Subject SMML04/09/99VOL658 Date: Sun, 05 Sep 1999 00:08:19 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Current Project and Titanic (1:400/1:350?) 2: HMS Nelson plans. 3: IMEX Toyama 4: Re: OT: Airplane modeling question 5: Titanic (1:400/1:350?) 6: Re: HMS MANSFIELD 7: Deck materials in WW1 RN Ships query 8: Re: OT: Airplane modeling question 9: Re: SMML Convention Dates 10: Glass Fiber Sanding Pen 11: QUERY: (fwd) 12: Painting small parts 13: Re: TONE 14: Re: AIRCRAFT MODELING QUESTION 15: Re: 2000 Nats. 16: USS Cabot Appeal 17: Re: Titanic & SMML Convention 18: Painting Bombs 19: HMS Nelson 20: Fighting Steel 21: HMS Mansfield information 22: Lee Models 1/300 HMS Aurora Arathusa Class Cruiser 23: SHIP IDENTIFIED 24: Heller. HMS Victory. 25: Re - OT: Airplane modeling question and what are you working on question 26: Re: Painting bombs 27: Naval Videos 28: US Four stack destroyer info needed. 29: Next Survey suggestions 30: Current Projects and Demologos 31: Re: Petropavlovsk 32: Re: Fighting Steel 33: Re: Y2K US Nationals 34: Academy Titanic 1:350 35: Re: Current Projects 36: Anchors, ships crests & WEM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Orange Blossom phone -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Noel Ray Subject: Current Project and Titanic (1:400/1:350?) Minicraft will be releasing an "accurized and improved" tooling of the 1:350 kit later this year. Over 50 corrections and improvements are claimed for the original kit and the painting instructions are much more detailed. Noel Ray (noelray@iol.ie) Cork Ireland http://homepages.iol.ie/~noelray/index.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Damian Pliszka Subject: HMS Nelson plans. Hi, On back side of the front cover there is information that to preparation drawings were used shipyard's dodumentation (last position in "Glowna bibliografia" (main bibiliography)) with specified numbers. Damian Pliszka Poland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: IMEX Toyama You can find a picture of the ship on our website. Commercial Ship Page http://www.modelshipbuilding.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Jens H. Brandal" Subject: Re: OT: Airplane modeling question >> Don't flame me, there are alot of A/C builders on this list and it's a legit modeling question that might even apply to ship models. I'm about to paint some 500lb General Purpose WWII bombs. I << Well, in this context, the ships are targets:). Anyway, a method I have used to hold small parts while spraying is to superglue a cocktail stick to the part where it will be hidden once in place. Superglue makes for a brittle joint which is easily broken once the part should be removed. On this bomb, there should be a point where it attaches to the bomb rack - if there's a hole you just need to put the cocktailstick on the hole and spray away. Thick superglue is best for this application - the thin stuff may run and glue the part permanently to the stick. Jens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Duane Fowler Subject: Titanic (1:400/1:350?) Academy came out with a completely new Titanic kit in 1/400 after Minicraft pulled their tools out of Korea due to bootlegging problems. There are many similarities with the Minicraft 1/350 kit (Aren't the drawings in the instructions VERY familiar?) but there are many differences. Minicraft just retooled their kit doing some maintenance on there old tool (deflashing, etc). They also created some new parts and made some others more accurate (like the fo'c'sle). I have both and they both have their high and low points. The Academy is an easier build out of the box but both need a LOT of research and scratch building and detailing to make an accurate model (Hate the molded in 4 foot wide wood grain on the Academy decks!) Best regards, Duane Fowler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Rick Heinbaugh Subject: Re: HMS MANSFIELD Ed Grune wrote: >> However in my cursory searches I have not found information or pictures if the Evans/Mansfield. Does anyone out there have any information or sources of info on the Evans/Mansfield? What about kits of the Wickes class, as built or as lent? << There're a couple of photos of MANSFIELD in "Destroyers for Great Btritain" by Arnold Hague. Apparently the ship was transferred on 10/23/40 and worn out by 11/43. She was sold to the breakers on 10/24/44. Amazing. I didn't realize the Allies were able to afford to scrap anything during the War. Of the two photos, one (port side) is dated May/June 41 in WA paint, rigged nearly as she was for USN, missing after torpedos & mainmast, and with the after 4" gun replaced by a 12pdr HA mount. The caption states that there is a 50cal abeam the 2nd stack, but it really looks like a 20mm to me. The other photo showing MANSFIELD (stbd) alleges to be from 8/42. It appears to me to be in an Admiralty scheme(pattern). It shows more of the British mods, including radars. It shows torpedo tubes present in the after location - did the Brits keep the forward port and after stbd tubes? Appropriate kits would start with the Doc Modell HMS BURWELL (a similar 4 stacker) in 1/700, as well as the Airfix 1/600 CAMPBLETOWN or Revell 1/240 WARD/BUCHANEN/AARON WARD/CAMPBLETOWN kit. Rick Heinbaugh Seattle, WA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "David Hathaway" Subject: Deck materials in WW1 RN Ships query People I am building a model of a WWI RN 6-inch gun monitor - it's M33, currently being restored in Portsmouth, UK. I am building the model in card/paper in 1:250 to show her as built state (1915). As a result - I need to know what the decks were covered in then, as the photo's I have arent't clear and could also be wrong comapred to her as built state. Does anyone know what the deck covering should be - my guess is painted steel or Corticene, a kind of Linoleum - I have one reference that states Corticene over the accomodation deck, but makes no reference to the forecastle deck or main deck. Can anyone also give me an idea of how big the sheets of Corticene were and which way they were generally laid - I know there were joined with brass strips - and can I double-check the colour, "milk chocolate" is what the reference says. Whew - any help appreciated. David -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: OT: Airplane modeling question >> I'm about to paint some 500lb General Purpose WWII bombs. I assume the colors are Olive Drab overall, with a yellow ring (1/2" wide 6" from the tip) an a metalic spinner. On this kit the bombs have a slot in the bomb for attaching to the bomb rack. Does anybody have an idea for some way to hold the bombs while I airbrush them and get the entire bomb painted in one set-up? << I usually impale them on a pin or other sharp object in an areal that will be covered when the bomb (or Missile) is attached to it's mounting. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: SMML Convention Dates >> Now there's a plan. Although an SMML convention by itself is interesting, I doubt I'd go just for that. But if it's near the USA Nats in Dallas, which I'll probably attend anyway, hey! 'Course if we do something at the Nats, we need to start discussing a way to recognize other SMMLies. I will start it off by suggesting we all paint our faces MS21, or MS3x for the artists among us. Now _that_ would be recognizable... << I don't think that the SMML convention should affiliate with the Nats. I particularly like the idea of associating the convention with a museum ship, particularly one which is the subject of a good current kit; sort of drives home the point of all this!!! Besides, Given the fact that the local club hosting the 2000 Nats is still talking of closing the first two days to non-IPMS members out of the entirely selfish aim of getting the first crack of the goodies at the vendors tables, I for one want nothing to do with them. Right now, I'm saving my IPMS Nats shekels for 2001!!!!! Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Ed Grune Subject: Glass Fiber Sanding Pen Hello SMMLies; A week or so back there was a thread about these glass fiber sanding tools. FWIW -- my local Radio Shack store has them on clearance at less that $1.50. Go check your's for availability. The instructions include warnings to not touch the fibers with the fingers and to wipe off the area with a damp cloth when finished. Ed Mansfield, TX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Gordon Hogg Subject: QUERY: (fwd) Shane: Tom Hone is a naval researcher and author (he has a book coming out with Norman Friedman for USNI Press on British/US carrier development) with a query right down SMML's alley. Forgive me if this repeats another member's reposting on the list. Best, Gordon Hogg/Lexington Kentucky/USA ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- From: Tom Hone Subject: QUERY: When did the U.S. Navy change the color of paint used on its ships in the period 1927 through about 1932? If you look at photographs of U.S. Navy ships from the middle or late 1920s, you see a grey that is dark and almost glossy. By 1934, the paint is much flatter and light grey. Is this a real change in color, or is it the consequence of a change in film? When was the change made? Why was it made? Has anyone paint chips from this period? Has anyone spoken with someone in the Navy about paint chips from this era? I have some paint chips I bought via a book dealer, but they are from 1941. I need help with this earlier change, if anyone has any information about it. I haven't figured out where to look for information. I have a stack of photographs from the National Archives. I also have the paint chips which I purchased through a commercial bookseller. I have looked through the standard library sources (books on ship design, reports of the Secretary of the Navy, and so forth), but have found nothing. Tom Hone Industrial College of the Armed Forces -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Michael Czibovic" Subject: Painting small parts I stick sharpened, round toothpicks into holes or attachment slots to hold small parts while I'm painting them. If there are no holes, I'll drill one at an attachment point. Once the painting is done, I stick the other end of the toothpick in a piece of florist's clay to hold the part up until the paint dries. I've also glued stubborn (or very small) parts to the toothpicks, but that's rare- I hate the extra clean up. I hope this helps. Mike Czibovic -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "fwliedel" Subject: Re: TONE Not real sure about a 1/400 Tone, but Tamiya did a Myoko in 1/400 in the late 60's. Have writing to them about re-releaseing it but they said they have no intention of doing so as it does not come anywhere near there standards they set nowadays. Wish they would give the moulds to someone else then. Regards Fred liedel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "fwliedel" Subject: Re: AIRCRAFT MODELING QUESTION Drill a very fine hole where the bomb clamp [ hook ] goes insert a piece of wire, use something to hold the wire ie; clamp or plastcene and paint away. The bomb clamp will cover the hole when you fit it up to the model. Regards, Fred Liedel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: 2000 Nats. >> Has that nonsense about closing part of the convention to all non-IPMS members finally been put to bed??? << I spoke to Penny Thomas about three weeks ago about this very subject. I tried my best to persuade her to not restrict admission for the first two days to IPMS members only but she is adamant about it. She had a number of good reasons for doing this, but I just don't agree. There is still a lot of time until the Nats. next year. Here's hoping she changes her mind. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://warship.simplenet.com/Flagship.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: louellet@uism.bu.edu Subject: USS Cabot Appeal Hi Shane: I saw the post below on sci.military.naval and thought some people might be interested since USS Cabot is definitely the last of her kind. Larry Ouellette louellet@uism.bu.edu Volunteer, USS Salem (CA 139) U.S. Naval & Shipbuilding Museum Quincy, Massachusetts, USA http://www.uss-salem.org/ From: DENVER_MULLICAN Newsgroups: sci.military.naval The Cabot will go to auction on September 9. If the veterans and supporters don't raise the funds to beat the scrap dealers - she will be scrapped. Right now, more than half of the funds have been raised. Please read the story below and for more information access the web site listed at the bottom of the story Published Tuesday, August 31, 1999, in the Miami Herald Group wants WWII aircraft carrier to be naval history museum in Miami SHARI RUDAVSKY Herald Staff Writer During World War II, the USS Cabot survived two kamikaze attacks within the space of three minutes. Today, the aircraft carrier, the last of its kind, faces a much more modern threat: being sold for scrap metal. Then, the ship's brave, stalwart crew fended off the Japanese assault. Now, the ship's future lies with its alumni like Plantation resident Benjamin Viola and a local nonprofit foundation, who would like to bring it to Miami to house a naval history museum. On Sept. 9, a federal court will put the 11,000-ton vessel up for auction. Ecosat, a nonprofit Miami educational group, hopes to purchase it and bring it to a temporary berth near the new Miami arena and eventually open it as a museum. Viola will be among the first visitors. It's been more than 50 years since he walked the decks of the Cabot as a torpedo man. But the 74-year-old remembers the year and a half he spent on the ship as though it were yesterday. And Nov. 25, 1944, that fateful day that the ship weathered not one but two kamikaze attacks . . . ``The whole ship shuddered. It's unbelievable when a ship gets hit. You never forget those kind of things,'' Viola said. After the attack, an American pilot rescued the propeller from one of the planes that had struck the 11,000-ton vessel. The crew chopped it into pieces for victory ashtrays. Words fail Viola when he tries to express how he would feel if the ship wound up in his back yard, docked in Miami and transformed into a museum -- along the lines of the Intrepid in Manhattan or the Lexington in Corpus Christi. ``Oh gosh, I'm so very proud to have served on there,'' he said. ``If it comes here, I would like to go there just about every day.'' The USS Cabot, the last straight wood-deck carrier in the world, has sat in limbo for many years. She finished the war triumphantly, with the destruction of 365 enemy planes and 265 ships on her belt, as well as a Presidential Citation. `Iron Woman' No wonder renowned war journalist Ernie Pyle, who penned his dispatches from the Pacific on her decks, nicknamed her ``The Iron Woman.'' After the war, the USS Cabot continued to serve this country as a training carrier. But unlike the eight other ships built in her class, she never underwent major modifications, meaning she is closer to a World War II aircraft carrier than any other ship today. In 1967, the Navy sold her to Spain, where she spent the next 22 years as the Dedalo. A group of Lousianians heard Spain planned to scrap the Cabot and arranged to bring her to New Orleans to open a Spanish and United States naval history heritage museum. But their vision never got out of the water, and eventually the Coast Guard towed the once-proud vessel to Brownsville, Texas, where she'd be out of the way of river traffic. Uncertain fate Once more, the Cabot seemed destined for disaster. Stephen O'Neal, chairman of Ecosat, a Miami nonprofit foundation that runs educational programs, considered purchasing the ship to sink it for an artificial reef for scuba divers. Then he learned of the ship's rich history and realized he would be sinking a historic landmark. O'Neal worked with members of the Cabot Association, a group who like Viola served on the Cabot, to raise funds to save it. ``The feeling about the Cabot is really its importance in history,'' said Bill Anderson, a Pensacola Beach resident who is leading the fund-raising drive for the Cabot Association. ``You could compare it to the USS Constitution. It's a one-of-a-kind ship, a great way to educate people about what the carriers were like.'' Support sought The association and Ecosat continue to raise funds to keep the Cabot from the jaws of wreckers. O'Neal refused to divulge how much money he has raised, but said it is enough to buy the ship at auction. If the rescue effort fails, O'Neal said, he will refund all donors' monies. But if it succeeds, Ecosat will need about $3 million to complete the project. O'Neal has an official opening slated for next July Fourth. By February 2001, O'Neal hopes to have a permanent home for the Cabot; the company's web site features a rendering for a dock on Watson Island, one of four sites being considered for a permanent berth. Not only would the museum feature naval history displays; it could serve as a teaching tool for high school students, O'Neal said. It would be the first museum of its kind in Florida. In New Orleans, Denver Mullican hopes Miami will do what the Big Easy could not. Mullican, who wrote a master's thesis that spearheaded the New Orleans plan, said, ``The Cabot's a treasure for the United States. Wherever it goes, it's a good thing.'' HOW TO HELP To donate to the Cabot's Cause, visit Ecosat's Web site at http://www.divemiami.com/museum/sponsor_pledge.htm or call the group at 305-871-1982. Or you can write to Bill Anderson at: USS CabotAssociation 430 Fort Pickens Rd. Pensacola Beach, FL 32561 or telephone 850-932-4151. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Darren Scannell Subject: Re: Titanic & SMML Convention The Titanics: Minicraft and Academy have stopped marketing the 1/350 Titanic as a team, I don't know if they are still partners in some way. Academy has released the 1/400 Titanic earlier this year( or last?) with the result being a little more accurate than the Minicraft 1/350 old stand by, but the wood deck grain is pretty wild. Since the Academy release, Minicraft announced that they would be re-releasing the 1/350 Titanic, retooled, accurized and with P/E railings. I do not know if the new 1/350 Titanic is out yet, but I suspect not as I haven't seen it at my local hobby store yet. I hope I haven't confused anybody. Jeff Herne wrote some Thoughts: >> I second WR Press's motion to consider the late spring 2000...the airfares and hotels will be reasonable because it's off season. << Excellent thoughts and reasonings, I vote for May! Darren Scannell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "James Kloek" Subject: Painting Bombs Well, by answering the question about how to airbrush bombs, I am coming out of the closet as an aircraft modeler. Yes, I have as many 1/48 aircraft in my collection as ships........but a lot of them are navy. I even have two B-24s in Navy colors. Anyway, to hold bombs while you airbrush them. After I have assembled the bombs, filled seams, etc, I drill a small hole in either the slot, or the circular depressions molded on to attach the bomb to the bomb rack. Keep it a small hole, then push a round toothpick into the hole until it fits snugly. If you do this right, you should be able to hold the bomb even upside down on the toothpick. Anyway, just paint the bomb while holding on to the tooth pick, then stick the toothpick into something (I use an inverted sytrofoam coffee cup) until the paint dries. Remove the toothpick, and attach the bomb, the hole disappears in the bomb rack. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: HMS Nelson Hi Michael We need to treat the colours given by John Worsley with caution. I've just been looking at the IWM photos of Nelson and there is no white involved at all. In fact, the camouflage patterns and colour contrast conform remarkably well with the schemes that Raven and Roberts give. Comparing them with shots of Rodney (which did have B5 in her scheme) you can see the difference. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Fighting Steel Hi Mark Fighting steel isn't too bad once you get used to the tendency of your ships to fire off full broadsides all the time and for the German ships to be over-protected. There are ommissions but I enjoyed wrecking Scharnhorst with the Rodney even though it took all the main armament ammunition supply to do so. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: HMS Mansfield information Hi Ed, Re the Quiz, One down.. four to go! We deliberately made these difficult due to the prize involved! Re HMS Mansfield, she was built by Bath Iron Works, laid down on the 28th December 1917, launched 30th October 1918, and commissioned on Armistice Day 11/11/1918 (PHEW!!). She was commissioned in the Royal Navy in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on 23 October 1940, with the pennant number, G76. She sailed to Devonport where she began a refit one month later. On the 16th December 1940, she was transferred to the Royal Norwegian Navy, completed her refit on the 9th Jan 1941, joined the 6th Escort Gp in Londonderry, after a brief spell in the channel. On 24th March, she suffered a complete engine failure and had to be towed to Liverpool by HMS Salisbury for repair. She completed just in time for the Commando raid on Oksfjord on 11th April, after which she rejoined her group, which transferred to Iceland. The gp then returned to Britain in June 41 and Mansfield began a refit at Liverpool in August which was completed after a move toChatham in October. The ship was paid off there on 11th Feb 1942, when she reverted to the Royal Navy. On completion of the refit on 11th May, she moved to Tobermory to work up but whilst there, collided with British Lady, which neccessitated repairs at Liverpool between 6th June and 10th July. After the repairs, she joined the Liverpool Special escort Division, making a return passage to Gibraltar. In August 1942, Mansfield was allocated to WLEF under RCN command at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Joined Western Support Force in Jan 1943, and was heavily involved with the actions of Convoy HX229 in March 1943, landing survivors in the UK. The ship refitted on the Thames, returning to the Western Escort Force as part of Unit W7. Worn out by constant work in the Atlantic, she was paid off in November 1943, at Halifax, and offered to the USN for spares. The offer was declined and she was listed for disposal on 22nd June 1944, and sold on 24th October for breaking up. This information, together with two good photographs of the ship, dated May/June 1941, and August 1942, appear in the book "The Towns" by Arnold Hague, published by the World Ship Society, and still in print at 9.00 pounds. Re kits, she was a Wickes Class destroyer. USS Buchanan was a Wickes Class destroyer, which became HMS Campbeltown, the ship used in the incident at St Nazaire. To this end, there ARE kits available. The Revell 1/240 Scale kit of HMS Campbeltown has recently gone oout of production. Toms Modelworks produce (not sure if it is still in production) a 1/350 Scale kit of HMS Campbeltown. USS Ward was a Wicke's Class destroyer. Classic Warships produce (produced) a kit in 1/700 scale, representing the USS Ward in 1941. WSW also produce a kit in 1/700 scale of the same ship. Bluejacket and Combat Models do large scale kits of 4-stackers but we're not sure which class they are. Anyhow, I hope that this has been of some help to you. All My Best Caroline WEM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "Shane Lovell" Subject: Lee Models 1/300 HMS Aurora Arathusa Class Cruiser Has anyone built this kit? Is it accurate? Are there any photoetch available for this kit? Thanks in Advance Shane Lovell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: Dave Baker Subject: SHIP IDENTIFIED For the benefit of Chris Hughes, the destroyer moored at the Washington Navy Yard is the ex-U.S.S. BARRY, DD-933. She's been there for over 20 years, and by now must be fast to the bottom, as the Anacostia has pretty badly silted up. The BARRY was the third unit of the FORREST SHERMAN class (DD 931) and was one of those given an ASW modernization with an ASROC launcher and reload magazine in place of the after superfiring 5-in. 54-cal. Mk 42 gunmount (along with a few thousand other major and minor improvements). She was unique among all SHERMANs in having a bow-mounted sonar dome added and thus has a longer, clipper bow with centerline anchor. The BARRY is open to the public and is well worth a tour. She's also used for such USN ceremonies as re-enlistments and retirements. Best/Dave Baker -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: "mikebug4" Subject: Heller. HMS Victory. For years I have been eyeing this kit, well I've finally decided to break down and buy it. I've built a number of Sailing Ship Models over the last 20 years but never one as complicated as Heller's HMS Victory appears to be: I would appreciate any comments, help, or general information from anyone who has ever built this model. Is it as good as all the ads say it is. Thanks, Mike Alpharetta, Georgia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: "John Sutherland" Subject: Re - OT: Airplane modeling question and what are you working on question Mark, I would suggest that you use the slots in the bombs to advantage. I would tackle it by placing a tiny blob of Blu-Tac (a plastercine like material used for attaching paper, etc to walls temporarly) on the top of a thin metal bar and placing that end in the slot on the bomb and the other in a vice or similar. A good source for the thin metal bars are the useless objects that come in the Hasegawa/Tamiya/Fujimi/Aoshima older kits as "weights". They are ideal. Finally a use for them! Regards John On a fine sunny day in Wellington NZ. PS. for Shane: my current projects are: Currently working on a group of 700 Yugumo class destroyers - one new one (Pitroad Asashimo - what a lovely model!) and three older ones being refurbished. Tend to like to have groups of 3-4 of a type built typically as 1. as built, 2 - 1942 (war start fit) 3 - mid war fit, 4 - end of war fit. Sometimes if a class has a lot of variants this can lead to a whole 8 ship flotilla! Also completing HMS Badsworth (700) and building, very slowly, the WEM Flower class corvette (a long term project - it is beautiful but oh, so fidly!) I have an absolute heap of unbuilt kits awaiting attention (I am reluctant to count them as it probably exceeds 100 and getting larger!). Hi John, Ummm, 100 kits - you must be a newbie ;->> Shane - who's stopped counting the kits in house long ago. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) From: "Chris Hughes" Subject: Re: Painting bombs Hi Mark, The subject may not be naval, but the technique is universal. What you need is a strip of MDF or similar, about 1" wide. Fix a strip of double sided tape (strong carpet grip type...) to the strip of MDF. Place the objects to be painted on the strip - for the bombs, I'd suggest pressing them onto the tape by the nose fuse. If that doesn't work, stand them upright and be prepared to touch in the rear of the fins by hand afterwards. Leave sufficient gap between each item to enable you to get 360 degree cover with your airbrush and spray away... holding onto the MDF "handle" which, of course, you've left to hold on to!! I learnt this technique helping out at a professional architectural modelmaker's workshop. We were making a model of the British Antarctic Survey outpost at the S Pole and we had lots of "same stuff" to airbrush. I actually got to carve the 1/100 scale penguin which we used as the "joke" on the model... HTH Chris -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27) From: Brian Selzler Subject: Naval Videos Hello all, I don't know if I'm re-ploughing already tilled soil but, does anyone recall a movie from the 50's about the Battle of the River Plate, that may have been the title I'm not sure. I think Jack Hawkins could have been in it as Commodore Harwood. If so, has it ever appeared on video anywhere? I remember seeing it on late night tv sometime back in the 60's and after just reading Dudley Pope's account of the battle, I'd like to see it again. Also, while on this thread, what was the name of the movie about the Italian human torpedo attack on the RN battleships in Alexandria harbour? On the workbench, 1/700 Onslow w/WEM pe 1/700 Assiniboine conversion ( of the 2nd O in the box) 1/1200 14 scratchbuilt Fiji/Uganda/Swiftsures ( I'll be delving into the black art of resin casting for this compulsive act) regards, Brian Hi Brain, The movie is indeed called "The Battle of the River Plate". This has just recently been re-released on video here in Australia. It has some great shots of the ships involved in making the film, which included the INS Delhi - which was the HMNZS Achilles. If you can a hold of After The Battle No 40 - this has a good article on how the film was made, plus some shots on what remains of the Graf Spee(as of 1983). Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28) From: LeadSled58@aol.com Subject: US Four stack destroyer info needed. Ahoy Mates! Does anyone have any information on the old US four stacker destroyers, post WWI type? I am interested in any books or online source that may show the guns in some detail, ship colors and also wether or not the ships had wooden decks or not. Many thanks for all information provided. All the best. Tom -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29) From: "Doremus, Mark" Subject: Next Survey suggestions Shane, These surveys really seem to get folks talking! I've noticed a couple of common complaints about scores of unbuilt kits. This leads me to an idea for a new survey: Are you a kit builder or a kit collector? I want to be a builder, but I've got about 110 kits waiting on me, so I guess I'm really a collector. Mark Doremus Tropical Eden Prairie, MN, about to become deluged Eden Prairie, MN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30) From: Chuck Messer Subject: Current Projects and Demologos Greetings, SMMLies! I'm fairly new here, at least as far as putting in my $.02 worth. Current projects: I am presently working on a scratchbuild/kitbash model of Captain Nemo's Nautilus from the Jules Verne novel. The hull is 2/3 U.S.S Skipjack (the old Aurora kit) and 1/3 Estes model rocket nose cone. The details are scratch built from Evergreen sheet plastic, and Evergreen tubing, with brass port holes and some left over resin parts. The scale is 1/200. Next, a question for the learned people here: I'm trying to find drawings for the Demologos, the first steam powered warship. I have the dimensions and historical particulars, but I can't seem to find any pictures of her. I would particularly like to see how the catamaran hulls were fastened together. Was the gap between faired over? If so, was it just down to the waterline? The paddle wheel was situated between the two hulls, making it nearly shotproof. Clever fellow, that Fulton. Thanks! :^) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31) From: Marc Flake Subject: Re: Petropavlovsk Pieter: I've found two photographic references for Petropavlovsk. The first is the Russian Navy link off the Warships Web Site Links page. Follow the links to the Imperial Navy Photos or just type in these coordinates: http://rnavy.click2site.com/Old/battl/o449a.jpg In this photo the "Petro" is in an overall dark gray, the tint is unknown. The second photo is on the Russian Navy Links Page, but you need to down load some Cryllic fonts to read it. The easy route is through these coordinates: http://members.tripod.com/~vid45wh/SHIP_204.JPG In this photo, the "Petro" is in "Victorian" livery. Black hull, white superstructure and yellow funnels. It's a bow-on shot showing a thin white line separating the black part of the hull from the red part. Nothing about the decks. That'll be up to you. I think it's interesting that there's no photo of him in the Far East scheme of overall white with yellow funnels, as he was stationed at Port Arthur. Something else to ponder on is this excerpt from "The War At Sea: The Age of Steam Part One" by John Southworth: "The admiral had to contend with many things . . . and with naval bueaucrats so unimaginative that they had the hulls of the warships painted dark grey, which would stand out against the sea mits instad of blending with them, and the masts and funnels bright yellow, which would provid perfect focusing targets for the Japanese naval rangefinders." The admiral in this case was the Baltic Fleet's Rozhdestvsky, but I'll bet the Far East Fleet's Makarov had to contend with the same bureaucrats. Marc Flake (that's Marc with a "C") -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32) From: Marc Flake Subject: Re: Fighting Steel Mark: This game is selling for $56 at the Fryes Electronics down the street. I've been verifying that my computer is up to snuff with the required software, 3D card, memory and such. Now if I can just stop buying models for a few weeks so I'll have the money to buy this game, I'll play it and let everyone know. Marc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33) From: Marc Flake Subject: Re: Y2K US Nationals About limiting the general public to two days: I talked to Penny about this recently. The reason the Dallas chapter is doing this is to provide IPMS members a benefit for being an IPMS member. This is an IPMS convention and members ought to have privileges that the non-members don't. So, on Wednesday night and all day Thursday, members will be the only ones allowed in the vendor rooms. There will also be some special tours offered on those two, midweek days. Then, everyone will have access to seminars and the vendor room on Friday and Saturday. The vendors shouldn't be concerned, heck there's more than 3 million people within a 50-mile radius of Downtown Dallas, not to mention the brave souls who'll be coming from as far away as Oklahoma City and Houston. Most of the non-members who'll be coming will be weekenders anyway. The only people this will bother will be the local people who want to go through the vendor room looking for the rare, hard-to-find, out-of-production kits and books. People like me. And, quite frankly, I'll be joining IPMS this year so I can get into that vendor room on Wednesday night. And if I like what IPMS provides for me this year in the way of cameraderie and advice, I'll probably re-up next year. It makes sense to me, but I'm willing to listen to other comments. Marc Flake (Aaaooogaaah, Aaaooogaaah, Battle stations! Seal all watertight doors!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34) From: Phil Kirchmeier Subject: Academy Titanic 1:350 >> I recently saw an advertisement in FSM magazine for an "improved" Titanic kit in 1:350 from Academy. Naturally its more expensive, but I was wondering what the other differences might be. In particular is the hull plating more to scale? IMHO the original kit's hull plating, (wobbly, and probably about 10 scale inches thick) is horrendous. I would buy the "improved" kit if the hull plating looked closer to scale. << Hi Dave: Are you talking about the Academy 1/400 Titanic, or the 1/350 Minicraft Titanic? Academy and Minicraft split and the smaller (Academy) Titanic is all new tooling (sorta their way of thumbing their noses at Minicraft for taking the Titanic molds). I did a review of the Academy kit for FSM in the Feb '99 issue (which can be read online at http://www.finescale.com click on reviews/past reviews). The hull plates are better, but still appear slightly large in appearance. This week I received an advanced shot of the newly retooled 1/350 Minicraft Titanic, and they've fixed 50+ things (according to them). I haven't had a chance to compare the newly tooled kit to the older kit, but the hull plates still appear to be the original oversize ones. An "oh cool" with the kit, is the included photetch rails and ratlines, I'm sure companies like Gold Medal and the like will *love* this ;-). I'll be reviewing the kit for a future FSM issue. If there's interest I could post a more detailed in box review of the kit, otherwise Dave if you have more specific questions you may want to email me off list. Phil Kirchmeier Kirchmeier Interactive http://www.execpc.com/~pkirch/ "What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch?"--W.C. Fields -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35) From: "John Snyder" Subject: Re: Current Projects Current projects? Royal Navy Set 2! Oh, you meant MODELING projects? You mean I'm supposed to be building something? In my copious spare time (snicker, chortle, uncontrolled laughter!). Same *$^&%&#^&* project that I've been trying to finish up for the last two years (stop laughing, Al Ross!): Revell's PT-109, cleaned up and accurized, and painted up as PT-165, wearing the Adaptor pattern. What's the Adaptor pattern you ask? It's the zebra-stripe camouflage measure, using black, white, and Ocean Gray (5-O). Knocking? Someone's knocking at my door? Why, it's two men in white jackets, telling me to stay calm and come along quietly.... John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys "Strive for excellence but remember, it's difficult to excel in a world where anything exceeding mediocrity is cause for suspicion." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36) From: Airfix Subject: Anchors, ships crests & WEM Hi all, I was just researching my latest project HMS Belfast, when I came upon some info that made me realise I am anchor challenged. What are the uses and differences between stockless, bower and sheet anchors. I always thought they were just the hooky things at the pointy end of the ship that the US Navy like to sing about. I just received the WEM 8 and 4 barrel pompoms, the .5 MG quads, and QF 4" resin replacement parts for the Belfast. They are fantastic. If anybody else is building in 600 scale RN ships you really should get these parts. Their absolutely exquisite and far superior to Airfixs lumps. I also got the WEM PE for her as well. Well done Peter Hall. Insert usual disclaimer here. If possible could somebody please send me a scan or photocopy ( I will gladly pay the postage) of the ships crests for the HMS Kelvin, HMS Onslow and HMS Pakenham. Thanks in advance. Keith Butterley President & CEO The Weak-Eyed and All Thumbs Shipbuilding Co. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: roberto paredes Subject: Orange Blossom phone Hi, I need Orange Blossom phone!...anybody help me? TIA, Roberto. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume