Subject SMML25/09/99VOL679 Date: Sun, 26 Sep 1999 05:03:52 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: USS Massachusetts 2: USS Massachusetts 3: Re: American Scout C-2 4: Re: USS Massachusetts Paint scheme 5: Rendel Gunboats 6: American Scout 7: Blowing stuff up with romance 8: Re: USS LONG BEACH 9: Re: Hazy thank you 10: Re: Cyclone Class PC Kit 11: Re: Japanese "Solid Casting" Resin Kits 12: Re: Mk.35 director 13: Holiday Snaps - another thought 14: Info on Rengo Kantai wanted 15: Re: American Scout 16: Re: USS Massachusetts 17: Fort Drum 18: American Scout kit 19: Re: Fort Drum 20: FS: ship kits & fittings 21: Digitizing Images 22: Re: Dio Sol Alive and Well 23: Re: Illustrious Class 24: LCC-19 or 20 25: Model Shipwright & Warship 1999-2000 26: Re: American Scout, C-2 Hull Freighter 27: BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET BLUE 28: Re: American Scout C-2 cargo ship -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Mauretania NOW IN STOCK at the Naval Base 2: Neptun 1/1250 Warship Model Sale -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: eugenek Subject: Re: USS Massachusetts My son and I toured the Massachusetts this past July. She was repainted in haze gray, no camouflage. If you go to the following website, you will see pictures of her in drydock (along with many other photos) at: http://warship.simplenet./com/Mass.htm>. The Battleship Massachusetts also has her own web site at http://www.battleshipcove.com Warm regards, Eugene Kessler Silver Spring, MD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Sheridan John Contr 66 ABW/SCX Subject: USS Massachusetts >> Last year, the USS Massachusetts was in drydock and was repainted. Does anyone know if she was repainted in any wartime measure or just plain (and boring) haze gray? << Sorry, be she returned to her berth the way she left: MS 27 Haze Gray complete with 96" Numbers John Sheridan 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Katz, Gene S" Subject: Re: American Scout C-2 Glad you asked, youngster. When I was a Deck Cadet in the US Merchant Marine at NY State Maritime College, and still carried my seamen's papers (Z-card), I built that kit. It is a Sterling Co. kit, balsa, basswood, and other light wood. Fittings set was separate. I used Ambroid wood glue, waterproof orange stuff. It was the last kit I built before going to sea, and I gave it to a teen neighbor, who later on put firecrackers on it and sailed it into oblivion on the Thames River (Groton). Could be fitted for radio control. Don't think it is produced anymore. I built it in 1961, but it had been around before that. It was a fairly nice likeness of a standard Maritime Commission dry cargo ship operated by the now defunct US Steam Navigation Co.( United States Lines); their ships were named "American (something: Explorer,Adventurer, etc.). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Rod Dauteuil Subject: Re: USS Massachusetts Paint scheme The ship is painted in an overall gray which appears to be a shade darker than the normal haze gray (but I'm not a color expert). I saw "Big Mamie" in it's South Boston drydock earlier this year shortly before the work was completed. Funds for the restoration were limited, and naturally it would have been more costly to do a 2-tone job. Keep in mind that Battleship Cove was also planning to restore the USS Lionfish, so had to budget accordingly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Torgeson Roger A KPWA" Subject: Rendel Gunboats David, The International Naval Research Organization quarterly magazine Warship International 15 plus years ago ran a 3 or 4 part series of articles on all the Rendel Gunboats built. If I remember right there were a large number built for various countries. I have all the issues some place at home and would be happy to look them up for you. Let me know if you just want information on the one you mentioned or all of them. I know the author and will see what else he may have. Roger Torgeson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: KDur597268@aol.com Subject: American Scout >> I'm repairing a large model ship about 50 inches long. Its name is American Scout and is a type C-2 Cargo ship. It was a kit and made from balsa wood. Can someone tell me the manufacturer of this ship ? And any info about it. << Wasn't this a Sterling kit? Ken D -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: KDur597268@aol.com Subject: Blowing stuff up with romance >> but messing a love story in there will blow it all to hell! Its time to forget the stupid romance and blow some stuff up. << Sounds kinda like my life. Every time romance enters the picture stuff blows up! Ooops, OT, sorry . . . . ;-) Ken D -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "John Snyder" Subject: Re: USS LONG BEACH The JAG model represents LONG BEACH in her 1960s fit. BAINBRIDGE in her 1960s fit will follow soon (and I'm going to have to have several of those--one for me and others to build as auction items or raffle prizes at our reunions). John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys USS BAINBRIDGE (DLGN-25), 1966-70 Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club, 1966-7, 1969 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "John Snyder" Subject: Re: Hazy thank you >> As for my "white" Ark Royal, from now on I will just tell people that I did her up as she would look on a cold day covered in frost. << No, no, no, not frost--SALT SPRAY! ;^) John Snyder -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Joseph Poutre Subject: Re: Cyclone Class PC Kit >> I was wondering if anyone knew of a plastic kit available for a Cyclone class PC? After watching the special on the History Channel last night, I want to build one of these! << Seconded! I'll take a set of three in 1/700 for dioramic purposes, and one in a larger scale for display. BTW: On what show did you see them? US or Canadian History Channel? Joseph Poutre Trustee and co-webmaster, Battleship New Jersey Historical Museum Society http://www.bb62museum.org/ Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Joseph Poutre Subject: Re: Japanese "Solid Casting" Resin Kits >> A check of the "Solid Casting" model website (see SMML for the two previous days for more info and the web address) shows that this company currently has underway masters for 1/700 models of the fleet oilers Neosho and Cimmaron (in two versions each: high and low in the water!) as well as plans for models of HMS Repulse (1941), Exeter (1942), and USS Indianapolis (1945). For more info, click the hyperlink button on their home page to what they call "catalog 3" which has info concerning WWII era allied ships. Someone has to find a way to import these to the U.S.! Thought some of you would be interested in this... << I am, but since their website has twice hung my entire machine, forcing me to remotely kill Netscape, could someone fill me in on what they're planning? Just a list would be fine. And we should suggest this line to HLJ. (Interesting that all the above but Cimmaron are vessels that the Japanese sank during the war...) Joseph Poutre Trustee and co-webmaster, Battleship New Jersey Historical Museum Society http://www.bb62museum.org/ Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Ernst-Bernhard Kayser Subject: Re: Mk.35 director Dear Ross Bruce, I am almost completely ignorant as far as fire control directors are concerned. However, since there was no answer whatsoever to your request in todays issue of SMML, I feel encouraged to come forward with my 2 cents worth of information. I found 2 photographs showing Mk. 35 directors in Norman Friedman, "U.S Destroyers, An Illustrated Design History". Both are on page 85. The picture of USS Winslow DD 359 is especially useful since she sports two Mk.35s. The photo shows the front of the foward and the back of the aft director. The other picture of USS Jouett DD396 is useful for a closer look at the openings in the front face of the Mk.35. Besides the photos, you'll find a side elevation drawing of USS Somers DD381 on page 103 in the same book indicating the presence of some "thingies" on the roof of the director too. I hope this is useful news to you Bernhard -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Ed Grune Subject: Holiday Snaps - another thought Douglas One more option for your pictures. After you pick them up at the photo-counter at the Boots (thats a drug store chain in the UK, right?), take any photos which you might want to be scanned into a computer format to your local office supply/copy service center. Here in the States there's a chain called Kinkos. Usually they have a couple of high-horsepower PCs with large format scanners attached on which you can rent time. You can do it yourself or they can do it for you for a fee. I scanned in a few pictures which I received from the USS Oberon association which were too big for my scanner at home. The cost was charged by the 1/10 hour (i.e. 6 minutes). I was in and out and it cost me less than $5.00. Bring your own diskettes or you will have to buy them there -- and they charge more for them they the ones you have or get sent to you free. Ed Mansfield, TX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Suzanne Bolton" Subject: Info on Rengo Kantai wanted Hi everyone, This is aimed at all you Japanese specialists.I would love to get hold of the magazine called Rengo Kantai. Does anyone know ANYTHING about it and where to get it from,pleeeeeeese? All the best, Steve -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: LBart73@aol.com Subject: Re: American Scout This sounds like the old Sterling kit. Larry B -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Fritz Koopman Subject: Re: USS Massachusetts Hi Yohan, Sorry, still haze gray. But unlike the Carolina, where she had a nice fancy disruptive pattern to wear, the fanciest Big Maime ever got was an Ms 12 Mod. (someone will propably correct me), and then an Ms 22 later on. The Ms 22 would be fairly easy reqiring the simple addition of 5-N up to the lowest sheer. But would it be that much more interesting with it? The Ms 12 Mod. would be a LOT more interesting. However, unlike the Carolina that has what appears to to be a Ms 33 with nice straight pattern edges to make painting easy, the splotch borders in the Ms 12 Mod colors seem to me like they would be problematic for the Fall River staff to maintain. I spoke with Armand, one of the original crew currently on staff, about two months ago and he explained to me that their current priority is to try and restore some of the missing external hardware. Such as the missing 40mm shields and many of the missing 20mm mounts, several davits, etc.,and that this is taking up most of the crews' time at the moment. Finnishing off a lot of stuff that was supposed to happen in Drydock, but ran outa time, kinda thing. Best Regards Fritz Koopman In the suddenly COLD north shore of Massachusetts. What happened to summer? Hi Fritz, Summer is finally meandering it's way down under at long last ;-). Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Minadmiral@aol.com Subject: Fort Drum Nat, >> Look for a book called "The Concrete Battleship" by Francis J. Allen, the publisher is Pictorial Histories. The copy I have was only $8.95 a few << Hi; I just found 4-5 copies on Bookfinder, $8.85 or so. Go here: http://www.bookfinder.com/ BookFinder.com: Search for Out of Print and Used Books and search by title. I have a copy myself. Excellent little book. Chuck Duggie -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Denis & Marilyn Campbell Subject: American Scout kit >> I'm repairing a large model ship about 50 inches long. Its name is American Scout and is a type C-2 Cargo ship. It was a kit and made from balsa wood. Can someone tell me the manufacturer of this ship ? And any info about it. << This sounds like it would have been made from a kit by Sterling Models and, you are right - about 20 to 25 years old. I happen to have that kit - still in the box - in my basement. It belonged to my late father-in-law who passed on in 1979 but who loved those Sterling kits - he built two Chris Craft cabin cruisers and the uss Missouri (which was about 5 feet long too). They were all radio controlled and beautiful. Sterling is still in business (resurrected, I believe) and I know they now make an improved version of the Missouri - don't know about the American Scout. I have seen their ad in Fine Scale Modeler. By the way, if anyone on the list is interested in having this kit of American Scout, still in its original box (opened, but complete and intact) with plans, make me an offer by e-mail off-list. It really belongs to my wife now, but she sure isn't going to build and sail it (and agrees to sell it) and I am not really into RC models so it has just sat in the box for over 20 years. I have no idea what it is worth. Denis Campbell Avon MA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Re: Fort Drum >> I am looking for a source of photos of Ft. Drum, Manila Bay... which looks something like the stern-third of a battleship I recently acquired one of the Classic Warship kits and am looking for some images to help put things in perspective. Any ideas? << Nat: There is/was a book called "The Concrete Battleship" that came out shortly (?) after the CW kit was released. Lots of good photos and background on this unique fort. Try writing to the publisher at: Pictorial Histories Publishing Co. 713 South Third Street West Missoula, Montana 59801 I also have an article that ran in a US Army magazine several years ago; send me your mailing address and I will forward a photocopy. Mike L Alexandria, VA USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: PERATHJEN@aol.com Subject: FS: ship kits & fittings We still have the following ship kits and fitting kits available. Some of these kits have missing parts, but they are wooden ships and they mostly have full size plans, so the parts can be duplicated. These are kits from the 1960s and 70s primarily. The boxes are not perfect, but they are new, not partially built kits. Email me off list if you are interested; shipping is paid within the U.S. Marinecraft "Golden Hind" complete with plans, metal fittings, $20.00 Mantua (1975) Roman Galley "Caesar" full size plans, many fittings, $40.00 Mantua brigintine "Black Falcon" 18", pirate ship, full size plans, missing parts, $30.00 Sterling "Flying Cloud" preformed hull, full plans, fittings, 26", $25.00 Billing "Zwarte Zee" 1963 kit, some fittings, $35.00 Billing, "Marie-Jeanne" sails, 3 each fitting kits available, $30.00 (fit kits, $20.00 ea) Billing , "Dannebrog" liner, $50.00 Billing, "Wasa" brig., no plans/instructions, $25.00 Billing, "Dragon" plans, parts, sails, no fittings kit, $20.00 Billing, crabcutter, plans, some missing parts, no fitting kit, $25.00 Billing, spanish galleon, no plans/instructions, Constructo (Spain) Pirate brig., 7" preformed hull, no plans/ instructions $10.00 Constructo "Hispaniola" Plans, parts missing (2 kits available), $10.00 ea Sterling U.S. revenue cutter "Hamilton" 9"hull, $15.00 Billing, Statenjacht (government boat) Large kit (32" box!) $40.00 FITTINGS KITS: DMI Auto Ferry (2kits available) $10.00 ea DMI Claudia $7.50 DMI Vedette cabin cruiser $10.00 Billings Pirate brig (2 available) $10 ea Billings Marie Jeanne (3 available) $20 ea Billings Sampson , tug boat, (3 available) $10 ea Scientific Box of lead fittings, misc. $10.00 Billings Cutty Sark (4 available) $50.00 (459 pieces) Billings Lils Dan, $30.00 Dumas , running gear for Drag'n Fly 20 $32.00 Dumas, running gear for Drag'n Fly 60 $27.00 Dumas, running gear for Trojan, or #1203 lifeboat, $25.00 Billings, Progress, trawler, $25.00 Billings, Norske Love $50.00 Billings Santa Maria $15.00 Billings, Banckert $25.00 Paul Rathjen, perathjen@aol.com. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: "James Kloek" Subject: Digitizing Images Yes, you can also get your images on a 1.44 Meg floppy disk. But....and its a big but, to store a single 35mm image without image compression takes around 15 Meg of memory. So to get a roll of 24 images on a single floppy means that a heavy duty image compression alogrithm has to be used. This winds up throwing away a lot of information recorded on the film in the first place. If all you want to do is look at the images on your computer monitor, which has very poor image resolution, you can get away with the floppy. But if you want to do any enlarging and printing, the lack of resolution becomes noticeable. The advantage of the CD is that it has a lot more space for storing uncompressed images, and you have inhernently better quality images to work with. What you choose depends on what use you are going to have for your digitized images. There are system requirements for the Picture CD however, so be sure to check that your system is compatible before you order one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Dio Sol Alive and Well >> I may be wrong, but I think Dio-Sol may have been discontinued when they changed the Floquil formulae from laquer to "enamel". At least my shop isn't carrying it any more. << They stopped producing it for a while replacing with a different type of thinner (I can't remember the name). The product is no longer called Dio Sol on the label. The can I have is product #160001 produced by Floquil and is labeled "Thinner and Brush Cleaner for all Floquil Products". Chemically it may not be the same as Dio Sol, but it works just as well. My hobby shop labels the price sticker Dio Sol. 32 oz here costs about $11.50. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: ECammeron@aol.com Subject: Re: Illustrious Class Until the RN modified the flight decks to remove the pronounced round down aft, the Illustrious class couldn't handle deck parks. The aircraft could be parked forward for recovery, but not far enough aft for launch due to the round down. See Friedman's British Carrier Aviation for a brief description of the problem. Eugene Cammeron -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: "Ralph E. Batykefer, Jr." Subject: LCC-19 or 20 Anyone have any knowledge concerning the Highmolds USS Mt. Whitney or USS Blue Ridge? How much and where do you get one? Is it a good kit with photoetch? I'm looking to complete an amphibious collection... Thanks, Ralph Batykefer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Model Shipwright & Warship 1999-2000 I have this morning (25/9/99) received a letter from Conway (dated 14/9/99) explaining they have now been purchased by The Chrysalis Group following the bankruptcy of their previous owner. They will now be issuing Model Shipwright 107 at the end of October, followed by others in early December, March, June and September. It will be necessary for subscribers to resubscribe (£25:50/$52:50) but they will receive 5 issues and a £10 book voucher for each copy to which they had previously subscribed. Warship 1999-2000 is due for issue in November. Regards Les Brown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) From: Alan Simon Subject: Re: American Scout, C-2 Hull Freighter Kit was manufactured by Sterling Models. Fine example was displayed in front window of Lenox Toy & Hobby, Atlanta, for years. Alas, kit (and hobby shop) are gone. Suggest surfing web for "Sterling Models." Will connect w/ several hobby shops featuring current line of aircraft and mostly boats (still sell USS Missouri). Maybe someone can help or can get you in touch with Sterling. Alan Simon Atlanta, Ga. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27) From: "Phil Gollin" Subject: BRITISH PACIFIC FLEET BLUE Having watched the Latest Naval Time Capsule video (British Pacific Fleet - phase 2) several times (wonderful !) I have a query regarding the "blue" used on the BPF waterline panel. In a series of colour shots of the British East Indies Fleet saying goodbye to the USS Saratoga a procession of RN Ships are shown, basically in the same lighting conditions. The blue panel seems to vary from Light grey with a blue-ish tinge, through a rich light blue through to almost a dark grey. Does anyone know whether this is another one of those "paint-mixing" problems, or is it "just the light" ? Phil -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28) From: CapnTroy@aol.com Subject: Re: American Scout C-2 cargo ship The kit was manufactured by a company called Sterling, I'm not sure if they're still in business. Troy Waters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: Mauretania NOW IN STOCK at the Naval Base Airfix 1/600 Mauretania in stock $11.00 Great buy on our "Commercial & Tug Boat" page http://www.modelshipbuilding.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Michael Morse Subject: Neptun 1/1250 Warship Model Sale East Coast Miniatures is having a sale on in-stock Neptun 1/1250 superbly detailed warship models. Customers may take an additional 10% off of these already low prices: 1004a Gneisenau-$79, 1031 Blucher-$60, 1126 Empire Macrae-$40, 1134b Berwick-$48, 1144 Penelope-$40, 1214 Hiryu-$75, 1235 Furutaka-$45, 1243 Yubari-$29, 1281 Chidori-$14, 1441a Gloire-$46, 1510 Aquila-$80, 1211 Unryu-$92, 1002 Bismarck-$85, 1004b Gneisenau w/15" guns-$85, 1282 Shimushu-$14, 1145 Perth-$42, 1292 Tsugaru-$26, 1000 H-Klasse BB-$99, 1102 Rodney-$69, 1147 Emerald-$48, 1240 Oyodo-$40, 1272a I-16 sub-$19, 1331a St. Paul-$62, 1393 AO Pecos-$42, 1133 Sussex-$48, 1146a Achilles-$42, 1160 L/M DD-$21, 1161a Tribal II-$21, 1163a JKN DD-$21, 1201 Yamato-$95, 1231a Suzuya-$59, 1233 Nachi-$59, 1300a Missouri-$89, 1301b Indiana-$68, 1301c Mass-$68, 1316 Lexington-$105, 1317 Saratoga-$105, 1333c San Francisco-$48, 1335a Northampton-$48, 1532 Zara-$50, 1530 Pola-$50 Mastercard, Visa, Discover accepted. Email:ecminis@bellsouth.net or phone 561-642-0026. The new, expanded Fall '99 update is available listing all of the many 1/1250 ships, plastic ships, tanks,aircraft models we carry as well as wargaming miniatures. Free for the asking. Website with secure server...SOON. Many thanks, Mike Morse East Coast Miniatures -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume