than to ask permission" idea many times. It works wonders! You can eliminate a lot of red tape and get a lot of things done. You have to put yourself in the early days of programming when management did not really understand what you wanted to do in the first place (maybe they still don't, I don't know, I retired quite young). Remember, you only have to use the "forgiveness" part if what you do without permission does not work! Cheers, Bob Santos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: THENRYS@aol.com Subject: Re: Naming of Ships Doremus, Mark" wrote : >> To add to Nat's list. USS Strom Thurman -- The USN's first wind powered ship in over a century. It's commissioning will cause the citizens of South Carolina to demand that the USS Constitution be de-commissioned so that their boy has a chance at being the oldest commissioned ship. << ROTFL. Todd Henry SC Native and Resident (Where the last time the Honorable Senator was reelected, the victory chant was 'One more year, One more year', but if he lives, he may be elected yet again) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) From: "Peter Hall" Subject: Re: White Ensign's 1/600 Warspite set Leif Snellman wrote: >> I just bought White Ensign's photo-etched set for Airfix Warspite 1/600 (WEM PE 614). While impressed by the fret itself I'm less so with the instructions. With the set came one page of General Instructions and one page with instructions specific to Warspite. However, there are no references to parts 5, 9, 10, 18, 21, 23, 30, 39, 45 or 51, so I have some suspicions that one page could be missing from the instructions. Could someone confirm/deny. << Leif, I am really sorry about the Warspite instructions. I accept full responsibility for that one. It was my first attempt at doing anything like that on such an involved scale, and believe me, it is one thing to build something, but, to tell all how you did it is another. I have had plenty of practise now though and a lot of useful input from Felix Bustelo. Thanks Felix. So future instructions should be a lot more clear and comprehensive. This does not help you with the Warspite any, but it just so happens that I am also building the Airfix kit. If I can help you in any way with assembly of parts, or just location, please contact me off list and I will do the best I can. There was also a question asked on an earlier SMMLie about a fittings set for the Airfix 1/600 Ark Royal. Yes, it is on the cards and is being researched at the moment. Regards Peter Hall Another one who hates doing the paperwork!!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: John Wayne I came up with 6 of the 7 movies on Mark's list then had to cheat and consult http://www.imbd.com for "Flying Leathernecks". Drifting off-topic again: several bios on the Duke can't seem to agree about his lack of WW2 service. The latest, "John Wayne's America" by Gary Wills, takes the position that while he wasn't under any obligation to serve - being overage, with 3 or 4 children, and having various injuries that would have exempted him - neither did he show any inclination to get into uniform as did so many Hollywood contemporaries. As a result, according to William Manchester, the Duke was booed offstage at least once during a USO tour in the Pacific. Wayne came to regret his actions and later gained some notoriety as a red-baiter and super-patriot in the 50s and 60s, almost as if to overcompensate. As I was told by a wise old LDO early in my naval career: "It's not what you do, it's what you're perceived to do." Mike L Alexandria, VA USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Warship Pictorial #4 I have to plug the newest Classic Warships #4, USS Texas. It includes a superb collection of photos, color profiles of the ship (1/350) in 1914 and 1945, and a selection of color chips and four camouflage schemes (1/700) that were worn from 1941-45: standard pre-war navy gray, MS12 mod, MS 22, and MS 31a-8b. Fantastic! Mike L Alexandria, VA USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Polish Vessel MAZUR I have the new Mirage Models 1/400 ORP "Mazur" of the Polish Navy, c. 1935. The instructions are in Polish only and I was wondering what designation this ship carried. It's about the size of a US Navy WW2 PC, and mounts 4 small caliber (75mm) exposed guns. Thanks, MWL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30) From: "Ray S. Katzaman" Subject: USS Enterprise - Thanks Ahoy Mates, Thanks to one and all who responded to my request for info on the USS Enterprise. Your info was most helpful, not to mention the web sites that were recommended. Again, thanks a million for your assistance. Ray Katzaman Austin, Texas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31) From: Dave Baker Subject: DD NAMED FOR A WOMAN Those who answered HIGBEE to my trivia question get an A+; those who answered HOPPER did not read the question, which asked for the name of the only destroyer vice guided missile destroyer. But that was a good try. RADM Hopper was a delightful person, an inspiring leader, and an incredible resource to our country through her many years of service. Anyway, congratulations to Mssrs. Herne and Detweiler. A former boss of mine was XO on the HIGBEE when she was hit in the incident described by Mr. Detweiler. The USN DDG, by the way, is named WINSTON S. CHURCHILL, not SIR WINSTON CHURCHILL; the "S." was on her stern when she was launched this spring, but it did not become official until a SECNAV notice was promulgated in July. The S. was added, according to rumor, because someone pointed out that there was a popular American novelist named Winston Churchill about 80 years ago, and the USN should not confuse people as to whom the ship is really named. Such are the ways of administrative staffs . . . By the (further) way, the USN now has two ships named FISHER, both working for the Military Sealift Command, T-AKR 302, named for Zachery Fisher and his wife, both great benefactors of the USN, and the MAJ. BERNARD FISHER, now on 59-month charter as an Air Force prepositioned equipment ship. The Air Force picked the name, and nobody told them "no." On a completely different subject, those of you who are contemplating a model of the TEXAS, or those of you interested in USN battleships in general, or perhaps even those of you who just like to look over a really well-done set of color plans and an excellent collection of unusual and well-reproduced warship photos should check out #4 in Steve Wiper's Classic Warships series of monographs. He's outdone himself, and his computer draftsman, Mr. Flowers, is superb. Small disclaimer: I did loan a couple of photos for this one but am not now nor never have been a Classic Warships employee. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32) From: Mau Cat Subject: Yamato Project '99: Day 7 (More storm delays) Original page (with pictures) is at: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/yamato/html/soku_07.html Approximate English Translation of page: ---------------------------------------- Monday August 23, Day 7, More storm delays The sea became stormy yesterday due to the influence of the typhoon that has stalled in the vicinty of Taiwan. We gave some thought to diving at night if the sea calmed down to make up for the yesterday's cancelled dive. However, the rain and winds increase as the day goes on, instead of diminishing. We could do nothing but abandon our planned dive for today. The search which had been going so well has now been on hold for two days. The staff grows tired of the continuing storm. Even if the seas are calm tomorrow, we wonder if we will be able to completer our work in our remaining three days. Two pictures with no captions. (left) The setting sun low in a clearing sky. (right) A rainbow over the sea. Towards sunset, the sky began to lighten rapidly. A rainbow formed in the sky, like a flower offering to the site of the sunken Battleship Yamato. The sky was clearing to the west. We will be able to dive tomorrow after all. The beautiful spectacle of the sunset convinces all of the staff that we will have a successful dive tomorrow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33) From: Mau Cat Subject: Yamato Project '99: Day 8 (All Major Hull Sections Now Located) Original page (with pictures) is at: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/yamato/html/soku_08.html Approximate English Translation of page: ---------------------------------------- Tuesday August 24, Day 8, All Major Hull Sections Are Now Located Today the search team was able to complete the survey of the remains of the Yamato. By August 21, the search team had confirmed that the Yamato had broken in two and that the bow and stern portions remained largely intact. Based on measurements of these two sections, it was determined that several tens of meters of the central section of the 263-meter Battleship remained unaccounted for. This fact was noted on the chart being drawn up that will show the disposition of the wreck on the ocean floor. The bridge was located within this missing section and has yet to be found. The survey also located the three main gun turrets, one of the 15.5 cm secondary gun turrets, and the chrysanthemum crest. All we have missed so far in the survey is the central section of the bridge. However, storms have delayed our search and it is only today possible to dive on the wreck for two more days after today. We will now do our best to locate the remains of the bridge. The submersibles entered the water at 8 a.m. and searched for three hours without finding the bridge. The batteries failed on one of the ships and it had to surface after being in the water for only 4 hours. But during those 4 hours, the submersible was able to take photograph the mountain of shells that remained inside one of the main turret barbettes and to get detailed pictures of the barbette itself. Caption of the first picture: Mountain of main armament shells confirmed in a main turret barbette The remaining submersible was scheduled to stay below for two more hours. The weather forecast was predicting that the heavy seas and high winds would soon return and it may be impossible to dive tomorrow on our last day. It was now important to try and find the bridge in the next 2 hours because we may not get a chance to dive tomorrow. But after 2 hours, the last submersible came to the surface for pick up at 4 p.m. without reporting success. However, when the divers in the second submersible returned to the ship, they said, "We took some pictures of a structure we found under the bow that might be the bridge." The staff brought Yukio Mizuno, a member of the project team who has been researching the Battleship Yamato, to the VTR room and quickly began a review of the video tape. There were shouts of joy when the images came onto the VTR monitors. One of the staff indicated the structure that was found under the bow. And, Mr. Mizuno, who researched Yamato, stood up and said, "this is the bridge." Mr. Mizuno pointed to his collection of drawings of the Yamato and said excitedly, "This part of the bridge seen here in the drawing is what we are seeing on the VTR screen." The object seen on the VTR monitor looked identical to a portion of the bridge of the Battleship Yamato contained in the collection of drawings. It was unmistakable. It was a part of the Yamato bridge. Captions of the second picture: The part of the bridge that was found. The bridge was part of the tens of meters long structure that was missing between the large bow and stern sections found earlier. We had now found the missing central section. It was located underneath the bow section. However, the central section was greatly damaged and an accurate calculation of its length was not possible given the information we had. We will try to carry out a detailed investigation of the bridge section during our remaining two days. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34) From: Mau Cat Subject: Yamato Project '99: Day 9 (Survey Almost Complete) Original page (with pictures) is at: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/yamato/html/soku_09.html Approximate English Translation of page: ---------------------------------------- Wednesday August 25, Day 9, The survey is almost complete. The East China Sea is calm today. Excellent conditions for the dive search. However, the submersible that had to surface early yesterday has a trouble with its batteries and cannot dive today. Today was to have been the day for a detailed investigation of the central bridge section that was located yesterday. Two submersibles are necessary to make an adequate survey because one of the submersibles needs to be video-taped next to the bridge structure so we can estimate the size of the wreckage by comparing it to the known size of the submersible. Also, the searchlights of just one submersible are not sufficient to provide adequate illumination of the wreck for the video-tape cameras. The images will be too dark. In the end, the team decided to take the pictures as best they could, with one submersible. Embarking on the single submersible this time is Asahi-TV announcer Youko Okada. Caption of the first picture: Staff reviewing the underwater video-tape pictures The video-tape taken by the submersibles is carefully checked by the staff. Many targets cannot be identified because they were seriously damaged by the explosion prior to sinking and have been scattered widely around the site of the wreck. There is a lot of video-tape to examine after dive. Over 24 hours of video-tape are typically shot by the two submersibles during one 6-hour dive. Examination of the tapes following a dive goes on well past midnight each day. The status of the wreck of Battleship Yamato is now almost fully understand based on the accumulated information from the video-tapes. The chart of the ocean floor around the ship approaches completion. The last dive search will be done based on this chart. Caption of the second picture: Planning tomorrow's survey of the secondary gun turrets. The remaining search targets for tomorrow are decided by staff consensus. These will be the final images taken of the Battleship Yamato as it sleeps at the bottom of the sea. "Yamato project '99", the ten day underwater survey, will conclude tomorrow. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35) From: Mau Cat Subject: Yamato Project '99: Day 10 (Project Complete) Original page (with pictures) is at: http://www.tv-asahi.co.jp/yamato/html/soku_10.html Approximate English Translation of page: ---------------------------------------- Thursday August 26, Day 10, The Completion of Yamato Project '99. The typhoon has changed direction and is advancing on the search area. The bad weather prevents the dive scheduled for this last day of the project. However, we allowed for bad weather when we set up our original schedule and were able to complete our investigation in spite of losing several days to the typhoon. We succeeded in locating the remains of the bridge, which had been seriously damaged by explosions. We located the main guns -- the symbol of Battleship Yamato. We took pictures of the chrysanthemum crest, the secondary guns, and the propulsion screws. The latest video-tape recording technology allowed us to identify all of the sections of the hull despite the disruption caused by the explosions prior to sinking. We were also able to recover numerous small items from the site of the wreck. A collection of images from the past 10 days are displayed without captions "Yamato project '99" returns to Kagoshima Prefecture with these results in the early morning of August 27. The results are scheduled to be released to the press and public in Tokyo in the beginning of September. The details of our ten day underwater investigation of the area around the site where Battleship Yamato sank will be broadcast in a special, 2-hour program on October 2 at 7 p.m. on TV-Asahi affiliated stations. It will be repeated at 11:30 p.m. on October 4. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36) From: "Bill & Kaja Michaels" Subject: US Warship named after a woman When she was commissioned in 1984, the US Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane was the only active ship in either the Navy or Coast Guard named after a woman. That makes the Hopper the second active US Warship, but the only active USN Warship.... Bill Plankowner, USCGC Harriet Lane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 37) From: "Jimbo" Subject: Nichimo 1/500 Japanese Ships Thanks to those who responded to my request for Heller ships. I am now looking for Nichimo 1/500 scale Japanese Ships. If you have several or one's and two's you would like to get rid of please, please let me know. I am in a building frenzy. Thanks in advance, Jimbo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 38) From: "Pletscher-Lenz-Schneider" Subject: 700er Treff Richard - and all to whom it may concern, This meeting will take place on 16. October at Laupheim, but Mrs Fieguth has not yet sent out the personal invitings. Nevertheless, I forewarded your message to her. Falk Pletscher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39) From: "Leif Snellman" Subject: Re: White Ensign's 1/600 Warspite set Thank you Caroline for your prompt response. Of course I'm not expecting a small company to spend their efforts to make "Tamiya style" instruction sets, especially as the 1/600 editions must be a very small ones. I also understand that the set is aimed to the kind of builders, who has reached the skill that they don't need step by step instructions and that most of them have the background material to do their own research. (My lists shows that I have had 52 Airfix 1/600 kits in my life spanning 34 of the 36 ships available and I also own Ross Walton's Warspite book so I guess I could do the etched set even without instructions.) However it is always good to know the constructor's intentions of what's what on the set as I'm not in a mood to "experiment" with a set that costs 4 times as much as the kit itself. To be fair I think I have to mention here that the instructions to the much smaller Iron Duke set I bought at the same time were very good with plan and profile view of the ship and going through every part in number order. It was that very fact that started my suspicions that a page could be missing from the Warspite set. So don't worry Caroline, you have not lost a customer. I'll buy the Hood set in due time :-) Leif -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 40) From: "James Kloek" Subject: SMML Convention Add my name to the list of people interested in a convention on board the Salem. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Conan35@aol.com Subject: Model Expo Tamiya sale Model Expo is currently having a sale on Tamiya warships. Including Bismarck, Tirpitz, Enterprise, Yamato, New Jersey, and Missouri. Prices vary from $34.99 (Bismarck) to $99.99 (Enterprise). All can be found at http://www.modelexpoinc.com Best Regards Rob Finley Web Site Mgr. Model Expo, Inc. http://www.modelexpoinc.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: SHIPS CLASSES AT THE UK IPMS NATIONALS Regarding the recent decision by the new Competitions Secretary of the IPMS, with no member's consultation whatsoever, to amalgamate the "Ships 1/500 and below" and the "Ships above 1/500 scale" classes into one class, and the creation of a "plastic ship models only... out of the box with no etched brass or modifications" Class, could I ask ANYONE with strong feelings on this score.. and we would welcome opinions from Rusty White, Jon Warkee, Loren Perry, JD Corley, and ANY of the other chaps involved in judging ship models in other country, to either E-Mail myself at mailto:xdt22@dial.pipex.com OR John Tapsell, the Competitions Secretary, with your opinions at john@armoured.force9.co.uk It has already been suggested to him that feelings could run a little high if e.g. 1/144 and 1/32 aircraft scales were amalgamated in this fashion.. I KNOW that this decision has already affected membership, and the IPMS UK is already whinging about membership loss... also,I have to point out that this amalgamation is madness when we had so many entries in the 2 main ships classes last year, that extra tables had to be bought in..! IF all fails, then WEM may step in and offer another special sponsored trophy... for 1/700 Scale. Any messages sent to me will be printed off and mailed to the Chairman, Rob Sullivan, who, I am sure, will lend a sympathetic ear. Thanks for your support! All My Best! Caroline White Ensign Models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume