Subject: SMML VOL 905 Date: Tue, 09 May 2000 01:31:21 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Plastic Ship Modeler Query 2: USCG subject kit wishes 3: Re: Scratch building time! a mile of styrene... 4: Down Periscope 5: late USS Permit/Thresher class SSNs plans 6: Re: Ship kit reviews site 7: Scratch building the Freedom Ship 8: Re: On Line kit build? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts 1: SMML Con 2000 2: Re: SMML Con -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Kits for Sale -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com Subject: Re: Plastic Ship Modeler Query >> Anybody out there know the status of the most recent issue of PSM? There was a post in mid-April by Dan Jones about some matters which he had to clear up as well as an announcement that the next issue was just about ready. Since then, there has not been any news. Can somebody clarify the matter? << Yes, I can... PSM 22 is still at the printers - I expect to get delivery this week. Sorry for the delays - the current ones are beyond my control. I expected to receive the new issues this last week but apparently although the printing is done there are some other jobs ahead of mine at the bindery. Should be out very soon. Dan Jones -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Duane Fowler Subject: USCG subject kit wishes Hello All, A while back there was a discussion of the fact that certain subjects were quite under represented in model kits. Notably there are relatively few USCG kits when compared to everything else - especially in 1/350 scale (only the Minicraft "USS" Eagle is done in this scale). Considering the tendency for the USCG to hold onto there ships much longer than any other service (the USCGC Storis is still in commission, I believe) there are a lot of crew members out there who might like a model of their former homes. My question is: IF a new 1/350 USCG kit were to be produced, which ship should it be? (or at least done first!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "GARY SCHURR" Subject: Re: Surface shipping >> Second thing is just a query, how long does it take for an order to reach the UK from the states by surface mail, i ordered the Model slipways paints off them, they say they were dispatched on the 28th March as of yet i am still waiting, am i worrying needlessly?. << Just wanted to add my two cents worth on shipping oversea via USPS. I manage a mail order company (different hobby) and ship a fair amount overseas. My advice is to always ship via airmail because surface can take minimum 6-8 weeks. Airmail is usually not much more than surface but stuff gets there usually in 10 days. Another trick is to ship Airmail-small packet, which is reserved for smaller boxes under 4lbs, this is great for paints, P/E, Resin, small kits, magazines, etc. You usually have to mention this option, and it's even cheaper. It also pays to get an International Express quote to, to some countries it can be less expensive than airmail (Brazil) and it's usually not much more than airmail, gets there in three days, and can be tracked, Example: Just sent $500 worth of stuff to the UK, Airmail cost $60, Express $80 and UPS $225. Our customer went Express. Hope this helps. Gary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Kelvin Mok" Subject: Re: Scratch building time! a mile of styrene... >> Here's an interesting story....a ship a mile long. I remember seeing an article about this in popular mechanics or pop sci a couple years back...I never thought they'd build it but apparently it will be built. Let's see in 1/700 scale that's about 7.5 ft! Man that is one big puppy! << A large ship, with regular maintenance such as drydocking and scraping the barnacles off the hull will last about 20 years. How do you maintain a mile long ship? 30 thousand owners/passengers with 10 thousand staff. Only multi-millionaires can afford this (3:1) level of staffing. What about running costs to keep the ship afloat and sailing? At one of the club meetings years ago (' 80s), there was an explanation why those new super-duper oil tankers were breaking up off South Africa. The huge south Atlantic rolls there had a period where the crest between two giant waves left the mid section of the hull in the air thus snapping its keel. These tankers are now articulated. Will passengers in this giant ship tolerate articulated hulls? And with advanced large heavily (govt.) subsidized shipyards all over the world why build such an unprecedented design in Honduras? The Honduran industrial capacity is suspect. Nothing adds up. Kelvin Mok -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Alan Scheckenbach Subject: Down Periscope Delurking for a moment, I had the misfortune to watch a movie the other night named "Down Periscope". Truly awful but it did have an intersting old diesel sub, which of course won the day against the more modern nuclear subs. Personally I found it irritating that driving a diesel was seen as being second rate compared to steering a nuclear sub. It seems that the Oberon and Russian Foxtrots class diesels and maybe even the Collins class, when they get working properly, are top notch killers and I'm sure that the US must have operational diesels as well. Anyway enough soapboxing and to the question. If anyone else suffered through this can they tell me what class boat was depicted as the hero of this movie? Alan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "michael thrupp" Subject: late USS Permit/Thresher class SSNs plans Can anyone outthere tell me where I can get (or download?) accurate plans of late (tall sail) USS Thresher / Permit SSNs, please? I will then have no excuse for not starting my vacform. Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: drwells@hogpb.mt.att.com (David R Wells) Subject: Re: Ship kit reviews site Rusty White (SHIPMDLR@aol.com) wrote: >> I cam across a very interesting site for ship modelers. This site claims to list virtually every ship kit ever issued and has reviews and comments on many of them. They also accept reviews from builders (no manufacturers). Check it out. Very interesting. The site URL is: http://www.quuxuum.org/rajens_list/rajen.html << Rajen's list has been around for several years now. Joe Poutre and I are currently maintaining it. It used to be stored at Navis' site, but the list is now completely independent. We're trying to do the first overhaul of the list since 1997. SMMLies will find many familar names among the reviewers. The idea of the list is to give modelers a place to give their opinions, and to read others' opinions before they buy. All reviews contributed by non-commercial sources will be most welcome. We're particularly short of reviews of resin kits. Manufactures may send us lists of their kits, but may not contribute reviews. Joe is collecting the reviews, so please send them to him at jpoutre@lehman.com 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: David_L._Miller@ccmail.wiu.edu Subject: Scratch building the Freedom Ship I would not start building the mile long "Freedom Ship" just yet. It is still in the "planning and design stage", as has been the case for the last 15 years. It was intended to be a floating business community for "like minded people" who could afford it. Of course, a year or two ago it was discovered that their planning did not include any facilities for children and so the design (the brochures at least) were quickly modified to include facilities for children. There is another glitch, some of the investors want booze and gambling on board while other investors want a dry ship and no gambling. Since this is to be a Freedom ship, this poses quite a problem. My personal opinion is that the Freedom ship is, and always has been a scam. Once it was going the be built in the Philippines, now it is Honduras, and always "this summer". Present plans are to "start small" and ad modules when financing permits, until the ship is a mile long. The length, by the way, is partly to accommodate a carrier deck for corporate jets. If I had invested $100K in this project a few years ago, I would be pretty nervous about now. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: John Philip Downing Subject: Re: On Line kit build? >> The whole idea was to swamp the nationals with a single kit in there category just for the exposure. I know that there was a similar idea with fletcher class destroyers here. But I thought it might be able to take the build a step further....using it as a tutorial, reference and detailing section for the SMML board. It would be aimed at the beginner all the way to national winner level depending on how much detail one wanted to include. Additionally, since so many people were involved a dealer decided to give a discount on a particular item to detail the kit further. Perhaps some in the industry would decide to do the same. Is there any interest in such a build? Would the SMML site hold the relevant details, pics etc? And finally just to wet appetites.... Which kit to build? The fletcher is the obvious answer but perhaps a RN frigate or IJN Lt cruiser. My idea would be a Modern US O.H. Perry FFG. The kits available, GMM has inexpensive detail parts as does WEM, and there are a lot of variants possible... << Why, pray tell is the Fletcher the obvious choice? Why not something more, popular like perhaps the USS Missouri and sisters in 1/700? There are two kits to choose from, and the ship lasted for 50 years, so many variations, including some never buit conversions. There are many aftermarket accesories, and the available models have room for accuratization. John Philip... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Hughes Family" Subject: SMML Con 2000 My wife and I would like to thank the individuals who worked very hard at making the SMML Con 2000 a reality and success Thank You - John, Larry, Fritz, Harold, John, and Mark. We enjoyed meeting fellow SMML'ers who attended and gazing at some wonderful ship models. We had a great time and we are looking forward to the next one!! Jeff and Wendy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: SMML Con Well it's now come and gone, I just want to say that it was great attaching faces to so many names we've all seen here. Holding the Con on board the USS Salem worked out really well, the ship is in great condition. John Fruhock. Larry Oullette and the others who put this one together did a fantastic job and are surely to be commended. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: MIKE.LEONARD@customs.treas.gov Subject: Kits for Sale I know somebody who wishes to dispose of the following models (prices are negotiable): Heller 1/400 TIRPITZ Heller 1/400 LUTZLOW Poseidon 1/150 Osa II Class Missile Boat Please contact me off list for his e-mail address. Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume