Subject: SMML12/11/99VOL727 Date: Fri, 12 Nov 1999 23:36:32 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: The Final Countdown 2: Philosophy 3: H & R Products 4: Chinese production 5: Resin v plastic 6: Ozzies Ducking for cover 7: Re: Plastic Vs resin 8: IPMS(UK) Nats Pictures 9: USS New Jersey 10: USS Bon Homme Richard 11: Campbeltown 12: Re: Remembrence 13: Re: Philosophy and Toleration 14: USS Iowa Camouflage MS31a/1b 15: Blue Water Navy 16: Re: Banana Boat 17: Re: multiple SMMLies, and resin v. plastic 18: Thank you Shane 19: Re: Pennsylvania Update 20: Re: Plastic vs. Resin 21: Tamiya WWII 1/350 Missouri 22: Re: Fiberglass molds 23: Re: Blue Water Navy 24: Aurora site 25: Re: Gathering of SMMLies -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: LCT and stuff. 2: Jim Shirley Oriskany for sale 3: Re: Back To Business Part II 4: APMA site update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Tom Eisenhour Subject: The Final Countdown Greetings SMLLies! A friend sent me this bit of truth: A thread on a Japanese newsgroup regarding the film "The Final Countdown" brought forth this gem: "If a Japanese carrier was teleported to the present, they'd have to fight off a swarm of crazed modelers seeking paint chips!" Best wishes, Tom Eisenhour -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Satin, Michael N. (SHEP)" Subject: Philosophy To Mike Dunn, Caroline and Shane, Thanks for your responses to my rant. Bad day, I guess. I wrote a pretty inflammatory message on Hyperscale too. I am well aware from the responses and messages I've gotten from this list over the last year or so that everyone here is open and happy to help out neophytes, and I'm very appreciative. I know air and ground modelers often think ship folks are nuts, but usually because ships are so obviously complicated works of art! Shoot, I consider that a point in shipbuilding's favor! I'm seriously planning to take the plunge here. I just finished my latest 1/48 P-51 and think, what with winter coming, it's time to start on a real project. Wish me luck and maybe you'll have a solid new convert. Once again, hope I didn't tick anyone off too much and thanks for all your help! And the good lord bless all the resin manufacturers, the backbone of our hobby! Oh and by the way Caroline, if I lived in the UK and had encountered your wiles at a convention, I no doubt would have gone the shipbuilding route MUCH earlier! And to correct a misconception, when I said "back to Iowa" I meant USS Iowa. While I'm originally from there, I now live in the great high country (Colorado) now! Hey, what about my question on CV-5/6/8 GMM brass? What all is in it? Can I convert the Yorktown kit to Enterprise circa 6/42? Thanks! Michael -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: H & R Products What's their address. Shaya Novak Naval Base Hobbies The Store for The Model Ship Builder www.modelshipbuilding.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Tom Detweiler Subject: Chinese production In response to Kelvin Mok's posting re Chinese toy factories, last SMML-- I agree with him in one respect, particularly: it amazes me, the quality of product which can be turned out in such massive volume, so consistently. Good examples of this art abound at every MacDonalds (happy meals) and other fast-food outlets which almost literally give away these plastic casting masterpieces with burgers! I'm sure that I, like some of you, are not the only ones who get these things and then tear them apart to see how they are made. I am in manufacturing, and am always amazed at how you can design, tool up, then produce in volume complex, multi-part toy assemblies that are then produced in the millions and given away FREE (or almost) with fast food! A good example of this art was a child's top, given away as a premium with I believe Burger King child's meals (which by the way my WIFE always buys-- and I let her do that too, giving me much better cover for my own model kit collecting activities!) -- anyway, this little top had about 10 well-cast, precision fit pieces, an internal electronics assembly with 4 LED lamps on it, an internal battery, etc. -- the LEDs lit as the top was spun, implying some sort of centrifugally operated switch; every part fit and the "pilot's" face and hands were hand-painted, and it still lights up a couple years later. It was an absolute marvel of precision manufacturing, and it was free with a burger! At one time in the UK, Airfix produced little model kits as premiums inside various candies and cereals, just like was done here in the US in the 60's, and Japan even right now. Some of these little kits are rare and bring enormous prices at auction sales. So why can't we here get a free Yamato model kit with our burger order? Unfortunately, I suppose this has more to do with greedy legions of lawyers out there waiting for someone's small tyke to choke on a small part and run to court and sue for deep-pocket lawsuit awards, BUT one can always hope... Another thought: Like the Internet and forums like SMML, all this offshore production, although lost to employees in the US, is good for spreading the gospel of Free Enterprise, the Free Market Economy, and the spread of market capitalism, maybe even Republican Democracy, in places where even the idea was forbidden not more than a mere decade ago. So this offshore toy production actually helps "infect" other parts of the world economy with the free market bug, and it is certainly taking hold in a big way in the Shengxien (sp?) districts in China, around Hong Kong, and other areas of the world, even the old Soviet Union (just look at the tin toy repros being made there!). Thanks to all this, one can't help but be positive about the spread of ideas and the bright outlook for the future. Tom D in Rocklin, CA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Edward Brown" Subject: Resin v plastic In a previous modelling life I was always very ready to buy multiples of the same kit. The two 1/700 Essex kits produced 12 separate sister ships. The two 1/700 KGV produced the full hand of 5 sisters. The Airfix 1/600 Suffolk, with some serious razor sawing, produced 5 Kents. In those days a new kit came along infrequently and a RN subject rarely. Researching the differences and camouflage patterns to produce sistership was the only way to build up a collection. Unfortunately three house moves sunk the whole lot. Having returned to the hobby, largely because RN ships are now becoming avaialble, I am at it again. WEM's Sussex has two very similar sisters, Shropshire and Devonshire, both with interesting camouflage patterns. Sussex is nearing completion and, of course, two further kits are on order. The razor saw is out once again and a start has been made on the bridge works for London - a dissimilar sister. Maybe a fourth order of this kit this winter. I have been quite prepared to undertake major surgery on a kit, particularly with the Airfix subjects where, for example, an Ajax kit produced an Aurora. Strangely, I have never previously, attempted a complete scratch build. A waterline hull for a RN destroyer is now well underway. The choice of subject is not very bright as there are, of course, seven sister ships. I will need to duplicate and the obvious answer is to cast in resin. A visit to the library has been unhelpful. Can anyone point me in the direct of a good book on resin casting. Edward -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Chris Drage" Subject: Ozzies Ducking for cover Hi All, >> Iowa eh, could be worse - it could be New Zealand ;-)) Shane - who's now REALLY ducking for cover from the Kiwis. << Born out the arrogance of beating the french......and becoming the world netball champions as well! >> Shane! You deserve a brow-beating from every Kiwi out there.. << And by God he's going to get one...! I am going to email the entire french Rugby squad over to deliver a firm punch on the snout! Failing that I intend to send Dimi Apostolopoulos down under with a robot or two to sort the Aussies out once and for all! >>> this is the ONE country that I intend to see before I die! (C.C.) << Caroline, your dreams will be answered in Heaven.... that's about three miles outside of Taihape. Incidentally, I have contacted the New Zealand Rugby Authority with my suggestion that our (once great) National Team is renamed appropriately: Les Toutes Nior C'est le vie........ Regards, Chris He tao rakau e taea te karo, tena he tao kupa kaore e taea te karo......(Te Reo Maori) Come on Chris, you can do better than that. I may have to stop hiding from you Kiwis, based on this ;->> Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: Plastic Vs resin >> Its so expensive just to cut the molds, its cost prohibitive. Example: I put out a bid to do a plastic 1/700 USN destroyer and the least expensive was going to run $21,000.00 just for the tooling. Then you have to pay for production cost, packaging, shipping, marketing, etc., etc. By that time you have about $36,000.00 invested for the first 5000 kits, thats $7.20 per kit, which (now I give away business secrets) sets the retail price at $36.00 per kit. Thats more than a resin kit cost! Thats why plastic kit manufacturers have to be able to sell very large numbers of kits, and have more than one kit to offer. << We are really ducking the issue here. The so called fondness for injection molded (resin is a plastic too!! so I refrain from using the term plastic) kits stems from what is perceived as easier construction and lower costs. However there is a bit of apple-orange comparison going on. First, resin kits are more difficult because all involve extensive use of PE which are almost always provided. If however, you compare doing a resin kit to a good IM kit with a PE upgrade, the ease of construction gap narrows. That leaves 3 issues which make resin kits harder. The first is the need to use special glues, I suppose an unavoidable difference; solvent glues are easier to use. The second is a factor that is in the control of the manufacturer. Resin kits can become much more user friendly if molders could take a bit more time to design their molds to decrease the amount of heavy sprues or pour risers that have to be sanded/ground away. Likewise for flash on smaller pieces. The better IM companies have learned to almost eliminate flash. Resin manufacturer's need to catch up. Mold makers need to spend more time perfecting their molds. I've seen to many resin kits where the hull bottoms don't line up along the keel, i.e. one side of the hull is deeper than the other. There is no excuse for this. Clean up your act guys!! The third and final area is my favorite bugaboo, instructions. Some vendors provide a literal book, others still provide a page or two. IMHO, if the above were addressed, and if we bear in mind the inherent greater detail and ability to do "lower interest" subjects, the "Cost Gap" starts to narrow greatly. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Peter Hall" Subject: IPMS(UK) Nats Pictures Hi Everyone, At last the WEM site is operational for you to view just some of the many entries into the IPMS(UK) Nats competition ships category. I did not get any pictures of my own entries however, not knowing at that stage that Caroline wanted to put this together, and since I have the models on a shelf at home, why bother taking pics of them. Ah well. I'm sure Caroline has pictures of them somewhere!!! First of all there are two pictures of Jim Baumans WEM1/700 scale Askold, beautifully put together and using stretched sprue for rigging. These are on: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/jbask1.jpg http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/jbask2.jpg Next is Jim's out of the box Airfix 1/72 scale Vosper MTB very nicely mounted on a seascape base. Apparently this was one of his first ship models. Is there any hope for the rest of us ??? http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/jbmtb.jpg This picture : http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/jbwars.jpg is Jim's WEM 1/700 Warspite which puts my own 1/600 version to shame. Now getting completely off topic, meet Olly my faithful pup, who has developed a nasty habit of finding the small parts that I have dropped and cannot find, then eating them!!!!! I'm just waiting for the time that he takes a dump and has an Airfix 15 inch gun turret on top. http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/olly.jpg A picture of innocence!!!! The next two pictures are of Jim Baumans Iron Shipwright HMS Rodney 1/350 scale, and a very nice model it is. Unfortunately for Jim it was excluded from the competition because he had entered it into the wrong class. The offending sailing boat passing by astern made it a diorama by definition. Not that it mattered because Jim won the diorama class anyway. I think he was rightly miffed because of all the effort he had put into getting the model right and making the best of an awkward kit. Apparently this HMS Rodney contains a lot of WEM Hood Fittings and Photo Etch that Jim bought specially to bring it up to his standard. This chap is really focused!!! These pics are on : http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/rodney1.jpg http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/rodney2.jpg This picture is of a rather good example of the Scharnhorst in 1/700 scale http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/scharn.jpg The owner remains unknown to me, if he is a SMMLie, well done mate. The next set of pictures are of the IPMS (UK) 1999 National Champion Gordon Brooks magnificent 1/128 scale scratch built HMS Somali that also Won the Barton Holmes trophy for the Best Ship Model, The Best model of the Miscellaneous Category, The best first time winner, and of course the class winner of Class 53. The model was so big that I had to take several pictures to get it all. So take your time and flick through these. Take care not to drool too much. http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/somp1.jpg http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/somp2.jpg http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/somp3.jpg http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/soms1.jpg http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/soms2.jpg http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/soms3.jpg Finally on: http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ipms99/ysnels.jpg is the class 51 winner. Yiannis Sagiadinos delicate 1/700 Tamiya HMS Nelson fitted with the WEM PE 723 set. This is what put my Airfix Warspite into second place. Well done Yiannis. Hope that you folks have gained a little pleasure out of seeing a bit of what was on offer. Next year is shaping up to be a really good show, and by all accounts there will be even more ships out on display. All the best Peter Hall -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: CBNJBB62@aol.com Subject: USS New Jersey Hi Guys I have something to share with you. On Nov 11.1999 the USS NEW JERSEY arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard for berthing to await it's fate by the navy to decide which city will receive it to become a museum: CAMDEN or Bayonne, NJ. At the mouth of Delaware Bay the two tugs towing were meet by 4 more tugs and the New Jersey was watched by tens of thousands of people from New Castle, DE to Philadelphia, PA to see it. Along that route in Penn's Grove, NJ the state Army National Guard had setup artillery pieces and fired a salute at it. Also Delaware and Pennsylvania did the same thing. The Battleship and the tugs were escorted by 6 Coast Guard cutters and many small boats that grew in number as the battleship got closer to it's final destination. Also present at it's arrival in Phillie was the Tug Jupiter built in 1904 and now is a museum piece was used at the New Jersey's launching in 1942 to park it dockside for the finished and commissioned. It was a moment of great regional pride. So sometime in the next 4 months or so the Battleship New Jersey will begin it's life as a museum. I thought you would like to hear about this. Sincerely, Craig Bennett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Hjobjo1@aol.com Subject: USS Bon Homme Richard I'm looking for the carrier CVA-31(BON HOMME RICHARD). Is this carrier available. please let me know. My e-mail hjobjo1@aol.com. Thanks Jerry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Alberto Rada" Subject: Campbeltown Some time ago , there was quite some interest in the Destroyer Campbeltown and also in The US Flush decked destroyers, I was informed by Mike Sims that he has a copy at his English shop a Book for all Reasons. I already have this book , but as I know it is scarce to get, here is all the info, incase anyone Else is interested . SALUDOS Alberto >> We have just received a copy of Al Ross's 'The Destroyer Campbeltown' in the same series. The Campbeltown was an ex USNavy destroyer purchased by Royal Navy in 1940 and was used in the raid on St. Nazaire to blow up the gates of the dry dock. The full description of the condition as follows: 22627 Ross, Al THE DESTROYER CAMPBELTOWN Conway Maritime Press, London, 1990, 1st, 127pp, illustrated throughout in photos and line drawings, lightly bumped at head of spine and cnrs., minor rubbing to extrems., sl. creasing to dw edges, large format 9.75 x 10.25", description and diagrams of the ex-USN flush decked destroyer Buchanan (renamed HMS Campbeltown), including photo ills. of various others of the type, with sectional drawings, armaments, etc., a comprehensive record. VG/VG+ 24.00 GB Pounds Total Books in GB Pounds 24.00 (Approx. cost in US Dollars) 39.60 Shipping costs would be the same as for the other title. Please let me know ASAP if of interest. Regards Mike Sims +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ G. A. Michael Sims ~ 'A Book for all Reasons' 6 Pakefield Road ~ Lowestoft ~ Suffolk ~ NR33 0HS ~ UK Tel: +44 (0)1502 581011 Fax: +44 (0)1502 574891 email: reasons@interdart.co.uk reasons@globalnet.co.uk http://www.abfar.co.uk VISA/MASTERCARD +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ << -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Craig Brown" Subject: Re: Remembrence >> Welcome to the Rememberance, Armistice & Veterans Day Edition of SMML 81 years ago, on the 11th month, 11th day & 11th hour the guns fell silent on the Western Front. This issue is dedicated to the soldiers of ALL Nations who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. "They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn; At the going down of the sun, and in the morning" "WE WILL REMEMBER THEM." "LEST WE FORGET" Our thoughts also go out to the soldiers of various nations involved in UN Peacekeeping forces around the world, East Timor, Middle East, The Balkans etc Shane & Lorna Jenkins << Shane and Lorna, Very nicely stated. Craig Brown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Allan and Crystal Plumb Subject: Re: Philosophy and Toleration Michael Satin wrote : >> 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. << Ehh? I _am_ one of the aircraft and armor modelers. I frequently look down on myself, but I certainly don't give a flip if anyone else thinks I'm insufficiently pure. I probably have a slight preference for ships and armor over air and space craft, and I seldom build cars, but that's all personal choice. The bigger the hobby the better, I say. Yes, there are those even on SMML who get very X-policeish (i.e., if you don't do X properly you're not a Real Modeler). I won't specify X, but I have some in mind. Guess what? I Don't Care. I enjoy references sometimes more than modeling, and I try not to do anything clearly wrong by _my_ lights, but if I make a guess or even decide to modify reality mildly to suit, that's my business and no one else's. I go by Dogbert's philosophy: when confronted by idiots, wave your paw and say "bah". I will now go back to my 1/48 A20G and 1/35 Cromwell, and wonder when I'll ever finish the PE on my 1/350 PoW. Or start 1/400 Charles de Gaulle, thanks Shaya! So, what _does_ l'Arsenal plan to put in their update kit for same? Hmm. Enjoy. Allan Plumb (Houston Texas where November is like July in a reasonable climate.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: John Sheridan Subject: USS Iowa Camouflage MS31a/1b >> The Iowa had a unique and short-lived camouflage measure in the first half of 1944 and this measure has unofficially been referred to as Measure 32: Design 1 B. I've seen about 2 color pictures of this scheme on-line, but only two pictures really isn't enough to do the Iowa proper justice when I paint her. In the different books I've read concerning the Measure 32: Design 1B, there are only three paints used above the waterline to achieve this measure; Light Gray 5-L, Navy Blue 5-N, and Deck Blue 20-B. But in the pictures I've seen of the Iowa when she had this measure, it looks like there were about 4 or 5 different colors used, not just the three mentioned above. << USS Iowa in her 1944 MS 31a/1b paint scheme is painted: Vertical Surfaces: Light Gray (5-L) and Navy Blue (5-N) from waterline to top of masts. The Navy Blue is supposed to have "feathered" edges instead of sharp edges. This was changed to sharp edges several months after being in-service. Horizontal Surfaces: Deck Blue (20-B) on all horizontal surfaces. 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 Last last place on earth I would look for the Lumber Cartel(tm) is http://come.to/the.lumber.cartel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: John Sheridan Subject: Blue Water Navy >> I've been trying to find a web-page or e-mail address for Blue Water Navy Models (a.k.a. MB Models, a.k.a. Mike Bishop Models). Do you have any address or phone number (or web page address or e-mail address) that you know of so I could ask some questions to someone at that company. << I think that BWN has a website in the works but it is not online yet. Mike Bishop MB Models / Blue Water Navy 622 Old Trolley Road Unit 112 Summerville, South Carolina 29485 (843) 821-3558 M-F 10:00am - 3:00pm Email Address is: MBishop446@aol.com John Sheridan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: John Sheridan Subject: Re: Banana Boat >> 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. << I use the slow-bake method of unbending resin castings. I pre-heat the oven to 150 degrees for 30 minutes. Then I add the casting to be fixed in the oven right on the rack. I leave for 5 to 15 minutes and check it when it heats-up (time depends on size of casting). If it is hot enough, I remove the casting and bend it slightly past where I want it. When it cools, it will want to bend back (the reason why you go a touch beyond). I have had excellent results with this method with both small and large castings. John Sheridan @ Microscale Decals http://www.microscale.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Allan and Crystal Plumb Subject: Re: multiple SMMLies, and resin v. plastic James Gray said: >> The solution is obvious; a Quarrel of SMMLies. << MOTTO! Fred Kennamer said: >> About resin vs. plastic: yes, we are a minority in the modelling world, and need to vote with our wallets, so let's all buy lots of Konigs and Grosser Kurfursts so we can sucker manufacturers into providing for my niche needs of World War 1 ships in 1/350th. << I agree with the first part, which is why I have a pile of Airfix and Tamiya 1/350s and Heller 1/400s yet to build, but WW I is _boring_! :-) But reely. Steel Navy's "Dreadnought" (and did they say "Invincible"?) do intrigue me. Dreadnought was the first! And I like battlecruisers because they were so silly. I want a 1/350 Courageous, with battleship guns and light cruiser armor! How absurd! I keep staring at my 1/600 Repulse and Breyer's and wondering if I could convert... I prefer injection, but I understand the economics. Sigh. Allan Plumb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Michael Morse Subject: Thank you Shane For voicing your opinion re: plastic vs. resin. I sell plastic ship models, wargaming ships, and 1/1250 ships at East Coast Miniatures. I happen to like building Airfix 1/600 ships and some of the old Revell 1/570 (BTW, I'm seeking a Revell 1/570 Prince Of Wales) and I always stock these. I like full-hull but not large scale. I tried 1/700 but didn't find it satisfying. Anyway, a quick visit to Felix's site clearly shows what a nice ship model can be had from these cheap models. I love 'em and I'm glad others do as well. The most valuable thing I see from the resin industry is WEM's aftermarket planes/parts for 1/570-1/600 scale. Best regards, Mike Morse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: John Sheridan Subject: Re: Pennsylvania Update >> The photographs I have of the ship on Feb. 28, 1942 (the date in on the pic) do show the ship in what I think is a gray color, significantly lighter than the uniforms of the sailors that are all over the decks (and that I assume were dark blue). Now it could be that the pics were taken before the ship was repainted in Navy Blue. But then it should be Dark Gray (Ms1) as at Pearl Harbor, which would be darker. Moreover, the paint job looks fresh (the portholes have been sealed off). << USS Pennsylvania carried MS 1 in 1941. She was repainted in MS 21 right before she left Pearl Harbor in 1942. She carried MS 21 for all of 1942 and 1943. She carried MS 31a/6b through most of 1994 before switching back to MS 21 for the rest of the war. John Sheridan @ Microscale Decals http://www.microscale.com If I'm talking Decals, then i'm talking for Microscale, Otherwise I am speaking for myself. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: b29@ix.netcom.com Subject: Re: Plastic vs. Resin I have been a modeler for over 40 years. I've built plastic models, cast in resin, and scratch built in various mediums. Today, I scratch build in plastic in 1:1250 scale and have my models cast in metal and sold under the name SARATOGA MODEL SHIPYARD. I put many hours into researching and producing a good master for casting. Now, I don't claim to be an expert, but I've seen a lot of stuff over the years. I agree completely with Steve Wiper's comments. The cost of injection moulding equipment is enormous. I remember back around 1962 going into the Lindberg plant in Skokie Ill. as they were producing their WASP model and seeing these enormous machines stamping out this stuff. Sure, these moulds last for many years, but most manufacturers don't want to tie up capital for years in hopes of recovering their investment. Tooling for a new model is a BIG investment. At the same time, resin is relatively low in capital investment. Yes, the moulds do not last very long, which helps explain why the models are so expensive. There is another reason why the plastic model companies are not meeting demand while resin makers are. Because resin can be produced by one guy in his garage with relatively little capital investment, most resin operations are little home businesses run by hobbyists. These guys are ship lovers. That's why they are in it. Sure they want to make money, but they got into this for the love of the hobby. It wasn't a conscious business decision to create some vast product market. But the big model companies are run by folks who have payrolls to meet and lots of overhead, and they are businessmen, not hobbyists. Producing a new model is a major investment in capital. Some of these companies are owned by yet bigger companies, who in turn have stockholders, and boards of directors and all that goes with it. They don't care about what some geek wants. They react to what the hobby shops and retailers order. They want to sell product. Airplanes and cars sell well. If ships out sold airplanes then they'd make more ships. And one more thing. Threats to boycott their models don't accomplish anything. If the demand isn't there, then they'll stop making those models. There are plenty of new modelers out there. Kids growing into modeling age, just as there have been for the last 50 years. They don't need guys who want models of the old LANGLEY, or some German pre-dreadnought, and as interesting to you or me as a model of the CHICAGO circa 1935 might be, they don't give a hoot if it won't return it's investment. Bottom line is this: The resin makers are doing great work, and I think that the prices they charge are very fair. My hat's off to them. If you think their prices are high, check out 1250 scale. And if you want the models that they are making, be thankful that those guys are doing such terrific work. One last thing: If variety is what you're looking for consider switching to 1250 scale. There are literally thousands of different ships of every imaginable time and every country. Paul Jacobs Editor 1250 Scale Http://warship.simplenet.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: Duane Fowler Subject: Tamiya WWII 1/350 Missouri Hello Joe, Hate to mention it, but the hawes pipes are also the wrong shape (They're straight in the kit but should angle outwards), the bow is over 6' scale to wide at the hawes pipes, it's 4' too wide at the separation between the wood and metal just forward of the capspans, but it's just about right at the breakwater, although the brekwater should be canted forward and it has the wrong number of supports. And we haven't even reached the forward turret yet! Do you really want to know the rest? Best regards, Duane Fowler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "Sean D. Hert" Subject: Re: Fiberglass molds Doug- In the hobby of Big Gun R/C warship combat, many skippers choose to build their own hulls from fiberglass. A number of sites have instructions on this; a simple, one-of method is described on the Bay Area Battle Group's Site: http://www.rcbattles.org/MainPage.htm A more complicated method of building a "production" fiberglass mold is here- http://www.mwci.org/members/rthibault/Barts_Fiberglass_Hull.htm I have used the above method with great success for my 1/144 scale Mogami. (have produced two fiberglass hulls from the mold so far). The main thing I did differently is using Solarez UV cured resin. It's less smelly, and doesn't require mixing with hardener; you just stick it out in the sun! Plus, you can phase your molding; stick in the sun until it cures into a gel state, remove it and shape the gelled resin (if need be) and stick it back into the sun for the final cure. Takes only a few minutes to cure hard. Feel free to contact me if you have further questions. Sean D. Hert Webmeister, MBG Site: http://www.netwalk.com/~popev/bg/ "Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence" -Napoleon Buonapart -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: LBart73@aol.com Subject: Re: Blue Water Navy Mike used to be available at: MB466@aol.com larry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: "FRED E. KENNAMER" Subject: Aurora site Dear Shane, When attempting to access the Aurora site at The_Lost_Aurora_kits@prodigy.net, I was given the message: "Forbidden. Your client is not allowed to access the requested object". Maybe I'll never get that Atlantis... Fred -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: Minadmiral@aol.com Subject: Re: Gathering of SMMLies >> But I think that a flatulence of SMMLies has a certain air to it. << That really stinks!! Chuck Duggie GROOOOAN - Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: LCT and stuff. You can find many Landing craft plus the Heller LCT at our page Amphibious & Support Ships. We will have a new highly detailed LST 1/160 scale resin kit in N-scale next week. Shaya Novak Naval Base Hobbies The Store for The Model Ship Builder www.modelshipbuilding.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Mike Taylor" Subject: Jim Shirley Oriskany for sale Got it a few years back and it's just been takin up space-doubt I'll ever build it and I need $$ for a move I'm going through-paid $140 first $200 included shipping gets it...Mike Taylor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Bill Gruner Subject: Re: Back To Business Part II MESSAGE FROM PACIFIC FRONT HOBBIES! We are now 100% back in business again, but are experiencing e-mail problems. If you are having trouble with your messages to "shipguy@pacificfront.com" being returned, please try "shipguy@internetcds.com" for the time being. We hope to get this situation resolved soon; we may end up with both e-mail addresses being valid. Sorry for the confusion. We hope you are all enjoying modeling and collecting, and hope to hear from you soon. We will have a new webmaster, Marc Clupper, handling our website, which will be considerably updated by late November. This will include our catalog and UPDATE being online. We won't have a commercial website that you can order directly from at this time, but will have order forms you can download. Of course you can always phone, fax or e-mail your orders to us. Also look for our October UPDATE on Rob Mackie's WARSHIP website at: http://www.warship.simplenet.com We have moved into our new shop facilities on our property, which has been completely rebuilt to suit our business, with offices, storerooms, etc. We possibly will be putting up some photos of the shop on the website eventually. Thanks for your business (and patience!) Bill Gruner Pacific Front Hobbies http://www.pacificfront.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Shane Subject: APMA site update Hi gang, Well if the server is still acting up, by the time you get this, the APMA site will have undergone a large update(next couple of hours). This will consist of new pages showing various APMA Display days(none on topic - damm), a start on a new member reference photo page & some new links as well. Also, if you're in Sydney on Saturday, you're welcome to drop by. Regards, Shane APMA VP http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/apma.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume