Subject: SMML VOL 1057 Date: Wed, 08 Nov 2000 20:27:56 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Seals Models kit of MIKASA 2: Re: Ballard's Explorations 3: Re: Ships and ghosts 4: The U-505 5: Re: Celeb Veterans 6: Capture of the U-505 7: Celeb Veterans 8: Powerful footage in Yorktown program 9: Re: celebs 10: Remembrance Day 11: Trumpeter 1/350 IRN Heavy Cruiser Pola 12: Gel for simulating seas 13: Re: HMCS HAIDA CLOSED? 14: Re: Celebritys in Uniform 15: Veteran Celebs, specifically Humphry Bogart 16: Paddle-wheeler steamboat 17: Great Little Ships 1:72 Fittings for Flower Class Corvettes 18: Re: Ships Flag 19: Bits to do with battleships 20: celebs 21: What did you do in the war, Daddy? 22: RAN Colours 23: haunted hornet 24: Celebs 25: Telford etc 26: More celebrity servicemen.... 27: Celebs 28: chock full o' questions 29: More hauntings -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: The presses are rolling! 2: Model Ship Journal Takes A Vacation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Pletscher-Lenz-Schneider" Subject: Seals Models kit of MIKASA I just finished my model of MIKASA, and here is a short report for all who are interested: The Seals Models kit allows for building MIKASA either in her 1902 configuration with fighting tops on fore and main mast, or as she appeared at the time of the Battle of Tsushima. The fitting of parts is very good, and the detailing is excellent. The quality of this kit is comparable to the good ones among the Skywave kits. There are, however, some minor faults and some points which still can be improved: - First of all, the rings molded around the funnels have to be cut off. Photo references show that they were not there before WW 1. - For the 1902 version, those 3in (75mm) guns (parts C-23) at the beams of the fore and after superstructure (parts B-6 and B-5) have to be omitted. There were only those at the front of the fore superstructure and at the rear of the aft superstructure. Further, these 3in guns as well as those on the boat/battery deck (part B-21) had splinter shields until 1904. These shields are missing in the kit. So I took them from the Italeri kit of HOOD. - Like usual with Skywave kits, there are small rings molded on to indicate where guns, vents and mast have to be placed. It looks much better if you cut them off. - The gun ports at the ends of the boat/battery deck (part B-21) should be closed at the bottom with a small piece of styrene after the assambly. - The admiral's walk (part B-13) has neither a bulwark, nor a roof. Both should be supplemented. Part B-13 can be used as a template for the roof to be cut from thin styrene. The bulwark can be added from a small stripe of styrene, unless you can find a fitting PE part. - The davits are not bad at all, but look a little too thick. So I replaced them with brass rod. - A gaff should be added to the main mast. Finally some supports and struts below the bridge wings and the adding of ladders and some rigging will improve the overall appearance. Summing up, this is a real fine kit which requires only a few corrections, and, with some minor refinements, builds into a beautiful model, especially if you chose the 1902 version with its Victorian-style black and white paint. Falk Pletscher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "WEM" Subject: Re: Ballard's Explorations Frankly, I'd rather see him go after HOUSTON and PERTH than INDIANAPOLIS. And Bantan Bay/Sunda Straits is a heck of a lot smaller than the middle of the Pacific.... John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys http://www.shipcamouflage.com Gotta go now...I'm still in England and the sun just came out.. have to see what it looks like.... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "J. London" Subject: Re: Ships and ghosts The HORNET ghost brings to mind the apparition that appeared in 1893 following the sinking by collision of the battleship HMS VICTORIA off Tripoli (Lebanon). VICTORIA was flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet under Vice-Admiral Sir G. Tryon a real martinet and so feared that nobody dared point out to him that a manoeuvre he ordered placed them on a collision course with the battleship CAMPERDOWN. The collision occurred and VICTORIA went down taking the Admiral with it. His wife meanwhile was hosting a garden party at their home in England and several guests remarked to her that they didn't know that the Admiral was back in England claiming to have seen him at the party. The timing coincided with the sinking. Quoted by Richard Hough in his book "Admirals in Collision". Michael London -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Ray Mehlberger" Subject: The U-505 Last night, on the Discovery Channel, they ran a program on the Capture of the U-505. I noticed in all the pictures in books...and the film on that show last night....that ...when captured... the U-505 had a insignia of a shield with what looks like a bomb burst on it. This was not left on the boat when it made it to the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry. Does anybody have a close-up picture or drawing of what this insignia looked like. I want to do a U-505...but would like that authentic marking on mine. Regards, Ray Mehlberger -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: John_Impenna@hyperion.com Subject: Re: Celeb Veterans Hi All, I don't think anyone mentioned Humphrey Bogart. He served in the Navy during WWI. Regards, John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Capture of the U-505 I stumbled across on the Discovery channel last night a program that covered in terrific detail the whole story of the U-505 and it's capture by the USS Guadal Canal. It was great. They will surely run it again, perhaps over the weekend. Keep a close eye on you TV guides! It had lots of interviews with crew members and captains of both vessels as well interviews with crewmen of the USS Pillsbury. I have been aware of the capture of the U-505, but I learned a lot about many things I didn't know. A great program. Definitely worth recording. As soon as that program was over, I was surfing through the channels a came across the National Geographic special on Bob Ballards search for the Kaga and Yorktown! I was in the recliner for 6 hours last night. I watched the U-505 program twice! It was replayed 2 hours later right after the National Geographic program was over! I can't remember the last time I was in front of the TV that long. Rusty White Flagship Models - Photo Etched Details for Warships http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ Order online with Visa & Master card (US only) "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: Celeb Veterans >> Oh, I am not sure if he was metioned, but didn't Jimmy Stewart serve as a pilot as well? << That would be Brigadier General James Stewart, US Air Force Reserve. Something he didn't talk about much, and which was not mentioned in his obituaries, at least in my local papers. As previously mentioned, the US Naval Instititute publishes three books about celebrities in uniform, one each for the Navy, Marines, and Army/Air Force. Joe Poutre -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Powerful footage in Yorktown program One more notable piece of footage I noticed in the Yorktown program was striking. While a crew member was describing the attack on the Yorktown, they ran some footage (I assume it was of the Yorktown, but it could have stock footage) that showed the power of the bomb that hit the carrier. For some reason, someone was filming the attack and was facing the stern of the carrier where an aircraft was sitting on deck. When the bomb hit the deck, the blast was so powerful it literally bounced the aircraft about 12" off the deck. It was obvious the Yorktown was traveling at high speed to port because when the aircraft left the deck it "took flight" and bounced sideways to starboard. It bounced three times until it went over the side of the ship! It traveled a good thirty feet from where it was originally. That was some powerful footage! Rusty White Flagship Models - Photo Etched Details for Warships http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ Order online with Visa & Master card (US only) "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Mike Settle Subject: Re: celebs >> Jimmy Stewart (who?, never mind) on the other hand was a bomber pilot. Ted Williams (baseball) flew fighters in Korea. << Jimmy Stewart also stayed in the Reserves after active duty, and obtained the rank of General. SAC is still my favorite Jimmy Stewart movie. Mike Settle I am not agent #1908 of the non-existent Lumber Cartel (tinlc)tm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "J.Pasquill" Subject: Remembrance Day >> We remember and are grateful to those who served in order to secure our futures throughout the year but especially on Remembrance Day. << Yes indeed. You know in college some acquaintances did not understand my interest in modeling military subjects. I was sometimes accused of glorifying war and the military. This was just silly of course but it is sad that there are people that regard the production of a model as glorification. We model for many reasons mostly because we love to model, partly because we marvel at the technology that humans have created and want to recreate it miniature, but also because we want to either understand or to remember and remind others of what war and military power is and represents, both good and bad. When I build a ship, plane, or tank or visit a real one as my kids and I did in Baltimore last week I marvel at how complicated they are and how men and woman could not only design these huge mechanical contraptions but then learn how to run them and use all the equipment in them, and not only do their jobs, but do them under the most adverse of conditions. These men and woman deserve public acknowledgment of respect at least one day a year for sure. Unfortunately, here in the US veterans seem to be losing the battle to save their day. This year the day falls on a weekend so more people can attend parades but probably won't. Last year the day fell on a Friday. Banks were closed as were a few government offices. All other businesses were open. Shops were open. The school children went shopping or to the movies while adults that were lucky enough to be out of work finished raking their leaves before winter set in. The university I work at held classes as it does every Veteran's Day (and Fourth of July!). All the media attention resulting from recent movies and books about World War II and W.W.II veteran's did not change the fact that most of the people that come out to see a parade were the families of those marching in it while everybody else barely noticed the day at all. Sad. Jim P. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Trumpeter 1/350 IRN Heavy Cruiser Pola I just received a kit thru Pacific Front Hobbies, from Trumpeter, out of China, of the W.W.II Italian Navy heavy cruiser Pola. Not bad! It is not the best kit, and by no means as good as the 1/350 Tamiya kits, or for that matter any of the better 1/350 resin kits, but a good starting point. It does appear to be an enlarged version of the 1/400 kit from Tauro of Italy. Not very detailed, but as I stated earlier, a good place to start from. With some various photo etch sets from Gold Medal Models W.W.II subjects, this could be built into a very nice model. In my opinion, the Zara class Italian cruisers were very handsome ships, the Pola, built as a flagship with a different bridge, was the finest of the class. For the $24 price tag, I felt it was a good purchase. Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Kelvin Mok" Subject: Gel for simulating seas This question often comes around on what to use to simulate the wake of a ship on a sea and the best material recommended so far is the Acrylic Gel as used by artists. I was in a curio shop recently and was fascinated by the novelties where gel type candle wax is used to portray a variety of eye catching household items such as a fruit cocktail and other well-known mixes. The gel can be transparent or look colourful and realistic as a sugared cherry. While the wax sculpture jiggles when shaken it is mechanically strong enough to revert back to its original state without fracturing or the parts separating. This looks like an excellent modelling medium and it certainly costs a lot less than acrylic gel. A small block the size of a thick slice of bread cost less than $5 for example. The wax is easily melted for pouring and can be dyed to any colour. I haven't tried it yet but probably by blending with regular wax its hardness can be varied. The wax can also be moulded in complex shapes as the "fruits" and stir sticks in that cocktail look pretty convincing. It is safe enough a material to have as a kitchen curio and the shelf life is probably good. Kelvin Mok -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Bob Pearson" Subject: Re: HMCS HAIDA CLOSED? >> I enjoyed the Warship Walkaround that Bob Pearson did on Internet Modeler for HMCS HAIDA, but he said the ship was closed to the public. Anyone know the circumstances (not that I'll be in the Toronto area anytime soon)? << Hi Mike, Sorry, I should have said it was closed until later in the year when I visited. There were dates posted, but I forgot what they were. It is probably closed for the winter now, but perhaps some Toronto-based listee can provide more information. Regards, Bob Pearson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Robert Healy" Subject: Re: Celebritys in Uniform To All, The Naval Institute Press has published three or four books on the subject of "Stars in Uniform". The first focused on US navy vets, the next were US Army and US Marine stars. You can see a review (and order) from the USNI site (They usually slash prices once or twice a year for sales). As for the Hornet and the ghosts in the Naval History Mag... I agree to a point that it may not fit in a true historical context. But, I showed it to my nine year old daughter who has no interest in anything nauticle...but ghosts, yes!. She enjoyed the read and we were able to connect...just a bit on the subject. So, in a way it was a good thing. Bring the young aboard, they are our future. Remeber when you were young? We all had to start somewhere and Janes was not the first on the pleasure reading list for a 8 or 9 year old... Fair Winds and Following Seas to All, Bob Healy Ashburn, VA. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: AandMBlevins@gateway.net Subject: Veteran Celebs, specifically Humphry Bogart If you have the opportunity to visit the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery Maine, (or Portsmouth, New Hampshire depending on whom you listen to), you can still see a plaque near the entrance of the now unused Portsmouth Naval Prison that explains Humphry Bogart's injured lip. According to the plaque, Bogart was detailed as a "prisoner chaser" escorting a sailor who had been sentenced to the daunting facility. The man asked for a last cigarette before entering and, as Bogart was lighting the smoke with his cigarette lighter, the sailor smashed him in the face in an attempt to escape. I don't believe the erring sailor escaped. Regards, Al Blevins -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Tom Detweiler Subject: Paddle-wheeler steamboat This is completely out there, relative to Vol. 1056 - BUT it is ships related: I am interested in building an operating model of a paddle-wheeler steamboat, of the same type that brought the fortyniners up the California rivers from San Francisco, via the delta and points West. There were over three hundred of these small steam packets running back and forth delivering wanna-be miners and supplies, and making good money at it too. In that time period, all were steam powered and most probably stern or side wheel shallow-draft paddlewheelers. Most were small but there were some larger boats involved-that much I've found out from searching around on the websites. So the "usual" sites on the web with good search engines, I've found. Have any of you built anything like that, or know of any live model resources that search engines might miss? I'd like to correspond with anyone who has researched or built this type of model. As to Why: I live in Gold Rush country, in the Sierra foothills. My wife's family were one of the founding families in California (the Reeds of Donner-Reed party fame). And I just dug out a farm pond! Tom Detweiler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Great Little Ships 1:72 Fittings for Flower Class Corvettes At last, nearly four weeks after I ordered them from David J Parkins, my two samples have arrived. If only I had waited until I attended the IPMS(UK) Nationals I could have collected them there and then. These reviews will simply be a close look at the sets - 16' Dinghy & Stowage Set and 20mm Oerlikon AA Gun Set - as I have not yet had the opportunity to build them. Both sets arrived in A4 plastic bags with the etched brass and resin and/or white metal castings attached to a cardboard sheet. Included were a set of instructions which are very clear and easy to follow. 16' Dinghy & Stowage Set This set comprises a nicely cast resin hull, some white metal parts (oars, griping spar and davits) and a sheet of etched brass. The resin moulding is very fine with both external planking and internal ribs - just a little cleaning up needed. Construction starts with the addition of an etched brass gunwale and, after folding, the gratings or floorboards. The thwarts, complete with knees, are next. Bilge keels are also included as are the eyes for the safety ropes along both sides of the hull. The rudder (two different styles are provided - one for Canadian ships and the other for UK ships) is made up of a sandwich of four parts of brass to increase its thickness. Finally rowlocks are fitted and oars made from a combination of the etched brass blades and the white metal castings. The chocks are also made up of a number of layers of brass, parts being supplied for both port and starboard stowage. The white metal davits can be installed on the boat, complete with etched brass blocks and ropes, again laminated brass. A winch assembly is also provided. 20mm Oerlikon AA Gun Set This set actually makes two guns and four ammunition lockers. The ammunition lockers, of different sizes, are made by simply folding etched brass. The large locker can be modelled with it's lid open and eight cast ammunition drums are provided for fitting inside. The white metal castings comprise a base (for which etched brass overlays are provided), a pedestal and a barrel for each gun. The cradle, gun sight and shoulder supports are all provided in etched brass as is the shield (again a two layer lamination). These sets are certainly a great improvement over the original items included in the kit. I have my concerns about laminating together brass sheet to obtain the required thickness - will I be able to line them up properly and smooth the edges so that they look solid? To purchase the complete set is going to be some considerable financial outlay but there is no doubt the final model will be a great improvement on the original. Is it good value for money? Les Brown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: SMAtouche@aol.com Subject: Re: Ships Flag Hi All Don't remember the description of the flag in question, nor the vol. number where it was described. If you can come back with the info, I have a buddy that was a signalman in WW2, from 1940 to 1946. In Both the Pacific and Atlantic theaters. Perhaps he can help. Paul Shay -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Bits to do with battleships Hi Jon >> Chris is entitled to his opinion, of course. I personally think that constructing an analytic model of a domain space as complex as a battleship design is pretty damned tough to do. << That is something I agree with, the problem with the combined fleet model is that it rather reads like the Furishita's Fleet (have I got that right?). The combined fleet model relies on dubious analysis methods and simplifies its subject. >> As a business analyst by trade, I am *keenly* aware that one can get carried away with one's models and devolve into "spreadsheet masturbation." Nevertheless, with a complex problem like this, where *everyone* has their favorite pet battleship, I think it's important to try and keep things as quantifiable and objective as possible. A numeric rating system is the best way I know how to do that. << I try to avoid pet battleships but I look at actual combat and damage and how the ships performed. The problem with a numerical system is that it is more vulnerable to bias and distortion. Values assigned to the various factors are to a large extent a matter of judgement. This is even more so when the information used is dubious and the assumptions it is based on questionable. For example, the value of inclined armour and the over rating of US armour. >> Bottom Line: I know my model isn't perfect, but I did the best job I was able to do, and it at least provides a basis for people to begin developing their own opinions. And frankly, if I have people like William Garzke, as well as the assembled folks on the fire-control discussion group I belong to (Nathan Okun, Jim O'Neil, Bill Schliehauf, Mike Ley, et. al., all of whom are acknowledged experts in their respective fields), telling me that they think it's basically a pretty fair, objective model, then that's about as high a praise as I could hope for. << Having corresponded with Nathan Okun I am not impressed, anyone who can contradict himself by writing one thing and then affirming to me the exact opposite (armoured conning towers) does not fill me with confidence about his abilities. His articles are not particularly well researched from the point of view of what actually happens in battleship engagements - oh there are lots of nice formulae and such like but not much in the way of perception (we had a saying in the RAF - if you can't dazzle them with diamonds baffle them with bullshit). >> If you don't like my exercise, then you need to come up with something better, Chris. << Why? I am OK with the principle of if you stick your head above the parapet be prepared to have your head shot off. But why do I want to develop a numerical model when I consider it the wrong way of analysing battleship performance? This is your exercise but don't expect me to keep quiet just because you've done it and I haven't. I know the subject as well as and probably better than all the people you name (modest aren't I?) but I don't waste my time looking for a black cat that isn't there. Cheers, From: Joel Labow Hi Joel >> Research with which one disagrees is ALWAYS 'dubious' and my sources are ALWAYS superior in every way to your sources! << You're obviously not familiar with historical research techniques and institutions of higher learning - but seriously one always agrees with research that fits ones prejudices >> If this bedrock principle were not so most institutions of higher learning and their associated publishing houses would immediately close their doors! I persist in my naive and untutored way in finding the site entertaining and instructive. The intense fascination with the battleship is truly remarkable.....in my early days I served in DDs and DEs and to my knowledge have never seen any discussions as to which of those breeds were 'baddest!' << There is a lot on the site which is excellent for which Jon is to be congratulated but not all of it is and this numerical analysis method is flawed and based on dubious presumptions. Read David Brown's books they're interesting because he actually designed warships and so knows exactly what he's talking about. I suspect you'll be pleasantly surprised. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: rweilach@mindspring.com Subject: celebs If memory serves correctly, Walter Kronkite (sp) dropped in Operation Market Garden with the 101st Airborne in Holland behind enemy lines. Also, Andy Rooney was in the Operation Torch landings in North Africa. I think both were combat reporters at the time. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: AJOWENS@aol.com Subject: What did you do in the war, Daddy? Interesting and timely thread - My late father was in the 2nd wave on Utah Beach, served in Patton's army with a 155mm self-propeled howitzer. Survived the Battle of the Bulge as well but never did care to talk much about it and I respected that. He retraced the route he took across Europe with my mother in 1985. Saw himself in Germany on an episode of 'World at War' on tv one night and pointed it out to me. My uncle Joe Henry was a Marine and radioman/gunner in a TBF Avenger in the South Pacific. Another friend's father served aboard the USS Reuben James (not the 4-piper that was sunk) and the USS Mississippi in the South Pacific - same friend's father in law was a Marine at the same time and met his dad aboard ship during the war as they were both from the same town! A.J. Owens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "M & R Brown" Subject: RAN Colours Bob, If you go back a day or two to my message on RN Counties, the RAN decks were the same colour as the RN. Standards Australia "adopted" many British Standard colours under AS2700 and changed the name and number. Thus, the RAN's deck grey colour Pewter (N63) is actually BS381C 632 Dark Admiralty Grey. The paint actually arrives from the manufacturer marked Dark Admiralty Grey! The current deck paint is the same as the US Navy uses, so whatever you use for them would be the colour. The green grey is N42 Storm Grey and Vampire wore it all her life. We believe that she would only have had green decks early in her life, grey decks would have been used most of the time. Her turrets at one stage had the grey patches on the roof. The style of pennant number changed 3 times during her life as well. Michael Brown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: "S Sachsen" Subject: haunted hornet >> My objection to the whole thing is that it takes away from this historical aspect of the HORNET and she is only be publicized because of the "ghosts". << AMEN!! and it doesn't help that the ghost aspect is all that gets promoted... s -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: "John Rule" Subject: Celebs Now don't gt carried away. I don't think that David Niven served in the OSS. Nor was he dropped behind the enemy lines. He was however a serving officer in the British Army. He did work on movies during his service. Although he probably met Peter Ustinov during his war career, and may even have worked on movies together, I don't think they wer dropped behind enemy lines although I suppose Mr Ustinov could clarify this point. John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: "John Rule" Subject: Telford etc I got home at the weekend and have just caught up with my email. Telford was amazing, even though I only managed to spend one day there. It took me seven hours to walk around the show just once. It was like an Aladdin's Cave of vendors. There were people literally from all over the world, not least some of our illustrious members. I regret I did not have time to see more of them but was very to renew acquaintance with those I did. I left the show to visit France with one more suitcase than I arrived with, thanks to White Ensign and others. My library expanded again. In France I acquired some magazines which appear excellent and may encourage me to improve my limited French. The photographs in the magazines are of excellent, even though at times the captions are in error. I have taken out a subscription to Navires et Histoires which is a beautiful publication, with a broad spread of topics. The magazine's production is of a very high quality and I would recommend it to anyone with a basic knowledge of French. While in France, I had a short (too short) visit to Toulon, where I did manage to visit the Musee de Marine, where I acquired more bibliography, but regrettably due to a lack of time, and having other commitments (my wife was with me), I was unable to tour the harbour which was filled with vessels of the French Navy from Aircraft Carriers down. On another note, H. John Lambert, I look forward to your release of reduced size collections of drawings. It was great to see you again. I don't remember anyone mentioning it, but what about that model of the Titanic resting on the seabed! Wow! The general level of modelling I witnessed at Telford was excellent, and the exceptional level was breathtaking. The models of the Russian pre-dreadnoughts were excellent (Jim Bauman I think), but all the more when you think of their humble beginnings as Modelkrak kits. To all those I saw at Telford, God bless and to those I didn't, I'm sorry. John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) From: Jodie Peeler Subject: More celebrity servicemen.... hi all.... Felix Bustelo wrote: >> I know that many ball players served, but these are the ones that came off the top of my head. << In addition to all the ones you named, Johnny Sain, a right-hander for the Boston Braves, was a Navy test pilot during the war. Before the war he was a fair-to-middling pitcher, but after his hitch, he began applying aerodynamic principles to his pitching, and became an ace pitcher. (His stablemate with the Braves, Warren Spahn, fought at the Battle of the Bulge.) Sain later became a highly-regarded pitching coach, most notably with the Yankees.... Regarding Kirk Douglas' naval service, he mentions a story in his memoir "The Ragman's Son" in which he describes how he almost blew up his ship, PC-1139, with a depth charge. He told this story, quite self-deprecatingly, on David Letterman's show one night, and it was hilarious.... jodie (promising to get back to ship modeling!) http://www.mindspring.com/~raisingirl/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27) From: "Doug Wilde" Subject: Celebs And there is Donald Pleasence. You may remember him as "The Forger" in "The Great Escape" (1963). Apparently his character was somewhat autobiographical. While a guest on The Tonight Show with Johnnie Carson he mentioned that he flew missions over Europe, I believe on a bomber. In order to keep the microphones from freezing-up from condensed breath, the crew put codoms on (the microphones). And because they were rather delicate and tended to rip, the crew carried extras in their pockets. Well they were shot down and captured. During interrogation they had to empty their pockets and out come all these packets of rubbers. A very proper Teutonic officer comes up, picks up one of the packets and says, Vell, you'll not be needing these for a while!" Doug Wilde -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28) From: "JAmes McCormick" Subject: chock full o' questions Well, not really, but... I am currently building a 1/350th scale Bunker Hill class Cg (Lake Erie). Yes, the dragon kit. I have the hull and deck together, but it required... shall we say... extensive sanding to get the deck flush with the hull (or is it the other way around? Must be a perspective kind of thing!) Anyhow, I have removed all of chocks and bollards in the process. How do I recreate them? Or even do I bother? I do plan to add PE rails someday, not sure if these get in the way, or not. In any case, any comments or suggestions would be appreciated, as always. TIA! p.s. I'm hoping nobody suggests that old aircraft modeler trick of stretched sprue! Jim Mc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29) From: Tom Detweiler Subject: More hauntings RE the Hornet, it's not just that illustrious ship which is haunted, as this anecdote relates. My daughter's CG is currently in overhaul in San Diego, and the crew stands watch on a crew/supply barge that she says is "older than any ship in the harbor", barge number 18. She says: "... mom talked with Janny last night.. she is on watch on a barge near her ship, apparently holding supplies for repair of her ship. In the middle of the night Janny had so she asked the one and only other female sailor if she could rest awhile. The lead said yes and gave her a key to the only female lounge on the barge, kept locked while the girls are in it for obvious reasons. Janny locked the door and layed down on the couch and started to take a nap when a guy walked in dressed in typical sailor uniform and Janny said " hey, what the h--l are you doing in here?" and the guy looked at her and said "just looking for Kessler" and she said back "well get out of here" and he did, walking back out right through the locked door! Janny figured by default this was a ghost but decided it didn't bother her enough to keep her from her nap. Just as she was dozing off again someone plunked themselves right down next to her on the couch, so she said aloud, "give me some space...!" but when she looked up, noone was there. Well she got tired of that and left the lounge and told the other girl about it, who had not previously believed in ghosts but is wondering now. They tried to look up the name Kessler on the barge computer, but didn't find anything. So what they need to do is to look through records from earlier to see if they can find out where this barge had been, find lists of names for it and so forth. Any ideas as to how they might go about this? I have heard theories predicating that some "ghosts" are not disembodied spirits of the dead, but are some kind of projection of energy "stored" like a tape recording in the physical surroundings. The decks, the bulkheads, overheads, the mass of the ship itself, store energy and for some reason "plays back" sequences of events and personnel. We are, after all, a kind of electrical phenomena ourselves. Who knows, maybe some people while alive have sufficient energy to "record" themselves in their surroundings, especially in traumatic events. Others many years later are sensitive enough to "pick up" the recordings. Just a 'ghost of an explanation' for the skeptical... Tom D. in very haunted Gold Rush Country, California... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: The presses are rolling! Hi all, Steve from Classic Warships. I just dropped off the final proof's at my printer for both books, # 9 Yorktown Class Carriers, and # 10 Indianapolis & Portland. The presses are rolling as we speak. I should be shipping books to all distributors and dealers by the end of the month. I think all of you who are my customers will really like both, as they are packed with over 120 photos each, in my new expanded versions, of 64 pages. For those of you who have not purchased one of my publications, you are missing out on some of the best photo reproduction in the world. Try one, you will be surprised! Thanks, Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: Model Ship Journal Takes A Vacation Model Ship Journal & Photomarine Archives' office will be closed for vacation from November the 8-16th. For those of you who wish to subscribe to MSJ, please either leave a message on our answering machine or drop us a note via e-mail. We're going to take a slow train to Central California and watch the vegetables grow... Sure will miss my SMML companions, tho. All my best, Victor Baca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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