Subject: SMML12/12/99VOL757 Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 00:58:12 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Poseidon kits 2: Lake Champlain - model options 3: T-2 photo - uncropped color original available 4: Re: 1/200 Scale Battleships 5: Re: S-boot or E-boat? 6: Re: Iron Shipwright USS PANAY 7: APc (and other stuff) 8: New Fujimi USN carriers 9: Re: RN Destroyers in 1/400 10: 1/192 Missouri 11: HORNET'S COMPLIMENT 12: Correction - USS Newport News 13: "Navy Gray" 14: Re: 1/192 Sterling Missouri 15: Re: E boats etc. 16: 3 questions 17: Fw: DECALS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Books For Sale 2: FREE SHIPPING UPGRADE AT MODEL EXPO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS Hi Gang, There seems to be a small hassle with Hotmail at the moment. I'm getting a very large amount of bouncers from them. If you're in contact with any Hotmail SMMLie, please tell them that they're bouncing & hopefully it'll be fixed shortly. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Jens H. Brandal" Subject: Poseidon kits Just dropped by the HSMH to lay my sweaty palms on a kit, and I checked up the kits from Poseidon. There is one Osa II and one Nanuchka in 1:150 left on the shelf, and they are 500 Norwegian Kroner each (that's about US$40 with the current exchange rate). The shop (a side business) takes VISA, and possibly other credit cards too. HSMH can be contaced most conveniently by email at: hsmh@netpower.no No other interest than a happy customer helping out a desperate modeller out there:) Jens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Michael C. Smith" Subject: Lake Champlain - model options I think the most accurate and easiest conversion would be a Hasegawa Ticonderoga/Hancock kit (long hull). Add hull blisters, kitbash the island, and you're 90% there. Both of which can be done without much in the way of plans or blueprints (the Raven Essex book would be more than enough - pictures really ought to do it). It would need a new sheet plastic flight deck for the new detailing, but I do that on mine even in WWII mode because the kit's flight deck is too thin anyway and I prefer more control over the detail. Backdating a Revell Essex would require opening the hurricane bow, removing the angled deck sponsons, building a new flight deck, and rebuilding the hull to get it the right width. You'd end up destroying virtually all the kit's detail - anything that isn't removed to backdate it would have to be removed to accurize it, and I frankly think scratchbuilding would be far easier. But there is a better option. Do what I did when I built a Lake Champlain in the '70's as a kid (I really did!). Take a Revell Essex island and glue it to a Lindberg Essex. (Okay, stop throwing the tomatoes) Seriously, I think the Lindberg kit is your best option because it provides you with with the basic hull, flight deck and island, with no details to get in the way. The bow will need complete rebuilding to make it a "long-hull" Essex, and the stern 40mm sponson will need to be added as well. The hull will need blisters made from sheet plastic, but here's your chance to correct any problems with the basic hull shape or hangar door arrangement (I don't know if there are any major ones other than the bow & stern - I'm just suggesting), and add a sheet plastic hangar deck. The flight deck is a good starting point - sand it smooth and add whatever detail you want. The gallery decks have to be totally rebuilt, but they would anyway. And I think rebuilding the original island would be fun. The Revell island would need some modifications anyway, and you'd probably lose the surface detail in the process and have to start over. Your choice - scratchbuild the model or use the Lindberg as a starting point. Just my two cents. Sounds like a fun project. Michael Smith By the way, while the revised Essex island looks almost unrecognizable compared to the WWII configuration in pictures, I noticed that live (on Yorktown and ESPECIALLY on Hornet) you can see the original layout (primarily the smokestack cap) very clearly. On Hornet, you can walk around a catwalk just below the old stack cap, and you can clearly see that they just plated up from "on top" of the old stack cap - the original stack is oval at the rear and the new section is rectangular and sits on top. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Michael C. Smith" Subject: T-2 photo - uncropped color original available I must have missed the discussion on T-2's but Chris Langtree noted that there was something of interest on the photo of USS Cahaba (AO82) refuelling Shangri-La and Iowa in the Squadron/Signal 'Essex Class Carriers In Action'. I used a 5x7 enlargement of the original (color) photo in the Naval Historical Center for the book - it was cropped (mostly on the Iowa side - the original show Iowa back to mid-superstructure)and changed to black and white. It has appeared in much larger form in other publications (and in color) but if any needs a scan to help with a model, contact me off-post and I'll send it along. By the way, kudos to Chris for identifying the carrier - when I was studying the picture for inclusion in the book I could narrow down which carrier it might be, but he was able to nail it down as Shangri-La. Michael Smith Hi Michael, Good work on the Essex's in Action. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: SeaPhoto@aol.com Subject: Re: 1/200 Scale Battleships John Philip Downing writes: >> If anyone knows of any other 1/200 battleships, I would be very interested. << Midway Models, in England, used to carry a line of 1/192 scale hulls. They advertised in Marine Modelling and Model Boats. Aeronaut has a 1/200 German warship range - at one time or another they have released most of the major Kriegsmarine units, including Bismarck, Scharnhorst, Graf Spee and Nurnberg. They are rare in the US, but several English shops carry them in stock. Again, your best bet would be to obtain current model boat magazines from the UK and scan the ads. Kurt Greiner SeaPhoto Maritime Photography "We get the details" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: URUDOFSKY@aol.com Subject: Re: S-boot or E-boat? S-Boot (Schnellboot) is short for "Schnelles Torpedo Motorboot", a coastal torpedo boat. There were about 700 made. They were about 30 meter in length. I suspect E = Eilboot, a fast motorboat. Ulrich Rudofsky -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: Iron Shipwright USS PANAY >> A while back there was a short string on the subject kit. I have just finished one, and while I did do a bit of extra work and detailing, the kit produces a FANTASTIC model. I have yet to make a model "river" for it to live in and will start that today. << How about posting some photos!! Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Edd Pflum Subject: APc (and other stuff) Does anyone know anything about the WW2 Apc - Coastal Transport (Small)? It was an103' long, single-screw, wooden ship used for supplying advance bases and landing raiding parties (according to "Allied Landing Craft of World War Two"). Between 80 and 100 were built, with a couple remaining in service after the war. This looks like it would be the original for the ship in "Mr. Roberts", though I've never read the book/play to be sure of the original reference. What I'd really like are some plans...(Wish, Wish). In other matters: * I thought I saw an ad that Gold Metal Models had a photo-etch set for the Sterling Missouri. And, of course, HR Products has many weapons and fittings. (A few resin cast bits, and we won't need the Sterling kit at all :) ) * I don't recall any wooden 110' Subchaser kits, but there is a 1/74 plastic version (Glencoe) that appears now and then, and Microglass has a 1/32 fiberglass hull. Dynamic used to have a 1/24 scale hull (a little bigger than 22"). * Finishing wood decks: Brush on a coat of epoxy finishing resin (or polyester, but I like epoxy) and let it sit for a few minutes. Then wipe it off, across the grain, with paper towels (airplane guys use the whole roll). You did mask off the hull, didn't you? When cured, this will fill the grain, and form a base for a final coat of resin, or a layer of fiberglass (much recommended if the deck is balsa.) Thank you for your kind attention, Edd Pflum -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: CBNJBB62@aol.com Subject: New Fujimi USN carriers Hi Guys I have some news for you. I recently was at my local hobby shop and they had these new Fujimi 1/700 scale Kitty Hawk and Constellation kits, so I asked the store clerks if I could get alook inside the boxes. Basically it's like this The hull is a waterline, no lower hull. There are actually 4 kits available: 1960s era and 1990s era's. The kit has a hangar deck that has a wall that divides it to support the flight deck, now it has was many different platforms and allow different configurations as an options including the a 80's version. It looks very detailed. The planes are clear plastic heavily detailed plus the wings are separate and can be made into a folded up position. The planes type given for the 60's are Phamtom,Skyhawk,Skyraider,and Tracker. Seaking helios are provided. For the 90'sare the Hornet, Tomcat, Intruder and Hawkeye with Lamps helios. Previously someone before asked about them so I hope it helps any one out. At 90 bucks a pop they are a temptation and that makes you worry about your budget. Craig -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Jeffrey Roberts" Subject: Re: RN Destroyers in 1/400 The ex-German torpedo boat was the Mazur - first warship to be sunk in WW2 by German bombers on Sept 1,1939. She had been laid down for the Netherlands as the Z-1 prior to WW1, then requisitioned for the Kaiserliche Marine on the outbreak of war as V105, and ceded to Poland as Mazur after the war. She had been rebuilt as a gunnery training ship in 1931. The destroyer Burza was actually a French-built destroyer based on the standard French Bourrasque/Simoun type, one of a pair built for Poland in the late 1920s. She served on escort duties throughout WW2 and was broken up only in the mid 1970s. In addition to the Burza, Grom and Blyskawica, Poland operared six former RN destroyers: Garland (G class - name unchanged), Piorun (N class ex-Nerissa) and Orkan (M class ex-Myrmidon) and three Hunt class type 2 escort destroyers: Krakowiak (ex Silverton), Kujawiak (ex Oakley) and Slazak (ex-Bedale). If you are looking for 1/400 scale RN destroyers, you might want to investigate paper card models as well...There are card models available of the Tribal class HMS Cossack and the L class HMS Lance in 1/400 scale. You can order them from Paper Models International. Their web address is: http://www.expresspages.com/p/papermodels. Best wishes and Happy Holidays, Jeffrey Roberts North Hollywood, California -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: 1/192 Missouri I have called Sterling/Estee Rockets. They will not becoming out with it any more. Shaya Novak Naval Base Hobbies The Store for The Model Ship Builder www.modelshipbuilding.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Simon Wolff" Subject: HORNET'S COMPLIMENT Hi you all.. A friend is after information on what aircraft were on/in the Hornet at Midway. So far he is led to believe there were Devastators and Wildcats..(?) Thanks all and sundry..... BTW this is his first ship model... and he is keen to do it accurately. regards Simon Wolff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: Correction - USS Newport News Per consultation with Dave Baker, the photo I mentioned of the Newport News in JFS 54-55 that I thought showed enclosed 3/50 mounts forward, are in fact open mounts with heavy canvas covers. The confusion comes from the fact the photo is small, and they appear to be enclosed mounts. As Dave pointed out though, the shielded version of the Mk-33 didn't appear until about 6-8 years after this photo was taken (and after the forward most Mk-33 mounted had been landed in the early 50s because of damage it received from it's extreme forward location). Thought I'd better correct myself based on this new information (and thanks again to Dave for pointing out my mistake here). Dasvidanya! _|_o_|_ Derek "Tiger" (/\)akefield /---(.](o)[.)---\ iscandar2@chatter.com o oo O oo o http://www.iscandar-66.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Rbeynart@aol.com Subject: "Navy Gray" It is my impression that the US Navy paints everything it owns which does not float a uniform shade of gray. Is this so (or even pretty much so), and does this ubiquitous "Navy Gray" have an FS number? Bob Beynart Atlanta, GA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: LBart73@aol.com Subject: Re: 1/192 Sterling Missouri Was at the Hobbytown in Colorado Springs today and they had this kit on the shelf. $119 IIRC. Larry B -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: RCClem@aol.com Subject: Re: E boats etc. Could E Boats, if or as referred to by the Germans, have meant "Englander" to denote them as British? You guys that talked about burning up your ships as kids, should have tried this: My best effort was with a Yorktown Aircraft Carrier. It had a motor in it, with the rudders set to run in a circle. I ballasted the hull (mostly batteries and motor) and glued a small empty plastic prescription bottle to the underside of the flight deck. This prolonged the sinking and prevented capsizing too early. I put an Estes rocket motor in the hull with a liberal amount of styrene glue. The model had just enough holes from the hanger deck to vent a tremendous, but brief, explosion from the rocket exhaust. Much better than fire crackers, of which there were a few Black Cats thrown in, too. And then it burns for a while. An added bonus is that if you glue down the ignition wires, you can haul the wreck back up after it sinks! But the wires, which I had to lengthen, kept it from running around very well. But there must still be quite a few 30 year old hulks at the bottom of the pond at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. Now I put too much skill and effort into a model to ever do this again. But I think about it. I just bought a 1977 version of the Lindberg Yorktown (CV-10) (kit 760M @ 1/525). All is fine except that the decals are for the USS Boxer (CV-22). And the pictures in the instructions show the USS Yorktown, but with CV-5 decals. So, does anyone know for sure if this kit is of the CV-5 or CV-10/CV22 (Essex Class)? It has 4 twin 5" gun turrets. It measures 20 " long, so at 1/525 that means 875 feet, which is close enough to the actual 888 ft of an Essex CV. CV-5 was 809.5 ft long, or 18.5" at 1/525. So I think this is a model of the carrier that is now in Charleston, South Carolina, but in WW2 form. This one will not be torched! Roger Clemens Hinsdale, Illinois -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Franz Aigner GmbH" Subject: 3 questions Hello, fellow SMMLies! Here are three questions that are worrying my modellers brain: 1) Cutting steel rod (for more in-scale gunbarrels) results in pinched ends. How do you cut rod to get smooth, perpendicular ends? 2) Wanting to model DD 695 Cooper as sunk, I got a good idea of measure 32/3d for the sides of the ship. (Sorces: "USN Warship Camouflage" & "Pictures of US Navy Ships", both on the Warship homepage). Did Cooper carry a pattern on her deck, and if so, where can I find an illustration? 3) The October issue of Navismagazine was enthusiastic about Tamiya's new Extra Thin Cement. I could't find it at any Hobby shop in Austria, nor at Munich, and if Hannants carries it, I could not track it down on their homepage. Does anyone out there know where I can get this miracle product? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Mike" Subject: Fw: DECALS >> From: Subject: DECALS I need a source of decal sheets and any advice on a suitable PC program for creation. << Can anyone help this guy out? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Derek Frost Subject: Books For Sale For Sale: Prices quoted in $US & postage is extra. Full list & details available on request:- "AIRCRAFT CARRIERS OF THE WORLD,1914 TO PRESENT". R.Chesneau.1998 New. $30.00 "AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN BATTLESHIPS". P. Kemp. 1991. New. $26.00 "CRUISERS OF WORLD WAR TWO. AN INTL.ENCYCLOPEDIA'. M.J.Whitley.1996 reprint. new. $37.00 "CONVOY. MERCHANT SAILORS AT WAR 1939-1945". P. Kaplan & J. .Currie. 1999. new. $25.00 "DREADNOUGHT. A HISTORY OF THE MODERN BATTLESHIP". R.Hough.1979 edition.vg+. $20.00 "ECLIPSE OF THE BIG GUN.THE WARSHIP 1906-45". D.K. Brown,Editor.1992.New. $40.00 "HOW TO MAKE OLD TIME SHIP MODELS". Edward W. Hobbs. 1972 revised edition. vg. $30.00 "WARSHIP VOLUME II". A. Preston, editor. 1984. New. $30.00 "WARSHIP VOLUME III".J. Roberts,editor. 1984. New. $30.00 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Conan35@aol.com Subject: FREE SHIPPING UPGRADE AT MODEL EXPO At Model Expo, we are working day and night to ensure that your order arrives before Christmas. We are currently shipping within 24 hours and have 99% of our items in stock. Go to http://www.modelexpoinc.com Now (and including last night's orders), we will upgrade any order on our web site to USPS priority mail (2-3 day delivery, including Sat.) or UPS 2nd day air for NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE. This offer is good from last night until 11:59 pm Monday, Dec. 20. Offer good only on orders within the continental United States. That's right you pay just the normal shipping charge, and we'll upgrade you. Just put the words RUSH MY ORDER into the "special instructions" box on the web site. Over 4200 hobby items at http://www.modelexpoinc.com Best Regards Rob Finley Web Site Mgr. Model Expo, Inc. Serving hobby enthusiasts everywhere since 1974. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume