Subject: SMML VOL 826 Date: Sun, 20 Feb 2000 00:53:55 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Subjects I'd Like to See 2: GMM Quality & Cybersquatting 3: Filler query 4: wish list 5: 1/64 PT weapons 6: I wonder what to make next? 7: Galatea and Salmon Pink 8: Hientz's Heros 9: EASTWIND 10: Re: Yamato Reference 11: Yamato reference 12: Some questions I may be able to help with 13: Re: Airfix HMS Victorious instructions anyone? 14: Re: Molds not in use 15: Garbage Scows...... 16: Yamato Reference 17: German WWII DD Deck Colors? 18: Re: who said that 19: Re: Destroyer Aviation question 20: Chains and Junk 21: RCN and RAN Grey 22: Re: Submarine Stamps 23: Re: Making Ship Bottoms 24: 1/700 modelling 25: AMERICAN SCOUT MODEL 26: Re: Pit Road requests for 1/700 plastic kits 27: Re: Wish List 28: USS Wasp - 1/700 scale 29: Famous Quotes 30: Coming Unglued! 31: Pearl Harbor Update 32: Finnish Navy 33: Svent Istvan & RAN conversion queries -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Re: Book for sale 2: Book Sale and new Jecobin plan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Dean_A_Markley@armstrong.com Subject: Subjects I'd Like to See Regarding recent messages about Pit Road/Skywave asking for input: Where the heck are they? Anyone have a web address? As far as what I'd like to see: How about some early US battleships? A South Carolina with PE cagemasts would be great! How about a Wyoming with those six turrets? A Kirov (BCGN) would also be interesting if it was real and not just a rumor. Dean Hi Dean, Check out the Warships message board at: http://warship.simplenet.com/ for the Pit Road messages. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: James Corley Subject: GMM Quality & Cybersquatting >> I believe these items to be very accurate and of a first rate quality. Once again, I know why I buy Gold Medal Model products, I want my projects to look as good as I could possibly make them. I highly recommend them. << Steve, I agree with you completely. GMM does make excellent photo-etch sets. Loren's dedication to quality is why I chose to DESIGN my Yorktown set to use his brass. I am planning on doing a similar project later this year using another Revell kit and GMM set. BTW, Loren, I never made an claims of ethical behavior ... I agree it, at the very least, looked unethical. The "controlling authority" in my profession would have a field day with this and the offender might even get his license revoke by the state board, but it is still legal. Any pending legislation would, by Article one, section nine of the US Constitution, be binding only to future domain registration and only in the USA. Any attempt to make the law retroactive would be thrown out by the courts, unless Bill Gates was involved and then He'd loose! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Jeff Marksbury Subject: Filler query I'm relatively new to this hobby and rely on this site and a few others for help. I've been using Squadron white putty for filling release holes, etc. I'm not happy with the results even after wet sanding with 600: sink marks, air pockets, and so on. Perhaps my technique is poor or I'm using the wrong product. Any help? Jeff Marksbury -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Bill Code" Subject: wish list hello list, I see in Fine scale modeler an add for the new 1/350 scale SMS Konig, is this model out there yet? If so has anyone taken a look at it? Also being a fan of WW1 heavies I'm tring to talk the wife into letting me purchase that resin SMS Seydlitz...as for wishing Id ask for a 1/350 Derfflinger,clearly the finest battlecruiser design of the period. cheers Bill Code -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "J. Lamontagne" Subject: 1/64 PT weapons I am scratch building a 1/64 PT boat and need a source for model weapons, etc. to add to the boat. The boat is PT 810 (Experimental) and I need two single 40 mm Bofors, dual 20 mm Oerlikon, .50 cal machine guns and various other fittings like Danforth anchors, dinghy. etc all in 1/64 scale. Help! John L. (under three feet of snow and expecting another foot or so this afternoon) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Joe Damato" Subject: I wonder what to make next? Steve of Jurassic Warships had a good point that I think might have been missed or misunderstood. As a manufacturer, my obligation is to my employees, my clients and my bottom line. Every decision I (we) make is market driven. You might want to think that some of us think like Revell or Monogram, but in a smaller way, we are governed by what will sell. You may not like it, but the VAST majority of builders out there want something that tore up the seas during WW2 and had the biggest guns. Why do you think Tamiya made Battleships and not Cruisers? I doubt that Mr and Mrs Tamiya are only interested in ships that made their lives miserable during the war. They made a decision based on demand. I've seen several posts about wanting ships other than those who were sunk during Pearl Harbor, but the fact remains that the Arizona is the best known and most popular. I don't keep up with WW2 sales since that is not my area of interest, but based on the number of manufactures who have Arizona's in their inventory says a lot about where the demand is. Name me a manufacturer who doesn't have a Mustang or Spitfire in their catalogs? Sad truth. Your best bet for other subjects is in the resin community. Steve and Ted Parris (I didn't say that in the same breath Steve) and Tom and Mike and Caroline and everyone else makes this a full time job and cannot risk putting out models that will not meet a certain level of sales. If you have ever manufactured anything, you know about the lost time and money involved in it. I am blessed because I have a fully functioning Model making company and we spend our days building Movie sets and Architectural models. Our evenings are crowed with family and pattern making. Because of the way I structured my company, I can afford to have a full time staff just dedicated to making patterns and manufacturing. You wouldn't believe the amount of money I throw into that office! But this is not the case with anyone else. That's why I am crazy enough to do the subjects I do. I'm sure my sales are no where near those producing WW2 stuff, but I can afford to indulge my insanity. If you want something different, do the pattern work and contact your favorite manufacturer. You never know. Hell, I love Garbage Scows and could build a fleet of them, but who else would buy one? You would not believe the request I get. Most of them are realistic..I'm not afraid to do a 1/700 Newport or a 1/350 Forrestal, but some of them tend to be off the wall. We are all trying to get the stuff out there everyone wants to see...but we can't make everyone happy. Thanks for the time Joe Damato JAG Collective Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: WRPRESSINC@aol.com Subject: Galatea and Salmon Pink Galatea; hang on for a few weeks, the information that you seek will be in vol one of the camouflage book. Salmon pink; Don't think so, this was a color used on warships in the Atlantic in 1941/42, definately NOT orange, but thank you anyway. This will very soon turn out to be one of those lost colors ie, nobody left alive to remember. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "lcp9" Subject: Hientz's Heros The mention of German POW's reminds me that OLD FORT HENRY in Kingston had a display of ship models built by German POW's (who were quartered there) during WWII. I was only there once, as a child (1968 or so) , does anyone know if they are still there? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "lcp9" Subject: EASTWIND LOOSE CANNON is getting ready to release the 1/700 model of Eastwind that was shown at the Orlando IPMS convention. . It's the WWI version with the DUCK airplane. Price & release date are still to be determined Hey Duane -were you ever able to read the decal test pattern I sent you? David Angelo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Erwin Van Deynze Subject: Re: Yamato Reference I'm sure you'll get plenty of answers on that one, but here's my bit : As far as I know the Anatomy of the Ship series are published in Europe and the commonwealth by Conway, wich is now a part of Chrysalis Books, and in the US by The Naval Institute. S the books in both series are the same... The Yamato book is out-of-print, but in the catalogue I've received from Chrysalis, they stat it will be reprinted march this year. I know this because I'm searching about two years now for it... And if you've seen it on the WEM-list, that probably must be an old list, I'm on the backlist for about a year now on WEM. Regarding other books in the series 'The Battleship Dreadnought' should also be reprinted in march. As a sidenote to those interrested : Allied Coastal Forces, part one should be reprinted also, in august this year. As a second sidenote : Are the books on the German Warships 1875-1945 any good, I can find them at a bargain price, but I've never seen them before... Erwin Who is starting to think he is not really a modeller but a reader of books on modelling... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Mike Connelley Subject: Yamato reference Howdy: On the HLJ web site, do a search for "yamato" and the Gakken books are about 2/3 of the way down the page you'll get. Cheers Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Roland Mar tsuma@rmi.net Subject: Some questions I may be able to help with to: GrafSpee3@aol.com There is a decent set of detail drawings covering the German Panzerschiffe on pp. 287-293 of "Battleships and Battlecruisers 1905-1970" by Siegfried Breyer (Doubleday 1973). The drawings of Scheer's bridge in its various forms may help you. to: keith_butterley@telus.net your quotes: 1) "Scratch One Flattop" - LCDR R.E. Dixon, CO of VS-2 (Scouting 2, SBD Dauntless's), USS Lexington, after the sinking of the Japanese CVL Shoho during the Battle of the Coral Sea. 2) "Attack-Repeat- Attack" - VADM William Halsey 26 October 1942, Noumea, New Caledonia. Orders to TF's 16. 17, 64 at the beginning of the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. The above were cited in S. E. Morison's "History of US Naval Operations in WW II" vols. 4 and 5 respectively. The quote "Play Ball" is one I remember, but cannot locate. If I can come up with it, I'll cite it for you. BTW, my favorite naval quote of the era and theater was VADM Willis Augustus Lee on the night of 15 November 1942. A large Japanese invasion force supported by BB's was heading towards Guadalcanal. At the time, all we had left there were a few PT's. They went out that night not expecting to get home. They saw two VERY large vessels moving at high speed. Figuring that this was the Japanese fleet, they began deploying themselves to attack by orders on TBS. They did not know that Halsey had released Lee and the Washington and S. Dakota to independently reinforce Guadalcanal. Lee did not have the current recognition codes, so he grabbed the TBS mike. His nicknames at Annapolis were "Ching" and "China". Lee yelled over the radio, "This is Ching Chong China Lee. Get the H--l out of the way, I'm coming through!". With pride and relief, the PT sailors saw the first American battlewagons going into surface action after the Battle Line was destroyed at Pearl Harbor. There are variants, but I like that one. Oh, in case the sensitivity police are watching, I am of Chinese ancestry and am tickled pink by the story. Hope this information helps Roland Mar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "David C. Maschino" Subject: Re: Airfix HMS Victorious instructions anyone? >> While I don't have the instructions, I came across an Airfix Collector's site the other day at: http://www.djairfix.freeserve.co.uk/ If no SMMLie can help you out, this guy might be able to. I also came across a Frog site as well: http://www.frog.kits.freeuk.com/ I haven't had time to check either site out fully, but they may be of help & interest to the old farts out there like myself ;-). Regards, Shane << Thanks to a few SMMLies I found a copy of the instructions so I'm all set. Thanks Chris, Leif, and Gordon for your quick replies. Now Shane, I gotta hand it to you. I just spent the last 2 hours poring over those two Airfix and Frog sites. Mind you I was at, ahem, "work" at the time ;) Thanks, you guys just made my day :) David C. Maschino -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Molds not in use >> What do companies such as Revell, Heller, Airfix, Matchbox etc, do with their moulds when they are not being use. It seems to me that these manufacturers only re issue old kits every ten to twenty years (I probably am wrong, but whatever). I've been trying to get some old 1/700 Matchbox kits for a while now but they seem to be as rare as hens' teeth. << Oddly enough, they most often end up in a storage facility until they are needed. They are sometimes leased to other manufacturers for release under a different brand name (such as the many Skywave kits to be sold as Dragon, Testor or Revell kits). Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: d gregory Subject: Garbage Scows...... I heartily agree with the originator of this thread. Even when something in coastal craft comes out it is something useless like the Tamiya Japanese moder torpedo boats or repetitive like the next rendition of the 80' Elco, usually issued as(what a surprise) PT-109. Besides the Revell attempt, how many Higgens 78' PTs have we seen? Or Subchasers(WW2, not the Glencoe/ITC one)? German R-boats? Trawlers? Fairmile "B" M/Ls? Or(I need to plug my favorite) German MFP "F-lighters"? How about Italian MAS boats? Will the obscure sell..not always. Some of my French and Romanian stuff have sales that can me counted on one hand. I did them because they were something I wanted to build. But if I were a major company that had to invest $50-100K in a big injection tool, I would try to make something that would stand out and also be a hot seller. Look at the anticipation other message board have over the Czech WW1 BBs that are coming out. I started the PT Dockyard to cover the forgotten craft of WW2 for wargamers. I got tired of waiting for Skytrex to build them. Not everyone is happy with 1/600, but that is the niche and it keeps me plenty busy! Dave Gregory The P.T. Dockyard -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: SJantscher@aol.com Subject: Yamato Reference Kamaru, The HLJ item description is below, GAK001 IJN BB Yamato WW II Series DX Vol. 2 1 piece(s) @ 4700 yen each = 4700 As I said, you may also find it listed if you search under "Yamato" in the advanced search options. Make sure you select all items, not just instock items. Good Luck Steve Jantscher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Allan and Crystal Plumb Subject: German WWII DD Deck Colors? Greetings. I'm working on the Heller 1/400 Z31. (And I don't care, I like Heller, I think they are good value for the money with some interestingly odd choices. Who else did my Strasbourg in a large scale?) I know what I'll do for the vertical surfaces. The instructions say to paint the main deck "oak" (wood? what wood, mostly?), and the next level up "chocolate" (presumably a linoleum like UK/IJN?). Is there any connection between these suggestions and reality? I looked at the SMML archive but the search engine was kaflooie. TIA. Allan Plumb (And to reask an earlier question: an article (here?) once said L'Arsenal was going to issue a PE set for the 1/400 De Gaulle, and I asked when and what would be in it. Does anybody know?) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Fritz Koopman Subject: Re: who said that Hi Keith: Others on the list are more likely to know full answers, but it may help you to know that the signal "Play Ball" was the signal to start bombardment for the "Torch" landings in North Africa. I have no idea who actually said it, but it involved whichever Task Force the USS Massachusetts was detached to. As for the other two signals...I'm sorry I can't be of more help. Best regards Fritz Koopman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Bruce Ross" Subject: Re: Destroyer Aviation question >> Harking back to the thread on the USS Pringle and her fit with catapult and Kingfisher, anyone consider her stablemate (sort of), USS Noa and her SOC Seagull from the 'thirties? There are (I think) both a Seagull and a Kingfisher in 1/350th available. Could make for an interesting "generational" diorama. What catapult would the Noa have mounted? A cruisers? << Hey Alan, The USS Noa didn't actually carry a catapult. What she did have was a reinforced boat boom that was used to swing the Seagull out and it then took off from the water; reverse the process for recovering the bird. Results of this exercise was part of the reason that the Navy decided that a catapult was necessary. In the case of the three Fletchers that did carry the catapult, they carried a Type A Mark IV. Best, Bruce -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: "John Rule" Subject: Chains and Junk Can someone please help. I am looking for a source for some chain small enough to use for 1:700 scale ships. Any suggestions welcome. Secondly, I would to find a rudimentary scale drawing of a chinese junk. I would like to try to make in 1:700 scale. Does anyone know of a source or reference for one. Thanks John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: "John Rule" Subject: RCN and RAN Grey Shane >> Ok, my curiosity is piqued - how similar is RCN grey to RAN grey?? << I always thought that you got RAN grey when you had too much paint on your brush. Sorry Shane......couldn't resist. John GROAN Shane - who if you don't watch out, will come up with his bad jokes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Submarine Stamps >> Dropped by my local US Post Office yesterday. Saw a poster that they are going to be releasing 5 stamps in April commemorating USN submarines. Subjects are USS Holland, S Class, Gato Class (underwater), Los Angeles Class and Ohio Class. << This is to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the US Submarine Service. The US Navy took delivery of its' first submarine in 1900. Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: Joel Labow Subject: Re: Making Ship Bottoms After all the hyperventilated rhetoric about Navismagazine I hesitate to post this.....but there was an excellent article in the October '99 issue about construction of the Tamiya 1/700 KGV model which included a discussion (with illustrations) of fabricating a bottom. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: "feed" Subject: 1/700 modelling Hi SMMlies: I wonder if anybody can contribute with opinions about the real reason why almost everybody are turning to build 1:700 models. Is there any special reason at all. That scale seems very small to me besides most of them are waterline models so you got neither screws no rudder. I hope these won't be silly questions .Actually sometimes i feel a little ashamed to put a post in a website where almost everybody have a huge knowlegde of naval subjects. thank you -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: "lcp9" Subject: AMERICAN SCOUT MODEL A while back someone on the list was looking for the Scientific AMERICAN SCOUT KIT. I saw one at the Atlanta regional IPMS show, it was $20 , it came unbuilt, without instructions and with the extra fittings set.Price includes shipping. Contact me off line & I'll send you the owners address. David -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) From: cwlam Subject: Re: Pit Road requests for 1/700 plastic kits Yohan Fernando wrote: >> This is behaviour I would expect from WEM or Classic Warships, not a big company like Pit Road. << Yohan calling Pitroad a "big" company reminds me of my first meeting with the President of Pitroad. I had a free morning during one of my trips to Japan. On a lark, I pick up a Japanese model magazine, saw the ad for Pitroad, got the address of their store, and went to check it out. The store turns out to be a ~400 sq ft. building, midst a residential neighborhood. They have stacks and stacks of kits, but more like a warehouse than a hobby shop. The three employees could barely speak english, and my japanese was worse. They got their President on the phone, and he hurried down from his home to greet me. This was the time when they just opened NorthPort, their new showroom. The President insisted that he drive me to the showroom (how's that for customer service). Along the way, he ran out of gas, and we coast into the nearest gas station. For those of you complaining about the high price of kits, I don't think he is getting rich from this business. Anyways, I really enjoyed interacting with him. I only wish that my Japanese was better. As a side note, he has a diaroma of what I believe is Yokosuka Naval Base in the window of his building. It is incredible. If I ever remember to take a camera on my trips, I'll take some pictures of it. Chung -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27) From: RhinoBones@aol.com Subject: Re: Wish List Here are a couple of thoughts on the "Wish List" thread. If I were the owner of a hobby/model shop, and I wanted to offer as wide a selection of hobby products as possible without investing in inventory, I would do two things: 1) I would have a display table containing every manufacturer catalog I could get my hands on. There would be a big sign overhead saying "If It's In The Book I Can Get It For You". Do you remember as a kid looking through the Sears Toy Catalog in the weeks leading up to Christmas . . . same thing. All of us kids like to look at the pictures and salivate about having these toys. Now that we have an income producing career and/or credit cards, paying is no longer the problem. Finding the toy might be a problem. In summary, having a display of catalogs available extends the owner's inventory many fold without an investment in inventory. I believe that the trick would be to make this display of catalogs as prominent as possible. Make it like a Reading Room in the local library. 2) I would also have an internet connected computer available in the hobby/model shop. This tools allows the owner/empolyee/customer to access those truly discriminating manufacturers offering products only through on-line shopping and/or foreign producers who are only accessible through the internet. Have all of your best sources bookmarked and ready for use. The owner gets a small bite on any sale for offering this service (and I think that's appropriate). This tactic allows the owner to offer access to companies such as White Ensign and Iron Shipwright without the investment in inventory. I would think that using a strategy such as this would enable the proprietor to offer something for everyone. This includes acting as a personalized internet browser for those people (myself included) who are leery of providing a credit card number to a faceless cashier over the internet. After all, in most businesses where a product is provided, the basic product is not the point where the profit is made. In the case of the hobby shop, selling the paints, decals, air brush kits, wheels, motors, tools and thinner in a bottle is where the money is made. But to make the money, you first need to have the consumer buy the basic kit. Of course the hobby/model shop needs to have a basic inventory of on-hand kits and wide (very wide) selection of hobby supplies. I would think that the basic load would be the cars, planes, armor and aircraft. These are known to sell well . . . temper this with any nationalistic preferences. As a final item, I would also keep a small number of promotional model kits as free giveaways to the youngsters. Do you remember the first model you ever built? Giveaway a small glider plane, a kite or maybe a small paper ship kit . . . it could easily bring back customers. The possible starting of a new life long modeling enthusiast. Possibly some of these ideas seems to be completely and totally motivated by the pure urge of the capitalist to make a profit. It is not. I sell my labor, and the shop keep sells labor and manufactured products in order to make a living. Pretty much the same thing. The point is, that without the successful entrepreneur, there would be few places for us to acquire the products and supplies that we enjoy. All of this is offered as suggestions for the proprietor of a hobby/modeling shop. Other thoughts are more than welcome. Regards, RhinoBones -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28) From: "Michael C. Smith" Subject: USS Wasp - 1/700 scale >> Also, does anyone know of a 1/700 scale Wasp (CV-7) out there? << Michael, Yep - there's a scratchbuilt 1/700 Wasp on my shelf as we speak. I drew 1/700 scale plans from some larger blueprints, then detailed with misc 1/700 parts (lots from the Tamiya Enterprise and Hornet). I have to do some repair work on the rigging, and add the haze gray camo to the island (for a long time I didn't realize it had a third color there), but it's my pride and joy. Oh, you meant a kit? Haven't heard of any actually on the market. Buzz me off-list if I can help with the research I did. Michael Smith Marshall, Texas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29) From: Paul O'Reilly Subject: Famous Quotes Keith et al; "Scratch one flattop." From strike leader Dixon to Lexington (?) indicating the carrier Shoho had been sunk. "Attack. Repeat Attack" message from Admiral Halsey during the Guadalcanal campaign to his admirals who had asked him for tactical direction with the news that a strong Japanese force was approaching. "Why are you still playing with those little boats?" frequent question from my wife. Paul O'Reilly Winnipeg, MB -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30) From: Paul O'Reilly Subject: Coming Unglued! All; To lighten up the tone of the messages of the last few days I offer an experience I endured a few days ago. While I consider myself a ship modeller, I have been known to build the odd aircraft, usually 1/72 naval aircraft or aircraft I've actually flown (I'm in the Canadian Air Force). I had built a 1/72 "Jill" as a surprise gift for my sister-in-law Jill and I took it to Toronto last week when I went there on business. She lives 3 hours from there so we agreed to meet at a mid-point to conduct the presentation. I arrived at the hotel the night before and I unpacked the model to see how it weathered the trip down. Anticipating a few problems I brought along a few of my tools to conduct any emergency repairs. When I opened the shipping box I noticed the aircraft had separated from its base. I had glued the wheels to the wooden base but the aircraft had worked itself loose in transit. No problem, I thought, I'll just glue that hummer back on to the base and all will be well. So out came the CA with the intent of putting a dab where each of the wheels would touch the base. As a precaution I opened the hotel's phone book and placed the model and its base on it in case the glue was to drip from the applicator and mar the desk top. Now keep in mind I was more worried about getting a drop on the aircraft itself than on marring the desk. What happened was worthy of a Mr Bean goes modelling movie. The CA glue, as you know, comes in a bottle which is double capped with the whole issue inside an even larger bottle, kind of like those Russian dolls you see in the novelty store. I removed the CA bottle from the outer shell. No problem. I grabbed the outside cap on the bottle and gave it a twist. Strangely, I felt a little resistance so I gave it an extra crank to ensure the bottle opened. Unbeknownst to me, the inner cap had come loose and the larger outer cap had filled with glue. When I removed the outer cap nature took its course. Both my hands from finger tips to mid-palm were suddenly covered with glue! I mean a never ending gush of the stuff. My first reaction was to grab the two scrawny pieces of toilet paper I had expected to use for my cleanup. I instantly had a gob of pasty paper stuck to my right hand. No manner of shaking would free my right hand so I tried to pull the stuff off with my left hand. It stuck to the paper, too. Now I had my finger all stuck together, covered in gooey paper, when I noticed the bottle cover that had originally held this surprise for me, was dripping glue all over the desk. I had missed the phone book by miles. Seeing a huge repair bill flashing before my eyes I dashed to the bathroom in a mad panic and grabbed the only thing that came to mind to clean off the desk --more toilet paper. Now with my hands covered in what looked like two snow balls I knew I was sinking fast. I hit the tap with my elbow to turn on the hot water, thinking that it would remove the stuck paper - it didn't. I took the squishy mess back to the desk and tried to wipe the glue from the desk. Now the desk is covered with toilet paper. Realizing I'm going nowhere fast, I forced myself to take a few deep breaths and stepped back to analyse the situation. I figured I couldn't save the desk so I tried to focus on what was the most critical action that had to be done. It was then I noticed my fingers were still stuck together, although there was so much glue that it had not quite set. I gave a gradual and continuous pull and I was relieved to see my fingers come unstuck - with the correct number of fingers on each hand. I also was able to remove, with great difficulty, my wedding ring before it had completely dried to my finger. Despite the gobs of paper attached to each hand I decided to let the glue dry (with fingers spread) as I figured anything I touched might well be going to the grave with me. To hasten the drying process I stuck my hands under the hot water, hoping it would remove some of the glue. It didn't. The moist glue did turn white under the water, though. I'm not sure if it was the heat or the water, but it dried in to a white opaque crust. The already dry glue just formed a transparent coating over the remainder of my hands. After a while (10 minutes) I could touch things without sticking to them. My next problem was figuring out how to get the stuff off as I had to chair a meeting in two days time. So at 11pm I started in with my #11 Exacto blade and picked the stuff off. Being right handed, cleaning the left hand wasn't too hard, although it was time consuming. I finished the left hand by 2am. The next morning I used my left hand and picked at the crusty glue, but the process was slow. After two days I noticed that my body oils loosened the glue and it came off readily in great sheets reminiscent of a peeling sunburn. I was able to hide my splotchy hand at my meeting and all traces of the glue are now gone, except for that still stuck to my wedding ring. The hotel staff thought the whole issue was a riot. I was not billed, most likely because I was such an entertaining fellow. My sister-in-law loved the airplane, but she enjoyed my dilemma more. For your enjoyment, but not to be released to any of my military buddies since I'm a Flight Safety Instructor and I'm continually lecturing that people have to avoid irrational reactions to stressful situations and to think before you act. Maybe I should heed my own words. Paul O'Reilly Winnipeg, MB -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31) From: Marc Flake Subject: Pearl Harbor Update SMMLers: In my last post on this subject I noted that Disney executives were ready to bail on the project. What was reported in the Wall Street Journal was that Disney Chairman Eisner was upset over Studio Chief Roth's decision to green-light a $145 million movie. Roth has since left Disney. However, Eisner gave it a thumbs up (for a $130 million budget) and shooting is scheduled to start in April or May. Release date is Memorial Day 2001. The US Navy has agreed to provide assistance. I believe parts of the outline have been posted here before, but some may have missed them. Also, I have additions. The primary subject matter is a love triangle involving two brothers in love with the same woman. One brother enlists in the USAAF, the other in the RAF nine months before Dec. 7, 1941. Somehow all three are involved in the Day of Infamy. BUT this isn't the end. Kevin Costner is rumored to be cast as Jimmy Doolittle and that the climax of the movie would be the launching of B-25s from the Hornet (maybe this is why they need the Cabot). Only one actor is signed for sure -- Cuba Gooding, Jr., who will play Doris Miller. This is odd because the original title of the move was "Tennessee" and Miller was on the West Virginia. Marc Flake (who will bring you more news as I stumble across it) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32) From: "Cooper, Mike" Subject: Finnish Navy Hi everyone First posting from Reading for a little while. I've had such dismal problems with my Algerine that I'd defected to AFVs and figures for the best part of a year. Her problems are solved, but thats another matter! Ok. Does anyone know of a good reference on the Finnish Navy in WW2. Finnish language is not a problem, as the piccies/drawings will be in "international" I suppose! Current projects are: Repaint HCMS Gatineau now I've got the Snyder et al colours; finish Eskimo (little men needed); do a couple of pieces for Dan and PSM and then the Algerine and back to the delights of WW1 artillery! Cheers Mike Cooper Reading UK (Bright and cold, but about to rain!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33) From: Shane Subject: Svent Istvan & RAN conversion queries Hi gang, Since I'm looking very seriously at buying the WSW Svent Istvan, I was wondering about which refs people would recomend, since I might as well get them at the same time ;-). I'm also about to start on a RAN Q class DD conversion, so any info there would also be appreciated. As well as any Type 15 ASW FF info. I have also looked at WEM's HMS Chester & Sussex class cruisers with an eye to converting them to HMAS Sydney & either HMAS Canberra or Australia. Has anyone else looked at this possibility - or am I just a sad git for thinking it ;-) Regards, Shane PS: No need to answer the last part, but I'm sure some will -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Percy, John" Subject: Re: Book for sale D'OH! I forgot to include the book title: "Battleships of World War II"! Sorry about that! >> Hello all, I have a book for sale: At last the real encyclopedia of World War II battleships! With over 250 photographs and detailed line drawings, full technical data, complete coverage of ship design and wartime service record, you can track the moves of battle wagons from Argentina to South Dakota. Don't miss the battleships that were the picture of naval might! 320 pages, by MJ Whitly Cost: $65, shipping included. US and its territories and Payment by money order, please. John Percy mailto:jpercy@clariion.com << -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: Book Sale and new Jecobin plan Hi Guys... ALL NEW! Just a small selection from our monthly booksale (multiply by approx. 1.62 to get a US Dollar Price). CONWAY'S ANATOMY OF THE SHIP GRANADO WAS 20.00 NOW 15.00,CONWAY'S NAVIES IN THE NUCLEAR AGE WAS 28.00 NOW 23.00, BATTLESHIPS OF WW2, Mike Whitley,WAS 40.00 Pounds NOW 30 Pounds, BATTLESHIPS, Preston WAS 20.00 NOW 9.99 DESTROYERS, an illustrated history, Preston, WAS 20.00 NOW 8.99, AIRCRAFT CARRIERS, Anthony Preston, WAS 30.00 NOW 8.99 BATTLE OF MIDWAY (Smith) The battle that turned the tide in the Pacific War WAS 18.99 NOW 8.99 BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC-Corvettes and their crews, excellent. memoirs, also includes photographs WAS 18.99 NOW 8.99 BRITAIN AND NORWAY IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR WAS 35.00 NOW 17.50 COASTAL FORCES (Brassey's), 200pp, hb, modern coastal, extensive diagrams and b/w photos (seapower series) WAS 15.00 NOW 5.99 DONITZ AND THE WOLFPACK WAS 18.99 NOW 5.99 THE FIRST DESTROYERS (Chatham Publishing) WAS 30.00 NOW 20.00 FLEET AIR ARM IN CAMERA (Hayward) WAS 18.99 NOW 6.99 FUTURE BRITISH SURFACE FLEET Brown, WAS 20.00 NOW 10.00 GREAT BATTLES OF THE RN (Grove) WAS 19.99 NOW 9.99 HM SUBMARINES IN CAMERA (Kemp/Tall) WAS 19.99 NOW 6.99 THE ROYAL NAVY IN FOCUS 1930-1939 WAS 8.95 NOW 5.95 TODAY'S ROYAL NAVY IN COLOUR Jeremy Flack (see PSM review) WAS 19.99 NOW 9.99 TYPE VII U-BOATS, Stern, WAS 18.95 NOW 6.99 New Jecobin Plans set: HMS ILLUSTRIOUS 2000 Three large sheets of superb drawings showing the ship as she is right now in 1/192 Scale. Time to get converting those Revell/Dragon kits guys! Price: 19.95 Pounds Also in 1:96 Scale at 58.95 Please E-Mail orders direct to me, Caroline. Thanks! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume