Subject: SMML10/12/99VOL755 Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 03:26:44 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Replacement aircraft 2: Lusitania Book 3: Waveline, Sealine & KomBrig 4: RN Destroyers at 1/400 5: 1/192 USS MISSOURI 6: Re: Wahoo 7: Painting wood decks 8: HMS Hood 9: Book Reviews: The Navy of the Russian Empire / Journey of the Retvisan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: December Navismagazine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Rod Dauteuil Subject: Replacement aircraft Does anybody know if there any manufacturers that make replacement aircraft in the 1/500 scale range? These would be for the Lindbergh Yorktown, Revell modernized Essex series, Revell Midway, etc. I seem to recall not too long ago a dealer at an IPMS show had some resin aircraft, but I forget who produced them. They offered an S2 Tracker, some helicopters, and a bunch of other aircraft, usually 2 or 3 in the set. Thanks, Rod. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: GrafSpee34@aol.com Subject: Lusitania Book Borders Bookstore now has Ballard's Lusitania book on sale, hardcover, for around $6. Cheap. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Donald Bridge Subject: Waveline, Sealine & KomBrig Does anyone know where I can get a complete listing of the kits produced by these companies past & present. Also does anyone know a shop in St. Petersburg that stocks KomBrig. Thanks Don Bridge Hi Don, Check out my Shiplist at either of the following sites for a start on the above Mfr's at least. APMA: http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/apma.htm ModellerAl's site: http://www.up-link.net/~modeleral/ Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "FCR" Subject: RN Destroyers at 1/400 Hello to all In the past week I took a few days of vacations and I went to my parents house and in the many ship models and old "wrecks" that I still have there, I found to know that I still have my HMS Illustrious (WWII) at 1/400 from Heller. The model is badly built but I intend to rebuild it in the next summer. I thought for myself that it was a good project and one big diorama. Well the question is since the diorama is going to be so big why not to add another ship on it, one destroyer or something like that. Unfortunately the 1/400 scale is not my area any more (exceptions for the subs) and I would like to know your opinions about models of RN destroyers at this scale. Other ideas can be also suggested. Thanks Regards Filipe Costa Ramires PORTUGAL P.S. Sorry to not answer for the question of Navio da Republica Portuguesa about the mutinied ships. I was out for a days and I only saw the mail today and Nuno Rubim have said much more to you all that I can say to you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: DrT388@aol.com Subject: 1/192 USS MISSOURI Does anyone know where a person can find Sterlings 1/192 scale model of the Missouri at? I thought another company picked up the rights to Sterlings models, but I am not for sure of who did or where to reach them at. Thanks for any information on this. Regards, David Turner -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Wahoo >> All those posts a few weeks back regarding Wahoo's configuration and colours made me go back and re-read Dick O'Kane's book. In the book, O'Kane states that Wahoo was a victim of a circular run on her last patrol, but wasn't sunk. Morton then decided to bring the sub back to Pearl so the remaining torpedoes could be analyzed, which would have saved Tang and Tullibee, among others. She managed to struggle back to La Perouse strait and was then destroyed. << I could not find this passage in the book "Wahoo" upon quick inspection. Which page is it on? Charles Lockwood in "Sink'em All" mentions poor torpedo performance (lack of detonations) as the reason for Wahoo's premature return. Morton wanted a fresh load of torpedos, especially the new Mk 18 electrics. >> Sounds pretty far-fetched to me. Does anybody know where this theory came from? Is it corroborated anywheres? None of the other literature I have on US Submarines (and it's extensive) mention anything about this possibility. I hold both Morton and O'Kane in very high esteem, and I figure O'Kane would certainly know what he's talking about, but nothing in the book indicates where this theory originates. << As you mention, both Tang and Tullibee were definitely lost to circular runs, as reported by survivors (O'Kane being one from Tang). How many other submarines that vanished without any known Japanese attack on them were lost to circular runs will never be known. >> George Grider's book puts Wahoo's loss down to the change of wardroom personnel who wouldn't know how to talk Morton out of any crazy ideas. I also recall reading somewheres that Morton was a sick man by the time of Wahoo's last patrol. << How many of Morton's ideas were "crazy" is debatable; he was certainly successful. Grider (in "Warfish") does state that the change in wardroom may have affected Wahoo and Morton, as well as Morton's anger at the failure of the previous patrol, due to the torpedo problems. Morton was both ill and fatigued. He suffered from chronic prostatitis, in the pre-antibiotic era. This meant frequent prostate massages to relieve the inflammation. He was also fatigued with the stress and frustartion. His loss had much to do with the subsequent "four war patrols" policy for skippers. Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Kenneth Perry Subject: Painting wood decks Hello, I have a question pertaining to wooden decks on radio controlled ships. I'd like to know what's recommended for sealing/ painting balsa/ plywood decks so they appear smooth like metal with no wood grain. The wood deck for the ship I'm building has pretty deep grain in it. Thanks. Ken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Mike Dunn" Subject: HMS Hood Hi, Anyone in the UK see the History Channel programme about the Hood last night? Very good, I thought. Interviews with old Hood crew-members, inc. the last survivor of her sinking; lots of footage of her under way (very awash - I was surprised when the decks cleared every few seconds!), and I was impressed by the colour footage as well - first I've seen (but then, I'm not a Hood fan - or wasn't!) I'll have to watch it properly, next time it's on. Mike (wondering how he can persuade his wife that WEM's Hood model is vital, honest it's a better investment than a new hoover) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Minadmiral@aol.com Subject: Book Reviews: The Navy of the Russian Empire / Journey of the Retvisan Hi All; Craig Martelle is the editor of the Gauntlet, US, magazine. He is also a USMC major currently at the US Embassy in Moskow. He has been finding quite a few interesting books since going there, mostly on land battles. He also has some medals and such. He has found quite a bit on the RCW and earlier. And even WWII info. Recently I asked him to look for naval books. He has 4 on his current list and I have ordered 3. I want to give a brief review of 2 of them. The first book is_The Navy of the Russian Empire_. It was written by a team of authors, under the direction of Valentin Mishanov, Director of the Russian State Naval Archives. It is in English. I would first like to say that I believe that this book would be of interest to naval historians and wargamers, but not to ship modellers. If you are a ship modeller skip down to the discussion of the Retvisan book. This book was sponsored by The Russian Naval Assembly. This seems to be an organization similar to the Navy League,and included prominant Admirals, seafarers, explorers, and statesmen. They sponsored this book to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Russian Navy, October 20, 1996. The book begins with the founding of the Imperial Russian Navy by Tsar Peter the Great in 1696. It follows the various wars that helped mould the Russian Navy. It gives a brief description of the various battles and campaigns. Included are maps, reproductions of paintings, biographical info. on important individuals, and some ship information. There are also sections on voyages of discovery on the Arctic and Pacific shores of Russia, even the Alaskan voyages. This gives a picture of the Navy both in war and peace. There seems to be, naturally, more emphasis on Russian victories than defeats. The 1904-05 war against Japan is barely touched on. In fact the descriptions seem to get briefer with time. There is some interesting discussion of the background of the various wars from the Russian side. I was particularly interested in the discussion of the early wars of expansion into the Baltic and Black Sea. Another area of interest is the discussion of the various naval bases built in the course of developing the navy. Many of us are so concentrated on the ships that we don`t think of the bases and harbors that support those ships. Without the bases the ships would not be successful. This book gives a good picture of the developement of the Imperial Russian Navy.I could have enjoyed a little more detail, but what is there has prompted me to dig out my copies of Anderson`s _Naval Wars in the Levant_ and _Naval Wars in the Baltic_. I plan to do more reading about the Imperial Russian Navy. Available from Maj.Craig Martelle at , $45 postpaid. I reccomend it as a good overview of the developement of the Imperial Russian Navy, up to 1900. Hardcover with dust jacket, 287 pages, ISBN 5-88654-011-3. Journey of the Squadron Battleship RETVISAN, 1902-04 This is a large sized softcover book, with 74 pages. It is a history of the Russian Battleship RETVISAN, which was built by Wm. Cramp & Sons, of Philidelphia. The text is in Russian, and Maj. Martelle has provided a translation of the photo captions. There are a number of good, but rare, photos. There are also photos of other Russian ships, such as NOVIK, TSESAREVICH, and BAYAN. There is a large color centerfold drawing of RETVISAN after entering Russian service. This book is worth the small price ($10, postpaid ) just for the photos. These photos should be of interest to the ship modeler. There is quite a bit of text, though, and I will be after him to translate the whole book. There is another part of this book that is of some interest. It contains 16!! maps of 16 different phases of the battle of Tsushima. The text of ths section is what I want translated most. As mentioned the price, postpaid is only $10. ISBN 5-8172-0012-0, published in 1999. I wonder, (and HOPE), if this is part of a series of Russian ship histories. There are 2 more naval books on his list. _Battleships, Ships of the Line, and Gunships of the Russian and Soviet Navy_ Mid 19th. to 20th. centuries. $20 with translation, I ordered it but it`s not here yet. _Russian Sailing Fleet_.312 page hard bound book with a detailed history of EVERY armed Russian ship from the time of Peter the Great through the early 19th century!!! In Russian $12, $20 when translation completed. CRAIG, YOU BETTER SEND ME THE FIRST TRANSLATION. Chuck Duggie -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Kenneth H. Goldman" Subject: December Navismagazine In the December issue of navismagazine.com (http://www.navismagazine.com) Available 12/18 FEATURES: - REPORT FROM UK'S 1999 IPMS NATIONALS - ON THE DECK OF USS KEARSARGE DURING KFOR OPS - REPUBLIC P-47D THUNDERBOLT WALK-AROUND - USS CONSTELLATION CV 64 WALK-AROUND - TECHNIQUE 2: AIRBRUSHING ACRYLICS - BUILDING JMSDF OHSUMI IN 1/700 - BUILDING A HEINKEL HE 111H-3x "PATHFINDER" IN 1/48 - HMAS CANBERRA IN 1/700 - WEM KIT CONVERSION - BUILDING A HANRIOT HD1 IN 1/48 - D-DAY DIORAMA IN 1/700 - LEGENDS OF AVIATION: C.YEAGER AND X-1 (w./ 1/72 construction) - CLASSIC KIT: AHM'S (REVELL) 1/509 USS LONG BEACH COLUMNS: - MODEL SHOWCASE: AIRCRAFT: - 1/48 MESSERSCHMITT BF 109E-7 - 1/72 FOCKE-WULF FW190A-1 - 1/72 A-4B SKYHAWK - 1/72 F-104G BUNDESWEHR SHIPS: - 1/350 KING GEORGE V - 1/700 USS ENTERPRISE CV 6 - 1/400 FINJET LINER - 1/35 CIWS - MODELER PROFILE: MARK DELIDUKA - TASK FORCES: OPERATION TRANSOM - PHOTO HISTORY (air): Early WWI Fighters - PHOTO HISTORY (ships): The Desron 11 Tragedy of 1923 - VIRTUAL PLACES: Hangsim review - ON THE MARKET: Dozens of new product reviews - NEWS FROM THE KIT INDUSTRY (the rumor mill...) - NAVAL RECONNAISSANCE - News from the seven seas - NEW BOOKS - LETTERS - BULLETIN BOARD Win great prizes with our: - MYSTERY PHOTO (air) - MYSTERY PHOTO (ships) - TRIVIA QUIZ Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER http://www.wman.com/~khgold/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume