Subject: SMML VOL 965 Date: Sat, 08 Jul 2000 02:54:45 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Les Wilkins' book 2: Derek Wakefield's query 3: Re: If you plan to visit Texas soon.. 4: Best Ticonderoga Kit? 5: questions 6: Re: Movie They Were Expendable 7: Scale Ship yard 8: Destroyer article 9: Re: Royal sovereign 10: Vestal 11: USN Order of Battle 1941 12: Re: Texas 13: HMCS Sackville 14: Re: If you're headed for Texas 15: HMS Curacoa Camouflage (?) 16: Need help with USS ENTERPRISE decal set 17: Wives 18: PT "zebra" pattern 19: Ship Model Exhibit 20: Prune Barge pics 21: WWI shipping pictures -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts 1: Re: SMML "Reception" 2: Voting 3: Re: SMML get together -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: GMM 1/350 Konig sets at IPMS Nationals 2: Ship kits for sale 3: WEM Konig/Grosser Kurfurst PE Detail Set -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: David Bass Subject: Les Wilkins' book >> Trying to find out if Les Wilkins models are still on display in Manitowac Wi. I still think his book on plastic ship building is the best around. << Some more information on this book, please? Title, ISBN, subjects covered? Is it still in print? Thanks! David -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Bonini commerciale" Subject: Derek Wakefield's query Derek, The Italian company TECNOMODEL announced an "Audace" kit (item n.TE-08), to be released within June. Tecnomodel kits are in 1/400 scale, resin w.white metal and photo-etched parts and complete decal sheet. They are very accurate kits, although not exactly cheap... Tecnomodels' range will cover all the most significant vessels of the modern Italian Navy ("Marina Militare") : "Lupo" and "Maestrale" class frigates, as well as "Minerva" class corvettes and "Cassiopea" offshore patrol ships kits are already available ; "Garibaldi" (carrier) and "Audace" (destroyer) kits should be in the hobbyshops just now, while the kit of "De la Penne" class destroyer (newest ship of the M.M.) should be released within present year. If you need any further information or help in this matter, don't hesitate to contact me off-list. Greetings from Italy, Giusto Gallas mailto:bonini.com@tin.it mailto:gallas@novanet.it Mailto:bonini@bonini.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "John Snyder" Subject: Re: If you plan to visit Texas soon.. Shane wrote: >> As an ex Sydney cab driver - I can fully attest to the validity of your last remark. But boy do they get annoyed when you prove how small Texas really is ;-> << Yeah, they react the same way around Alaskans.... ;^)) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: John_Impenna@hyperion.com Subject: Best Ticonderoga Kit? Hi All, I am looking for some recommendations on which is the "best" kit of the Ticonderoga class Aegis cruisers? I have seen listings by DML, Skywave and Minicraft, all in 1/700 scale. Are there any 1/350 scale kits as well? Thanks Happy Modeling, John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Friedrich Kappes Subject: questions And once again, one of my famous questions: I search for the following ATF ocean tugs, fleet (USA): To which class did they belong? What was their date of commission? Skylark Arikara Tekesta Chicksaw Tawakoni Shakori Moctobi Quapaw Takelma Painte Papago And now the same for these Maritime Commission C-2 and C-3 ships: (I need the exact class (p.e. C-3 cargo type) Bellatrix St. George AV-16 (later Andrea Bafile, Italian service) Cadmus Thanks in advance Friedrich -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: MGross1352@aol.com Subject: Re: Movie They Were Expendable I don't want to nit pick but what the hell. Not all the boats used in this movie were Elcos. Watch closely and you can see two Huckins boat which equipped two MTB squadrons during the war but which were never in combat. The Huckins company is still in business today in Florida, producing luxury boats (and a Huckins boat survives as a converted houseboat the last I heard-they built them solid). As for accuracy, the movie is a fairly close representation of the book. That said it is correct to say that the combat successes of the unit were very overestimated and the movie follows that line. Then again the book was written in 1942 and the movie was released in 1945 so that combat estimates were given far too much credence and no checking of Japanese records could have been undertaken at the time. On the other hand no other movie captures the feeling of defeat and hopelessness of the American defense of the Philippines as this movie does. It should be pointed out that the film was directed by John Ford who won 4 best director Oscars and who was in the naval reserve. He was on Midway during the battle, took some fantastic color motion pictures of the battle along with his crew and was hit in the eye with shrapnel. Thereafter had problems with the eye to the extent that at times he wore an eye patch. His film the Battle of Midway won an Oscar as best documentary. They Were Expendable was filmed in 1945 in Florida. The book was a huge bestseller during the war and is still in print today through the Naval Institute Press. Although the film was black and white it has since been colorized. If you choose to rent/buy it go for the black and white version, that is how it was meant to be seen, with fantastic shading and shadows. The film was not directed by Ford alone. He was ill during parts of the filming and a fair amount of directing was done by one of the stars of the movie, Robert Montgomery, (without any credit) who played the commander of the MTB squadron. He was a consumate actor as well as a serving naval reserve officer but he is probably best remembered as the father of Elizabeth Montgomery who played Samantha on the tv show Bewitched! He also produced and narrated the movie the Gallant Hours with James Cagney starring as Admiral Halsey. I hope this encourages anyone who has not read the book or seen the movie to do so as they are both worth the time. Mark Grossman from East Brunswick, New Jersey where 1/1250 scale is the scale of choice (and where I choose not to get on the scale). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "RBFISH" Subject: Scale Ship yard This website, came to me by the way, of Bob Evans, of SF, Ca. so I,m passing this Information along, URL http://members.aol.com/ssyweb/SSYMain.htm E-mail scalshpyrd@aol.com 1\96 scale, Fiber Glass, and resin, Hull's very good website, "Scale Ship Yard" or "Warships Hulls Unlimited" enjoy Bruce -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: JRKutina@webtv.net (John Kutina) Subject: Destroyer article http://www.thesunlink.com/news/2000/july/0706destroyer.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Richard Baker" Subject: Re: Royal sovereign I think what you have there is the polish Chematic version of sovereign, the tripod on the mainmast should go down to the base of the funnel, but does not, and the bridge structure is not quite right. did the original model have a sternwalk? on the same theme, I have just received from WEM the Eastern Express 1/500 Royal sovereign, I think they now make it, it's got more flash than a 1930's picture house, and is a bigger challenge than the chematic. thankfully this is going to be the Reso so not too many parts will be used. does anybody know there I can get a 1/500 supermarine Walrus from? Thanks Richard Baker HMS Resolution at http://www.resolution.ic24.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: rweilach@mindspring.com Subject: Vestal I saw in the warship web site postings that Corsair Armada Productions has finished the USS Vestal. Can anyone answer the following: 1. What year the model depicts? 2. Is there any photoetch included/or are after-market people considering a set? 3. Any other info? Rob -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Donald P Morgan Subject: USN Order of Battle 1941 Can anyone out there cite a source from which I could locate the U.S.N. Order of Battle as od Dec. 6th, 1941? Don Morgan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "chisum" Subject: Re: Texas Hey I think it's great you Aussies are comparing my state to a continent! You do realize you live in the smallest continent in the world.... :) Randy Hi Randy, Yes, you are correct we are the smallest continent, but we are also the largest Island ;->> Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: HMCS Sackville Off to Halifax, Nova Scotia on Saturday, where we'll be taking a seriously close look at that F***** class corvette in 1:1 scale. Intend to shoot several rolls of film -- pilot house interior, bridge, etc. for anybody who'd care to borrow the negatives. Mike Alexandria, VA USA Hi Mike, Have fun mate. I'm sure Mike will want some shots for the SMML site ;-). Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Joel Labow Subject: Re: If you're headed for Texas "If I owned both hell and Texas, I'd rent out Texas and live in hell!" General Phil Sheridan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: maeisen@erols.com Subject: HMS Curacoa Camouflage (?) Folks: Yesterday, WRPRESS wrote: >> Somebody mentioned a little while ago that the cruiser (HMS Curacoa) had a disruptive camouflage pattern at the time of her sinking. I would be interested in seeing this, if possible. << Well, so would I! Oh well, caught in the web of my own imagination again! Well, I'm the guilty party. But let me explain. I was speculating that Curacoa might have been wearing an admiralty disruptive (or some such) scheme based on the following eyewitness account of the collision of HMS Curacoa and Queen Mary, by a soldier who was on the troopship. (I found this cite on the WWII Cruiser Operations home page on the internet.): "I stood watching the cruiser, camouflaged in brilliant colors, she offered a beautiful sight as she churned up the white spray in the autumn sunshine." The fellow then goes on to describe the collision. For the full text, go to: http://www.world-war.co.uk/Ceres/curacoa.html The only wartime photo of her in a multicolor scheme shows her in what appears to be mid-gray (?) (perhaps AP507B?) with a light colored semicircular panel on her bow, and on the forward deckhouse below the pom-pom behind the A gun position. This photo can be seen at the aforementioned WWII Cruiser site (which is a fantastic site and worth a visit even if you have no interest in HMS Curacoa or this thread!). This scheme does not look like any camo scheme I'm familiar with (maybe I lack bredth of experience?). Perhaps this photo captured Curacoa in the midst of repainting in a more complex and colorful camo scheme? At any rate, I find it hard to believe that even the most home-sick dog-faced mud soldier on the Queen Mary would describe Curacoa as "a beautiful sight"... "camouflaged in brilliant colors...." while she was wearing this scheme! So I was just speculating that she was wearing something more complicated and interesting than shown in the photo. Any comments? By the way, I will be reporting to you all on the results of my research concerning the weapons fit and camouflage for Queen Mary at the time of the tradgedy. (Yes, she was overall gray, but it seems her decks were probably left natural teak, while the deckhouse roofs appear to be a darker tone than both the decks and the gray color of the hull and stacks.) Stay tuned! Meanwhile, I wait with baited breath any contributions anyone might offer regarding Curacoa's camo scheme. Thanks for all your help! Yours truly, Mike Eisenstadt -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Courtney R." Subject: Need help with USS ENTERPRISE decal set Hoping someone out there could direct me to any web site that shows what the USS ENTERPRISE CVN-65, decal set by Duane Fowler looks like. I would really like to possibly buy the accessory decal set to add to the overall Tamiya kit, but first I would like to actually see what the decal set looks like, as to better ascertain if it will meet the time frame I am modeling the kit after. (Which will be for the year 2000, so this will involve a lot of extra scratch-building on the carrier Island, about doubling the amount of large radars/radomes; and then adding more of the egg shaped radomes on the carrier's deck edges). So if anyone knows of where I can find pictures of this decal accessory, please let me know. Or if someone out there would be so kind as to send me a scanned e-mail attachment that shows what the CVN-65 decal set looks like, that would be great too, and greatly appreciated. Thanks a lot -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Ned Barnett Subject: Wives >> 2. Rusty White's story about his wife and an early Christmas was very moving and I fully apprciate just how lucky a man he is. My own other half is very much like his, and I've heard many a tale of woe from modelers with wives/husbands who can't understand our passions for small ships. I hope all of us can one day be loved that much. << I got warm feelings, too. To put it suscinctly, wife #1 (i.e., Beelzebub - ex-wife from you-know-where) didn't understand my modeling; in fact, I made a vignette of me in my model shop, spray-painting an SOC Seagull (from a Lindberg Cleveland-Class Cruiser kit) while she stands there, suitcase in hand ... sadly, she didn't get the hint ... However, my dear bride of 13 years not only encourages my modeling, she searches eBay for kits for me (although she confused a "Supermarine" for a "Submarine" ... it's the thought that counts). She's even suggested I locate a trailer (like a mobile construction shack) to convert to a modeling workshop. Since my model workshop and my self-employed office are in the same small bedroom, that would be a wonderful expansion of my modeling opportunities. Anyway, my hat off to Mistress Lorna and to all the wives who tolerate their husbands' plastic addiction - and even support the habit. Ned -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: DortaB@aol.com Subject: PT "zebra" pattern For John Snyder, John, I'm looking to do one of those "Zebra" patern PT's, too. I was going to use the standard Revell 1/72 "PT-109", which isn't! Where did you get the port and starboard pattern? George Cost who won't be going to Texas, damn the bad luck. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Jeff Herne" Subject: Ship Model Exhibit Just a note to anyone in the NYC area, tomorrow and Sunday at Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ, there will be a ship model exhibit hosted by the Ship Model Society of Northern NJ and NJ IPMS. For directions, visit: http://www.lsc.org/ Last anticipated count was somewhere around 30-40 ships. The event will run on Saturday and Sunday. The Liberty State Park Harbor Festival is also happening at the RR Terminal about 1 mile away from the Center. Add in the ships remaining from OpSail, it should be a good day. Jeff Herne -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: Prune Barge pics The US Navy History Center site /finally/ got some pics of the USS /California/ (BB-44) up (woohoo). Included are a number I haven't seen on the web before (and considering I have over5 megs of pictures of the Prune Barge on my HDD right now...) For those interested, go to... http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-c/bb44.htm Go Navy! _|_o_|_ Derek "Tiger" (/\)akefield /---(.](o)[.)---\ iscandar@chatter.com o oo O oo o http://www.iscandar-66.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: LovelyThings4U@aol.com Subject: WWI shipping pictures Thought someone may have an interest in this item: http://cgi.ebay.aol.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewItem&item=374930315 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "John Snyder" Subject: Re: SMML "Reception" I vote for Saturday. Since Friday is the first day the public will be allowed in the vendor's room, we'll likely be a little busy that morning... John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys http://www.shipcamouflage.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: GKingzett@aol.com Subject: Voting My plane doesn't arrive until 9:22 Friday morning, so Friday is no good for me. I really hope we can do the Saturday 3 to 5 PM reception. Gary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: SMML get together >> Friday Morning? Saturday Afternoon? << Saturday afternoon will be cutting it close. The awards banquet begins at 7:00 PM. If you have to be showered and dressed for the banquet, it could be real close. So I vote for Friday mourning. More time to mingle with no pressure of getting to the banquet on time (which most folks show up early for). Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Loren Perry Subject: GMM 1/350 Konig sets at IPMS Nationals Gold Medal Models is sending twelve (12) samples of our new 1/350 scale PE detail sets for the ICM Konig kit to the IPMS Nationals. They will be at the Classic Warships table for anyone there wanting to see them. The show special price for these twelve sets will be $30.00 each. Ask for Steve Wiper of Classic Warships when you get there. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Chris.Evenden@agso.gov.au Subject: Ship kits for sale I have the following ship kits for sale. All prices are in Australian dollars. Tamiya 1/350 Enterprise. This kit includes Gold Medal Models photoetch set, Gold Medal Models Low Viz Decal Set for the aircraft and the extra aircraft set sold by Tamiya separatley. Price $200 Tamiya 1/350 New Jersy. This comes with Gold Medal Models photoetch set. Price $70 Tom's Modelworks 1/350 Balao Class Submarine. Price $45 Revell (Ex-Matchbox) 1/72 Flower Class Corvette USS Saucy. $160 Thanks, Chris Evenden -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Subject: WEM Konig/Grosser Kurfurst PE Detail Set Hi Everyone, The WEM Konig/Grosser Kurfurst Photo Etch detail set has been sent for etching and should be ready in about two weeks all being well. The set has taken a little longer than expected due to unforseen shortcomings in the kits that needed addressing. Some of the additional parts that have been included in this set are: 1. Blanking plates for the upper casemates that housed 88mm guns but were removed after Jutland. 2. Parts to make the circular lower spotting position on the foremast. 3. Torpedo Nets shelves, support brackets (122) and davits (102) 4. A roof plate for the lower bridge for Pre Jutland fits 5. Aerial Spreader Yardarm for Pre Jutland foremast. These are the items that have been added late and are suplementary to all the other goodies within this extensive set of details. Remember that the Pre Jutland masts will also be available from WEM in white metal. All the best Peter Hall WEM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume