Subject: SMML VOL 882 Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 00:33:06 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: How Bad is the Revell 1/301 Fletcher? 2: Re: refueling hoses 3: Which Ship 4: SMS & USNSM 5: Blackbird on deck 6: Re: 1/72 Gato sub 7: IPMS(US) Nat's SMML lunchion 8: Re: Exocet 9: Re: Landing a blackbird on a carrier 10: Re: Military myths 11: Re: Which Royal Navy warship? 12: Doctored Pictures 13: Re: Blackbird on Intrepid 14: Pearl Harbor update 15: Re: 1:300 aircraft 16: Exocets and IFF 17: Beatties model shops -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts 1: Re: SMMLCon 2000 2: SMML convention seminars -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: USN Battleship Cruise Book for sale -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: drwells@hogpb.mt.att.com (David R Wells) Subject: Re: How Bad is the Revell 1/301 Fletcher? Bob (gunnns@groupz.net) wrote: >> I have gotten great tips from you guys on the 2150 destroyer I've been looking for. It seems that the Revell 1/301st Fletcher has the 1949 conversion to a 2150 type used in Korea. So how bad is it? << It's not great. You have to keep in mind that this is a very old mold. The hull isn't quite a Revell "flat bottom boat", but it's close. The edges of the bottom are rounded, but not enough. Fortunately, the plastic is thick enough to make some adjustments with files, sandpaper, etc. There are no bilge keels. The general level of detail is unimpressive. It's also got Revell's infamous molded-into-the-deck plastic railings. I'm not sure what the 1949 conversion that you speak of entails, but the kit does include a "hedgehog" launcher which can replace the #2 five inch gun. You'd have to do a fair amount of work on it to make a good model out of it. David R. Wells "There seems to be something wrong | David R. Wells with our bloody ships today" | AT&T Middletown, NJ Adm. D. Beatty, May 31, 1916 | Email: drwells@hogpa.mt.att.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Matthew Prager Subject: Re: refueling hoses Stuart Robottom wrote: >> Along similar lines, what is the preferred material for the fuel hoses and transfer lines used during RAS (or UNREP, for our US friends!) in 1:700 scale? I tried fishing line, but it won't bend enough, and cotton doesn't look right in such a small scale. << Try fine solder wire or copper wire, it bends easily to the required shape and retains its shape well. Matt Prager -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Which Ship Hi Jens There are several candidates as there were British landings in that region at Aelsund, Molde and Andalsnes. The destroyers escorting Birmingham and Manchester were attacked Vanoc, Highlander and Whirlwind were attacked by aircraft in the Aelsund area on the 13th April. However, as your father only mentioned one destroyer it was possibly the Ashanti which was scouting the area on April 17th 1940. Several of the sloops were also in the area, Auckland, Black Swan, Bittern and Flamingo and it could also have been one of them. There are also several other candidates, does your father recall more about the destroyer? Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: JRuotsala@aol.com Subject: SMS & USNSM Greetings from the North Country. Can anyone tell me what SMS means before a German ships name and also what is USNSM? Thanks Jim Ruotsala Hi Jim, SMS stands for: "Seiner Majestaet Schiff" - basically it means "His Majesty's Ship" in German. The above info is from Falk Pletcher in a post in SMML 774 ;-). Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Mark McKellar Subject: Blackbird on deck >> A friend tells me it was all VP Gore's idea. Hee Hee! << If I'm not mistaken, Al Gore's website now claims he INVENTED the tailhook. mark hehehhehehe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: 1/72 Gato sub >> The photo of the in progress GATO class conning tower that has been newly posted on the Warship photo gallery looks very good. I'm sure that the rest of the model will be as nice. I'm glad to see that the blueprints I loaned to you are being put to good use. << I'm 95% complete with the Gato. Gawd, this things about 4.5 feet long! Ed, thanks again for the blueprints. They were very helpful. I'll be returning them to you shortly. One of the things I enjoy about this hobby is learning about the vessels one builds. In that light, I must say I have learned a tremendous amount about the Gato and Balao subs. Pardon my ignorance here, but are no two of these boats alike? I have lots of drawings and photos supplied by friends and NO two boats look the same. The conning tower in particular, changes quite drastically from boat to boat. Tell me if I'm wrong here, but my guess is, since submarines were still very new to the Navy, they learned as they went along. When a boat came in for dry-dock, they were modified to correct or improve on problems discovered on the previous cruise. This would explain the sometimes drastic differences between each boat of the same class. Now that I got this big boat almost finished, I really wish I could keep it for myself. All I have to do now is scratch build those $%%#@!(*&&^** props. I'll post the photos on the Warship or SMML site when it's finished. Mi aplogeez too thoz hoo liv n Misisipee. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: IPMS(US) Nat's SMML lunchion Is there going to be an SMML get together for lunch at the IPMS/USA Nationals this year? I'll really try to attend this year if its going to happen. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Kenneth H. Goldman" Subject: Re: Exocet >> I wonder what went wrong when a korean airliner was shot down by a US Navy missile (I believe). I think the same principle counts "Enemy or friend" << Soviet fighters shot down the Korean airliner. A US Navy ship (Vincennes ?) shot down an Iranian airliner. Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER http://www.wman.com/~khgold/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: GKingzett@aol.com Subject: Re: Landing a blackbird on a carrier Is it possible we're being twitted by a Brit? On the Intrepid, operation of the Blackbird is seasonal. On almost any day from Sept 1 to June 1, the wind blowing across the Hudson and along the deck is plenty fast enough to get nearly anything airborne. Actually, we're better off that Intrepid is moored, the winds blow from stern to bow. If the Blackbird took off over the bow, it would have to climb very steeply to miss all the tall buildings, and that might cause some consternation, even among the normally jaded New Yorkers. Gary (from New Joisey) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: RhinoBones@aol.com Subject: Re: Military myths >> Finally, regarding the 'military myth' I believe the reason the picket line of Type 42s didn't pick up the Exocet was due the SCOT transmissions masking the radar from the Exocet and/or Super Etendard from the radar during the 'pop-up' phase of the missile launch, and the Sheffield had the bad luck to be communicating when the launch occurred. << I've read that the Exocet signature was programmed into the British threat radar as a friendly signature. By the time the Sheffield weapons data processors had determined that the Exocet was actually on an impact heading, defensive measures were too late to be effective. Regards, RhinoBones -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Dimitrios Apostolopoulos Subject: Re: Which Royal Navy warship? Jens, When I first saw your message I thought that Sula would be in the region near Narvik, but a quick web search revealed that even though there is a town called Sula at 68N 17E not far away from Narvik, the island of Sula is further south at 62N 6E. Your question will take a bit of research, but my first thought is that the Royal Navy ship in question was HMS Arethusa. During a phone conversation with a famous naval author last year he, told me of one of Arethusa's daring missions to Norway during which she sailed through German surveillance because she had swastikas painted on her decks. The Germans launched heavy attacks on her when they realized the truth. There is also some information that she was painted in Mountbatten Pink. Are there any records of the incident in the Norway's historic records? Dimi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Percy, John" Subject: Doctored Pictures Speaking of doctored pictures, check out this one from Nihon Kaigun. I'm going to make a model of it one day.... http://www.combinedfleet.com/furashita/fdr_f6.jpg John Percy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Blackbird on Intrepid Not to be a spoiler, but it ain't a Blackbird. The plane on the Intrepid is an ex-CIA A-12. Unlike the Blackbird, the A-12 was a single seater. May have been a tad faster than the Blackbird. The A-12 was somewhat precipitously retired in 1968 when the Air Force took over the role with the 2 seater SR-71. Pilot workload was very high on the single seat A-12. BTW, a friend of mine was a mechanic on the SR-71. Did you know the machmeter goes out to 7!! Hmmmm. Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Marc Flake Subject: Pearl Harbor update Hey SMMLers: Remember that artists conception shot of a Zero flying BETWEEN the ships on Battleship Row? Get a load of this: http://www.geocities.com/sc21cool/ph_5.jpg The photo was taken from the Missouri. Two other aircraft came in behind this one, according to the photographer. More photos at: http://www.geocities.com/sc21cool/pictures.htm Eyewitness accounts of the filming are at: http://www.geocities.com/sc21cool/scuttlebutt.htm Marc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Minadmiral@aol.com Subject: Re: 1:300 aircraft >> Does anyone here know of or heard of a manufacturer that makes US WWII air force aircraft (p-51,p-38,etc.) in either 1/300 or 1/350 scale? I need them for an escort carrier model that is currently been built. << Hi; Wargamers use 1:285 & 1:300 tanks for WWII and Modern battles. If you look around there are manufacturers making almost ANY aircraft in these scales for wargaming. Check first with Scale Specialties http://www.ss-sms.com/ . If he doesn`t have what you want then go to the manufacturer`s directory at http://theminiaturespage.com First few manufacturers who come to mind are Navwar, Skytrex, GHQ, C & C, and Simtac. Lots more. You can also find vehicles, landing craft, and a ton of more stuff for 1:300 deck loads or dioramas. Same sources will lead you to 1:600 PT boats and such, up to some destroyers, in lead and resin. Keep one thing in mind. GHQ and C & C are about equal to your usual modelling quality. Other manufacturer`s quality goes down hill rapidly. These are made for wargaming and constant handling. Small details are left off, they would break off easily. So many of these will need detailing. Also most are built "as flying" so will need landing gear and propellers. Chuck Duggie WoodenWalls Listmeister -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Robert Lockie" Subject: Exocets and IFF The report I recall about the reason why Sheffield did not detect the incoming missile is that as she was transmitting via the SCOT, her radar was switched off so as to avoid interference. Instead, she was receiving the data-linked radar picture from Hermes, which was naturally further east. In any case, the Type 965 was not exactly the most modern of radars at the time, so it was hardly optimised for detecting small objects at low altitude. Maybe it was felt that Hermes, as the more strategically valuable vessel, was better to have its radar running than the expendable pickets. Robert Lockie Cambridge UK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Robert Lockie" Subject: Beatties model shops I had to attend a business meeting in London last week and since I was early and it was just around the corner from the Holborn branch, I wandered round in search of any cut price bargains, given the information I was getting about the whole operation being in administration. I had a chat with the manager while I was acquiring another AFV kit (interestingly, there was the normal level of stock and only a limited amount of it at sub-retail prices) and he told me that the company was merely downsizing to get rid of the unprofitable stores. Around 30 stores would remain (including the one in Holborn) and the remainder would be disposed of - either as individual going concerns or as retail properties. It appears that rumours of Beatties' death are exaggerated, to paraphrase Mr Twain. Robert Lockie Cambridge UK Who then had to work out how to conceal his purchase from view in his meeting which followed lest his colleagues thought him weird.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: SMMLCon 2000 >> Gee, this is gonna be fun, a bunch of modelers and no A/C or RR guys in sight!! (at least not in plain sight :-) ) << Hey, why don't we invite just a handful? Then they will know how it feels to be a ship modeller at a regular convention??? Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "John Sheridan" Subject: SMML convention seminars One of our convention seminar speakers has been forced to cancel. If anyone is interested in conducting a seminar at the upcoming SMML convention, please contact me ASAP!! John Sheridan mailto:jrsheridan@earthlink.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: GrafSpee34@aol.com Subject: USN Battleship Cruise Book for sale Hi Up for sale now, and starting at $1 with no reserve is a splendid orignal WW2 cruise book for Battleship Massachusetts. Its packed with really good detail shots for modelbuilders! I've made a lot of scans to go with the description so even if you are not interested in buying, you can still check out some really cool pics! Theres a super one of Mamie underway refuelling 2 destroyers port and starboard! http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=309126338 Also I have an original 1943 Recognition manual up for grabs, lots of pics photos and photos and drawings of IJN, RN, USN and Kriegsmarine ships. Just click on "see sellers other items" when you get there. More Navy books coming soon! Thanks for lookin' Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume