Subject: SMML VOL 1048 Date: Mon, 30 Oct 2000 23:29:41 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Modeling Tips 2: Re: ACW ships 3: Re: wood civil war kits 4: Re: Presidential Unit Citation for USS Cole 5: Crippled Cole Begins Journey Home 6: Virginia and Monitor models on eBay 7: Re: OU vs Nebraska 8: D&S Kennedy book 9: WW2 DD interior colour 10: Questions 11: Re: ACW ships 12: Re: U-571 13: Steve Wiper Books 14: Re: Newport News Photos 15: 1/400 paper models??? 16: 1/700 scale ships 17: Dreadnaught Model 18: P.E. 19: Re: Monitor & Merrimac plastic pair(s) 20: Pre-dreadnought Colours 21: Re: R&R British BB Book 22: Jap Sub Decks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Development of Naval Camouflage 2: web site update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: RhinoBones@aol.com Subject: Modeling Tips Thought I would make a few notes on some modeling techniques that I have found useful. Some of these things are pretty obvious, but you never know who it might help until you write it down. 1. Brass Hole Template Found that a piece of flat brass from the unused edge of a photo etch set is an excellent tool for making a hole template. Mark and drill the desired hole pattern on the brass and you have a rather durable template for consistently reproducing the pattern. Good for mounting holes and probably would also work for making port holes. 2. Single Pattern Transfers Clear tape is good for transferring a hole pattern from the photo etch set to the model surface. With the photo etch still in the plastic wrapper, lay a piece of clear tape over the part to be transferred. Use a pen to mark the hole pattern on the tape. Move the tape to desired area of the model and drill through the tape. Certainly not as durable as the brass template but it is good for one of a kind hole patterns and certainly easier that measuring and scribing hole patterns. You can try this by placing the clear tape directly on the PE but I find that the tape is easier to pull off of the plastic wrapper. 3. Mounting Bulkhead Ladders This works well for mounting ladders against flush surfaces such as stacks, hulls, bulkheads and masts. Cut the length of ladder at least two rungs longer than what is needed. At each end fold one of the extra rungs over the ladder, press the fold firmly to achieve a nice "V" but do not crimp so strongly that the fold is flattened. The two folds are then used as the attachment points for installation of the ladder. The folded rungs provided a nice bit of stand off between the ladder and bulkhead, and it makes the ladder a bit springy which is resistive to crushing. When you are as clumsy as I am, your personnel quotient for self inflicted damage has an exponential relationship to the amount of PE installed . . . so this is helps. 4. Rigging This technique is good for installing rigging which is mirrored bow to stern, port to starboard, any place where two lines emanate from a single point. Cut a length of fishing line approximate three times longer than what you need for a single line. Don't be cheap with the line, give yourself plenty of extra line to work with. Fold the line in half and give it a nice sharp crimp to form a "V" shape. The point of the "V" becomes the attachment point for the two rigging lines. Fishing line can be a little difficult to fold and crimp cleanly so I usually use a pair of diagonal cutters to lightly pinch the line while folding. Typically I wait to color the line until after I'm satisfied with the fold. After the point of the "V" is glued in place the two loose ends can be trimmed to length and terminated. I've found this techniques to be especially useful for rigging yardarms to the mast since you do not have to contend with tension differences between the two sides. Also good for rat lines. Regards, RhinoBones -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: ALROSS2@aol.com Subject: Re: ACW ships >> does anybody know a source of wood U.S Civil War ironclad kits...???? << BlueJacket used to offer a kit of the CSS ALBEMARLE. It has been out of production for some time, but all of the masters, plans, and molds are on hand. It was a fairly large model and, IIRC, you could display the interior. Al Ross -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: wood civil war kits Ray8017@aol.com asked: >> does anybody know a source of wood U.S Civil War ironclad kits...???? << >> Bluejacket Shipcrafters sells the MONITOR and VIRGINIA in 1/16" = 1' scale. The web address is: << There is also a guy out of Arkansas who makes a rather large line of kits, but they are rather crude and consist of little more than a few pieces of wood and few fittings. I believe that he publishes a book of simple plans also. Unfortunately I can't locate the info I had on it. If I do I will post it. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Bill McBride" Subject: Re: Presidential Unit Citation for USS Cole The Presidential Unit Citation is awarded to units whose actions in combat with an armed enemy force were significantly valorous to have earned an individual the Navy Cross. It would be a stretch for COLE to qualify. The more appropriate award would be the Navy Unit Citation which equates to a Silver Star Medal for "gallantry in action" by an individual. Given the inflation of awards and politicians' general pandering, I would not be surprised at what comes out of this. I am certain that many personal awards (justly earned) will be awarded. The Navy and Marine Corps Medal would probably be most appropriate for most but again, we'll have to wait and see. Bill M. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: JRKutina@webtv.net (John Kutina) Subject: Crippled Cole Begins Journey Home http://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/29/world/29WIRE-COLE.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Virginia and Monitor models on eBay >> Bluejacket Shipcrafters sells the MONITOR and VIRGINIA in 1/16" = 1' scale. The web address is: www.bluejacketinc.com << There was a Bluejacket Virginia and a Monitor on eBay a day or two ago. Look in plastic models "wood" section. Beginning bid price was pretty reasonable as I recall. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ Order online with Visa & Master card (US only) "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: OU vs Nebraska >> Was that BB Oklahoma 31 and BB Nebraska 14? << YES!! YES!! YES!! Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ Order online with Visa & Master card (US only) "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: D&S Kennedy book A friend mentioned to me the other day that Detail and Scale did a book on the Kennedy. Can anyone confirm this? I don't recall ever seeing that book in print. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ Order online with Visa & Master card (US only) "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "John Sheridan" Subject: WW2 DD interior colour Read all about how a USN warship was painted in "Painting and Cementing of U.S. Navy vessels 1943" located on the shipcamouflage.com webiste. The URL for the guide is: http://www.shipcamouflage.com/painting_and_cementing_toc.htm John Sheridan The only human to defeat the Minbari is behind me, you are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else. : Delenn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: TechnoInfidel@webtv.net (John Collins) Subject: Questions Greetings listmates: A few questions for the group: 1. Can Regia Marina's 1/700 Carini class torpedoboat be back dated to it's WWI vintage? 2. Same question for L'Arsenal's Italiam Audace. 3. Several of the destroyers kits I have from Italy refer to the ships with the initials R.C.T. instead of RN as I see with other Italian ships. What does R.C.T. mean? 4. Anyone else owning the Regia Marina RN Oriani. Is your copy as lumpy as mine? I can only hope that mine is the runt of the litter. Thanks, John Collins Atlanta, GA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Ken Goldman" Subject: Re: ACW ships Actually, there was (is?) considerable dispute over whether CSS H.L. Hunley is US property. If it was an official vessel of the Navy of the CSA, then it is US property since that is what became of all of the assets of the CSA. If Hunley was in fact a licensed privateer, then ultimate ownership is far less certain. In any event, the US Navy generally doesn't care about its sunken assets until someone goes and recovers them. Just ask the fighter restorers who occasionally fish an SBD out of a lake. They love to have you spend your money restoring it, then all you hear is, "Gimme, gimme." Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER unique wood sculpture and fine scale models www.walruscarpenter.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: U-571 >> I finally got my hands a a rental copy of U-571 and I loves it. Some of my first thoughts after seeing it was converting an "S" boat like the one in the movie. I would doubt that your going to find an Sboat and a TypeIX to use as donors in the same scale. (Dosent Blue Water Navy or one of the other Resin companies make a Sboat?). << Yes, BWN makes a very good S-boat in 1:350. You could combine that with one of the Commander series resin Type IX's in 1:350 scale(OOP, but still some around), or scratchbuild the bow onto the S-boat. For the previously mentioned diorama, you are looking at making waterlines out of full hull kits, so it might be much less expensive to scratchbuild the visible part of the bow. Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Jana & Pavel" Subject: Steve Wiper Books Dear Steve, My one choice on this subject would be the two "large cruisers" USS Alaska and Guam. As the models are available in both 1/350 and 1/700. All information seems to be conflicting. I now believe that the two did not enter the Pacific Theater of Operations in camouflage. So my choice: USS Alaska & USS Guam Pre Dreadnought Battleships Early Dreadnought battleships Regards Pavel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Dave Judy Subject: Re: Newport News Photos Funny..............I thought National Archives was a repository for OUR ( spelled ....paid for by our tax dollars ) national resources! I don't mind paying a fee for processing..........but not extortion to some vultures!! Luckily I live 2 miles from Archives, but I still have to take a day off to do my research. Dave Judy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Patrick Vinas Subject: 1/400 paper models??? Hi I just browsed through UK's model dockyard and was amazed to see the quantities of card models they offer especially in my favorite 1/400 scale (What else is there for my french navy). Has anyone tried any? How do they look next to styrene kits? Very curious Thanks Patrick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Patrick Vinas Subject: 1/700 scale ships Hi I know someone recently asked about the point of building 1/700 scale ships.I know it is mostly space related but it's so small! I build 1/400 and 1/350 scale ships mostly in styrene but i am very jealous of the selection available in 1/700 and it seems its growing by the minute. I like the idea of having complete battle groups with oilers,tenders and auxiliaries but its hard in big scales. How is the detail? Which brand(s) are best? Please convince me to try 1/700!!! Also what is the best scale to do the russian navy? 1/400 has a few but they are small radar ships or subs,nothing big. Is 1/700 the way to go with Combrig? Best regards Thanks Patrick -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Wannsee" Subject: Dreadnaught Model Hi Guys Could anybody let me know were I can get the 1/350 Dreadnaught in resin/brass? if possible in the UK otherwise the US using a credit card Many thanks Martin Foley mailto:naval@wannsee.co.za -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "DUCKMAN" Subject: P.E. Here's a no-brainer for ya'll. I am new to the photo-etch business and need info. about cementing in place. (NEATLY) DAVID -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com Subject: Re: Monitor & Merrimac plastic pair(s) Sean O'Brian - Ironclads question. One of the few advantages of being on the planet this long is that I remember some of this stuff. I built these kits too, a bit earlier (about 1960). There were two kits actually. The one you are referring to was originally marketed by Pyro Models (1953-1972). It had both ships at about the same length and the casement of the Merrimac was "built up" in 5 pieces and I never saw a copy of this kit that did not have severe warpage on the side pieces - which made assemblying it neatly a real challenge. Scale for these two was listed at 1/210 (Monitor) and 1/300 (Merrimac). There was another "pair" kit of these two ships where the models were in relatively the same scale. This was offered by Lindberg and was better not only in scale fidelity but the detail (while very heavy) was more interesting. The Merrimac was cast with the upper works (sloping casement) in one piece with the main deck level, a lower hull was attached underneath. This made the Lindberg set much easier to build, and the two models looked "right" together. This double kit was offered in their line as recently as three years ago as a "battle" set with a display base and might still be found in a few hobby shops. The scale for these two models is listed as 1/254. To confuse the issue even more, Lindberg bought all the old Pyro tooling back in 1978 when Life-Like (Pyro under a different name) folded, and they have issued the Pyro kit version at least twice under their (Lindberg) label. This kit (the one you remember) has been off the market for at least eight years. Pyro did another Civil War vessel also - the Harriet Lane, and it was one of their best kits. This kit has also been marketed as a "Blockade Runner", which is fairly legit, since the Harriet Lane was captured by the confederates at one point and briefly employed as such. Presumably Lindberg still has this tooling, and it would be nice to see the kit again - scale was listed as 1/124. My example from the late 1950's was molded in four colors of plastic (tan, light blue/gray, black, and white) and included a spool of thread for the rigging and real metal chain for the anchors - details that were omitted in the later more simplified versions of the kit that were also molded in only a single color - usually gray or light blue. Both the Harriet Lane and the Monitor /Merrimac kits were also issued under the "Life Like" (1973-1978) label, the company formed from Pyro assets, prior to the purchase by Lindberg. Hope all this trivia is useful in some way. Daniel Jones Plastic Ship Modeler magazine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: Rick Heinbaugh Subject: Pre-dreadnought Colours A few months ago, we had a thread about colors to paint all those multitudes of Kombrig & Modelkrak kits, since they don't come with the wonderful colour guidance that WEM & WSW provide on their Askold kits. I have determined that I am incapable of mining the SMML archives. I remember a posting that discussed the Russian ships of the period, including the different colors for each Russian Fleet. Can anybody point me back to that SMML issue? Thanks (and with great embarrassment) Rick Heinbaugh -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: Minadmiral@aol.com Subject: Re: R&R British BB Book >> You might find searching for chickens teeth easier!!!. I did the usual while searching for Raven & Roberts British battle ships of WW2, internet, Amazon on joy at all, went to my local library and bingo one copy. mind you it's held together with sellotape from everybody ripping the plans out and photocopying them. there must be a publisher out there willing to re print these R&R books, which in my view are the best for detailed drawings. << Hi; Go to: http://www.bookfinder.com/ Search for Out of Print and Used Books and search under "Raven & Roberts" in the "author" box. I found 1 used copy for $125. Go for it, I already have a copy. Chuck Duggie WoodenWalls Listmeister Naval wargamer, amateur naval historian, and ship modeler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "Cooper, Mike" Subject: Jap Sub Decks Dear SMMLies I noticed that I'm not the only one asking the awkward question about Jap WW2 submarine decks. You may remember that I asked if anyone could confirm a note I'd read that they used a bitumen compound, producing a black-ish tone. The fellow SMMLie mentioned seeing both light and dark decks. Neither myself, nor our the second SMMLie managed to provoke an answer, so could I ask a more direct question. Do you build Jap subs? If so what do you paint your decks, on the basis of what evidence? Cheers Mike Cooper Reading UK - Which is still just about here after last night's would be typhoon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "John Sheridan" Subject: Development of Naval Camouflage For those of you who are intested, I have uploaded all six chapters of "The Development of Naval Camouflage". These are the articles written by Alan Raven and appeared in Plastic Ship Modeler magazine. I would like to personally thank Alan Raven and Dan Jones for allowing me to transcribe these articles to our website. The URL for the articles is: http://www.shipcamouflage.com/development_of_naval_camouflage.htm John Sheridan www.shipcamouflage.com The only human to defeat the Minbari is behind me, you are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else. : Delenn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Mike" Subject: web site update Hi all, Just to letcha know, the latest set of Archives are available, and indexed. Also, Chris's photos will be on the site in the next few days - I'll let you know when I have them available. But I must say that the Spaniard looks very nice, and the Type 23.....lovely. Mike SMML Webmaster (from Sunny (?) England where we just had a tornado, and are about to have 90mph storms all over the South) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for backissues, Member's models & reference pictures at: http://www.smml.org.uk Check out the APMA site for an index of ship articles in the Reference section at: http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/apma.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume