Subject: SMML27/12/99VOL772 Date: Tue, 28 Dec 1999 00:00:32 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: USS Chicago 2: Re: JAG Gearing FRAM 3: Re: Revell GUADALCANAL 4: Re: Revell-Germany Releases - Mea Culpa 5: VE Tarants "King George V BB's" now in reprint 6: USN SHIP NAMES 7: WW1 French Destroyers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Frank and Carol Berger" Subject: USS Chicago My lovely wife suprised me this year with the Corsair Armada USS Chicago for Christmas. The kit is very nice, however, there are no finishing references. There are a couple of photos in the instructions, which show an overall dark finish. Does anyone know how the Chicago was painted during 1943? Thanks in advance for your help. Frank -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Alan Simon Subject: Re: JAG Gearing FRAM For somewhat different radar fit from image referenced in 12/26 SMML, go to http://www.navsource.org/Archives/Assorted/Nest3.jpg showing Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. outboard of four other Gearings/Sumners tied to USS Grand Canyon AD28, Newport, R.I., 1/67. Photo is my wallpaper on office PC. Among other functions, Grand Canyon maintained DASH (Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter), which flew from Kennedy's flight deck. I was Grand Canyon's DASH officer, 6/69-12/70. For further info on DASH, send your snail mail address. Alan Simon Atlanta, Ga. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: Re: Revell GUADALCANAL Ed... I had the GUADALCANAL LPH model...but it was put out by Aurora, not Revell. I've never seen a revel release of that kit. Could be wrong, but... Dasvidanya! _|_o_|_ Derek "Tiger" (/\)akefield /---(.](o)[.)---\ iscandar2@chatter.com o oo O oo o http://www.iscandar-66.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Edd Pflum Subject: Re: Revell-Germany Releases - Mea Culpa As regards the amphibious assault ship kits: I do not remember Revell ever having an LPH "Iwo Jima" class carrier kit, but I recall Aurora having one in 1:600 in the 60's. Revell did have a 1:700 kit of the LHA "Tarawa" Class, but this is not the same as the DML kit to the best of my knowledge. The Tarawa was longer (777' vs. 556') and heavier (39400 tons full load vs. 18,300) and has a rear well for landing craft, like an LPD. The LHD "Wasp" class are follow-ons to the Tarawas, the same length but a little heavier (40,530). They were intended to be smaller/cheaper, but hey, this is America Edd P.S. The only picture I have of Ranger with planes on her deck, shows P-40's to be flown off to North African bases in early 1943. Off to the side is a TBF in what appears to be two-tone Blue/Gray. The national insignia on the top of the left wing has no bars or surround or central red dot. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Foeth" Subject: VE Tarants "King George V BB's" now in reprint Finally, after a few years waiting, this title is finally available from arms and armour press. Like other titles from this author, it is well written. It's not so mucn on technology, but on the history of the ships of this class. Most pictures are, however, printed on two pages, with a fold in the middle. Luckily, most pictures aren't that useful for modeling anyway. Interesting read! Evert-Jan Foeth -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Dave Baker Subject: USN SHIP NAMES I'll try to keep this short: The naming of USN ships has been a political process since the founding of the Republic. There's really been no recent change of policy. When we were building large numbers of ships, it made good sense to have well-defined categories, but today we build very few ships (which is really okay, as ours are infinitely better than anyone else's and nobody else is building very many), and if it helps to get a vote or two in Congress by naming, say, the newest submarine for a state or a city or even a former President who did not exactly support the Navy, then so be it. If you look at the actual names, most have had antecedents in the USN, with even a good many of the people-named destroyers having had predecessors with the same name. The other services have had a say in the names attached to the prepositioning ships, but even there, the names commemorate for the most part military personnel who have made notable contributions to the nation's defense. Yes, it's a bit disconcerting to have more than one type of ship named for cities or states, but it's not really a major change; the period of the early 1900s through 1950s that we think of as being coherant was actually the deviation from the normal chaos. Happy New Year to all SMMLies, and a hearty thank you to our esteemed Webmaster and Webmistress for their continued fine work on behalf of all of us. Best/Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: d gregory Subject: WW1 French Destroyers Merry Christmas +2! Can anyone point me to where I can find drawings and photos of French Destroyers before and during World War 1? I saw a few in Conways, but not enough to make a model from. Just got Halpern's book on the Naval History of WW1 and now the fingers are itching to build something a little bigger than CMBs and LM boats! I have a WW1 US subchaser in the works, too! Dave Gregory The P.T. Dockyard -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume