Subject: SMML VOL 814 Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2000 23:46:00 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Bismarck float planes 2: Navis Magazine 3: Hooeywood and Turing 4: Camouflage of destroyers in late 1941 Early 1942 5: Re: Navis magazine problems 6: Saving Navis issues 7: Recruiting new Modelers 8: Re: U-571 movie/more modelers 9: USS Heermann pics? (or USS Kidd) 10: Re: Atlanta 11: mb models 12: Re: Starship Yamato 13: USS ATLANTA 14: Re: Space Cruiser Yamato 15: Re: U-571 Movie 16: Re: Starship Yamato 17: Space Cruiser Yamato 18: Re: U-571 Film 19: A ripping good yarn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Latest upload 2: KRIEGSMARINE PHOTO BOOK for Sale -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Keith Bender" Subject: Re: Bismarck float planes I would like to thank the ones who have given info on painting the Bismarck float planes. Now I can start. Oh, on Recruiting new and young modelers that is a problem our club has too. Of 62 members I'm the youngest at the old age of 38. Were looking for some young ones to carrie on this great hobby. My daughter is only 8 so it will be awhile before I would have grandkids, I hope awhile! And in my home Barbie has over ruled modeling at least with her but I've tried. Regards, Keith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Michael Eisenstadt Subject: Navis Magazine Folks: On the matter of the quality of Navis magazine, I have a few comments. I should mention that I have subscribed to this excellent e-zine from its inception, but for a number of reasons, am reconsidering resubscribing. While the build articles are outstanding, I've been peeved by the fact that overall, "Navis" magazine has increasingly devoted space to feature articles and product reviews of aviation subjects. At present, perhaps half the feature articles are about naval subjects, while in the products review section, only a small fraction of the reviews concern ships models (that is no exagerration!). Not that some modelers may find anything inherently wrong with this, but as someone who builds ship models exclusively, and who subscribes to Navis because it bills itself as a naval e-zine (hence the "Navis" title) the aviation content is much greater than one might expect (especially since in the early days of the e-zine, this was not the case -- the naval content was much higher). This is especially annoying with regard to the new products reviews -- which is one of the main reasons I subscribe to Navis. While there are tens of aviation subjects in plastic and resin reviewed each month, the number of ships subjects reviewed is pitiful (at least by comparison) and many of the reviews have more the feel of advertisements or plugs for the companies that contributed the product. Another recent trend of concern is the fact that the editor has started "recycling" ship build articles from the early days of the magazine -- this in only the third (?) year of its existance! This does not bode well for the future, and seems to indicate that the editor is having trouble enlisting contributors. Moreover, I do not believe it is ethical to recycle articles that I have read already in an earlier issue of the e-zine. While I hope for the success of Navismagazine, since we ship modelers benefit from the existance of such a publication, and while it still is an excellent value, I can't help but to feel let down by the direction it has taken since its first year or so, and to feel that it has not met its potential. While I would still recommend subscribing to Navismagazine, I have concerns about the quality and future of this online publication. Written more in sorrow than in anger... Yours truly, Mike Eisenstadt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: WRPRESSINC@aol.com Subject: Hooeywood and Turing I resent the fact that some people are knocking the movie establishment, they are a straight ahead honest group. Don't forget that they let the world know that Errol Flynn beat the Japanese in Burma. Without them we would't know this. Errol Flynn, the man who couldn't get a passport because of his Nazi views. Love that man! Turing It does not help when you pick up teenage boys in pubs, take them home, and then tell them what you do for a living. Even worse, to continue to do this after you have been found out by Five and Six,and who warn you off this practice. There will then come a point when one will meet with an accident; and he did. Like a lot of men with his level of talent, he was totally mixed up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: WRPRESSINC@aol.com Subject: Camouflage of destroyers in late 1941 Early 1942 To those who have helped with camouflage of destroyers in late 1941/early 1942. I thank you. Vherley shortlee eye shal bee arseking Glenn Arnold too beegin laying owt and edditing volyome one of the kamoflarg book. This shood not take 2 long. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Navis magazine problems >> I once subscribed to this magazine, but I had some problems accessing it. I mentioned this, and there followed a truly "strange" attack by the magazine's editor. I was accused of being many things that I'll not restate here, but I finally got a refund. << Same story, second verse. I had the same experience with the Navis owners. Except I was an advertiser and contributor. It seems as long as you have no problems, you are treated well as a subscriber. I had a disagreement with the owner and I was called a number of names I won't dignify here. So I thought it best to take my business elsewhere. This may sound strange, but as long as you don't have a problem with the owner, (either technical or personal) the magazine is a really nice, informative resource. Before it happened to me, I had heard this from LOTS of ex-subscribers. Please understand, this isn't a flame letter against Paolo Pizzi or Navis. I just think he needs to work on his "people skills" a little more. I just want everyone to know what they are getting into. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Saving Navis issues Bradford Chaucer contacted me off post yesterday with an excellent suggestion about saving Navis or other E-zine issues. He suggested saving them to a CD. I have a CD writer and that's just what it's made for. So apparently the only issue to decide is whether you wish to keep hard copy bound volumes on your shelves. You decide. Thanks to Brad for the help. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Lisa and Bill Wiseman Subject: Recruiting new Modelers My "All Breed" club has come up with a real neat way to introduce kids in particular to the hobby. The local library ( our club meeting place) has a community weekend and guys come in and bring whatever project they're working on and just work on it at the library. Kids come in with their parents and ask all sorts of questions. We've even gotten some Veterans get interested in the hobby. The second thing we're trying to do is in conjunction with the Local hobby shop and Cub Scout Pack. One Saturday a month, we get together with the Scouts at the local hobby shop and build a project. Cars one month, rockets another, planes a third and so forth. The shop owner is really interested in the idea if his insurance carrier will go for it. The Cub Pack leadership is on board all we need is the club go ahead and the final say so from the shop owner's insurance carrier. Just a couple of ideas. As for a snappy theme song or spokes person, I prefer "The Ocean" by Led Zeppelin and I vote for Pamela Lee or Raquel Welch since they're mostly plastic anyway. Happy Modeling, Doc Wiseman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Marc Flake Subject: Re: U-571 movie/more modelers SMMLers: I agree with everyone who is moaning about the historical accuracy problems related to this movie. We'll probably encounter the same problems with "Pearl Harbor" when it comes out. I still get flak from friends and acquaintances when I gripe about the P-51 that takes out the Tiger tank at the end of "Saving Private Ryan" using .50 caliber machine guns. (There wasn't a Tiger tank within a hundred miles of Normandy at the time and a .50 caliber piece of lead isn't going to be much more effective than the .45 caliber slug Tom Hanks' character was firing in the first place. Heck, *Godzilla* may as well have stomped in and melted the tank with its breath.) However, I digress. All you manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers out there better be gearing up to provide U-boat kits to ride the wave of popularity this movie may have. Judging from the trailers, there's also going to be some surface ships involved in this movie, too. Submarine afficiandoes -- now is the time to get your speakers bureau together to talk to groups about your favorite subject. Be sure you have them bring along submarine models. Here in the USA, groups like Rotaries, Kiwanis, Lionis Club are ACHING for speakers (and if you go to a Lions Club be prepared to hurl rolls or cracker packets). There's a good opportunity to get some TV time, too (Maybe even nationally if the "Sub-Committee" really puts it collective heads together). And we ALL better be prepared to do the same thing when "Pearl Harbor" comes out -- especially those of us who have "Battleship Row" models. It's time to see how to get your work into that library's display case. Maybe as a project for several different SMMLers. Yeah, these movies might stink as far as accuracy goes, but we can take advantage of them and help our hobby as well. Marc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Steve Belanger" Subject: USS Heermann pics? (or USS Kidd) I'm trying to convert Tamiya's 1/350 Fletcher to USS Heermann (DD532) as she appeared in1944. But of the several Fletcher class books I have only one that shows her in this time frame when she was still wearing her dazzle camo (the common picture of her laying smoke) and I also already have the camo design sheet. Unfortunately though that's all I have to go by! Does anyone have any images off Heermann (dated 1944) showing some nice detail shots of her armamament and deck configurations? Since my sources are really lacking on Heermann, my backup is to model USS Kidd (DD661) also wearing her dazzle camo from 1944 since I have much more details regarding her configuration, but I'd also appreciate any assistance in photos of her wearing her ms31 camoflauge. I already have the Warships Data book on her that shows an illustration and only one pic of her in dazzle, but any more would be great! Thanks for any help! Steve -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "The Shannons" Subject: Re: Atlanta Filipe Ramires of PORTUGAL wrote: >> I bought this weekend the model of the light anti-aircraft cruiser USS Atlanta (CLAA-51) of the Skywave. I was already intended to get it because of the strange and unique camouflage scheme that she have (Measure 12 - exception for is sister ship Juneau, I believe). The ship used this camouflage until she was lost in the famous night battle off Guadalcanal (13 of November 1942). Unfortunately there are missing me two things to build the model (the rest I already have it): first is about the secondary light antiaircraft guns that she have in is final configuration. I believe that she have three quadruple 1.1 guns but I don't know about other guns (Oerlikons 20 mm, Brownings 12,7 mm) and their respective positions. Still, about the 1.1 guns, the Skywave model gave me 40 mm Bofors instead of the 1.1 guns and I know that Atlanta didn't have those previous guns. Now where can I get this 1.1 guns to put on the Atlanta, ...? << Skywave has had a set of detail fittings for U.S. Navy Ships #2. This is the set that was done for the Cleveland class cruisers, and has the 1.1 quads in it (you get two sprues), I think eight mountings total. It also has more accurately shaped 5"/38 cal. Dual mountings than those with the original set, but unfortunately only gives you six gun houses -- however, it is not difficult to modify the original kit items if you have a good one to use as a guide. Overall, this set is more finely molded and looks sharper in details than the original set. They are not cheap, however; I think they run on the order of $15. U.S.D. Mark or Mary Shannon The early bird may get the worm, but it's the second mouse that gets the cheese -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Miguel Costa" Subject: mb models Hi friends: Does anybody knows if MB Models have a web site or an e mail?, i'm interested in his new relase of the U-VIIC submarine, resin kit in 1/350 scale. I found this information in the Greatmodels internet shop (www.greatmodels.com), but they don't have any details of this manufacturer. Thanks MIguel Costa from Mallorca (Spain) "one place five islands" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: Re: Starship Yamato Ralph... The show is called Space Battleship Yamato, with the American translation being Star Blazers. I've been a activist fan since '79 (re: it's my obsession). That said I've never seen or heard of any plans to convert the Tamiya kit into the Space Battleship, and for good reason. The Space BB was stylized in such a way to make a conversion of the original ship *extremely* difficult at best. A few folks that I know who have attempted this either came up with something that looked more like the battleship than the space battleship, or ended up only using a fraction of the kit parts and scratchbuilt the rest. For example, the hull has many complex curvatures (that the original did not) that almost require a scratchbuilt hull to duplicate. Bandai released 1:500, 1:700, 1:700 cutaway, 1:1000, a small box-scale (roughly 1:2400), and a forced perspective kits in the 70s and 80s. The latter has the bow grossly larger than the stern so at a distance you get the 3/4s view seen most frequently in the show) There were two 1:1000 kits. The first dipicts the ship as it appeared in the early comics/manga. The second came out with the release of the last movie, Final Yamato, in 83, and is considered by some to be the kit of choice as far as being the most accurate. I prefer the 1:700 in this regard (IMO, it's the most accurate). I have most of these, but no, I have no intention of selling any of them. I've been informed a number of these have been re-released in recent years. My suggestion would be to check out Hobbylink Japan (http://www.hlj.com) and do a search for Yamato. That should turn them up. My advise would be to look for the 1:700 or 1:1000 Final Yamato release kit. Those are considered to be the most accurate. Be aware though, there are a number of toys that have been released in the last year, so make sure you're selecting a model, rather than a toy. Another option is to go to the URL at the bottom of my sig. This will lead you to the site of the Star Blazers group I run (The Iscandar Project). From the home page, go to the links page. I have about 75 links to Star Blazers related sites there where you might find more information where to find these kits. Some of these are model related sites BTW. Note, I don't have any commerical links there, but a number of the sites listed there do have links to commerical sites were merchandise can be ordered. Dasvidanya! _|_o_|_ Derek "Tiger" (/\)akefield /---(.](o)[.)---\ iscandar@chatter.com o oo O oo o http://www.iscandar-66.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Robert OConnor Subject: USS ATLANTA Felipe, In answer to your question about the deck color on ATLANTA, my best info is deck blue.The measure 12 she wore when sunk in Nov.,42 , shows in my research to be accompanied by blue decks.I just recently completed the same kit, and the 1.1 AA guns should be taken from an early SKYWAVE parts kit,(the number I no longer have) or another ship kit. There are only a few 1.1 batteries on the kit, so you should be able to find what you need.I took mine from a spare parts box, but I think they are available in an old Skywave parts set.Good Luck.it's a nice kit. Bob O'Connor, in Florida where it's cold again, but warming this week. Good shipmodeling weather...... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Darren Scannell Subject: Re: Space Cruiser Yamato >> For all of those SCI-FI and ship modelers. I heard once that there was information available to convert a Tamiya Yamato into the Starship Yamato from a once popular sci-fi animated series. << Hi Ralph, Don't know about the Plans or online resources and Shane provided the name. However, for what it's worth, I have seen many kits of the aforementioned ship for sale in the sci fi section from itsy bitsy to whopping huge. Since it is a cartoon and drawn a little creatively (I'm understating this tremendously, the cartoon doesn't even come close to matching the lines of the original), wouldn't it be better to get a kit than go to all that trouble of a conversion? Just my $0.02CDN, Darren Scannell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Duane_C" Subject: Re: U-571 Movie Well, all I can say, is it sounds like the typical Hollywood "hack-job" on history. The real story is interesting enough to make a movie about, but they couldn't possibly tell it the way it happened! Look at the "Memphis Belle". The only resemblence there was the name of the plane. Dig all you want, Robert! I don't think I could get too offended by anybody's remarks about Hollywood! ;-) Duane C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: CaptainOD@aol.com Subject: Re: Starship Yamato There were at least two kits of this made, I almost bought one in Japan many years ago, TV show was very popular there and in Hawaii. I saw one built up, guessing it was about 1/600 or maybe a little larger. But his English and my Japanese didn't mix, so I passed on it. I am betting it still is available from an Anima hobby shop. Bob O'Donovan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Duane Fowler Subject: Space Cruiser Yamato Hello Ralf, There are quite a few models of the Space Cruiser Yamato available in Japan and Taiwan in several different sizes. You really can't modify a standard Battleship Yamato kit because the Spaceship is based on a cartoon and as such doesn't really follow the shape. The Space Cruiser Yamato is available in everything from 1/200 scale (out of wood!) to 1/700 scale from what I have seen. Regards, Duane Fowler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: tom Subject: Re: U-571 Film While I can understand people being upset by what might be considered gross historical revisionism but things could be heaps worse... imagine the pain of watching Matthew McConaughey or Jon Bon Jovi trying to do a British accent. Anyhow you have to consider the source here... I like "Conan The Barbarian" and Italian westerns as much as the next person but you can't expect a Dino DeLaurentis film to be history or art. Tom -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: SJantscher@aol.com Subject: A ripping good yarn Hi all, I no doubt will enjoy this new U-boat movie, even if it is wholly fictional. As a student of the history of cryptology, and somewhat knowledgeable about Enigma, the Allies owe a large debt to both the British and the Poles for their work at cracking that system. However at least we Americans can be satisfied to have "Gotten the Gold" with that crack US Army unit, Kelley's Heroes. Tongue firmly in cheek :-) Steve Jantscher PS- On a slightly more serious note, I mention the fact that the movie Das Boot apparently generated a lot of negative buzz from actual U-Boat veterans. This according to Clay Blair the author of the two volume Hitler's U-Boat War. Hi Steve, Yeah, we should stop with "the negative waves, man" ;-þ Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Mike" Subject: Latest upload Hi all, The latest upload has the new set of Archives, Who's Who has finally found a home (off the PicPost page), and we have the Convention Hotel info posted. And for all those wanting a Links page - well, we have started one off. Anyone wanting to be added, please drop me a line. We are looking at revamping various parts, so if you have any articles, etc, you would like to contribute, let either Shane or myself know. Cheers, Mike SMML Webmaster -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: GrafSpee34@aol.com Subject: KRIEGSMARINE PHOTO BOOK for Sale Hiya! Just added another neat Kreigsmarine book to my eBay listings. A 1969 photodocumentary with over 400 mainly close-up photos of Kriegsmarine vessels 1939-45, 245 pp hardcover. Bookfinder has been down, but I did check for it earlier, and it is not to be found. Starts at $1. Check it out! Thanks! Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume