Subject: SMML VOL 836 Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 23:35:21 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Detail kits for 1/350 U.S. Navy aircraft 2: Re: Adm. Frank Fletcher 3: 1/700 help 4: Re: ICM & Future Kits 5: Photoetched history 6: Gambia 7: Admiral Fletcher 8: KGV 9: USS NASHVILLE 10: Other places to go in the UK 11: Iowa parravane downhaul chain 12: Re: Adm. Frank J. Fletcher 13: Airfix HMS Amazon 14: USS Louisville 15: Re: VADM Frank Jack Fletcher 16: Re: Taiwan's submarines 17: David Poyer Book 18: Re: Decals 19: Re: Taiwan submarine 20: Photos request 21: KGV info -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Blubber Pud" Subject: Detail kits for 1/350 U.S. Navy aircraft I know this isn't a ship question but I thought I'd try anyway because I know many of you have done this kit. Has anyone seen, any sort of detail kits (PE or resin) for the U.S. Navy aircraft from the Tamiya U.S.S. Enterprise kit? I'm looking for drop tanks, missiles/bombs, M.E.R.s, landing gear, etc..., for any of the aircraft that come with that kit, (F-14s, F-18s, A-6s, A-7s, E2-C, etc...) Thanks, Jason Trudel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Rod Dauteuil Subject: Re: Adm. Frank Fletcher >> Does anyone know what happened to Adm. Frank Fletcher after the Battle of Midway? Did his career end soon after? << Adm. Fletcher ended up commanding the USN Forces in the Northern Pacific area from around 1943 to the end of the war. After the Japanese surrender, I believe he oversaw the US occupation of Japan, and retired from the Navy in 1947. He died in 1973. As many of you may already know, he was the nephew of Adm. Frank Friday Fletcher, of whom the Fletcher class DD's were named. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "kenny_II" Subject: 1/700 help HI, I'm considering doing a diorama of the Doolittle raid in 1/700. I'm having a heck of a time finding any 1/700 Brooklyn class cruisers. Any ideas? I also remember a thread about Jim Shirley kits. I came across a couple searching for a Brooklyn this weekend. How about opinions of the 1/700 Iwo Jima and Cimerron oiler kits? Thanks, Tim M. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: AllenFW2@aol.com Subject: Re: ICM & Future Kits The folks at ICM (especially Tatjana) are very nice and are quite pleasant to work with. We at "Battle Cruiser Hood" have been working with them for a while now (providing 1940/1941 era photos, preparing the painting instructions and writing the history for their upcoming Hood kit...all for free- we want the best possible and most affordable kit of Hood to be produced). They really do care what their target audiences want. I think if they do get enough SIMILAR requests for future ship models, they will honestly try producing them. Of course, we will need to support their initial efforts...if these first few kits do not sell, they won't be able to produce other subjects. Pure economics. What shall be first my friends? How about we finish off the big gun ships involved in the Bismarck affair and get a styrene based 1/350 May 1941 Prinz Eugen (hiss!)? Of course, if I were to buy such a kit, I'd put it in a diorama- The "USS" Prinz Eugen in 1947- upside down at Kwajaein, LOL! Frank Allen Battle Cruiser Hood -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Cataldo Torelli Subject: Photoetched history Hello, Just curious, could anybody (Rusty, Loren, etc.) comment something about PE sets history? Thanks in advance, Cataldo Torelli. Madrid, Spain. Hi Cataldo, I'll start the ball rolling. In the 1970's a ship modeller by the name of (Saint) Harry Woodman (yes, he's a ship modeller as well - before any WW1 aero nut chimes in ;-> ) wrote an article in the English mag Scale Models about the possibilities of photoetching & how they could apply to WW1 aircraft. It wasn't long after that iirc, that he started doing some simple sets for aircraft & it blossomed from there. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: WRPRESSINC@aol.com Subject: Gambia VOLUME ONE OF ROYAL NAVY CAMOUFLAGE 1939-41 Mr Raven tells me that there are two patterns for the Mauritius as in 1941, and port and starboard patterns for the Fiji as in 1941. The pattern for the Gambia will appear in VOLUME TWO. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Admiral Fletcher Hi Rob He commanded the carriers during the invasion of Guadalcanal where his performance was abysmal. Strangely this did not lead to his removal but when he had his flagship (Sarratoga) torpedoed it was decided enough was enough and he was removed (sometime shortly after 31 August 1942). He ended his career in the remote North Pacific. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: KGV Hi Jens Tamiya have a habit of buggering up AA fits (at least in 1/700) so this needs to be checked carefully. I think the model is of a late war KGV. Raven and Roberts (British Battleships of World War II) have the complete fit for the whole war with a plan of all the positions. To be honest I haven't seen the 1/350 version so I can't say what needs modifying. You will need to check everything from available photos to make sure you've got it right. The new White Ensign KGV class set (which I think will be in 1/350 as well) will be a great help - and is out soon. Radar outfit was:- Type 279 Type 284 FC2 high-frequency direction finder (diamond aerial on main topmast) Type 273 in lantern housing on foremost starfish Type 282 x 5 on pom-pom directors Type 285 x 4 on HACS directors FM2 medium frequency direction finder on bridge front This can be reliably taken to be her outfit up to her re-fit (when a lot of it changed) Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "John Snyder" Subject: USS NASHVILLE The camouflage design sheets for NASHVILLE call for a deck pattern in Ocean Gray 5-O and Deck Blue 20-B. Does anyone have an aerial photo of NASHVILLE that shows whether or not she actually carried the patterned deck? John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys http://www.shipcamouflage.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Rob Lockie" Subject: Other places to go in the UK Another place worth a visit is Birkenhead, whereat you will find an 'O' class diesel-electric submarine (Onyx, I think), a Falklands War veteran frigate (Yarmouth?) and a Type IX U-boot which was recovered from off Denmark a few years ago. You need to book for the latter in advance but for £10 you get a guided tour through the inside of the boat in the company of one of the knowledgeable volunteers (i.e. an enthusiast, not some 'jobsworth' type who couldn't care less) who is involved with its preservation and it is well worthwhile. Tour lasted about an hour when we went, so it was good value in our view. I can dig out the phone number if you are interested. You could also go to Chatham dockyard on the southern side of the Thames estuary, where is located HMS Cavalier in drydock, the last wartime (CA class) destroyer we have here. It has been modified with postwar A/S equipment and the torpedo tubes deleted but the bridge is still open to the elements as in wartime and the guns are still there. In the sheds are a few other goodies including what looks like an early WW2 MTB and a WW1 CMB but it was dark and we weren't too sure. Robert Lockie Cambridge UK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Keith Bender" Subject: Iowa parravane downhaul chain The parravane chain on the bow of the Iowa's were connected to the forefoot at the bottom of the bulbous bow by a ring something like a shackle. On that forefoot at the end of the bulbous bow was a fitting, a casted steel piece with a hole for the shackle like piece to connect the chain. From there the chain ran up through the bullnose at the top of the bow. Then it ran under the 20mm platform on the starboard side of the bow for approx 25ft. Here it went around its own wildcat / capstan and down into its own chain locker just like the anchor chains would. I believe the Iowa's were the only battlewagons to have this set up for the parravane chain. The Salem and her two sisters had this type of gear too. I know the So. Daks. and most other vessels had the cast piece for the chain to connect to but did not have their own capstan and chain locker. These were just held in place on the deck by a padeye welded to the deck and kept there until the chain was used. I have a drawing of the parravane system for the Massachusetts, with all the details. If anyone is interested I can probably have it copied. It is a real Blue print. Happy mine hunting, Regards, Keith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: SMAtouche@aol.com Subject: Re: Adm. Frank J. Fletcher Rob Try the following site for a short biography of the Admiral. http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-f/fj-fltr.htm Actually there is ton of good information on the main web site. Paul Shay -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Tony Mollica" Subject: Airfix HMS Amazon I've been trying to detail the Airfix HMS Amazon as she appeared in the '70s. However, I'm come to the realisation that my photographic references aren't all that they should be. I have an article that appeared in an old 'Scale Models' issue, but not much else. Could anyone advise if they know of any photos on the web or in printed form. Thanks very much. Tony Mollica Hi Tony, See my reply to Mike Kear's post on HMS Ambuscade in SMML Vol834 - that should get you on the right track. In addition, check out International Marine Modelling at: http://members.tripod.com/~Febus65/imm.htm Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Robert Weilacher Subject: USS Louisville Looking at the instructions for the Corsair Armada Louisville vs. Classic Warships "Warship Pictorial #3" the colors called for in the 1944 camo scheme differ. One calls for Dull Black, the other for Navy Blue 5-N as part of the vertical colors. Classic Warship's selection follows the official history, but Corsair Armada makes a good argument for 5-N. Can anyone who has researched this provide comment? Thanks, Rob -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "John Snyder" Subject: Re: VADM Frank Jack Fletcher In a nutshell, no, Fletcher's career didn't end with Midway. He remained in command of carrier task forces through the opening of the Guadalcanal campaign. It was Fletcher who, in a move that will forever remain controversial, withdrew carrier support early [claiming a need to refuel, though there is evidence that his fuel supply was not critical], which contributed to the debacle at Savo Island and the subsequent need to withdraw the transports before they had finished unloading. Fletcher remained at sea until he received a minor wound when SARATOGA was torpedoed on August 31, 1942. Nimitz used this as an excuse to withdraw him from combat command for the rest of the war. I seem to recall he ended up in the Aleutians, but can't find my reference. John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys http://www.shipcamouflage.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Pieter Cornelissen Subject: Re: Taiwan's submarines >> went there and read this article. Hooray for the Post, they are finally telling the story of how the Clinton-led US Government has tried to put the final nails in the Taiwanese coffin. The reason, not listed by the article, << Shouldn't we try to stop making remarks like this. As one of the people who was active in the campaign to stop The Netherlands from selling arms to Taiwan (and to China for that matter) I feel a little offended by Mr. Corley's email. I think it would be very nice if we could keep political campaigns off list. There are other lists for campaingns and discussions like that. Pieter Cornelissen Delft, The Netherlands -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: David Poyer Book A new novel by David Poyer has just been published. "China Sea" is the latest in the series based on the career of the ficticious Dan Lenson. Set in 1990, this tale revolves around the transfer of an aged US Navy warship to Pakistan, the build-up of the Chinese navy, and modern-day piracy in the waters around Malaysia and Indonesia. The dedication page reads: "To all those who have vanished without a trace, Without a word, Without a sign Into the eternal mystery of the sea. But especially to the officers and men Of USS Shark, USS Edsall, USS Pillsbury, USS Asheville, and HMAS Yarra. The gods forgot you. But we never will." Mike Alexandria, VA USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "James Johnson" Subject: Re: Decals Several days ago I sent a message about using gold decals for the brass strips on Japanese linoleum decks. I called them Detail & Scale decals. Detail & Scale are of course the books published by Squadron. I meant to say Scalemaster Decals. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: James Corley Subject: Re: Taiwan submarine >> According to Alden's "The Fleet Submarine in the US Navy", Taiwan received two Guppy submarines from the US Navy. They were the Tench class, Guppy II USS Cutlass (SS478, renamed Hai Shih) and the Balao class Guppy II USS Tusk (SS426, renamed Hai Pao). Don't know which one is the Sea Leopard, perhaps one of our modellers with a knowledge of Chinese might help. << Heck, I got so riled up over that scumbag I forgot to say it was the TUSK that is now HAI PAO/SEA LEOPARD. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: GUSDOCVILL@aol.com Subject: Photos request Hi ya all from colorful Colorado Springs, Colorado!!!! Anxious to join club of ship modelers!! Looking for photos of mast rigging, armament placement, etc., of the following ships: INVINCIBLE class, MANCHESTER class, KGV class, NELSON class, NAGATO, SOYRU and AKAGI - can anyone help? Looking forward to hearing from you all!! Grace and peace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, bless you all! Yours in Christ, Gus Villanueva -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: "Martin Short" Subject: KGV info Jens, KGV wore the Admiralty standard scheme of light grey (AP507C I think) with the B20 panel over the side/belt area from Feb 44 through to mid 45, as per the Tamiya box art, and after that to the dark hull, light upper works type. This change possibly occured during the short refit in Sydney (6 - 28 June 45). Either scheme would be appropriate for the AA weapons fit as given in the Tamiya kit. Converting the kit back to the pre-44 refit is not quite as simple as it first looks. During the 44 refit the ships boats were moved from the platform/boat deck to the vacated catapult area, and extra AA weapons installed including extra octuple pom-poms, the quad bofors on the boat deck etc.... You need to install the catapult deck and rear superstructure from the Tamiya POW for the 42 - 44 period, scrounge up a quad pom-pom for the top of the rear turret, and a re- arrangement of the 20mm fit amongst other mods. I would suggest that it is probably easier to start with the POW and add the extra AA weapons as your base, rather than retrofit the KGV, ( though I haven't fully researched this avenue yet). Tamiya lead us a little astray here by showing their kit in the Admiralty Intermediate Disruptive scheme on the box side; can't be done with what's in the box.. As for your concern about "...others do the research..", no worries, glad to help out someone interested in the KGV's!!, and I've had my fair share of help for fellow listies. It is also one of the reasons this list exists?. Your modelling interests are the same as my own, so appreciate the quandry over reference material. If you need any other KGV info to help with your kit, let me know, I'll see if I can help. Gash shutes are those 'light' sheet metal structures hanging vertically down the ships hull sides.. to make sure the ships' rubbish (gash) hits the water line and not get splattered over the hull side!! cheers, Martin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume