Subject: SMML VOL 876 Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 01:59:35 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: April's Fool Yamato and Essex to Spain 2: Re: Vacuform kit 3: Italian Liner REX 4: Beatties 5: HP-Models 6: New Orleans 7: Models and Pearl Harbor Movie 8: Essex & John Butler class DE's 9: Off-topic F-11F 10: Re: Pearl Harbor Web Cam 11: Odd aircraft on aircraft carriers 12: Hasegawa I-401? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts 1: SMMLCON talk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Plastic Ship Modeler #22 2: Joe Norris & 1/350 CVN-65 win at Tamiya's big show! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "F J Hueso" Subject: April's Fool Yamato and Essex to Spain Maybe April's Fool Day had something to do with a pre-Lent tradition, like Carnival (Carnal in some of our literature) is/was the licentious epoch before Lent's retreat. In any case, our "Joke Day" is 28th December, Holy Innocents' Day so, if you travel to Spain in such times, better not to trust papers (That is, least than ordinary!). About Essexes offered, indeed we had one: USS Lake Champlain, back in the sixties when our Navy was (re)building the Naval Aviation. But Cabot fitted better our budget and possibilities... As for Yamato, Yoshida's "Requiem for Battleship Yamato" p. xliii has an overhead shot from the starboard bow which clearly shows that on starboard the marks were more or less evenly spaced. Regarding the "white waterways" Yoshida's book (p.xxxix) includes a better copy of the smaller photo in p.26 of Skulski's. Maybe truth is in the middle,as it appears to me,following H9/3 and H9/4, that waterways had a part that was wood and another, closer to the side, that appears like metal. Would you Y-----holics enlighten us? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Peter K. H. Mispelkamp" Subject: Re: Vacuform kit Rusty, Jim and SMML . Thanks for your answer Rusty. Jim please excuse the delay in getting back to you. I picked up the machine on Ebay - both it and its 1960's predecessor have long been out of production. Overall, it seems that the 1960's machine is more versatile, but also much more expensive. Last time I checked Ebay had several of the 1960's machines available, but bidding on this version usually gets quite "hot". As for the more modern Vac-U-Former, there was one listed the last time I checked. It seems that this version has not found its way into the collectible category which explains its slightly lower cost. This machine also comes with a few molds and seems that it will only work with a thinner plastic sheet. The outside measurements of the mold, including the overlap at the lip are circa 2 ~ " by 3 ~ ." The molded part area seems to measure about 3 ~" by 1 ~". Hope this helps. Happy Modeling Sincerely Peter K. H. Mispelkamp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Darren Scannell Subject: Italian Liner REX Hi SMMLie land, I have a friend in search of good large scale plans for the Italian Liner REX built in the early 30's. He has received a set from Switzerland that aren't very good and Taubman is out of stock (although he suspects they are the same set anyway). He needs some builder plans for a professional model in 1/100 and has had no response from any of his letters to Italy. If anyone has any info or suggestions, it would be appreciated. Thanks, Darren Scannell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "James Morley" Subject: Beatties Beatties is being put into administration as a precaution by the parent company Era to ringfence the financial problems there and avoid losses damaging the rest of the group. This does not necessarily mean that receivership or liquidation is imminent (though possible nonetheless). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Gary Au" Subject: HP-Models Any one know where can I order models manufactured by HP-Models? Gary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: New Orleans Immediately after Easter, I shall be spending a week or so in the vicinity of New Orleans. Does anybody know of any good model shops or warship sites in this area worth visiting? Thanks in anticipation. Les Brown, south coast of England -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Joe Damato" Subject: Models and Pearl Harbor Movie Saw Marc's posting on the progress of the movie that Disney and ILM are currently shooting. As far as I know there will be several large scale models of Battleships built for the movie...We currently have a tentative commitment from ILM to do some of the work once they decide on what they are going to need. What you are seeing is live action shots that will be used in conjunction with minature work. They might just have the planes making runs on substitute ships in the actual locations and then matt in the models in Post. It's an easy and industry wide technique...cheeper to do that then try to build Pearl and Ford Island in minature! I've done this type of work in the past...so don't get to excited about what is going on. As far as historical accuracy goes, it's anyones guess as to how far this movie will go..a lot depends on budget and the Producers Vision. I have heard that the movie is a love story that takes place during the war, so Pearl may only serve as a backdrop to the central story. In that case, don't count on a Tora Tora Tora in scope or attempted accuracy. Having been building models for movies for the last 20 years (on and off) we all want to do stuff that is right for the moment, but larger pocket books tend to dictate how deep we get. Again, we need to know what the movie's central theme is so we don't get to frustrated with the final project...It may end up being a chick flic!...you never know! Hope this helps. Joe Damato -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: CBNJBB62@aol.com Subject: Essex & John Butler class DE's Hi Guys On the subject of the sale of Essex class carrier according to the book Warships of the World by Anthony Preston,Netherwood Dalton &Co.Ltd, 1980 states on it's listing for the Essex class that the Shangri-La CV-38 was earmarked for temporary loan to the RN in 1966. Besides that I have a question concerning John Butler class DE's, according to Squadron's Destroyer Escorts in action states the Butler class was capable of 30kts due to the engines mounted inside them. I know that all DE classes had different engines in them which was one way to separate them by class. The Horsepower for each one was about the same 12,000 ship horsepower. Usally a maximum speed of 24 kts was designed. Is this a historical sight forgotten or a typing error? Craig Bennett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Marc Flake Subject: Off-topic F-11F Hey Derek: First, bring your F-11F to the IPMS Nationals in Dallas and enter it in the "Worst Models" category. While you're waiting for the judging, hit the vendor stands and I'll bet you'll find four or five of these kits for sale at good prices. Or, you could go to Hobbylink Japan at www.hlj.com and order one for $8.50. Or you could wait for Hasegawa to reissue it, probably over the next two years or so. Marc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Marc Flake Subject: Re: Pearl Harbor Web Cam Once again, here's the Pearl harbor Web Cam http://www.dohc.com/aloha/ It was pointed at Ford Island yesterday. Marc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: WRPRESSINC@aol.com Subject: Odd aircraft on aircraft carriers Without doubt it was those jet fighter aircraft (without landing gear) that were trialed aboard one of the R/N carriers in the early post war years. ie the flexible deck trials. Beat that! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Tom Eisenhour Subject: Hasegawa I-401? Greetings all, A friend reported to me that Hasegawa is planning to release a huge 1/160 scale model of the I-401 in wood and metal. Price is an exhorbitant $700. Is this a belated April Fools' joke? Tom Eisenhour Austin (suddenly chilly) Texas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts SMML Convention and tour notices: http://www.mikedunn.freeserve.co.uk/smml/help/smml_con.html If your coming to the SMML convention on friday, we need to know which tour you planning to attend so that we can get an accurate head count for transportation. Contact John Frohock ca139johnf@aol.com and let him know which tour you plan on attending. If you are going on a tour, you need to be onboard the USS Salem no later than 10:00am on Friday May 5th. We will open the ship starting at 9:00am for those who would like a cup of coffee and some schoozing before departure. For those of you who are not going on either tour; the USS Salem will NOT be open to the public on friday (Crew will be on watch to repel boarders if provoked ) so please do not show-up at the ship on friday unless you are attending the tours. Check out Convention and tour info at: http://www.mikedunn.freeserve.co.uk/smml/help/smml_con.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: ALROSS2@aol.com Subject: SMMLCON talk The presentation I plan on doing at the convention in May will essentially be an overview of the many different types of small combatants used by the various navies, primarily during WWII. If anyone has any specific needs/interests/etc. related to small combatants, please let me know and I'll try to accommodate you. Rather than gum up the list, please contact me at: mailto:alross2@aol.com Al Ross -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com Subject: Plastic Ship Modeler #22 Hello to all my patient subscribers. PSM 22 is going to press next week. I apologize for the late publication. As a one man operation and a spare time one at that, there are times when the outside pressures really get in the way. The last four months have been very hard. Without going into a lot of detail, I was in a fight for survival in my "real job" of 23 years. Of the original eleven people in my department at the beginning of this mess, there are six of us left. We inherited a totally incompetent leader who covered her mistakes by deception and by blaming her subordinates. Fortunately we fought the good fight and won, so that weight has been lifted. However, the additional hours and stress had a rather profound effect on the production of PSM and first priorities had to be placed elsewhere. However, PSM is alive and well and we have some exciting stuff lined up for this issue. Ray Bean builds the Jim Shirley NEWPORT NEWS in 1/700. Dave Judy builds the Iron Shipwright LST in 1/350. Mike Cooper scratch builds the paddle wheel AA ship HMS ARISTOCRAT in 1/700. Ray Bean contributes part 2 of his photo feature on the IPMS ship models at Orlando. The merchant plan of the quarter is a modern Japanese built tanker, an example of the dominant position enjoyed by the Japanese shipbuilding industry in 1960's-70's. Chris Drage has a stunning new diorama in 1/700 featuring the WEM WARSPITE and the Tamiya RODNEY. Bibliophile surveys books on tugboats, the good, the bad, and the out of print. Of course there are lots of new reviews of kits, photo etch, decals, and books. Thirteen pages of them! It is a great time to be a ship modeler, we have never had it so good. For subscription and back issue information: Daniel Jones Plastic Ship Modeler P.O. Box 2183 Arvada, CO 80001 Or e-mail me at dhjonespsm@juno.com Our rates are still only $20.00 for four issues (USA and CANADA) and $25.00 overseas. We may have to raise the rates by years end. Printing costs continue to rise - paper costs are the prime resaon, they have increased by 20 percent in the last year. PSM 23 is already underway. The goal is to release #23 two months after #22, making up for some of the delays in this issue. Several feature articles are in hand and are being prepared. Ray Bean has two more articles lined up, including a major build article (with his trademark drawings) of the JAG LONG BEACH. Now that the personal pressures have lessened, I am getting back into the fun of doing research and I am preparing some new IJN features for future PSM issues. Dan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Loren Perry Subject: Joe Norris & 1/350 CVN-65 win at Tamiya's big show! Today, we here at Gold Medal Models received a special e-mail from Mr. Joe Norris of Ramona, California that he has just won the 2000 Tamiya/USA contest with his GMM-equipped Tamiya 1/350 scale kit of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65.) While we haven't yet received independent confirmation of this, we see no reason to doubt it. For earning this extremely prestigious award, Mr. Norris and his Enterprise are being flown to Japan courtesy of the Tamiya company. His winning model was also photographed by the staff at FineScale Modeler magazine for inclusion in a future issue. Mr. Norris pointedly informed us that his victory was due in part to his use of Gold Medal Models etched brass fittings and CVN-65 air wing decals used on the model's aircraft. He'll also be receiving a complete set of GMM products of his choice for his next project. Words fail to describe the pride we feel here as we share in Mr. Norris' huge victory. But an enthusiastic Bravo Zulu and Well Done certainly seem appropriate! Loren Perry/GMM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume