Subject: SMML09/11/99VOL724 Date: Tue, 09 Nov 1999 23:42:20 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: On Resin vs. Plastic kits 2: GMM 1/400 PE Set 3: Resin vs. Injection Kits 4: KGV Book, GMM Yorktown class brass, Philosophy 5: Saratoga CV3 Dazzle Camo 6: Landing Craft Flak 7: Re: Thanks for the LCF/LCT Information 8: "expensive" kits 9: Re: Resin v. Plastic kits 10: Scale Conversion Question 11: Re: Jim Shirley Productions USS Oriskany 12: Re: Informal gathering of SMMLies 13: JMSDF Ohsumi 14: Back to the Future 15: Re: USS Alabama 16: Re: U.S.S. Oriskany 17: Re: Resin vs. Plastic - yet again! 18: Re: Giorgios Averoff 19: Re: Benson/Gleaves cl. destroyers 20: Re: JS Oriskany kit 21: Conway sailing again 22: Aurora re-birth 23: Banana Boat 24: Re: USS Alabama/Paints Available for WWII USN Colors 25: Gakken Books 26: You Gotta Buy Those Chips 27: LCT MODELS 28: On H-R, Pine Island, and pics 29: Resin Vs Plastic 30: Re: Use of Future Floor polish in painting 31: Re: Another Wreck Model 32: Re: British LCF 33: Collective Noun's 34: The Navy of the Russian Empire 35: HMCS Sackville Book -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Pacific Front Hobbies is Open! 2: FYI -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Steve Singlar Subject: Re: On Resin vs. Plastic kits I have to agree with Steve. As magnificant as the resin kits are, they are out if reach for many hobbiests. I'd love to see some plastic treaty cruisers, pre-war DD's and FRAM destroyers. Steve SInglar Pelham, NH Where the leaves are piling up like crazy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Felix Bustelo Subject: GMM 1/400 PE Set Hello all, There is a review of the GMM 1/400 PE Set on International Maritime Modeling with a scan of the actual fret. Take a look. Felix Bustelo Webmaster International Maritime Modeling http://members.tripod.com/~Febus65/imm.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Felix Bustelo Subject: Resin vs. Injection Kits Well, I had to add my two bits as well. If you want producers of injection molded kits to re-release more kits and even produce new ones, you have to buy them! Sales and the bottom line will determine whether companies will deem ship models as a worthwhile product line. ICM is stepping out with some new tooling in 1/350 scale, Heller a few months ago release their first new kit in ages with the Charles de Gaulle. While I don't know how sales are going, it is encouraging to see an "old" name in the business try something new. I am buying one (its on order at the Naval Base) becuase I wanted one and because I wanted to show some support. Resin kit manufacturers are filling the gaps as best as they can and they are dealing with a minority market. They all deserve our support as well as far as our wallets/purses will allow. My personal tastes are the injection molded kits, but the bottom line should be support your ship model manufacturers, be they large corporations or the cottage industry. Regards, Felix Bustelo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Satin, Michael N. (SHEP)" Subject: KGV Book, GMM Yorktown class brass, Philosophy Well, several items I'd like to discuss. Feel free to skip any (or all!) you're not interested in. First, Douglas Martin says Arms & Armour has reprinted Talent's KGV book. Yipes! Anyone know where can I get a copy on line? I'd REALLY like to get hold of that book! Next, I'm interested in doing a Midway collection. An F4F, SBD and TBD from Enterprise and an A6M, D3A and B5N from Akagi. I'd also like to include the ships. I have the Hasegawa 1/450 Akagi and the BWN 1/350 Enterprise. Obviously, the Big E isn't even close to scale (and the wrong time period). I thought the old Revell Yorktown might just about fit the bill, and would like to know what GMM's brass set contains. Does it have AA guns? Conversion parts? Loren (or anyone else who has the set) any hints? Finally, my shipbuilding (or collecting) philosophy. I get kits of things I'm interested in and support those manufacturers who make those kits (yes, I have an ICM Hood way up on my list). I have set out in this forum what kits I have and asked which I should start with. While I am very pleased to get advice (thank you to all!) I have to say that I really am not particularly interested in smaller ships. I have the ones I like (except for Hood, see above), and have really had go out on a limb to get a couple of them (that Enterprise!! Whew!). While I have very little ship building experience, I have been building models, mostly aircraft, for many years. I have built old kits, new kits, resin kits, kits with lots of brass, you name it. I know that shipbuilding includes many challenges I may not have faced yet, but it seems to me that I should be able to tackle a Tamiya battleship with GMM parts with at least a reasonable chance of success. I plan to do that before I hit the resin kits to get more experience, but I really think I can handle it. I'm looking forward to joining the Ship Building fraternity very soon, but some of the things I've read here can be a bit frightening. Could it be that some of the attitudes I've detected could be contributing to the lack of recruits? I know ship building can be a whole new level of modeling, but it seems to me that some of the contributors I've read here really look down on the aircraft and armor modelers. If we encourage these folks to try ships, rather than discourage them, they seem like very fertile ground for new buyers. This would contribute to our ability to get new kits released. Certainly some of the ship models I've seen are truly awesome, but everyone starts somewhere and making condescending comments about people who could enhance the shipbuilding community isn't going to get them into it. Oh dear! Sorry about that Shane, guess I just had to get that off my chest. Iowa, here I come! Michael Hi Michael, Iowa eh, could be worse - it could be New Zealand ;-)) Shane - who's now REALLY ducking for cover from the Kiwis. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Fernando, Yohan" Subject: Saratoga CV3 Dazzle Camo Hi, I'm looking for photos or a design sheet for the port side of the Saratoga's dazzle camo scheme. All the photos I've found are of the starboard and unfortunately, Floating Drydock doesn't have a design sheet listed for the Saratoga. Thanks in advance. Yohan Fernando -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Rob Lockie" Subject: Landing Craft Flak This was indeed a British effort, an LCT (Landing Craft Tank - I forget which one but hazard a guess at a 4) armed with numerous single 2pdr pom-poms and 2cm Oerlikons. It was, as you might imagine, used for local air defence of landings and I think some were in use for Operation Neptune in June 1944. I have more gen. at home in my books, including a drawing or two in all probability, but I believe that Tim Perry's 1/350 LCT kit project may one day surface in LCF guise; if not, conversion would not be too difficult, assuming that you enjoy scratchbuilding 1/350 single 2pdrs...... Robert Lockie Cambridge UK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: AllenFW2@aol.com Subject: Re: Thanks for the LCF/LCT Information I just wanted to thank Tim Perry, Chris Preston and Les Pickstock for the great information on the LCF/LCT vessels. I'll be sure to pass on the information verbatim to the person who originally contacted me about it. Again, thanks! Frank Allen Battle Cruiser Hood -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Victor Baca, Photomarine Archives" Subject: "expensive" kits In reference to Harold Lincoln's posting suggesting scratchbuilding as a remedy for "high" kit prices (ref. SMML Vol. 720), I wholeheartedly agree. I am one of those ship modelers who's tastes run toward unusual and decidedly NOT cost effective subjects from a manufacturer's viewpoint. I waited patiently for several years, hoping one of the plastic model companies would come out with a kit depicting the U.S. Coast Guard's 82' Point Class cutter. Lindberg kitted the 95 footers and did a good job of it, but it wasn't what I really wanted. But I did buy several of the Lindberg kits to assure that they got my "vote" (using my wallet as a ballot of sorts). Eventually, I learned to scratchbuild and it opened up the whole world of model ships to my workbench. Now if something catches my eye, I can translate it into a basic model hull very quickly and pop a fiberglass mold for posterity before it's completed, regardless of the scale. I do not expect the model companies to ever produce a fleet of historic and modern Coast Guard cutters or the other so-called 'minor' classes of military ships. That's understandable and it's not a problem for me anymore. If I can find the plans and photos or the real ship to capture on film, I can literally pick my subjects from around the harbor. There are many capable modelers out there who have the ability to scratchbuild given good research material and a little ingenuity. Excellent books abound and I highly suggest all ship modelers acquire a copy of the book "Scale Model Warships" published by Mayflower books back in 1978 (ISBN 0 8317 7702 8) and edited by John Bowen. It still ranks up there as one of the best "courses" in scratchbuilding between 2 covers. One thing I will not do is scratchbuild when there is a perfectly suitable kit already on the shelf. Supporting both the large and small businesses that cater to our needs is vitally important and I can think of no better way of doing that than by buying their kits. Although we all tend to gravitate to certain types of ships, it doesn't hurt to collect a few goodies outside our specialty, especially if the kit's accurate and very well done. There's a lot to be said for taking a kit box off the storage shelf and simply enjoying the parts within, appreciating the engineering and artistry that brought the thing to market in the first place. The scratchbuilder can learn a lot about technique by studying the work of the modeler who made the master for the kit. Although the kit may never be built, that's O.K. too, because any one of the kits in our collections could become "collectables", a sort of investment towards retirement. So, I will continue saving my spare change and bills for kit money and support the industry that keeps our unique segment of the hobby alive. May your hulls gather no dust, Victor Baca Photomarine Archives -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: Re: Resin v. Plastic kits Hi Guys, To respond to Kelvin's post, a bit of background to the sudden surging of subjects from Dragon (and Revell Germany of course) in the past couple of years >> Ever wondered how Dragon manages to put out so many high quality new issues regularly << Every one of Dragon's new issues is "old" Skywave tooling, from the Sovremenny thru to the Arleigh Burke... the same tooling that produces mouldings that end up in Revell boxes (in fact, ALL 1/700 scale kits, excluding former Matchbox kits such as the Arizona, and the 1/700 Tarawa/Saipan, are formerly-owned Skywave tools. We have been able to predict forthcoming Revellodragon releases by what "disappears" from the Skywave listings! Yes, I know other hulls have been tooled up for these original waterline kits, I presume, by the Chinese, and the announced 1/700 HMS Invincible kit was never actually released by Pit-Road several years back.... in this case, the 3/4 completed tooling was sold on to the Shanghai-Dragon bunch, and completed and released by them (which might explain the deck-wide "hurdles" along the flightdeck...a pig to remove! I am sure that Skywave would never have completed the deck in such a crummy fashion! Talking of which, surely Pit-Road can't flog on much more of their tooling.. they'll only have the IJN and JMSDF stuff left at the rate they're going! Best Regards Caroline Carter WHITE ENSIGN MODELS http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Reynaga, Tim@EDD" Subject: Scale Conversion Question >> I have some plans in 1/720 scale. I'd like to copy them to both 1/700 and 1/600 scale. Can anyone tell me exactly how much I'd need to enlarge the originals by to get 700 and 600? I plan on using a nice laser copier at my local Kinkos. Frank Allen PS: I wasn't a math major...spent my time dealing with English (though you can't really tell!) and history! Hi Frank, It's easy, sorry couldn't resist that ;-). I was good at maths & history - not english, that's Lorna's dept, although I'm an avid reader. What you do is divide by the scale of the plans by the scale required eg: Divide 720 by 700 to get 1/700 plans & 600 to get 1/600 plans. So the ratio for 1/720 to 1/700 is 1.03 & 1/720 to 1/600 is 1.20 Shane << Frank: I'm with you-math wasn't my best subject either. Shane is right about those ratios, but use them with caution. I once did just such a mathematical conversion, carefully finding the right reduction percentage and setting the copier accordingly. Unfortunately, the copier wasn't calibrated exactly right, so the final print came out a little off. I didn't realize this until I noticed that some fittings I scratchbuilt based upon the drawings didn't look quite right on scale. How frustrating! From then on I have used a simpler technique: I figure out the length of the prototype in the scale I want and match the final reduced or enlarged copy to that length. I have had no further problems, and the math is easier! Tim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Joe Costanzo Subject: Re: Jim Shirley Productions USS Oriskany I have 3 words for you: Grab That Kit! The Oriskany is not perfect, but it can be built into an excellent model with a little extra work, I know of 2 articles on it. One is on Navis, I believe and one in Fine Scale Moddeler, the review can be found at finescale.com. The JSP Oriskany is currently the only decent angled-deck Essex out there (the only one PERIOD in 1:700) and is out of production and very rare, you are very fortunate to find one! Even if you have doubts, buy it! Many a modeller would love to take it off your hands, for a small profit on your part ;-) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "John Sheridan" Subject: Re: Informal gathering of SMMLies >> Let's see: we can have a "herd" of animals, a "flock" of birds, a "school" of fish, a "pod" of whales, a "murder" of crows, a "convocation" of owls...but what do we call a gathering of SMMLies? A "fleet?" A "Task Force?" A "convoy?" (No, not a "nose"...don't go there....) << I think a flotilla of SMMLies would suffice..... 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 Humans who dwell in silicon domociles should not hurl igneous metamorphosed projectiles. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Percy, John" Subject: JMSDF Ohsumi While checking out those pictures of the sunken Yamato on Tamiya's website, I found that they have a large collection of photos of the JMSDFs new Ohsumi assault/heli carrier at: http://www.tamiya.com/english/products/31003ohsumi_p/ohsumi_p.htm It also implies that there will be a model: "We are proud to present a series of photographs used in the reproduction of Ohsumi..." reproduction = model? John Percy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: DurlingK@aol.com Subject: Back to the Future >> I don't want to come off as 'King Future << OK, how about "The Once and Future King?" Good post, Dave. Ken D -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "John Sheridan" Subject: Re: USS Alabama >> I just recently obtained the old Revell 1/720 Alabama kit on ebay and am planning to use it to build a "half-way decent" replica of the ship. I recall a recent discussion here where someone said the Bama's Ms-12 scheme was replaced with a Ms 21. Did the change take place before or after the ship was shipped to the Pacific (ie, did she ever wear the dappled scheme in the Pacific)? << I believe the only South Dakota class BB to make to the Pacific in MS 12 modified was USS Indiana. Most ships that transferred from the Atlantic to the Pacific were repainted at Pearl Harbor in MS21 prior to heading to the war zone. >> Snyder's chart shows the Indiana was the only ship of this class to ever wear a Ms 3x scheme (borne out by a pic of the Indiana in Richard Hough's Dreadnought). I can't see why they would ever switch a ship over from Ms 21 to Ms 3x given what they learned during the war - especially at this point of time. << If you are referring to the Warship Camouflage site, It is I John Sheridan and not John Snyder who runs that site (all though Mr. Snyder did contribute info to the site). MS 21 and MS 22 were very popular in 1942 and 1943. When the Dazzle schemes came out in 1943, alot of ships were painted into them. Why ? Because during that period, the submarine threat was considered to be greater then the air threat. When the Kamikaze threat appeared in 1944, The MS 21, MS 12, and MS 22 schemes cam back in favor because the air threat was now more important than the submarine threat. >> Addenda: There is also a small photo in the Bama directory at Navsource labled "Final Appearance undated" showing a ship in a Ms 32 scheme. The photo is too small and blurry for me to make out the hull number. << That is a shot of the USS North Carolina in her dazzle scheme. (Dang! just found an error in my battleship list!) >> Obviously this is not the Bama's final appearance. << It better not be considering it is a shot of the North Carolina which is a different class of battleship; that *would* be a hell of a camouflage scheme! . Actually, USS Alabama was painted in MS 22 for most of the war (1942-1945; as was USS Washington, USS Wisconsin, and USS Massachusetts). USS South Dakota was painted in MS 21 (solid blue) for most of the war (1942-1945). USS Indiana, North Carolina, USS Iowa, and USS Missouri were the only Modern Battleships to be painted in Dazzle schemes and only for a short time (mostly through 1944). The Squadron USS Alabama book is a pretty good reference on this ship. It just recently came out and can be purchased through your local pusher.......er hobby shop. 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 Humans who dwell in silicon domociles should not hurl igneous metamorphosed projectiles. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: JOHN A BURCH Subject: Re: U.S.S. Oriskany >> I was at my local hobbyshop and saw a Jim Shirley 1/700 U.S.S. Oriskany. I was wondering if anyone has any input about the quality of the kit or what additional work is needed to build an accurate model. << To Joe Kreutz, I built the JSP ORISKANY kit a couple of years ago and thought it was a good kit. I've built six different JSP kits and the ORISKANY was one of best of the bunch, if not the best. Jim Bean had a recent three part series on the 27C ESSEX class carriers in Plastic Ship Modeler that provided some info specifically on building this kit. The kit is of ORISKANY as she operated as a CVA in the late sixties, early seventies, and includes a cast metal airgroup of six A-1s, seven A-4s, four F8s, one E-1 and two A-3s, flight deck mobile crane and vehicles. There is a small PE sheet included which provides parts for the SPS-43 radar and a few other minor items. No decals are provided, nor PE for the railing. The kit instructions are adequate, but nothing more than that. I wouldn't think that the kit would be too challenging for anyone with experience in building resin kits. There are two areas in the kit that might require work, depending on your building standards: 1) the stern shape is wrong, and 2) the two deck edge elevators. The stern is actually not a spoon shape, as it appears in the model. YORKTOWN (CV 5) and ESSEX (CV 9) class ships had sterns that had a pronounced spine along the center line. I recently confirmed this in a photo I found at the HORNET web site. Unfortunately, as I was building my kit I couldn't set this issue straight and built it without modifying the stern. The deck edge elevators are cast as part of the one piece flight deck and are much too thick and lack the truss work underneath. I cut out the deck edge elevators and replaced them with sheet styrene and fabricated truss work with brass wire and plastic. I think today I would use the GMM PE sheet for the WW II Fleet Carriers, which provides the truss work for one deck edge elevator. You can then have either elevators in a raised or lowered position, or the starboard elevator folded up in it's stowed position. Flight deck markings are cast in place, mostly. I cleaned the flight deck thoroughly to remove all mold release and sprayed the deck with flat white Rustoleum. After allowing the flight deck to dry, I masked with Scotch tape and painted. With the Rustoleum, I had no problem with the tape pulling up the base paint (although I did when I built the JSP MIDWAY). The GMM 1/700 Naval Markings decals provided the numbers for the island and the yellow and red warning stripes that mark the edge of elevators. I replaced the "horns" for the catapults with sheet styrene, as the cast on ones are the wrong shape and too thick. I enjoyed building the kit and very much welcomed having a "bent deck" ESSEX for my 1/700 scale collection. I've just placed an order for another ORISKANY kit which I plan on modifying into one of her sisters. Cheers, John Burch -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Al Superczynski Subject: Re: Resin vs. Plastic - yet again! >> ...it's a good thing AMT doesn't make ships, isn't it? << Actually, if they made some OT kits that were anywhere near as good as their current crop of car kits we'd be in plastic ship heaven...... Al http://www.up-link.net/~modeleral Yeah, but they'd all be American ships ;->> Shane - not bothering to duck for cover -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "J. London" Subject: Re: Giorgios Averoff This ship was a unit of the Italian Pisa class and was practically identical except for the main guns which were Armstrong with the turret fronts being less rounded in plan view. There do not appear to have been any major changes in her external appearance other than searchlight platforms being mounted on the two tripod masts. There is an excellent booklet (in English) obtainable from Akritas Publications, Efessou 24, 171 21 Nea Smyrni, Athens, Greece (Tel: 9334 554) which has photos of her in both World War periods and in her present guise as a museum ship, as well as her history. Mike London -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: Benson/Gleaves cl. destroyers To the person interested in the Benson/Gleaves cl. destroyers- I will be publishing a book on this type of USN destroyer this next summer. The Gleaves type was a round funneled version of the flat side funneled Bensons, designed by Gibbs & Cox. You may wish to contact me directly if you need info sooner. Do any of you SMMLies know if any of these vessels still survive today? I have heard a rumor of the Benson herself still in Taiwanese Navy? Thanks, Steve Wiper - Classic Warships ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: JS Oriskany kit >> I was at my local hobby shop and saw a Jim Shirley 1/700 U.S.S. Oriskany. I was wondering if anyone has any input about the quality of the kit or what additional work is needed to build an accurate model. << First off, what the hell is a "murder" of Geese? How many? I never heard of that one. I recently built a 1/700 Oriskany for a client. It was very well cast with little clean up required on the parts. The one thing you really need to beware of. I think Helen Keller could have drawn better instructions with her feet. I have built two JS kits now and they, without a doubt have the most abysmal instructions ever to line the bottom of a bird cage. At first glance at the sheet everything looks acceptable. The JS Oriskany has included photos (VERY poor photos) of all the parts with arrows drawn to them for identification. For some reason, I just couldn't locate the parts in my kit. After fighting with this damn thing for several hours, it occurred to me that the photos were reversed! Apparently these guys reversed the negative either at the developers or during the paste up process. This turns construction into a virtual nightmare. Be sure to go SLOW and double, no, TRIPLE sure you have the correct part in hand before slapping it to super glue. Also, CHECK THE KIT VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU BUY!!!! MAKE SURE ALL THE PARTS ARE THERE. If the hobby shop guy won't let you open the box, then pass on it. My kit came with a number of parts just missing and since JSP is no longer in business, you're on your own. The kit comes with very limited photo etch parts so I had to carve up a GMM WW2 carrier set to get all the safety nets to fit. After carving the kit up to this point, I will say that it turned into a very nice model. The problem is getting it to the shelf. I would recommend this kit to only experienced resin ship builders. If you choose to build this one GO SLOW. Hope this helps. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: "F J Hueso" Subject: Conway sailing again >> Further to my previous posting, it does appear that Conway are back in business. Today I received my copy of Model Shipwright No 107 (only a few days later than originally promised) which contains an article on "The Eight-Barrelled 2pdr Mark VIII Gun" by our own John Lambert. << And mine arrived today. Also it contains a Miniature Merchantmen of Britannic as Hospital Ship, a working 1/200 QE 2 (first of a series), Russian A/C Kiev in 1/500 and for those belovers of the predreadnought era, a model of HMS Minotaur as in 1875, in 1/384 . Regards from Madrid, Javier Hueso -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: CBNJBB62@aol.com Subject: Aurora re-birth Dear Guys: I recently discovered an announcement on the Starship Modeler website. They did a report on the Chicago toy and Hobby show. Guess what-AURORA is coming back! The story said that many of the original molds weren't lost in 1977 in a train wreck after being sold to Monogram. It turns out many were simply retained by the family who owns Aurora and are intact!!!!! They weren't in the wreck. The new company will be called Lost Aurora Plastic Corporation. It will be produced in the U.S..I asked if they are going to release any old ship kits would they include say the Enterprise the BENNION or the HALFORD and I pointed out that the real ship was a Fletcher class destroyer and they made a Gearing class. With some research it could be made accurate and at 15 inches long that would be a nice to have. However considering Aurora was well done for Sci-fi, Monsters, figure plastic kits of people and animal life. They may stay to a beaten path. Now guys we ship builders are a minority completely here here's our chance, if you want to find out or contact them here's there's email address: The Lost Aurora at: mailto:kits@prodigy.net . They're interested in hearing from modelers. Sincerely, Craig Bennett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: "Bill Cormack" Subject: Banana Boat Hi I recently took delivery of a rather bent 1/700 resin SMS Seydlitz. Any tips on how to straighten it out without doing too much structural damage? When the bow is flat the stern is raised by 6mm. Thanks Bill Hi Bill, From memory, you can re-heat the hull slowly & it becomes more pliable, then put a stack of books on it to even it out(Dave Baker where are you ;-)) ). That's off the top of my head, I'm sure there's others who can be more specific. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: "John Snyder" Subject: Re: USS Alabama/Paints Available for WWII USN Colors Let's see, first things first: Wrong John, Silver (er, Derek). The camouflage website is John Sheridan's, not mine. Now, with respect to USS ALABAMA, you might consider contacting the folks at the USS ALABAMA museum. They may have just the specific information you're seeking. Paints. The Floquil marine paints were VERY badly off (you can read the scathing reviews in back issues of Plastic Ship Modeler), something that helped catalyze our effort to do our paint chip sets. I can't speak directly to the Polly-S paints, but know that they're far enough off that my partner Randy suggests using the Polly-S Navy Blue 5-N for Deck Blue 20-B. Randy published suggested mixes for the USN purple-blues, mostly using Humbrol, in a back issue of PSM, and Rusty White also published Randy's list in a back issue of the IPMS Journal. I suspect if you wanted to subscribe to PSM (and if you haven't, why not?), Dan Jones might just have copies of the requisite issue. (Dan?) John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys PS: I defer to Mistress Lorna: a "parliament" of owls it is. I also vote for a "lunacy" of SMMLies. Hi John, Here's a little tidbit about the Mistress I found out tonight, her Great-Uncle served on HMAS Sydney(1) & was injured in the fight against the SMS Emden. She had forgotten all about it, until this evening - she has now been chastised for that omission ;->> Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: "Alan Salas" Subject: Gakken Books Hello Everyone, I've seen some comments for "Gakken Books", written in Japanese, that may be used as a reference for modelers. Does anyone have any experience with these publications and if appropriate how can I obtain these for my reference library? I also attended the Club meeting on the Hornet last Friday and I helped make John's evening by buying some of his wares. Initially I thought the club concentrated on airplanes but the majority of the evening was spent on ships. Maybe it was the surroundings or that rather nice looking Yamato on one of the tables. Saw some youngsters at the meeting so I've made some suggestions to Ken Durling (Club President) about how to get them more involved. Looking forward to continuing the education of the these airplane enthusiasts. Allan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) From: "John Rule" Subject: You Gotta Buy Those Chips Derek Wakefield writes regarding his posting about Floquil Paints: >> IMHO, I'd think it be wise to compare these with Snyder and Short's color chips to find out just how close they really are. Awaiting the fall out from John on how "this don't work" (cause I know he's bound to say something). I Gotta buy those chips ) (as soon as I can save up the bucks that is). << YES!!!!!! you should buy these chips as you would be supporting a worthy cause and would help encourage S & S to continue with their worthwhile venture. The cost is not very much and is infinitely better value than picking up some poor quality rehash of a 1960's vintage kit. John Rule -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27) From: Dave Baker Subject: LCT MODELS The Lindberg kit was for a USN LCT (5) (also known as the LCU 501 class) and would be completely unsuitable for conversion to the British LCT(4) as the dimensions were very different, as was the configuration. The Heller kit, if available, could be made into any of the LCT(4) variants by an experienced modeller.. Small-scale plans for all of these craft, in basic form and in the several variations used for shore fire-support and antiaircraft defense, can be found in ALLIED LANDING CRAFT OF WORLD WAR II, a reprint of the Office of Naval Intelligence ONI 226 volume, ALLIED LANDING CRAFT AND SHIPS, issued in June 1944 and updated the following year. The reprint (for which I provided the introduction) was issued by Lionel Leventhal, Ltd., in the UK and the U.S. Naval Institute Press in the USA in 1985 and can still be found in used bookshops. For those with time to wait, more detailed plans will appear in Norman Friedman's forthcoming book about U.S. amphibious ship designs, for which I am to prepare (whenever he gets the list together) the drawings. I really recommend getting the ALLIED LANDING CRAFT book, though, as it's a goldmine of official information and has accurate drawings and numerous photos (and I don't make any royalties off it). Cheers/Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28) From: "Steven P. Allen" Subject: On H-R, Pine Island, and pics Thanks to those who responded to me about H-R; I suppose, then, that my APD project is in limbo till H_R comes through. So, I've decided to take my old Pine Island out of its box and maybe apply Loren's PE set to it (after suitable reworking). Now comes the conundrum: I'll need guns for it. Now H-R has some in 1/384. . . . AAARRRGGGHHH!!!!! I can probaly make the 40mm work, and the 20mm are in the set, but the 5" are shapped very poorly. Does anybody know of another source for those parts in around 1/400? Also, I know FD has a set of plans for a sister (though later in date), but I only know of one or two pics in Janes (and therefore not very helpful). Does anybody know of any other sources for AV pics? Thanks, Steve Allen PS Has anyone else seen the article in last month's Popular Mechanics on trimaran warship hulls? Boy, will some of those ever make for great modelling subjects! Check it out! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29) From: "lcp9" Subject: Resin Vs Plastic My 2 cents worth on this: I agree completely with refusing to buy substandard kits, but take it another step byond just walking away. WRITE the COMPANY! Tell them why you are'nt going to buy that lame reissue, or that overpriced new release. It'll take a while, but manufactures do listen, once the chorus gets loud enough... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30) From: "Kelvin Mok" Subject: Re: Use of Future Floor polish in painting >> I have been reading about and asking questions regarding the use of Johnson's Wax Future floor polish in painting models. Here is a response I received from David Burke who is on my WW1 aircraft modelling list. It should be of interest to all ship modelers as well. << Wow, I will never been able to sing the praises for a product as well as Dave Burke. I have seen posts from modellers outside North America wondering what this miraculous product Future Wax is and how they wish they can get it in their general stores. Well long before Future Wax came along I was experimenting with artists tube acrylics and found them superior to hobby acrylics in many applications. Tube reds, whites and yellows for example have superior covering properties without the problems of leaving brush marks. And you can blend colors with a brush as in an oil painting. You can even blend hobby acrylics and tube acrylics on the same brush. This is great for weathering otherwise pristine and correct premixed hobby camo colours, a necessity since its a futile exercise to try to mix the correct camo colors of your own. There is one artists' product, "Acrylic Retarder for Acrylic Colors and Mediums" Grumbacher, 150ml CDN$6.50, which has all the properties of Future Wax and some. You should be able to buy a similar product, the acrylic retarder, in an artists' supplies store anywhere in the world. After three years and countless paint jobs I still have more than half a tube left so 150 ml goes a long way. The retarder is a clear gel, somewhat like hair mousse. If your tube acrylic has somewhat dried inside its tube add this product and it will restore its resiliency. You can dilute acrylics paints, including hobby acrylics with which it is fully compatible, to any ratio. Unlike dilution with water dilution with acrylic retarder does not cause the paint to bead up if over thinned, or degrade paint surface adhesion. Brush a clear coat of retarder on your finished and painted model and it will endow the whole model with an identical reflectance and confer a slightly glossy sheen so well described by Dave. It can make decals look like they are painted on. Ditto for all the other wonders of Future Wax as described By Dave. I prefer the tube product because there is no set up and since its brushed on I can paint hard to reach places with precision and I don't have an overspray problem. By blending different colors and selecting the dilution I have a very fine control of the colors and get an effect like the paintings of tanks in Osprey Books. I hardly use my airbrush anymore. What can I say. Try both products. They both raise the level of your model techniques. Kelvin Mok (klmok@home.com) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Re: Another Wreck Model Hi SMML, I read recently that at least part of one of the Japanese aircraft carriers sunk at Midway had been found by the U.S. Navy and a private company. The report didn't identify which carrier it was, but said that the hull was sticking up vertically. Now that would make an interesting model/diorama! Cheers, Art Nicholson Please let it be the Akagi, since I have a spare one. Oh BTW, Ballard's new book is now available in Aussie bookshops for the stunning price of AUD$60.00. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32) From: ECammeron@aol.com Subject: Re: British LCF There is a book titled 'To War in a Sieve' by Peter Bull about the trials and tribulations of an LCF commanding officer. No pictures, but lots of descriptions of the LCF and its operational usage. I have the book packed away as a result of my recent move. If anyone is interested, I will look for it as I unpack. Eugene Cammeron -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33) From: Colin Ritchie Subject: Collective Noun's Judging from my befuddled state on occasion when it comes to ship's, how about the same collective term I coined for a group of Computer Support people, "A Confusion" of SMML's Colin Ritchie Aberdeen Where a "flying" mouse re-arranged the rails on the Bow of my 350th Sheffield, , Maybe next time I throw it harder! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 34) From: "Pletscher-Lenz-Schneider" Subject: The Navy of the Russian Empire I guess I already have this book, albeit the French version of it, entiteled "La Flotte de l'Empire de Russie". It was published in 1996 by the Archives of the Naval Forces of Russia at St. Petersburg. It covers the history of the Russian Navy from 1696 to 1917 on some 280 pages. The several chapters are: Introduction p.12 Chapter I 1696-1725 p.17 Chapter II 1725-1800 p.59 Chapter III 1801-1855 p.129 Chapter IV 1853-1856 (The Crimean War) p.159 Chapter V 1801-1855 (Scientific expetitions) p.185 Chapter VI 1855-1894 p.213 Chapter VII 1894-1917 p.239 There are not many photos of ships that are of particular interest for the model builder. But there are lots of historical documents, drawings and paintings. So this is more a book for the naval historian than for the mere ship modeller. Nevertheless I am glad to have it and I would be much more glad if I had had the chance to get me an English version. But let's wait and see what Chuck Duggie will think of it. Falk Pletscher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35) From: "Pletscher-Lenz-Schneider" Subject: HMCS Sackville Book Hi all Canadians Would one of you Canadian guys have the kindness to get the "HMCS Sackville 1941-1985" book for me? I don't have any Canadian Dollars, but we surely can make a deal with something else I could get for you from Germany. Thanks Falk Pletscher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Pacific Front Hobbies is Open! Pacific Front Hobbies is back in business! They will have e-mail by the end of this week. Their new address is- Pacific Front Hobbies P.O. Box 2098 Roseburg, OR. 97470-2098 Ph.(541)464-8579 Fx.(541)957-5477 Tips for ordering- 1) Order by fax, give name, address, phone, fax, and credit card number + exp. date. Be sure to write clearly, no chicken scratch! 2) If you dont have a current catalog, get one. It will probably be the best $5.00 you spent all year! 3) Also order their updates. All new product announcements come directly to you in hard copy every other month for $5.00. 4) If you are interested in a model of a particular ship, dont hesitate, place the order or someone else will. Reserve your item. Snooze-You lose. Facts about PFH- 1) They carry both plastic and resin ship model kits, all brands, from all over the world, the list is truly amazing! 2) PFH stocks about $100,000.00 worth of inventory. 3) The phone never stops ringing at Pacific Front, so keep trying. 4) They ship packages every day (lots!). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Shane Subject: FYI The following is some modelling SPAM I recieved that "may" be of some interest to people out there. If you're interested please email the people concerned & not the list. Shane From: m3@mthree.co.kr Subject: Scale Model Dear Madam/Sir Kee Corporation,Korea is specialized in Scale Model for following industries. We are also looking for oversea partners, who can represent us or have consortium business. - Modern architectural models - Industrial plant models - Ancient artifacts and national treasure replication and restoration - Industrial design models - Ships and airplane models - Sports facility models - Commercial facility models - Miniature models for film and broadcasting - Themepark and resort models Our technology and cost effectiveness have been proven through big projects in Korea. More details can be viewed at http://www.keecorp.com . Hoping to get your intrerest, we remain. Best Regards. Peter S. Kim/Managing Director of Kee Corporation / M3 corporation mailto:m3@mthree.co.kr P/S : Apologize our mail without your permission. Pleaes inform "No" if you are not interested in or are our present customer. We never mail you again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume