Subject: SMML VOL 907 Date: Wed, 10 May 2000 23:18:30 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: U-571 2: Kora Models 3: Re: USCG subject kit wishes 4: Re: Iceberg ship 5: Re: 20 mm tripod mounts 6: Baymo kits 7: USCG SUBJECTS 8: USCG subject kit wishes 9: JAG's Albany 10: Cheery News - Was: Morbid Update 11: PW Colors 12: IJN Mikasa and HMVS Cerberus 13: Re: Two 1/700 Scale Models of Iowa Class U.S. Navy Battlewagons. 14: Re: Mile long ship 15: Re: John's Salem model 16: Re: Down Periscope 17: Pearl Harbor movie aircraft 18: USS Vestal plans? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts 1: SMML con 2 location vote 2: SMML.con 3: Re: Many thanks SMML convention 2000 4: SMML Con 2000 5: SMMLieCon 2000 - a view from abroad 6: SMML Con 2000 7: SMMLcon 8: Re: SMML Con 2000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: HMS Naiad Buildup 2: Model Ship Journal Update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: GrafSpee34@aol.com Subject: U-571 I saw the movie last night. Repetitive, predictable, unrealistic. The Type VII mock up was excellent but the German "destroyer" was a joke. Likewise some very good details like the vintage Beck's beer labels were spoiled by glaring errors like uniforms with breast eagles on the wrong side. Wait till it comes out on video so you can fast forward it down to a 30 minute version. There is no excuse for a bad fictional war story when there are so many good factual ones. Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Matthew Prager" Subject: Kora Models Does anyone on the list know of a U.S. distributor for the Czech company Kora Models? Matt Prager -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: AandMBlevins@gateway.net Subject: Re: USCG subject kit wishes With respect to suggestions for models of USCG vessels of interest I would put forth a type which I think opens up a whole vista of possibilities. They are the lighthouse/buoy tenders built in the late 1800's for the U.S.Lighthouse Service, and subsequently taken into the Coast Guard when it absorbed the Service in 1939. I just finished a scratchbuilt version of the Tender MARIGOLD in 3/16 inch to the foot for a client. That is a bit large, but a scale of 1/192 or 1/350 would make a striking model with lots of detail. The paint scheme of white upperworks with a black hull led to their being referred to as "The Black Fleet" and the Coast Guard maintained that color scheme for the tenders. If anyone would like details get in touch with me at Al Blevins -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "J. London" Subject: Re: Iceberg ship Following up on the thread about icebergs being used as floating airfields in mid-Atlantic there was indeed such a proposal in WW 2. Code-named "Habakkuk" it would have consisted of a man-made berg displacing one million tons made out of mixture of a wood fiber and ice named "Pykrete" after the inventor Pyke. This material was extremely strong and resistant to shellfire and, even if damaged, would be easilly repaired and stay afloat. It would have a small refrigerating plant on board to keep it frozen and outboard motors to maintain its position. Much of the development work was done in Canada. In addition to RAF personnel it would also have had a battalion of troops aboard to repel any attempt at boarding. It was thought that this would be more effective and less costly than building aircraft carriers. Winston Churchill discusses this project in his book "Closing the Ring" part of his series on the history of WW 2. In the event escort carriers assumed the duty of filling the air cover gap in mid-Atlantic. But what a model that would make! Michael London -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: PT191@aol.com Subject: Re: 20 mm tripod mounts To Eddp, Some early PTs did, in fact, have shields on their after 20mm guns. It depended on the availability of the mount and other factors. But most of them did not have shielded 20mms. T. Garth Connelly -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Ken Subject: Baymo kits WOW! Take a look at the site http://www.baymo.de as mentioned in SMML 906. The HUE CITY is 8 feet long (246cm), carbon hull and laser cut STEEL deck and superstructure plates, with brass and aluminum fittings! Do we need to get little bitty welders? I want to see one of these things! Does shipping an eight-foot warship contravene any international treaties? Unfortunately, at about $2700.00, it would be grounds for divorce, an order of involuntary commitment, or both. But isn't it great that we have companies that will undertake this sort of thing? How about a few more photos, just to enhance the drool factor? Right on, BAYMO! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: USCG SUBJECTS Pick your favorite hull type and the U.S. Coast Guard has or had it. My favorites for subjects sorely needing to be kitted as models: LARGE CUTTERS: 378' WHEC Hamilton Class-post and pre-FRAM. Beautiful ships. 311' ex-USN AVP USCG WHEC/ Class. Highly regarded design, could also be built as USN seaplane tender, WWII. 270' Bear Class. My favorite is the USCGC Harriet Lane. Lovely woman, lovely ship. 327' Secretary Class. Very well designed and succesful ships. 210' Reliance Class WMEC. Another long-lived and successful ship class. 399' USCG Polar Class icebreaker. Handsome, colorful ships and impressive in 1/350th. 269' Wind class icebreaker. Paint it "gray, with guns," white with USCG stripe, red hulled. Some served with Rusia in WWII as well. SMALL CUTTERS: 82' Point Class. These are the best looking patrol boats ever designed and a highly successful class. 110' Island Class patrol boat. The USN Cyclone Class spec-ops boat is based on this design (as of 1998, 7 Cyclone Class boats were scheduled to transfer to USCG). 110' Arundel class. Built in WWII and served until 1990s. Icebreaking tugs. USCGC Katmai Bay class 140' tugs. Modern predecessor to the 110s. Buoy tenders: USCGC FIR, USCGC RED WOOD Class, USCG 180' Class, modern Juniper and Lighthouse Keeper class. Take your pick. They're all great ships and regularly perform their service in actual operations, often at great risk to their crews. You gotta admit, most of what the boys in the big gray ships do is train for that day in the future when their skills as warfighters might be needed. The Coast Guard often becomes involved in shoot-outs with smugglers and drug runners (their drug-supported firepower rivals some small navies!), rescues survivors in horrifying conditions at sea and still ends up escorting naval ships into war zones. Check the footage from sea ops during Operation Desert Storm. Some of the first ships in were USCG cutters. Now, how about some of the aircraft carried aboard or supported by those cutters to go with the models? A few suggections: McDonnel Douglas MD-90 Enforcer, HH-60 Jayhawk, HH-52 Sea Guard, HH-3F Pelican and HH-65 Dolphin, Grumman Duck for the Wind Class. Victor Baca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Reynaga, Tim@EDD" Subject: USCG subject kit wishes I'd love to see a 1/350 (or 1/700, for that matter) Secretary class cutter. They were beautiful, historically significant ships with an interesting variety of schemes and fits over the years. I'd also like to see some of the smaller craft represented, like the ubiquitous 41 or 82 footers. Tim Reynaga -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Al Salas Subject: JAG's Albany Having built JAG's 1/700 Long Beach, I was wondering if anyone had any experience with their USS Albany kit. Having been impressed with the quality of the casting on the Long Beach, I'm considering the purchase of the Albany. Any comments out there? Thanks Allan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Mike Subject: Cheery News - Was: Morbid Update Well, now that Rick's depressed us all a little on ships leaving us, I'll try & cheer us up again. Launched Saturday 6th May HMS St Albans, Duke class frigate. RV Triton, the world's first military trimeran. The Triton is a very interesting design. I'd seen it before but only as a concept - I was very surprised when I saw her on the news the night before she launched! While she won't be classed as a Royal Navy ship, she is built by DERA, the UK equivalent of ARPA. Future designs will be influenced, probably heavily, by the results of her trials. And before someone says it's just the RN playing - both the US Navy and Coast Guard are buying the resulting data! Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "scola" Subject: PW Colors What was the overall colors of PW during Bismarck chase and was she camouflaged? If so does anyone have the colors and how to mix or can you get close straight from the jar? If she wasn't I'd still like this info for a later 1/350 PW I'm going to build. I'm also looking for a book by Alan Raven "Royal Navy W.W.II Camouflage Part One" published by WR Press Thanks for your help Hi "Scola", AFAIK, Vol one of Alan's eagerly awaited book is due out in the next month or so. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "David Hathaway" Subject: IJN Mikasa and HMVS Cerberus People 2 requests for the price of one: A friend is urgently looking for a set of plans of the IJN Mikasa, the pre-dreadnought preserved in Japan. He wants to make a 1:250 model of it and has drawn a blank on any plans. Ideas or pointers gratefully received. For myself, I am looking for plans of the breastwork monitor HMVS Cerberus of 1870. Built on the Tyne to provide coastal protection to Port Phillip in Victoria, Australia. Now a rusting breakwater. Well before the period covered by the active membership of the list I know but has anyone got a possible lead before I go to the National Maritime Museum and hand over large amounts of cash. Any old Model Shipwright or Warship International articles? I just want to build a 1:250 waterline model, so no hull details required. Thanks for any help or time spent. David. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: drwells@hogpb.mt.att.com (David R Wells) Subject: Re: Two 1/700 Scale Models of Iowa Class U.S. Navy Battlewagons. Nick Rogers wrote: >> Where can the 1/720 scale Revell U.S.S. New Jersey model of her 1980's configuration be obtained? Long out of production I fear? (I have only heard it mentioned in the brilliant Rajendra's list of SHIP KIT REVIEWS): http://www.quuxuum.org/rajens_list/rajen.html << They are long out of production, I fear. You'll have to deal with the old kit dealers. If you can find one, they're usually dirt cheap. Yes I've got one in the box. No, I'm not selling it. The kit itself isn't perfect, but it has many advantages, like a pretty nice hull. My review on Rajen's List gives the gory details. 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Polvi, Henry" ubject: Re: Mile long ship >> This reminds me of the study that considered using an iceberg as a floating airfield. IIRC, there were to be power plants to move it (slowly) and refrigeration units to keep it from melting to fast. It may have been a WW2 project or a little later. << A project I recall hearing about in WW2 was tried out in a lake in the Canadian Rockies - similar idea, a floting refrigeration plant to keep an ice/sawdust (or straw?) mixture solid enough to land aeroplanes. Henry Polvi Thornhill, ON Canada -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: James Corley Subject: Re: John's Salem model >> Jim Corley: For vividly pointing out every single flaw in my USS Salem model. << Hey, when you got the real thing to compare to, well..... For one thing, John didn't have the paint peeling off. Another thing, I did check the cruise books and the the turret replenishment arms are not to port on the fwd turrets (at least in the fifties) and I cannot find any evidence they were ever reversed as depicted on the kit. A good example is pg370 in Freidmans Cruiser book, she still has the spotting radars, no shell platforms, the numeral facing the bridge (so the captain would know which ship he was on?) and the rep; arms raising to the starboard side. The arms on NN and DM also go this way ... all raising to stbd, not to the left of the turret. Nothing personal John, but when the model doesn't match the real thing... I just gotta ask certain questions as a form of research for building my own someday. JZ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: Down Periscope >> I'm almost sure that boat is a Gato class from the end of WW2 into the 1950's. I unlike you though found that movie quite hilarious << Was that movie based on the book about an ensign who is assigned to a sub with a real odd-ball captain that is loosely modeled on Rickover?? If it is, the book was truly hilarious. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Donald Hinton" Subject: Pearl Harbor movie aircraft One of the new-build Zero's in the movie had a minor incident last week--on landing roll out at Wheeler Air Field, the pilot selected the "Gear Up" lever, instead of the "Flaps Up lever." It worked--the gear retracted on the ground, with two blades bent and very minor sheetmetal damage on the bottom. They haven't miked the crankshaft yet to see if there is any engine damage. All aircraft are cocooned and strapped to a barge for a 12 day journey to the mainland, departing Ford Island on 10 May. Don -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "Donald Hinton" Subject: USS Vestal plans? I'm in need of plans/photos to scratchbuild a 1/700 USS Vestal to go alongside a Classic Warships USS Arizona. I intend to model them as they appeared minutes before the attack, side by side, with sun awnings and all. Can anyone point me in the right direction for info on the Vestal? TIA. Don Hinton -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: SMML con 2 location vote << Anyone want to host the 2nd annual SMMLCon? The most popular suggestions were here in Quincy again, or San Francisco (USS Hornet). << How about the USS Texas so I can go next year!!!! The USS Kidd has a large meeting room in the museum's visitor center does it not?. How about it? It would be great if we could have it a little more in the middle of the country. Lot's more folks could attend I'll bet. That's not knocking the Salem's location. Wish I could have been there. Sounds like it was great! Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" Hi gang, I like to remind people before any voting gets out of hand, that this is an international list. Therefore, anyone wanting to host a SMMLcon outside the USA is welcome to suggest a venue. I'm sure that a SMMLcon held at say, HMCS Haida, HMS Belfast, HMAS Vampire etc would be just as good as one held in the states ;-). I'd like to thank John Frohock & all his helpers for hosting what looks to have been a very succesful event that was enjoyed by all. Well done to all concerned (my apologies for being a bit lax in saying that). I'm glad everyone who went to SMMLcon 2000 had a great time, I'm just real disappointed that Lorna & I couldn't make it. Maybe next year, wherever it may be. Regards, Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: DaveRiley1@aol.com Subject: SMML.con I would like to add my thanks for a very well done 'get-together' on a very well organized and managed USS SALEM. To John Frohock, Larry Ouellette, John Sheridan and the others whose names I do not know - you did a great job and deserve big rounds of applause. All of the speakers were entertaining and informative, and I learned a lot. And I very much enjoyed the conversations with my tablemates in the wardroom on Saturday. To all the model contestants (I was not one), I felt like I was swimming with artists, not ship modelers. The quality of the models provided the needed inspiration for me to get on with my building. But I am left with the thought - after looking at all the craftsmanship: "How the heck do you do that?" Thanks again, Dave Riley Portsmouth, RI -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: BECJPARKER@aol.com Subject: Re: Many thanks SMML convention 2000 Just to add my thanks and support for the outstanding job done by the folks that went the extra distance and put on a really great convention. To all that didn't come you missed a great time and you need to put the next one on the calendar, it was an outstanding adventure. Again thanks to John Frohock, and the crew that put the convention together and to all the folks that gave the informative presentations. Charlie Parker -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Art Herrick" Subject: SMML Con 2000 A well done to John Frohock and his crew, for hosting all us SMMLies aboard USS Salem for a.great SMML CON 2000. I thoroughly enjoyed the three days, put faces with names, had some informative conversations and just plain had a good time. The guides who showed us the USS SALEM, did a great job and should be congratulated. Especially the gentleman in the CIC. Art Herrick Again buried back in the hills of New Hampshire. I do not miss that Boston automobile traffic at all!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Robert Lockie" Subject: SMMLieCon 2000 - a view from abroad Well as the first one from across the pond to make it home (John Lambert is no doubt still trying to get the sat.nav. in his hire car to give sensible directions - I don't think we took the same route from the Salem to the hotel twice in the time we were there - and Caroline is up country in New England, having kept the bikini out of the way for SMMLieCon), I must add my congratulations and thanks to the organisers for a fine event. It was great to meet up with people whose identities were no more than email addresses and I came home with some memories that will stay with me for a long time (John Rule should be on the stage after his bravura performance on Saturday night) and it was good to see how we all got on together, considering that I and no doubt many others had only met one or two (or less) of the other attendees before. There were some excellent ship models on display and I went away inspired to greater efforts to complete some of the stash in the spare bedroom. It looks as though there will be a survivors' reunion in Telford later in the year when some of you come over for the IPMS Nationals so look forward to seeing you then. To those of you who were unable to attend, you missed a good event and hopefully you will be able to join us at the next one. Robert Lockie Cambridge UK Still trying to go to sleep and, more importantly, wake up at the right times -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: louellet@uism.bu.edu Subject: SMML Con 2000 More random thoughts about SMMLCon 2000: Caroline had on display an early copy of WEM's forthcoming USS C. F. Adams. It looked like a well tooled injection molded kit since the lower hull, upper hull and main deck, and 01 level fit together and stayed together with hardly a seam. A closer look showed tabs which kept the various pieces in alignment when dry fitted. This is going to be (already is!) a great kit. As John Sheridian mentioned, Caroline also modeled the one and only SMML T-shirt, but no bikini. 8-( The tour guides on Saturday and Sunday were Gus Graden, Bill Anderson, Dick Downey, and Dan Shulkakis. Bill, Dick, and Dan are former crewmembers and Gus is ex-navy. All are expert sea story tellers and informative guides. A Patriot Ledger (south of Boston regional newspaper) photographer was on board on Saturday and took many photos of all the models. On Sunday, a Patriot Ledger reporter interviewed just about everyone in the display room. As was mentioned, the article ran in Monday's edition. It was fairly long, with 2 photographs of a father and daughter enjoying the display and voting for their favorites. John Frohock, Caroline Carter, John Snyder, and A.J. Owens were all quoted in the article. Thank you to Fritz for securing the captain of the USS Constitution, Commander William Foster. Cmdr. Foster gave a slide show and lecture after dining with us. He was very knowledgeable about the Constitution's history and had many photos of sail training and the 1997 sail. The museum's interim director gave Cmdr. Foster a USS Salem ballcap and Golf Shirt after his presentation. I would like to see a second annual SMMLCon. Are you Californians up to the task? I think that about covers the rest of what I wanted to say ... if not, look for part 3 tomorrow! Larry Ouellette Volunteer, USS Salem (CA 139) United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum Quincy, Massachusetts, USA http://www.uss-salem-org/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "John Rule" Subject: SMMLcon Feel I must add my praise to the organisers of last weekend's event. I personally had a wonderful time, albeit having understanding some of the accents. The seminars were excellent. I must compliment Al Ross for his presentation on small craft. The content was very well put together and certainly increased my limited knowledge on this subject. Next time you do it please stand up as the people at the back couldn't see you. (couldn't resist that one). John Snyder's presentation on camouflage was excellent, even though he didn't give out copies of the 1929 Munsell. He also whetted our appetite on his future releases. You looked swell in your uniform. Next time maybe I'll wear a kilt. (No wonder Scotland doesn't have a navy............can you imagine standing on the quarterdeck in a kilt) Duane Fowler's presentation was very enlightening. There was a mass exodus afterwards to place orders for ALPS printers. Do you get commission Duane? Thank you kindly for the samples you gave me. Ex-PC John Lambert gave a wonderful rendition of "Where Have All the Flowers Gone" or was it "Where Did All the Flowers Come From". John, the sharing of your extensive knowledge was much appreciated, as was your fine humour. My special thanks go to the organizers for their hard work and to the volunteers who escorted us on the ship tours and made them so graphic through their anecdotes. To all the new friends I made................Thank You. And one last time to Larry Ouellette.............I didn't put glazed windows on the cockpits of the aircraft on my 1:700 submarines, it's only gloss paint; but thanks for the compliment anyway. Sincerely John Rule (Och Aye) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: GKingzett@aol.com Subject: Re: SMML Con 2000 Add my thanks to all the people of USS Salem for making an unforgettable weekend. You have set a great example for the many (hopefully) SMML Cons to follow. The seminars were uniformly excellent. Of all the fine models, I was most impressed by the three nearly perfect warships that Jim Kloek brought. Harold Lincoln's 3 merchant ships were superb and John Sheridan's Salem was very impressive. Any of these would be winners at any contest. Thanks again. See you next time. Gary Kingzett PS: See, I told you, the public always votes for the largest model. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: ironship@usit.net (Jon Warneke) Subject: HMS Naiad Buildup Hi Everyone, Just like to let you know that we've just posted to our website a very complete buildup article from Steven Backer on our kit of the HMS Sirius. He did his as HMS Naiad in 1940, and the ship is very striking. Please take a look at it. Here's the address: http://www.commanderseries.com/other_stuff.htm Thanks, Jon Warneke Commander Series Models, Inc. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: Model Ship Journal Update Issue Zero of Model Ship Journal is almost finished on the production side. We are on-track for hitting our May 31st deadline to go to press. The printer is fully aware and prepared for our deadline and has reserved press space. Our goal from the outset is to always be on-time for publication and deliver more than we promise. I've developed the prints for the onboard shots of the USS HOEL (DDG-13) photo feature circa 1984 while she was in San Diego, CA. Also finished the on-deck prints for the USCGC MELLON (WHEC-717) for the centerspread plan/photo feature. Both sets of photos turned out beautifully and will certainly make Model Ship Journal a valuable reference. Later this week or early next week, I will begin the scratch-building project for the on-going series on the early Canadian Flower Class Corvette. We'll scratchbuild the hull and photograph the process for you to begin in Issue Zero of MSJ. Subsequent issues will show the fiberglassing-mold making operations, deck/superstructure building, painting, rigging and final detailing of the model. Again, I will use McKay and Harland's excellent book "The Flower Class Corvette AGASSIZ" (Anatomy Of The Ship Series) as the project's main reference. To subscribe to Model Ship Journal, call toll-free (877) 371-0290 or write to: Photomarine Archives MODEL SHIP JOURNAL P.O. Box 28516 Bellingham, WA 98228-0516 We can accept Master Card/Visa, personal checks or money orders for subscriptions. Cost is $30.00 for one year (4 issues) and there is still time to begin your subscription with the premier Volume One, Issue Zero. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume