Subject: SMML29/08/99VOL652 Date: Mon, 30 Aug 1999 02:06:51 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Books by H.P. Willmott 2: Altmark / Nordmark 3: SMML Convention 4: Yamato question... 5: Re: Current projects 6: Re: 1/128 Stuff 7: Current project survey 8: Battleship Baths 9: 1/300? Tamiya IJN DDs 10: KONGO CLASS 11: Re: Polish Vessel Mazur 12: Italian Warship Books 13: Heller 1/400 Charles De Gaulle 14: USS Savannah CL42 Color Scheme 15: Warship Pictorial #4 16: Fletcher Anti Skid Walkways 17: Visit to National Archives and Naval Institute of the US -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: WTB: Car Ferry Avenir 2: 1/500 Nichimo Ship kits 3: Re: A word from our sponsors -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Stephen C Gustafson Subject: Books by H.P. Willmott I recently finished reading the companion volumes Empires in The Balance and The Barrier and the Javelin by H.P. WIllmott. In the second volume he made mention of a third volume to carry through the balance of 1942 (the Guadalcanal period). I have, to date, seen nothing of this volume. Can anyone out there, especially those readers across the pond, offer any information? Thanks so much, Steve Gustafson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Sean D. Hert" Subject: Altmark / Nordmark Hey All- Does anyone know of a source of plans for either of these ships? A 1/144 scale Altmark sailing with a 1/144 Graf Spee would be fun.... Sean D. Hert popev@netwalk.com Webmeister, MBG Site: http://www.netwalk.com/~popev/bg/ "Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence" -Napoleon Buonapart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "John Rule" Subject: SMML Convention 1. Work commitments not withstanding, I would love to attend a SMML Convention. The USS Salem? Is that in Massachusetts. Let us know the date. 2. I second Shane's comments about Plastic Ship Modeler, and beg anyone who isn't getting this publication.......WAKE UP!!! 3. The E-mail on BWN. Got the point or points. Time to end. Its filling my hard drive unnnecessarily. 4. Trivia?..........Did any ship have more funnels than Askold? John Rule (Whitby, Ontario, Canada) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Chris Hughes" Subject: Yamato question... Hi everyone, Thanks for the responses on the Tirpitz scan - I've got the whole set of "Evidence in Camera" in the Museum and I'll post re any other interesting photos I come across over the next few months. Somewhere, I know there's a photo of the Tirpitz taken almost at deck level by a Mossie and then there's the "after" shot showing her capsized with a small tender in attendance (not intended as a "sick" joke, but you could get two models out of one kit there...). Anyway, to the subject header, I'm now building my second ship model (in conjuction with No 3...) and it's the 1/700 Tamiya Yamato (first mould type). I have the contemporary GMM set, on which I make the following observation; Loren includes oars, rudders and davit pulleys on the fret - but Yamato does not appear to have any davits - let alone boats! What was the score? Did she have ships' boats - if so, where were they stowed? Second question. I've read various articles about deck colour etc and overpainting. I've decided to wimp out and paint her one colour. Now, I don't have access to the Tamiya paint range but I've got good stocks of Humbrol. Any suggestions for the overall colour? I had thought of 127 (Dk Compass Grey) but it seems a bit light.. Any help gratefully accepted! Cheers, Chris PS Anyone in the UK know of a good source for "rippled water" effect perspex/acrylic sheeting? ie major hardware chain... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: Current projects >> May I propose another survey? Current projects: what's everyone working on? << A Cottage Industries Models USS Keokuk in 1/192 scale a civil war ironclad Just finishing a Lone Star CSS Atlanta a Southern Ironclad torpedo ram. Waiting for flags and pedestals to finish Lone Star USS Onandaga and Passiac class monitors and a CSS David Plus of course other stuff in boxes barely started :-) Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Steve Sobieralski" Subject: Re: 1/128 Stuff >> Does anybody know if it's possible to buy 1/128th scalefittings for Japanese ships. In particular I'm after anti a/c guns,machine guns,people and brass etch stuff.With the amazing 1/700 stuff available I would love to see 1/128 drooping chain rails. At present I'm building the Yamashiro and have finished the brdge,funnel and almost the mainmast and so am now looking at detailing but I just haven't the time to scratchbuild now with 3 kids tearing around. << Fleetscale has fittings sets for their 1/128 Yamato that might have some of the pieces you need. Steve Sobieralski -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Bob Pearson" Subject: Current project survey John Collins asks . . >> May I propose another survey? Current projects: what's everyone working on? << Well this is one I can answer . ... Lots, all in 1/700 Five German destroyers from the basic Skywave/Tamiya kit - one strictly OOB (Z38) - corrected (Z31) with Eduard rails - corrected with WEM catwalks over the TT (Z-30) - corrected and modified into the leader Z-28 - major modification into a Maass (still undecided, but possibly Georg Thiele) Matchbox Kelly with WEM PE Matchbox Ariadne - this one is being totally rebuilt with just the hull and basic superstructure used. The bridge has been corrected, and various other structures rebuilt. WEM guns and details will complete her. Skywave/Tamiya O Class DDs all with WEM PE - One OOB - One corrected (not sure which ship) - One modified into the RCN's A-I HMCS Skeena. The hull has been done, I just need to draw up the plans and get to the superstructure. HMCS Prince Robert - waiting on 1/96 plans (to reduce to 1/700) for a scratchbuild. This I am excited about and cant wait to get started. The Waveline resin USS San Francisco and Freccia are calling as well. Regards, Bob Pearson Managing Editor / Internet Modeler http://www.internetmodeler.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "LAMKEEL" Subject: Battleship Baths Hi You'all I've just come back from a few days doing this stuff called - "ORIGINAL RESEARCH." HMS Collingwood, a RN shorebase in Fareham, Hampshire has long been the Navy's Communication, and Radar School. AND THEY HAVE A MUSEUM. I found out about this in a publication that listed the museums etc in the UK. I arranged to visit, and more gold-dust. I now have photographs (if they come out) and dimensions of the original Type 271 surface search radar aerials, plus copies of the original sea trials carried out on HMS. Orchis one of those Flower Things. Besides a museum of radios and communication gear, valves etc, I found a whole room full of original BRs - Books of reference or instruction manuals. Whilst I confess most of them were very technical and way above my head, I gathered a mass of new original information. I met some good friends from over the pond (Connecticut) and we visited the RN Museum, and Mary Rose, etc at Portsmouth. (More sea time on the Gosport Ferry). I also visited another long time contact (a fellow Smellie) and returned home with more armament information. Another thought (I do sometimes). So the BB Iowa was the only unit in the USN to have a bath? Not a lot of people know this, BUT, most RN warships of a reasonable size, had a bath, built in. Rank has its privileges, they say. This was true for the lowly Flower Class Corvette. The Commanding Officer had his own cabin, and right next door the "As Fitted" drawings of Anchusa show "officers bathroom", with a bath. She was a Harland and Wolff built unit. Other early build units also had a CO's bath fitted. Recall early 1941, soon after the US entry in the war, the RN loaned the US 10 Flowers and their crews. Thus technically Iowa, was not the only US warship to have a bath. The Flowers were later transferred to the US and renamed. So, did they take the baths out then? Other items of privilege to note. Officers had carpet, padded arm chairs, curtains, a wardroom, and of course spirits, gin and whiskey etc. (The bar was not open whilst at sea). The ships company only had benches to sit on, not a chair in sight. I have checked the drawings for the later Modified Flowers, and they do not have a bath. I'm currently working on the G/A for the Bangor class Minesweeper Cromer, built by Lobnitz in early 1941. The CO has his own cabin, a bathroom (bath with shower over) with the deck cemented and tiled, and the officers also have a bathroom, with a bath, also cemented and tiled. The crew's washplace has just six monel metal basins and one shower. The Petty Officers have four wash basins and a shower, but the floors do have tiles on the deck. With the increased provision of US built escorts later in the war, they were found to have many new innovations, not found in RN ships. Cold drink fountains, ice cream machines, laundries etc. Once over in the UK that was all removed. We must not have the troops getting above their station. Things had improved a little by the 50s. But then, we were still learning. Some ships had a laundry. I saw officers do things, put down as High Spirits, which would have lost a man his rate. But I digress...... Last but not least. I have told myself that I am due a vacation. This "meet" aboard USS Salem sounds a great idea. I will save my pennies and add myself to the list of British authors. Just to spread the load. I look forward to crossing the pond again, and putting faces to names. Is it to be a no smoking zone? Yours "aye". John Lambert. (The layout of this Flower publication sounds very encouraging). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Douglas Martin" Subject: 1/300? Tamiya IJN DDs Folks: The Rainbow Ten Model shop in Japan/www, is selling Tamiya 1/300(1/350?) IJN DDs, Yukikaze and Yugumo. Has anyone seen or have these kits, any reviews.....?? They are also selling the Shinano (kit 31215) which I presume is the new version. Douglas (Scotland) - still plowing through Augusts SMMLs.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "fwliedel" Subject: KONGO CLASS A FEW YEARS AGO A JAPANESE COMPANY DID THE FOUR KONGO CLASS SHIPS IN 1/450. I WAS WONDERING IF ANY BODY REMEMBERS THESE . I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO THE COMPANY WAS AND WHAT PERIOD EACH OF THEM MODELLED IN .AND IF BUY CHANCE SOMEONE KNOWS WERE I COULD GET ONE FROM. REGARDS FRED LIEDEL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: Polish Vessel Mazur According to Conways, the Mazur was an ex-German torpedo boat (V 105) which was allocated to Poland in December 1919, having been launched in 1914. She was originally disarmed but was rearmed a number of times whilst in Polish service. The final rebuild was in 1935 and she was sunk in Gdynia harbour on the 1st September 1939 by German aircraft - the first vessel to be sunk in World War 2. Les Brown <> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "John Rule" Subject: Italian Warship Books RE: Message from Art Nicholson in SMML Vol 650. Art, you mention Volume 14/1 of the follow up series to the Orizzonte Mare books. Can you tell us where you obtained it. I have been watching for the release of these books but have not seen that particular volume. I already have volumes 8/I, 8/II, 9, 13, 15/I,15/II, and 17, and am interested in finding other volumes and where to obtain them. Thanks John Rule (Whitby, Ontario, Canada) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Jean-Paul Binot" Subject: Heller 1/400 Charles De Gaulle I finally got my copy of the long awaited new Heller Kit of the CVN Charles De Gaulle (their first new kit of a ship in many years). Here are my first impressions: Overall the kit is very nice and comes with comprehensive instructions and some documentation in full color courtesy of the French Navy and the Naval Shipyards. There is also a large diagram of the ship in full color identifying the various components of the ship (aircraft, catapult, missile mounts, etc.) The hull is a very impressive one-piece casting, and is very large. The flight deck is equally sizeable and has much detail included. Considering how complex a ship a modern CVN is, it is somewhat ironic that a kit of it should be that simple. The "boxy" architecture that was adopted by the French designers of the CDG makes the Heller kit rather easy to assemble. There are few sub-assemblies for the island and the various catwalks that support the missile armament. Radars and missiles are commendably thin and well proportioned but should anyway be replaced by PE/resin components if and when available. I must say I was a bit disappointed with the kit, however. Athough very nice and accurate as far as I can say, it is very much a Heller ship, which means a somewhat lower level of generally less crisply molded detail when compared with kits by Japanese producers. Particularly disappointing is the air group. The Rafale and Super-Etendard aircraft are not that good-looking and do not seem to be much of an iprovement on the aircraft found with the kits of the Clemenceau and Foch that are 30 years old! I would have hoped that Heller would try to match the standard of the best in class for this brand new kit... One last point of disappointement was the decal sheet. It is large and provides extensive markings for the flight deck, lifts etc. but my copy had the colors misaligned, causing the nationality markings for the aircraft to have the red dot off-centre. It was my intention to use instead the very nice decals provided by L'Arsenal anyway, but I will have to get Heller to replace the whole sheet. In a nutshell, this is a very good kit of a famous ship. Heller must be commended for having brought it to us and should be rewarded by good sales figures so that they are encouraged to produce more new kits of French ships (at least initially) and also to re-release their whole range. Btw, I have seen that Heller has re-released the post WWII Arromanches. That's great news for those who like to model late 40's ex RN aircraft carriers, and will bring a few more modellers back to 1/400. However, I had seen no anouncement of that re-release anywhere. Heller marketing is somewhat mysterious. They have a goldmine and they seem to mind so little about it. However, they seem now committed to re-releasing the whole range. My advice would be to jump on the occasion and buy as many as we can since Heller cannot be trusted for keeping the market supplied with their range at all times. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: John Sheridan Subject: USS Savannah CL42 Color Scheme I would be interested in knowing this as well because the only scheme I could find for Savannah was MS22. I could not find any info on this ship for 1941 or 1942. John Sheridan Warship Camouflage Website http://home.earthlink.net/~jrsheridan/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: John Sheridan 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. << This book is Steve's best to date. The photos are razor-sharp and the drawings are fantastic AND in color! For the curious, here's the URL with sample drawings/photos: http://www.classicwarships.simplenet.com/new.htm John Sheridan @ Microscale Decals http://www.microscale.com If I'm talking Decals, then i'm talking for Microscale, Otherwise I am speaking for myself. What I do to Spammers: http://microscale.com/images/N2.jpg I am not a Member of the Lumber Cartel (tinlc) and I am not Unit #631 Fight Spam! Join CAUCE! http://www.cauce.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: THENRYS@aol.com Subject: Fletcher Anti Skid Walkways Hello group (And hope you feel better, Shane, although some may actually prefer you bride as moderator ;) ): A quick and probably basic question. On my 1/350 O'Bannon (ne. Fletcher), what color should the walk ways be ? I've already sprayed the decks and feel that I have gotten up a sufficient head of steam on this project that I don't dare wait for the decals. Again, probably a simple question that has been covered elsewhere, but any help would be appreciated. Todd Henry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Dimitrios Apostolopoulos Subject: Visit to National Archives and Naval Institute of the US Folks, Next week I will visit the US National Archives and Records Administration at College Park and Naval Institute in Annapolis to search for WWII Royal Navy warship photos. I would appreciate any advice you may have on how to manage an efficient search given that I will be able to spend one day at each place. Thanks, Dimi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: FOP5@aol.com Subject: WTB: Car Ferry Avenir Does anyone have or know where I can purchase model by Heller of the Paquebot Car-Ferry Avenir 1/200,1/350 scale or replacement parts for it. I have a model but can not finish missing parts for upper deck and superstrure. can anyone please help with this. Also looking for ocean liner and carferry,cruise ships,tug boat models. I Can be reached at e-mail FOP5@aol.com Carmen J.Balsama Sr. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: 1/500 Nichimo Ship kits Naval Base Hobbies carries all of the Nichimo 1/500 Ship Kits goto: http://www.modelshipbuilding.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Greg Lee Subject: Re: A word from our sponsors Hi all, To fill everybody in, I sent Shane a private note last night stating my concern for the direction that SMML is taking. I personally feel there is too much irrelevant "Chat", and too many non-related posts these days. I feel the list has strayed too far away from the purpose of what I origionally started it for - to Discuss BUILDING SHIP MODELS! I get the feeling that it is because of my note to Shane, that Lorna Jenkins decided to publish the note from Diorama Builder Extra-ordinare Chris Drage, also hopefully to bring the issue up, and hear from you guys, the readers, to see if I am being a "Fuss-Pot", or if there are others who share my opinion in that the Ship Modellers Mailing List has too much banter these days. Chris Wrote: >> Over the past year I have steadily watched SMML develop and grow under Shane's sure touch. << Yes, unquestionably, Shane has made a good effort getting the list out every night. >> 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. << I agree, to a point. Moderating SMML is generally an easy job - the readers are all very civil and respectable. It is very rare to have to send a post back to its writer to be "toned down", hence, no "Wars of Words". Discussions have been flourishing, which is great, thats what its all about, BUT, my concern is that some have been allowed to flourish to the point where they have been becoming "Off Topic". >> 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. << The reason Advertisers space was restricted during my administration was because I frequently ran Readers Polls/Questionaires to find out what readers wanted, and at the time, an overwhelming responce was to restrict advertisers to 15-20 lines, and Sigs to 6, which is a rule that has not really been enforced during Shanes time. In Short, advertisers have ALWAYS had the space to tell us their news. True, I do have a more restrictive approach. SMML is my creation, and I want it to be the best it can be. A publication which is clean and classy, full of relevant content, and right up there with the best of whats available on the net. Nobody likes to wade through garbage to find the snip-its of info they require. >> 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. << In what way? (I am not being sarcastic, I am very interested to find out if SMML is better now than it was when I was moderating, because if the general concensus is that it is, I will shut my Yap :-) Thanks for reading. Greg Lee (SMML Founder and Listmaster on Hiatus) Hi everyone, For my reply to the above, please read the following email. All my very best for the future. Shane Jenkins -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume