Subject: SMML VOL 1078 Date: Thu, 30 Nov 2000 00:45:02 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Gold Anchors 2: Re: HMS Campbeltown 3: Re: homemade spraybooth 4: HMS Devonshire instructions 5: Samek Texas, Prinz Eugen 6: My parents' war and efficiency in war 7: Re: Korean Turtle ships 8: Re: Acoustic hammer 9: Where is Volume III 10: CVL-28 Cabot 11: Re: Marmite 12: Re: Casablanca class CVE 13: Re: Skywave 1/700 MTBs 14: Re: Spray Booth fan motors 15: Re: Looking for Bismarck / Yamato 16: Re: Pearl Harbor movie 17: Re: Pearl Harbor movie and Paltrow 18: bomb detonations: Hollywood vs Actual 19: Re: WARD/CAMBELTOWN 20: Re: Looking for a BIG Yamato 21: The Revell Z-1 and Skywave's MTB's kits 22: Russian DD Colours -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Tom Eisenhour Subject: Gold Anchors Hi gang, I was at US Naval Station Mayport, Florida recently, and noticed that several of the Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Burke-class destroyers had either one or both anchors painted a dull gold color. I asked an ensign from the USS Hue City why that was and he told me that it was an award for meeting a personnel retainage goal. Does anyone know if this is just an Atlantic Fleet practice or is it general throughout the USN? Tom Eisenhour -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: ALROSS2@aol.com Subject: Re: HMS Campbeltown >> Looking at the kit the the raised deck amdiships, between the second and third stacks, is open. There isn't a forward of aft bulkhead, just the port/starboard sides and the top deck. Is there supposed to be forward and aft bulkheads? << No; at least not as originally designed in their destroyer configuration. Al Ross -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: HPolvi@kgp.cclcustom.com Subject: Re: homemade spraybooth I haven't built one myself but I did see a basic concept in the Whole Earth catalog a few years ago. With this method you don't have to worry about sparks and flammable vapours. You can use the discharge end of a vacuum cleaner blowing into a 4" plastic pipe. The back of the spray booth is connected to the plastic pipe. You use the venturi principle of the moving airstream to create a suction on the back of the spray booth, which is then piped outdoors. Sort of like a bilge eductor with air instead of water.... Henry Polvi Thornhill, ON Canada -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Michael Dunn" Subject: HMS Devonshire instructions Hi, Just picked up the old Airfix 1/600 HMS Devonshire - first issue of the kit, I think. Looks nice apart from one problem - Airfix screwed up printing the instructions! I have the first/last pages on the other sheet as well! Does anyone out there have the full instructions of this kit? If so, could you scan them & email to me? Cheers, Mike SMML Webmaster -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: rweilach@mindspring.com Subject: Samek Texas, Prinz Eugen Has anyone purchased or seen the new 1/700 kits USS Texas and DKM Prinz Eugen by Samek Models? Can you give us a short review? Thanks, Rob -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Jens H. Brandal" Subject: My parents' war and efficiency in war I just thought I'd add my comments about experiences, efficiency and effectiveness in war. Fortuantely, I have not experienced war myself, and hopefully, I never will. My dad was a teenager during WW2, and my mother was born the year the Germans invaded Norway. Obviously she didn't recall much of it, but did tell me once about a German soldier who gave her a bar of chocolate. Not all Germans conformed with the popularised image of frantic nazis, and some Norwegian girls fell in love with German soldiers. After the war, "patriotic" Norwegians who didn't have the guts to oppose the people carrying guns and uniforms came out of the woodwork to shave their heads. Children who had German soldiers as fathers were mocked and treated in many cases like second rate citizens even well into the 1970s...this is nothing the Norwegian Government has reason to feel proud of. Anyway, spending a million dollar cruise missile to take out a handful of trucks or a hardened aircraft shelter (that may or may not be empty) may not sound terribly efficient in financial terms. That is unless you think of the potential damage weapons launched from or carried by the trucks can inflict. Or the, by Western standards, "dirt cheap" MiG-23 hiding in the shelter loaded with "bargain priced" iron bombs, should it penetrate the defences around a carrier... The rocket accidentaly launched from a plane on board the Forrestal was cheap, but it caused millions of dollars worth of damage, and several sailors their lives. A zodiac loaded with explosives nearly sunk the USS Cole. In war, you use the weapons that you think will do the job of neutralising your enemy, and you are prepared to sacrifice an expensive missile for occurring no losses yourself. Using laser guided bombs to hit a suspected ammunition storage in Kosovo is given priority over risking collateral losses. Besides; taking out a target for sure using LGBs saves sending further aircraft for a second bomb run when the defences will expectedly be stronger and hence risk losing a 20 million dollar plane and a trained pilot. >> Could be Diplomacy, for all its failures, is still the cheapest and most efficient way to resolve a potential conflict, << Yep. I'll raise my glass og 16 y.o. Lagavulin to that. Jens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Ken Goldman" Subject: Re: Korean Turtle ships There is a large scale model of a 15th Century Korean "Turtle" ship in the Ventura County Marine Museum in Oxnard, CA. You could try to contact them. Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER unique wood sculpture and fine scale models www.walruscarpenter.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "J. London" Subject: Re: Acoustic hammer There was I believe another use for this as a defence against acoustic torpedoes rather than mines. Called, to the best of my recollection, a FOXER it was towed behind a ship to create enough noise to attract acoustic torpedoes which, otherwise, would have homed in on the sound of the engines. Michael London -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Subject: Where is Volume III Dear Chuck and other interested SMELLIES What can I say. Volume 1 took Al Ross and I about 5 years of hard work, and Volume " almost 3. We both had full time jobs then, and enthusiasm. Our problem was (and I have to be careful here) The company that published was, Conway Maritime Press. In the early days it was great. I could put names to faces. I could ring up and I knew who I was speaking to. Volume 1 was published and both Al and I were greatly impressed. The staff knew what they were doing. (And our royalties were paid on time). We worked hard on Volume Two, but the parent company was taken over by Brassy's, No problems, it was the same crew, just different Chiefs. But royalties etc became late and phone calls were not returned. Volume 2 was published and the good news was that it was to be distributed by US Naval Inst. Press. We were on your side of the pond. Our contract said that we had 10% of foreign sales and to me USA is foreign. I was responsible for paying Al. I was still in contact with the people I knew and they informed me how sales were going. 10% of a £35.00 book is £3.50 and I expected a good result from these figures. When the royalties did arrive (5 months late, after many letters and calls, I worked it out that we received just .81p. All the people I knew had left and started Chatham Press (AND THEY ARE FIRST CLASS). Brassy's took them to court, and lost. In the meantime Conway was taken over by Batsford, and My mail and calls produced even less results. I returned my (our) advance for Volume 3 and informed them that I was not impressed, and that I wished to renegotiate the contract. (If things had not changed in the ten years for them then they certainly had for me). I had provided five chapters with Volume 2, including a short chapter on my errors in Volume 1. I was told that there was not enough room in volume 2 to include everything. That space for Volume 3 was short and that there would not be room to include Steam Gun Boats. I have written and telephoned on many occasions but have not once met a new face. But I have purchased a mass of original material covering British Power Boats, Camper & Nicholson, Thorneycroft etc designs. I visited the late George Selman and returned home with a mass of original previously unseen material. Last year things came to a head. I wrote a strong letter to the Company. (One of two). It was suggested by someone that they may not have received it and that it may be an idea to send it registered post. I sent an identical copy and lo and behold, I had an e-mail back the next day from the MD. I was informed that I would be contacted. I was! About a week later I received a letter saying that it was NOT their policy to ignore letters from their authors, but including my comments from my previously ignored letter about communication. It was suggested that we might like a meet to mend bridges. I said that I was ok about that, but that they would not like what I had to say. As I was visiting Gibraltar with my late Aunt in November 1999, it would have to wait until my return. They never did get back, but went into liquidation in December 1999. All is NOT lost. (OR IS IT)? The name has been resurrected. They are now part of Crysilis Books. I had heard that Volume 1 (Fairmiles etc) was to be reprinted in August 2000. (Note I was not told this directly, but through a contact who sells a large number of Coastal Forces publications). No Royalties have arrived directly, but some did arrive via Dr Andrew Lambert (Who is no relation, but was kind enough to pass them on). In the intervening years both Al and I are retired from full time employment. I spend as much time as I can producing warship and weapon drawings. I HAVE produced a number of drawings for any Volume III and I have carried out the research and purchased the material for the remainder. All the weapons are drawn. All communication with that company was in the 20th Century now. Volume 1 has NOT been reprinted and I do not own a "cowboy" hat. Make of these Facts what you will. Gentlemen (and Ladies) your guess is as good as mine. Other ex-authors of this same publisher are even more p....d off with this situation than Al and I. Very fortunately both Al and I are reasonably laid back. I have mentioned previously that I am considering producing bound drawings or Portfolios early next year. This is ongoing and I have a mass of new material that requires completing for my plans service. There just are not enough hours in the day. BUT I AM GETTING THERE! Yours "Aye" John Lambert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Shirley Sachsen Subject: CVL-28 Cabot the following was received at the Hornet yesterday from HNSA (Historic Naval Ships Assn): "The fight to save USS Cabot is over. The tremendous efforts over the past several years by ECOSAT and the USS Cabot Assn to save 'The Iron Woman' were not successful. Scrapping has begun. However all is not lost. Parts are being purchased by Fleet [ship museum members] and Associate members [individual members of HNSA] and others. Those who had asked the owner to be notified when the dismantling was to begin have been advised. USS Lexington, USS North Carolina, USS Saratoga Museum Fndn, Ocean Technical Services, and the Texas Air Museum have already made arrangements for purchase of various parts. All of the drawings and publications have been spoken for. There is much more material, however, that can be of significant value in [ship] restoration efforts. If you are interested, you should contact the owner, Mr. Sanjay Mehta of Maruti Steel, immediately and plan a trip to Brownsville if the items you are interested in are still available..." ...and another one bites the dust... This ship, more than the other carriers with hopeful fan clubs, was well worth the saving, since she was still in WWII configuration, but who really cares about a 'jeep' carrier? And to think she could have been bought outright for approx. $180K, bypassing all the hoops the Navy puts one through to acquire one of theirs... s -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Richard Baker" Subject: Re: Marmite if there is such a thing as an internet marmite mailing list, do they all talk about model ships? if so I think I'll subscribe to that!!! www.resolution.ic24.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Casablanca class CVE I've been hearing about this for some time and I have yet to see one from any major manufacturer in 1/700 (what! not in 1/350? :-)) Does anyone know when a 1/700 Casablanca class CVE might hit the market? Or should I buy one of Tom's? I've seen one built up and it's a wonderful looking model. Rusty White Flagship Models - Photo Etched Details for Warships http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ We now accept Visa & MasterCard world wide via Pay Pal "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Ken Hoolihan Subject: Re: Skywave 1/700 MTBs Hi Yohan, As far as I can tell, the British MTBs in the old Skywave set are intended to be 70' Vospers - the early type used in WW2. I built one last year using the Warship Profile as reference. There is a lot that needs to be changed/added to make an accurate model - even in 1/700 scale. I hope you have good eyesight or a strong magnifier. Ken Hoolihan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Spray Booth fan motors I used a cook top vent hood for mine. By code (at least here in Oklahoma) they are required to be sparkless due to possible buildup of grease and dust on the filter. So I guess if I'm going to be blown up, someone besides me will have to do it. A quick call to any electrician in your town (wherever that may be) can put your mind at ease. They would certainly be aware of the electrical code in your town. Rusty White Flagship Models - Photo Etched Details for Warships http://www.okclive.com/flagship/ We now accept Visa & MasterCard world wide via Pay Pal "Yeah I want Cheesy Poofs" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Ken P LeMaster" Subject: Re: Looking for Bismarck / Yamato Nichimo has a 1/200 scale and Arii has a 1/250 scale. Doyusha also had a 1/250 scale ship to match it's 1/250 Shinnano if you can find it. Otherwise, try some of the card model sites as there are card models in 1/200, 1/250, and 1400 that I can think of off the top of my head. These also could be used to make other scales by enlarging or shrinking copies of the sheets. Ebay has had the Nichimo and Arii kits several times. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: LtBarry22@aol.com Subject: Re: Pearl Harbor movie Hey Mike! I'm glad you responded, because I completely understand your point-of-view. I would probably feel the same way if I had served on one of those ships. I am happy to have read (on this list...) that the explosions that were set off, were only superficial and were kept to a minimum. Those explosions you see in the trailer, sure look like the whole damn ship was blown in half (I guess that was the point, eh?) I still think it a good use of a ship that was going to be scrapped, and who knows... Maybe, they won't scrap them after this, if enough people say something about it!? Again, I meant no disrespect. CGI would have looked like crap (ie Star Wars SE...), no matter who did the movie. PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH Barry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: isublett@home.com Subject: Re: Pearl Harbor movie and Paltrow Bikinis would be extremely anachronistic - which would seem to fit this production to a tee. Back to the TTT tape. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: GrafSpee34@aol.com Subject: bomb detonations: Hollywood vs Actual >> fireball that looked spectacular but there was no explosive power to it << Ahh yes, those big spectacular orange hollywood fireballs. You have to love those big puffy bursts of jellied high octane orange flame that erupt from artillery shells, plane crashes, car wrecks, volcanos, burning apartment buildings, bombs, hand grenades and broken household appliances. lf you are a good guy, you can outrun these explosions. If you are a bad guy, they are the only way you can be rendeded dead-dead-dead. Those Hollywood explosions are as fake and identical as the pointy little plastic surgeon-sculpted noses on the actresses faces. Sure, Hollywood SFX companies can digitally reproduce Battleship row down to the pimples on the sailor's faces, for a price. They can make a realistic looking bomb or shell detonation. They can create a Narvik class destroyer and don't need to use a ugly nasty fat Panamanian tugboat and call it a destroyer. But face it, the average joe movie goer doesn't know the difference between a Spruance class DD and a pipe wrench, let alone a four piper, and doesn't care. He wants to see big boobs and big explosions and maybe a truck with really big wheels on it smashing some other cars-- a Zero at or below 20 feet is an acceptable substitute. And that's just what he's gonna get. Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: Les Pickstock Subject: Re: WARD/CAMBELTOWN I've been following this thread with interest as I've nearly finished mine. The Bridge should br enclosed with a sloping roof that fits from below the rangfinder platform to the outside line of the Bridge I then fitted window frames from P/E and glazed them using wood glue. The midship gun decks sit on top of a square structure (which I believe was a Galley) creating 2 companion ways down either side. I have to say that I'am building mine in its RN Escort scheme so the Minesweeper configuration may well be different. To pick up on the fiction/film thread wasn't the USS CAINE suppose to be a 4 pipe Minesweeper? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: Mike Connelley Subject: Re: Looking for a BIG Yamato Howdy: If you want something between 1/350 and 1/72, there is the Nichimo 1/200 scale kit. Billed as the largest injection modled plastic kit ever, it's a dozie! The detail ranges from wonderful to weak, and with 600+ parts it'll keep you busy. The hull is great, but it you want to build something really accurate you might as well toss exerything else, then break out the sheet plastic and milliput! It's generally available from various places on-line for ~$300, but you can occasionally find it to much less (I got mine for $75). Beware, you too may become a Yamatoholic! There is also a large 1/250 kit from Arii. The detail is better, but the hull isn't as good. Actually, of all the 1/350 to 1/200 Yamato kits, the Nichimo kit has the best hull. Cheers Mike Connelley Yamatoholic #2 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: Craig R Bennett Subject: The Revell Z-1 and Skywave's MTB's kits Hi Guys Concerning anything about the two following kits. The Revell Z-1 and Skywave's MTB's kits. Well the Z-1 is actually the old The Sullivans DD-537 kit reissued under the Revell Germany label. However the real Z-1 was then former USS Anthony DD-515, one of six Fletcher class destroyers given to the old West German Navy in the earlier 60's. Building the kit would require rubber banding the hull and main deck togather for at least 24 hrs. She doesn't accurately present a west german ship but considering her scale she would be easy to make as late WW2 USN Fletcher class destroyer which would need some antiennas on the the aft 40mm mount to make in to the anti kamikaze AA refit of the summer 1945. When compared to a current Tamiya 1/350 Fletcher it's cheaper to have maybe not as accurate. The Skywave MTB's were one of the first they made back in the the 1970's. Having built them I got the impression they all early war. The S-boat were of the S-26-37 series, the PT's were of the Elco PT -103 -196 series and the Vospers were of the MTB57-66 series. Look at the decal sheet they have numbers for thoise kits they may give you insight to their identity. Craig -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "Cooper, Mike" Subject: Russian DD Colours Dear SMMLies Well...I'm shocked. I've managed to pay less than a £9.95 for a perfectly respectable resin kit. The last time i did that it was...er when I last paid less than a tenner for something else... But I digress... I bough the SAmek Russian Type 7 destroyer from White Ensign. On a quick check it looks fine but basic, and for the price I think even with some tweaking its good value. 1/ Does anyone know anything documented about Soviet colours for WW2? I have a russian booklet on the class, but I can't be sure of its colour data 2/ I also bought Saar, the U-boat depot ship. Anyone got any idea of which bits of deck were lino/wood/metal? Mike Cooper (Wet horrible Reading.....Oh...we're just unveiling our Oscar Wilde statue, and the library is running a small Wilde exhibition. If you're in town do have a look) PS. Swedish colours stuff is under preparation PPS. Marmite along with warm beer, grey mashed spud, the forward defence stroke, embarassment, and drizzle ranks amongst the greatest achievements of Anglo Saxon culture. I grew up on Marmite, and look what its done for me!!!! (He whezzed, whilst dropping another paracetamol...) PPPS. Singing in the rain is about to be re-issued over here. It features Cyd Charisse. Who's this Paltrow person? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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