Subject: SMML VOL 1091 Date: Tue, 12 Dec 2000 23:05:04 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Exhibits, etc 2: This Vegemite Thing..... 3: Lacroix IJN cruiser books 4: 1/700 Matchbox Arizona - After-Market "Stuff"??? 5: PC 1264/Arizona/sacrifices 6: Re: WEM 1/700 Warspite enquiry 7: PC1264 - I stand corrected 8: Heroic self sacrafice(nearly) 9: IJN aircraft 10: Heroic Self Sacrifice 11: Remembering Pearl Harbor 12: Re: HP kits 13: Re: Heroic Self-sacrifice scenes 14: Self Sacrifical Moves 15: Bring Kids up Right 16: CVAN 65 Enterprise 17: Re: Zhong Shan 18: Arizona wreck drawings 19: Re: Trivia 20: model boats uss vermont uss north carolina 21: Re: watercolors 22: Re: Question 2 - Heroic Self-Sacrificial Scenes? 23: White Ensign DDG-2 Kit 24: An awful ommission 25: Re: HP Models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation 1: Small Warship SIG Website 2: The New IPMS Ship Column - HELP! (please) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Essex carriers book for sale 2: GMM PE for Tamiya 1/700 USS Indianapolis 3: For sale 4: MODEL SHIP JOURNAL-Where Are You? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: corlasvan@webtv.net (Case Van Hoboken) Subject: Exhibits, etc Hello, I am, what some folks may call, a " Recreational model builder"; just like I was a "recreational" skier, i.o.w. I like to do it, and I'm not too bad at it, but the products very probably wiil not measure up to the standards most of you folks adhere to. However, I gave myself some criteria to work with: I was in the Dutch Navy, subs, and naval aviation, and I have built only models of MILITARY AIRCRAFT I have flown (in),and I have been lookng for a kit to build a British WW2 T-Class sub. Some of you folks may have noticed my requests for info for such a kit, via this medium. All my models, of which I have sixteen by now, were built, using the various plastic (Revell, etc.) kits. I AM a great admirer, however, of the products which some folks, like you, are able to create, many-if not most- built from scratch! Some beautiful specimens are in the Marine ....Museum in San Pedro, California; I think it's called the Cabrillo Marine Museum. I, myself, live in Huntington Beach, about midway between Long Beach and Newport Beach. What I would like to know (....finally !, you might say?.....), where do folks like you-all show (off?) your models, periodically ? In my general area, of course. Do you have "get-togethers", from time to time, and where / how can I find-out about these ? I really would appreciate any directions and / or guidance ! Meanwhile, awaiting the many (?) responses, I would like to wish you all a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, and best wishes for the NEW YEAR, 2001. (already ?, how time flies !) Case Van Hoboken. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Watrtrck@aol.com Subject: This Vegemite Thing..... I think that all us smmlies need to corodinate a massive Vegemite purchase and we can all try this stuff and figure out if this stuff is a sealant or a foodstuff. Now I would love to be in charge of this project but I'm in the process of moving and critical packing of built up models is taking all my personal, mental resources........... Mike (Homer) P.S. Would this stuff be any good on Cheesy Poofs or Pizza? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Katherine Reddy" Subject: Lacroix IJN cruiser books Eric Lacroix/Linton Wells III terrific book " Japanese Cuisers of the Pacific War" is available at Barnes & Noble. I picked one up last month for $55.00 and they are now listed at $45.00. Try to pick it up at a B&N store - the shipping could be quite a bit. This is a heavy (weightwise) book. Hope you have get one in your stocking for Christmas. By the way I ordered it and had my wife pay for it as my birthday present. You can't be too suble or you'll get clothes - spouse just love to dress us up the way they think we really want to look. Comfort is of no concern! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Ned Barnett Subject: 1/700 Matchbox Arizona - After-Market "Stuff"??? Anybody know sources on aftermarket brass or resin or even plastic to dress up the 1/700 Matchbox Arizona? Yeah, it's a dog (and an old dog), but I bought it on December 7 and I'd like to make a waterline scene moments before the attack. So I'd like "stuff" to make it look better. I do have some decent resources (including that herkin' big book on the Arizona and the new softbound book on Pearl Harbor) on how the Arizona looked right before the attack, but I don't have a line on things that would create a better-looking ship (rails and ladders, guns, what-nots, etc. And don't lecture me on the illogic of buying a cheap kit (instead of a better one) then loading it up with expensive after-market stuff. Please (I've already figured it out - but, if you have a "better" Arizona, I'd be glad to know that, too ... ). Thanks Ned -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Keith Butterley Subject: PC 1264/Arizona/sacrifices Hi, According to the NIP catalogue blurb: "Over strong opposition, PC 1264 went to sea with a crew of fifty black enlisted men and five white officers." Apparently the captain (Purdon) had only been to sea for a total of ten days. I am sure I saw some drawings of the Arizona as she is, on a US government web site. I mention this because it was brought to our attention before, by another list member. Or at least I think it was, the memory being the second thing to go and all that. Ned: HMS Jervis Bay (AMC) was blown to bits in twenty minutes by the Scheer on November 5, 1940. The captain (Fegen) won a posthumous VC for his actions, that saved for the most part, convoy HX84. Another AMC, HMS Rawalpindi had the misfortune of running in to both the Scharnhorst and Gneisnau on November 23, 1939. That action lasted only about ten minutes. She took a couple of hours to sink though. Happy modeling Keith Butterley http://www.warshipbooks.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "WEM" Subject: Re: WEM 1/700 Warspite enquiry Hi Adrian, Re your WEM 1/700 Warspite query, The directors, parts 85, fit onto the pillars cast on either side of the upper bridge, part 71, as shown in the drawing on page 10 of the instructions. The directors themselves are rotated so as to point towards the target when in use, with the solid, slightly elongated, side being the front i.e. the side pointed at the enemy, and the hollow area being the top. I hope this is of some help. If all is not clear, please get back to me. All The Best Caroline Carter White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Felix Bustelo Subject: PC1264 - I stand corrected Hi Folks, I gave the wrong answer. PC1264 was the first USN ship to be manned by an African American crew (not PC1261 as I stated yesterday). I did find the book on PC 1264- I mentioned on the Naval Institute Press website - http://www.nip.org/webstore/databaseform.asp?bookisbn=1557506582&cartid=nkbq2796ff690869 Humbly yours, Felix Bustelo International Maritime Modeling URL: http://members.tripod.com/~Febus65/imm.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Sean Pritchard" Subject: Heroic self sacrafice(nearly) Hi Ned, Your post on the Gloworm incident reminds me of a similar one that took place in the Indian Ocean, between 2 Jap AMC's and a Royal Indian Navy minesweeper escorting a merchant ship- Sorry I have to be vague, but someone else will no doubt put names/dates to it. Briefly a lucky hit from the 'sweepers pop gun set off ammo and blew one of the (large and quite well armed) Amc to bits. Does anyone know what I'm talking about(as I don't!) Sorry but my WW2 reference material has been thinned out in favour of modern stuff. Sean. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Jeff Herne" Subject: IJN aircraft >> IJN shipborne carried IJN N2 Green on the upper surfaces, A/N 1 Light Gray on the undersurfaces, << >> The color was not grey. You can read the current research yourself at... << Well then I guess that many of the pieces of Japanese aircraft I have here at my museum with gray paint on them must be counterfeits. Anyone therefore interested in this obviously bogus collection of Japanese aircraft parts? - 2 parts from A6M5 Zero mod 52, including data plate, shot down by USMC CMH holder Lt. Col. Kenneth Walsh. (from his estate) - Piece of sheet metal from a what was later identified as a G3M Nell, from the estate of Brig. Gen. Cornelius Kraissl, Flight Surgeon, 14th AF, China. - Elevator section from N1K1 George. - Hull section from H8K, taken off a/c in 1945 and stored. - Internal Wing Spar Section and bell horn taken from Ki-84, Honshu 1946. - 12 IJN/IJA instruments, stolen by an occupation Marine in 1945. - Japanese Parachute, packed, complete with 5 point harness and original packing box. Jeff Herne Director, NJ Aviation Hall of Fame & Museum -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Heroic Self Sacrifice Hi Ned The following Rawalpindi (AMC) against Scharnhorst, 23.11.39 Jervis Bay (AMC) against Admiral Scheer, 5.11.40 Ardent and Acasta against Scharnhorst and Gniesenau, 8.6.40 - trying to protect Glorious There are others where the ships that should have lost actually won. Battle of Sirte and Battle of the Barents Sea spring to mind. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Burl Burlingame / Pacific Monograph Subject: Remembering Pearl Harbor I must have forgotten that I distribute the Arizona Memorial's "Remembering Pearl Harbor," which is actually the history of the ship and the memorial itself. Non-memorial price is $9.95 plus $3.50 S&H. It would also be a good idea to redo the books web page, hey? Burl Burlingame Pacific Monograph, 1124 Kahili Street, Kailua HI 96734 808-263-6087 buzz@aloha.net A historical interpretation company. Visit our web sites at http://www.PacificHistory.com/ and http://www.PacificHistory.net "He's supposed to be dead. This is vexing. I am terribly vexed." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com Subject: Re: HP kits Steve Wiper writes: >> I have seen there kits, and despite what some "Critics" have said, these are pretty darn good models. I just saw the 1/700 SMS Scharnhorst armoured cruiser kit, and it was great! I recommend them. << Since I am probably one of the "critics" being referred to here I feel a reply is in order. I have written some negative comments about HP kits here on this list as well as in my magazine. There is good reason for that. The problem with HP kits is you never know what you will get when you buy one. The quality level can vary a lot between kits as they are created by several different pattern makers in Eastern Europe working under contract to HP and these folks are not paid very well for their work and are motivated accordingly so the level of craftsmanship varies a lot. I have four of their kits, and it is hard to believe that they all came from the same manufacturer. Kirov (modern Soviet missile cruiser) the best of the lot - good casting and it appears to be very accurate. Many of the small parts are unusable due to the way they were cast, but most of these are copies of Skywave parts so they can be replaced easily. It is not a great kit but it is not bad, and it is the only one in any scle at this time. Since Imperial Hobby Productions has decided to concentrate on railroad models and will no longer make ship kits it appears that the HP kit will be the only Kirov in the foreseeable future. I am glad to have it in spite of its flaws, though it is rather expensive at about $125.00. T-19 German torpedoboat. Very plain hull with almost no surface detail - all the upper structures, bridge, funnel, deckhouses, are add on parts. Small parts are cast onto thin resin wafers, with none of the finese that WSW shows using this style. I suspect that a lot of these will prove unusable and will need to be replaced with scratch built items. I doubt if I will ever build this kit since I know WSW plans to come out with these. De Ruyter (WW II Dutch light cruiser) one of my favorite ships and unfortunately a very poor model. Hull detailing is crude. Shapes of the bridge, deckhouses, and funnel are fairly good but most of the small parts are unusable. The twin Bofors mounts are shapeless blobs. It is a very poor kit for the price of over 50 dollars. CAM ship - bears little resemblance to any known ship - it appears to be just a generic merchant type with added catapult. I cannot find any photos of a real CAM ship that remotely matches the features of this model. I think the model is imaginary. There are plenty of photos of CAM ships that could have been used as a basis for creating a pattern... there is no excuse for this! See also the build article by Falk Pletscher in Plastic Ship Modeler 21 on accuratising the HP Schleswig-Holstein battleship kit. Some massive surgery was involved in correcting the proportional problems. I have not seen the Scharnhorst kit and I certainly hope Steve is right as this is a model I would like to add to my collection. However, I think it is only fair to state that buying a HP model is a gamble, pure and simple. I hope Falk Pletscher will also respond to this as he has a lot more of these kits and has a better overall knowledge of the entire HP Models line. Daniel Jones Plastic Ship Modeler magazine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Phil M. Gollin" Subject: Re: Heroic Self-sacrifice scenes Apart from HMS Gloworm, the obvious ones are HMS Jervis Bay (5th November 1940, versus Scheer) and SS Stephen Hopkins (27th September 1942, versus Armed Merchant Cruiser Stier). Also though, try HMIS Bengal (11th November 1942, versus Armed Merchant Cruiser Aikoku Maru) and Armed Merchant Cruiser Kormoran (19th November 1941, versus HMS Sydney). Also, although not quite in the self-sacrificial mode, try the SS Ohio from the Pedestal convoy or the SS San Dimetrio. Also such "fleet actions" as "Taffy 3", the Battle of the Barents Sea, The Second Battle of Sirte (my favourite), may not have the small scale hero-ism, but may have some vignette that is of interest. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Russell Smith" Subject: Self Sacrifical Moves Ned. How about HMAS YARRA? In 1942 she and her convoy were attacked by Japanese Cruisers and Destroyers. YARRA told the convoy to scatter and turned to attack the Japanese! She was sunk of course and her convoy too there was just to many enemy ships and they were too big. But she tried! I built a 1/700 version for the nephew of one of the sailors on her. He's an old friend who has moved to the US. The National Naval Historical Sociaty of Australia put out a book on her a few years back. It has a deck plan and side elevations. If you are interested let me know and I will try to sent you a scan of them, I can also provide the name of the convoy ships but no plans! Russ Smith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Russell Smith" Subject: Bring Kids up Right Marc, I did the same thing for my twin grandsons a couple of years back. I got almost the same reaction from my daughter! This year I scaled back a little ... I bought more aiplanes for their carriers and hand built slightly smaller battlships to go with them! I can't wait till CHRISTMAS!!! Russ Smith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Nuno Andresen Portela" Subject: CVAN 65 Enterprise Hello folks, Two months ago I applied to this comunity information about the CVAN 65 Enterprise back in 1967, which is the year I was born, and which is the year I want to build a replica of the ship taking the Tamiya kit as the base donator. I think I already thank personally to all of you who so kindly gave me references and share with me information in order to built an accurate replica of the ship back to the her deployment in the Tonkin gulf but if I miss someone of you, please forgive. While in this two months I was able to rebuilt the constitution of the Air Wing, I am now turning my attention to the ship. And that is why I am writing to this comunity of fellow enthusiasts. The first question I would like your help is: What is the colour of the island and the beehive dome? Looking at pictures it seams satin white or light buff. But does anyone knows EXACTLY what is THAT colour. Also, and just for the files I am writing about the ship, WHY it was painted in that unnusual shade. The second: Does anyone knows a web link or a book (currently availliable) where one can observe in absolute detail the back side and port side of the island? The reason for this is that before I undertaken the build up of the early island, (and you have to agree that it is almost impossible to backdate the one from Tamiya) I want to pass it to CAD. It makes easy to manufacture the pieces needed for the conversion. But I want to be sure of accuracy and I cannot find a single picture of this two areas in full detail, just some shots taken miles away. The third: There is a very important part of the model which is very crude in detail and I want to replace it with a home made photoetch one (I won't say what part, cause you will all say I am nuts). But due to the sheear size of this part I want to make it in 1mm thick stainless stell (you probably guess which one it is). Now if any of you have experience in eatching with stainless stell, I would like to ear from you what "know how" you got and special advices you recomend with this particular material. Honnestly, I only have experience with cooper and brass, but I cannot tolerate bending or warping this time. The forth: I was planning to make etched brass parts for the bridges and for the antenna array around the beehive dome, but recently I inspected some of the new detail sets made by Eduard, does anyone knows a source where one can buys silver-nickel plates similar to the ones they use nowadays. I hope this comunity can once again help me. On a different matter, but still talking about the Enterprise, I read in past SMML files, fellow moddelers demanding for a review about the Trumpeteer model. I will be short but here is my opinion: When I wanted to start my project I also putted the chance of purchasing the less expensive Trumpeteer model. The model in itself tries to represent the ship in the 1970-1979 period (after the 1969 incident and before the major update the ship had in 1979). The main distinction of this period is the bridge without those big panels (TACAN or ECM arrangement I think, but please confirm) in the front and starbord sides. I didn't check up the accuracy of the antenna and radar arrangement for that period so I cannot state if they are correct or not. However, what is completly incorrect is the beehive dome. For those of you who haven't inspect the kit parts, check the box sides. You will see a composite plate which have the hull from the Tamiya box side (a painting) and on the top of it a very strange looking island (which is a CAD rendering), also near it a 3D renderind of the island, and again a very strange shape. That shape is exactly what you get inside and it is for sure the worst representation ever of the beehive dome. Even the box art in the front of the Trumpeteer box is more correct (!!!). Also the model have inside the CIWS and the hull is of middle 80' configuration and not 70' as it tries to be the island of the ship, what a mess you get for the $75 you pay. The reason for this mess, is that the kit is based in the Tamiya one. You get a new sprue for the beehive dome, an electric engine and running gear, but everything else is alike (same goes to the planes). But even here there is a major drawback. The plastic is of worst quality, and there is much more flash here then there is in the Tamiya one. The reason for this is perheaps the injection pressure used by Trumpeteer which is lower than Tamiya (I estimate 150-180 Tn) and it makes detail more soft and the appearence of flash. Again to make you have an idea, remember Academy back to the mid 80' when they start coping the Tamiya kits, they were cheep but they needed a lot of work in cleaning the parts and everything looked like castings, not machineed or rolled mechanical components. On a personel thought, if you guys want to build a large scale out of the box early Enterprise, try the one from Lee, it's a 1/400 model, which is already a good size looking replica. I cannot state if this model is a copy of the venerable Monogram kit because I only saw it more than a decade ago. But Lee's Kit is a 60' configuration, still the Beehive dome, and early bridge is a much better offer than the Trumpetter kit. Price for this model is also very good. it retails in my contry for just $55. As a second personel thought I only wish that Trumpeteer can follow in the future the same way Academy tooked: after years of coping and learning how to produce and market injection kits they now produce some of the best armour models in the world. Trumpeteer anounced the long waited 1/32 scale A10 Thunderbolt, if this kit is not a scale up model of the 1/48 Monogram or Tamiya, and it is in fact as they say a totally new high grade kit, it will be the time this comunity start to demand a 1/350 Nimitz and on a personel wish a 1/350 Oriskany (at the price of $75 of course) Nuno Andresen Portela Portugal (Olá Filipe!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Watrtrck@aol.com Subject: Re: Zhong Shan Thanks to all who answered on information regarding the Zhong Shan Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "Reynaga, Tim@EDD" Subject: Arizona wreck drawings There are some very detailed pen and ink drawings of the wreck (even including tiny divers for scale reference) in Paul Stillwell's Battleship Arizona, An Illustrated History. Along with some underwater photographs, they also appear online at the National Park Service Submerged Cultural Resources Unit site at: http://www.nps.gov/scru/arizona.htm These drawings were prepared to document the US Park Service underwater surveys undertaken in 1983. Unlike underwater photographs which are so limited by poor visibility, these renderings provide an outstanding overview of the entire ship in her present, sad state. Really cool. Tim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Re: Trivia I am the nut who first proposed the question about an all Afro-American crew on SMML. You are the third person to identify(almost) the vessel. It was not the PC1261, but it was the PC1264 (just for accuracy's sake, we complain enough when the movies and TV get it wrong, we should keep our own skirts clean). I have detected a little discrepancy, semantically based. There seems to be some difference of opinion as to what defines "crew". Some feel that "crew" means enlisted men only, others want to include officers as well. When I post the "answer" on SMML soon, I will make reference to this. Franklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: RHorabin@aol.com Subject: model boats uss vermont uss north carolina any info. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: watercolors >> Like RhinoBones, I use watercolors for weathering - especially when it comes to getting realistic rust and corrosion - but the easiest way to use them is simply to add a single drop of liquid soap as a wetting agent. There is no need to use alcohol. << By watercolors, do you mean those little cakes of paint in children's water color kits, or do you mean some sort of "professional" water colors?? Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: Shane Weier Subject: Re: Question 2 - Heroic Self-Sacrificial Scenes? Ned, >> Can anybody relate to me a World War I or World War II incident (such as occurred with HMS Glowworm) where a small ship turned on a much larger one to save others (obviously San Bernadino Straits is another classic example). << The defence of convoy HX84 and subsequent sinking of HMS Jervis Bay on 17 November 1940? She fought Scheer for about 20 minutes until sunk and the majority of the convoy had time to disperse under cover of approaching darkness safely (7 ships *were* sunk). Fogarty Fegan, her captain, was awarded the VC posthumously. Not bad work for an armed merchant cruiser with old 6" guns Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: DaveRiley1@aol.com Subject: White Ensign DDG-2 Kit Today in the mail arrived the White Ensign DDG-2 class destroyer USS Benjamin Stoddert. Without question, it is the finest resin casting I have ever seen. Also, the instructions are like nothing I have seen before (admittedly, it is my first White Ensign kit) - they are beautifully detailed. When you put all this together with the high quality PE frets, this is one outstanding ship model and very highly recommended. Dave Riley Portsmouth, RI USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: "Phil M. Gollin" Subject: An awful ommission Re. my earlier reply re. self-sacrifice at Sea, I very stupidly forgot the Armed Merchant Cruiser Rawalpindi versus the Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, 23rd November 1939. Apologies, Phil -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: besken@gmx.de Subject: Re: HP Models I have some of Mr. Poepkes Models (not build yet) and can say that these are getting better and better. The details on the bigger parts are fine and the measures seem alright. A weak point are the small parts as weapons. They are embedded in a resinlayer which is not as thin as WSW has. And the guns are sometimes bend or broken. Which does not really matter if you use brass for the barrels. There are no PE in the box, but some brass for the masts. The documentation are one or two sheets of paper with an exploding view. In the newer packages can be a short history and a painting guide. His Models are produced in Poland as I know. And the first models some years ago were really bad. At the time he has over 200! Models in his production list. Some are still announced and there can be changes. If there is a interest I can try to scan a model. If you are interrested in a special model tell me, maybe it's in my warehouse ;-). Uwe Besken Germany -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Small Warship SIG Website I have been overseas on business for the last few days but was overwhelmed with the many messages relating to the new website. Thank you all! I have made a few adjustments that I hope will cure the problems using Netscape Navigator. Please do not feel you must be a member of IPMS to join - anybody with an interest in the smaller ships is very welcome, particularly if they can make any contributions (big or small) to make the website more interesting. Regards Les Brown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Ned Barnett Subject: The New IPMS Ship Column - HELP! (please) Hi As a former IPMS editor, I volunteered to take over the ship column from Rusty; two other SMML members have stepped forward to offer to help me with that, so I figure we'll have a Troika ... Anyway, the first column is due in about a month - way too soon for me to finish up Noah's Ark or any other ship project I've got in hand. I'd like some volunteers to help. What I need is (are?): 1. One or two modelers who have finished projects with in-progress and finished-kit photos who will either write up what they did or who will sit for an interview (I'm a former reporter, too, so that's not hard) and let me write up what you did. Emphasis on kit and aftermarket quality (or lack) and on techniques. I'd like to have two or three of these. 2. Kit (or reference work) reviews. I'm especially interested in right-now models (just out), right-now aftermarket goodies and right-now reference sources. Ideas include reviews of Steve Wiper's new books and Victor's newest issue of the ship-model magazine, some new after-market PE and resin (preferably for some equally new kits) and whatever's hot in plastic and resin kits. Again, if you're no writer, I'll be glad to interview you and write it up - that's not the problem here. I'm better positioned to write reviews than kit-building how-to's - my scratchbuilt Noah's Ark has been going on for 14 months and, while the hull and deck house are pretty much finished, much work remains (and if I don't like it, I may re-plank the entire hull and deck - I'm trying for realistically-crude without looking crappy, and that's a tough line to walk). So it may make it before the end of this year's columns, but not now. Any takers? Thanks Ned -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Percy, John" Subject: Essex carriers book for sale Book for sale: "The Essex Class carriers" by Andrew Faltum The first Essex Class carrier was commissioned in December 1942. The backbone of the Pacific fleet, this class of ship was in the middle of it all, regularly fending off torpedoes, bombs and the dreaded kamikaze attack. Yet, remarkably, not one Essex was sunk, a testament tothe ships' great antiaircraft systems and incredible design, which accommodated the same speed as considerably smaller carriers. Considering the importance of this marvel of weaponry, you would think there were numerous books about it. There aren't. The Essex Aircraft Carriers fills the gap. It includes numerous photos plus complete operational history, from the WW II trials by fire to the decommissioning of the Lexington, the last of its class, half a century later. Twenty-four Essex carriers were built. No other capital ship has been produced in such numbers, and no other ship has served America with such results. This book is a fitting tribute. Illustrations, including numerous camoflage schemes. Maps. 87 B/W photos. 276 pages. A Great read! $35 shipped to US and territories, $40 abroad. contact jpercy@clariion.com if interested. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Loren Perry Subject: GMM PE for Tamiya 1/700 USS Indianapolis I've received several inquiries from subscribers to SMML concerning the possibility of a GMM photoetched detail set for the new Tamiya 1/700 kit of the cruiser USS Indianapolis. We already have such a set: GMM No. 700-8 1/700 WW2 USN Cruiser/Destroyer. It includes specific parts for the Indianapolis such as the crane and catapults as well as all the required radars, railing, ladders, and other items. For more information, se our webpage at: www.goldmm.com This set was originally designed for the earlier Matchbox kit of the same ship, but they will also work perfectly on the newer Tamiya offering. BTW I have one of these new Tamiya kits thanks to Pacific Front Hobbies' excellent service. It looks more like a Skywave kit than a Tamiya product due to the fine surface detail, parts layout on the sprues, delicacy of the smaller items such as secondary weapons, aircraft, and so on. It almost appears as if some former Skywave employees had a strong say in this particular ship kit. I could be wrong, but the resemblance is startling. It's a very nice model. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Craig R Bennett Subject: For sale I have the following for $10.00 HMS HOOD -1/400 Heller kit Books -$10.00 a piece The Philadelphia Experiment -The story that alleges that the USN attempted to use invisibility in 1943 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. US Warships since 1945. A complete list of US Warships covering 1945 to 1987. German Cruisers of World War 2 A complete listing that covers all technical aspects of the Kriegsmarine cruiser with photos and drawings. An International enecyclopedia with Cruisers of World War 2 Complete listing of all cruiser classes. The Little Giants -The story of US Escort Carriers against Japan. Classics of Naval Literature The story of the USS ENTERPRISE CV-6. For $15.00 per book Illustrated history of US Battleships US Carriers US Cruisers US Destroyers Most are all Naval Institute books Shipping and Handling are $3.00 per book and 12.00 per set of 4 books or $15.00 for 4 or more. Craig Bennett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: MODEL SHIP JOURNAL-Where Are You? >> I'm sure Victor Baca will chime-in here any second now and explain *exactly* where issue 2 is at this time. << OK-Victor Chiming in on Model Ship Journal: Model Ship Journal is at the printer as I write. I'm heading out the door to sign off on the bluelines now. This will be Volume 1, Number Two (easier to think of it as Winter 2000-2001). So far this year we published: 1. Issue Zero (1st subscriber's issue and test bed for magazine), Summer 2000 2. Volume 1 Number One, Autumn 2000 3. Volume One, Number Two, Winter 2000-2001. Will be released on 21 December. Next year will be our first full year of production (Volume Two) and the numbering will make more sense. First issue of year will be in March (Spring 2001). BTW 99% of our readers/subscribers are SMMLies-Thanks to you all--we're really making inroads in a very tough segment of the hobby. If you want to have more details, please contact me at modelships@earthlink.net and I can give you details of content-issue updates etc., or check our website for updates in the next week or two at www.modelshipjournal.com. Victor M. Baca Editor & Publisher MODEL SHIP JOURNAL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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