Subject: SMML VOL 1121 Date: Sun, 14 Jan 2001 10:05:43 -0800 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Photo etch 2: Re: Aircraft carrier deck vehicles 3: Fleet Air Arm Museum Photoarchive 4: Re: Skytrex"s HMS Berwick 5: RN J & K class DD 6: Re: USSR Destroyer 7: Quick Kit Review- Waveline 1/700 HMS Barham 8: NNT 9: Newcastle - fact or fiction? 10: Quick review - 1/700 Type 23 (Duke class) frigate 11: Hasegawa Myoko class CA 12: Input welcomed 13: Re: Reyna Joe's 1/400 Essex from a 1/700 kit 14: U.S.S. SULLIVANS DD 537 15: Trumpeter Nimitz 16: Re: Arii 1/400 scale Iowa class ships 17: Great Scale Modeling 2001 18: Higgins boat 19: USS Inchon cruise book 20: Reccomended books 21: Submarine Book 22: ONI-222-US "United States Naval Vessels" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Revell Germany Flower Class Corvette for sale -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "denis keegan" Subject: Photo etch Can someone please help me? I am VERY new to PE and I really dont want to trash any more of this lovely stuff because of my lack of experience. Is/are there ANY good reference works on this medium? I've seen reviews extolling the virtues of various manufactureres including WEM,GMM,DJParkins but have NOT seen any articles/books on the subject. I don't consider myself a top class modeler and dont want to pass judgement on these items from ANY manufacturer until I gain some experience with the products. I've used Super glue and I have also soldered the items. The latter certainly leads to a stronger finished item. But, are there any tools to make the job of bending and holding easier? I like the PE but I'm still a little scared of it. While it isn't expensive if you consider what you get for the money, I don't want to WASTE money either. Denis K -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Nuno Andresen Portela" Subject: Re: Aircraft carrier deck vehicles >> Can anyone point me to where I can find details on the various vehicles (mules? tractors?) used in modern aircraft/helo carriers?; I'm doing research so that I can start modelling a 1/144 scale LHA or LHD...or maybe even something based on the british CVF design. << Some sugestions: One of the best reference availlaible can be found in Verlinden productions USN vehicles. Search their catalogue for products nş 268, 324, 359 in 1/48 or nş 240, 267, 353, 358 in 1/72. These are the mules (several versions availliable), fire vehicles and general purpose carts mastered by Willy Peters and made to a very high standard . What you need most is INSIDE the box. You will find a small slip with 1/48 or 1/72 scale drawings showing full stencill and variants. Find out an aviation entusiast who can suply you copies of these instructions and reduce them to 1/144. The box top photos are also references in themselves. Also from VP their modeling magazine issues Volume 3 Nş 2 to Volume 4 Nş 3 presented color shots of deck vehicles and deck personel. Their content goes like this: Vol 3 nş 2 GPC mule Vol 3 nş 3 Fire tractor Vol 3 nş 4 NC 2A Eletric power plant Vol4 nş 1 Nitrogen cart and GPC Vol 4 nş 2 Missile movers Vol 4 nş 3 USN carrier personel & deck details As the publisher advises, "no two vehicles are identical, there are always small diferences between them" Finally, from VP, Lock on nş 14 USS Forrestal. It is probably the only pictorial book in the world about a ship who doesn't have a single picture of her. Just deck details and planes. But it is loaded with pictures of mules doing their job. The quality of these shots is superb. I think all these products are still availliable. Check http://www.verlinden-productions.com If you want a mule in 1/144 scale there is one already availliable through Dragon in their kit "F/A 18 A and carrier deck". The mule that comes with it is already a very nice model. It is out of production now, who knows your local dealer can find one. Acessories in this scale are sparse. For USN staff, Preiser of Germany makes dozens of figure sets for railway modelers. This sets are superb. Even in 1/500 scale you get amazed at the level of detail putted in the figures. Most come already painted but there is one set in N scale with near 200 tiny fellows in a variety of poses unpainted. Minor conversion is required in this scale (some helmets and some extra putty in the torso area and some will want to add 1mm to the figures legs to make them "in scale"...). Check your local railway shop as this items are very popular in the railway comunity. About the tilly mobile crane, for a project I have in my hands. I picked the one that comes with Tamiya Enterprise to check dimensions and used as reference not the real thing but a 1/96 model that appered in the March 1999 issue of Fine Scale Modeler. In fact the model is not the Tilly but a stunning 1/96 Forrestal scrathbuild by Jerry Shaw. There is a profile shot of the crane, and it is spot on the real thing. Use it as reference, but probably many others will have better pictorial content in their files. It is still availliable. Check http://www.finescale.com. For Royal Air Force and Royal Navy sevice vehicles, in the early 90' Scale Models International brought some articles about them. I have these issues but I can not state which are they as I don't have them inserted in my personel database. Also PP Aeroparts made some 1/72 models of them but they are off business now. Tim Richards made some of the finest aftermarket sets and still today many aircraft enthusiasts misses his products, they also came with scale plans. A US source who still have some of these items is Meteor Productions, probably the biggest aftermarket shop worldwide for aircraft modelers. Check http://www.meteorprod.com . I recently bought from them a 1/48 access ladder for an F/A 18 A. In the early 90' after the gulf war David J Parkins also putted on the market some 1/32 service vehicles but these are long gone and honestly I don't know a single source for them. Who knows in a modelers trade you will find them (but please E-mail me first)... I hope this can help. Nuno Andresen Portela Portugal -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Dimi Apostolopoulos Subject: Fleet Air Arm Museum Photoarchive Folks, Does anybody know enough about FAAM's photo archive collection? I am interested in WWII Royal Navy aircraft carrier photos and was wondering if there is any way I could find out what is available. Even a telephone number or a name to call would help. Thanks. Dimi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Russell Smith" Subject: Re: Skytrex"s HMS Berwick I received an inquiry from Michael Eisenstadt about Skytrex's HMS Berwick which I just bought and built. He thought the rest of you would be interested in hearing about her too! I'll answer his questions here as they were the same ones I had too. The bridge is in three pieces one is poured on the hull and two that fit well together on top of it. The wind baffles are rendered quite well on the front of the bridge but there are no other details. Mike you asked if the catapult deck is solid yes it is and it appears to match the photos of the deck on the Berwick,Cumberland, Suffolk Cornwall, and Australia when the fixed catapult was on them. There is no undercut on the model nor in any pictures that I have for this time period. The earlier gun deck that sat in this spot was open with torpedo tubes under it. But not at this time period.The deck planking is good not on a scale of WEM but still quite acceptable all of the deck fittings are very crisp. The cable drums are good the anchors too. The bollards seem a little overscale and the capstans a little simplistic. The portholes look good not overlarge and straight. The hull strates looked a bit heavy before painting but look quite good on the finished model. The positions for the 4" guns are solid underneath and should be drilled out but I didn't. The model is pricey 108.00 dollars delivered to the US and it certainly would benefit from WEM county class photoecth set and some upgrade parts. It is not as good as a WEM or a Waveline but it is as good as many of the other companies out there and paints up to a nice model right out of the box. Add some aftermarket stuff and you can have a beauty. Would I buy another? You bet. I have a HMS London on order right now. Russ Smith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: RN J & K class DD Hi all As some of you may recall I am writing what I hope to be the definitive history of the J, K and N classes of the Royal Navy. This will be published by Chatham in 2002. However I find myself with several gaps in the photographic record and am asking if any of you are able to help. I have managed to exhaust all official collections and several private collections but would appreciate any help fellow SMMLies would be able to give. I am looking for photos of the following ships during the periods listed. Juno: August 1940 - Feb 1941 Janus: September 1943 - December 1943 Kimberley: May 44 - August 44 Khartoum: Any time during her service career Kandahar, Kingston and Kimberley: May 1940 - April 1941 (in the Red Sea). For any photo which is used in my book I will give the provider a free copy of the book (autographed if you wish). Contact me off line if you can help. Many thanks Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: SteveWiper Subject: Re: USSR Destroyer Mike, It would be really nice if you would let the rest of us in the USA know where you got this kit of the Russian DD, and how much it cost. Thanks, Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Fernando, Yohan" Subject: Quick Kit Review- Waveline 1/700 HMS Barham A couple of weeks ago there was some mention of the Barham and as it happens I was working on this kit at the time... Let me start by saying that I have always been awed by Waveline for their quality of their kits, and this one is no exception. The kit is not new though as I have seen it listed for several years now and it is a telling statement that such a kit could easily pass as a new release due to its high quality. As with most of their 1/700 ships, the kit is made up of resin hull, superstructure, main armament, and funnel pieces with white metal parts for smaller bits like searchlights, secondary guns and light AA, ships boats etc. A very small number of pieces need to be cut from a small sheet of plastic card which is provided (as well as the templates for these pieces). Some brass rod is also included for mast details (the tripod legs of the mainmast are in metal, but the tops need to scratchbuilt). No photoetch is included. All the resin and white metal pieces are beautifully and cleanly cast and pieces fit together easily with little cleanup. The hull is nicely detailed but the deck planking is not quite as fine or well-defined as recent WEM and WSW releases. This model is several years old though, so that's nothing to hold against it. Especially nice are the 15" guns. The turrets are resin with seperate metal barrels with molded on blast bags. AA gun platforms, rangefinders, aircraft catapults, etc. for each turret are a mix of resin and metal the end result really captures the powerful look of these weapons. (Interestingly, I always thought the turrets on my WEM 1/700 Warspite looked a bit strange and comparing them to the ones in this kit, there is quite a difference in shape and appearance. Seeing as they were of the same design on the real ships, I don't know which is more accurate, but personally I like the look of the Waveline Barham's better). One minor omission in the kit is a plane for the X turret catapult, but I haven't really done any research as to what type of aircraft would have been carried (if any), so did not bother me much to leave the catapult empty. The instructions are the typical Waveline one-page parts list and exploded diagram which, regardless of the fact that all the written instructions are in Japanese, usually never caused me any problems. There are several major resin pieces though, that are not included in the diagram including a pair of pom-pom platforms and the searchlight stations around the funnel. These pieces are present in the parts list and both reference photos and the box cover photo of the built model show them in place, so it was easy to figure out where they went. Perhaps the Japanese text gave some indication of these pieces that the diagram did not? In any case, anyone taking a good look at the box cover would figure it out. Overall, the Barham is another excellent kit as expected from Waveline and makes a great companion to my WEM Warspite showing the different phases of modernization made to the Queen Elizabeth class. Yohan Fernando -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "John Rule" Subject: NNT Has anyone out there had successful dealings with NNT. I tried sending an order using their webpage, but I could only access the German version. I went through the motions of placing an order by guessing what the German words meant. However I am not sure if I placed an order for model ships, ordered a ham sandwich or possibly ordered the invasion of Poland. I think, subsequently, I have sent them two emails in English using their web page, but have received no replies. Has anyone had success dealing with them and can give me some pointers. Thanks in advance, John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Michael Dunn" Subject: Newcastle - fact or fiction? Michael London wrote :- >> Newcastle would be an interesting place to visit particularly for anyone from Australia. The Tyne bridge was the prototype for the Sydney Harbour Bridge and should make Aussies feel quite at home. << Sorry mate......both the Tyne Bridge of Newcastle and the Wearmouth Bridge of Sunderland, while being of the same design that Sydney used as well, were build AFTER the Sydney bridge was up. I think the Tyne bridge may have started first, but I seem to recall it finished last. >> They may need an interpreter, though, as the Tyneside Brogue is quite unique. << Too bloody true ;-) Ditto for the Mackems as well :-> >> This place is arguably the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution. Railways started here in the collieries, the Tyne was one of the great shipbuilding centres in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, and coal was shipped from here (hence the saying "carrying coals to Newcastle" meaning an unnecessary endeavour). << I beg to differ........ The railways started about 50 miles south, in Stockton/Darlington - the Rocket was the winner of the competition to build the first passenger-carrying railway (I think Rocket is in the Science Museum in London these days). Wearside was a greater centre of learning than Tyneside for many a long year, and also has a longer history in the Industrial Revolution (but I grant that Tyneside had a lot of the important factories). On the ships front, again Wearside started before Tyneside, but tended to the merchant service (indeed, one of the most popular bulk carrier designs is a Sunderland one, and is still built to this day under license). As to mining, Wearside & it's environs was as large if not larger than Newcastle...... Guess which city I'm from ;-) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Mike Dunn" Subject: Quick review - 1/700 Type 23 (Duke class) frigate Just got a few mins, so I'll give this very quick thumbnail. A proper review will be posted in a few days. The Skytrek 1/700 HMS Norfolk arrived today. She's a modern RN frigate, cast waterline in white metal, with some additional detailing parts. The main body of the ship is crisp with little flashing to clean up. The detailing will take some cleaning up to remove excess metal, but nothing more than you get in resin. Instructions are basic - lets face it, with under a dozen bits, you don't need a manual ;-) The cost is £35 in kit form, or (special offer) £40 assembled, painted and mounted (quote the ad in Navy News if you want her this way), and is a reasonable price for this kit. While not up to the standard of WEM, for example, they aren't that far off. Add in the fact that you can't presently get a Duke class anywhere else (unless you know different?), it's a good little kit filling a big gap. As I said, more when I'm better. Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Mike Connelley Subject: Hasegawa Myoko class CA Howdy: Yes, these kits are from entirely new molds. I picked up the Nachi a few days ago, and it's probably the best 1/700 scale kit I've seen. The hull is split into two halves, with separate bottom and deck parts (much like the Tamiya Shinano and Indianopolis). Other parts, like the tower, are split into enough parts so that there is lots of surface detail on all sides. The kit contains parts to make the Nachi after her second refit, or as sunk, with appropriate notes in the instructions. One nice touch is that the torpedo tube bays are "open" (instead of being a dent in the side of the hull, as on the older kit) with four quad torpedo launchers to fill the space. The decal sheet includes markings for all the ships in the class, so we will probably be seeing the other two ships before too long. Cheers Mike Connelley -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "D.Przezdziecki" Subject: Input welcomed Dear SMMLers I have a chance to purchase John C.Reilly "American Battleships 1886-1923" it is pricey at about 130 US Dollars and I was wandering if any member possesing the book thinks that it is worth the price.Is it more than just a good reference source?? Does it contain any detailed drawings of the ships of the period?? Any informations will be greatly appreciated. Regards D.P. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: HAZEGRAYADM@aol.com Subject: Re: Reyna Joe's 1/400 Essex from a 1/700 kit R J: I sincerely hope you're correct that a 1/400 Essex would not be recycled from a 1/700 kit: the only one we have at present is the Hasegawa CV-9, -10,-14 & -19.kits, and they are GROSSLY incorrect. They would NOT make a good pattern to copy. All of us that have a copy of the 1982/fall issue of the IPMS journal or the Detail & Scale booklet on the Lex, CV-16 can read the articles by Larry Gertner on the efforts required to accurize the hull (Mostly), the flight deck and the superstructure. I saw a couple Essex kits on the tables of the 1998 IPMS convention (Santa Clara, CA.) that were well done but lacked the kit corrections. It really broke my heart to see beautiful workmanship done on an inaccurate model. Those interested in an accurate CV-9 model should seek out these articles; they will open your eyes. Bert McDowell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "DUCKMAN" Subject: U.S.S. SULLIVANS DD 537 COULD SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHAT PAINT SCHEME WAS USED ON THIS SHIP IN WWll? SURE WOULD APPRECIATE SOME HELP ON THIS. DAVID -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Mark C Krumrey" Subject: Trumpeter Nimitz I keep seeing these Trumpeter 1/500 Nimitz class carrieres on ebay. Has anybody on this list actually eyeballed one? If so. What is your overall opinion of the ship: the aircraft? You can email me off list if you want. I am curious. If they aren't bad, I would be tempted to pop for one. But if they are dogs, no way. Thanks Mark Krumrey New Richmond WI -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Peter K. H. Mispelkamp Subject: Re: Arii 1/400 scale Iowa class ships Joe: Thanks for the update. Guess I will have to modify my order! Does anyone if Arii plans to release the other two ships of this class, or am I doomed to buy four Missouri's and modify them? Does Arii have a website? Thanks again. Sincerely Peter K. H. Mispelkamp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: BSteinIPMS@aol.com Subject: Great Scale Modeling 2001 FineScale Modeler magazine has just released their annual entitled "Great Scale Modeling 2001" and it has a number of items of interest to ship modelers. Page 28 shows Rusty White's very nice 1/350 Tamiya model of the destroyer USS FLETCHER, name ship of this clasS, with his Flagship Models photoetched detail parts. The caption promises a follow-on article by Rusty on using photoetch in the April 2001 issue of FineScale Modeler. Attaboy, Rusty! Page 32 shows a tiny model of the Thoroughbred Figures USS NEW IRONSIDES in 1/600 scale by Matthew Burchette sailing on a realistic sea. It appears extremely well done. Page 35 has Buzz Bloom's stunning four-ship diorama of the aircraft carrier USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT in an underway replenishment setting. Incredible; it rivals those done by Dr. John Leyland. Page 36 starts an eight-page article on some of the models in The Mariners' Museum Scale Ship Model Competition & Exhibition 2000. Included in these is Don Preul's magnificent scratch-built cruiser USS ST. LOUIS in 1/192 scale. Page 56 starts a five-page article on the marvelous hand-carved ivory model ships of David Warther, reported by Scottie Dayton, who writes the "Soundings" column for Seaways' Ships in Scale magazine. Page 62 has a half-page photo of the carrier USS ENTERPRISE, a three-year effort in 1/350 scale by Joe Norris. Page 66 show the FLETCHER class destroyer USS CLAXTON (a Tamiya model in 1/350) by Frank Harmon. Page 76 starts a three-page portfolio on professional modeler David Merriman's museum-quality submarine models. David is the proprietor of D & E Miniatures. Page 84 begins a six-page article on the Italian miniature museum Il Museo del Modelismo Storico which includes several very fine ship models. This annual sells for $5.95 which includes mailing within the U.S. , and can be ordered from FSM's Web site at: http://www.finescale.com Last year there was some discussion on SMML as to whether FineScale Modeler was serving the needs of the ship modeling community. It appears they are, and they're planning more to come. Bob Steinbrunn Minneapolis Member, Nautical Research Guild -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "Doug Wilde" Subject: Higgins boat In my perusal of "U.S. Small Combatants" I found the Higgins "Hellcat" (PT 564) on page 150. Two naked fish per side, a single gun aft and MGs either side (?) and a bit aft the conn. Does the drawing show a short foredeck? The photo also shows a radar on a short mast. I received my copy of this book the other day and was wowed. Amazing collection of photographs and line drawings. You other guys can play with the big guns. I'll stay with the amazingly diverse "small stuff". Doug Wilde -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: Keith Butterley Subject: USS Inchon cruise book Hi group, I received the following request the other day. It is outside of my area. Hopefully somebody here can help, if not perhaps you could direct the gentleman as to where to look. >> I don't know if you can help me or not, if you can not, I'm hoping you might be able to point me in the right direction. I'm looking a 1972-1973 cruise book for the US Ichon LPH 12. Thank you. Sincerely, yours AMHCR Earl L Coleman" << His email address is EarlDonna@webtv.net I am assuming the ship involved is the USS Inchon or was/is there a Ichon? Happy modeling Keith Butterley http://www.warshipbooks.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: Minadmiral@aol.com Subject: Reccomended books >> There's a new book in trade paperback - Teddy Roosevelt and the Great White Fleet, that I strongly recommend for those who want to see how the fleet evolved from the pre-ABCD era to the end of the pre-dreadnought era. This is sound history, well written and worth reading. << Hi; I really appreciate it when others reccomend a book to us. I've got 2-3 dozen new books just from this list alone. But do us one favor, please. Include BOTH author and title, if possible. An ISBN number is good to have as well. It makes life just a little bit easier. Thanks Chuck Duggie WoodenWalls Listmeister Naval wargamer, amateur naval historian, and ship modeler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: "Ian MacCorquodale" Subject: Submarine Book The book from Vanwell is The Canadian Submarine Service in review (J. David Perkins) I just finished it and was very impressed indeed. The book covers all submarines in Canadian service, as well as the Royal Navy Sqn that was based in Halifax, right up to the Victoria (Upholder) Class arriving now. I heartily recommend this one! Cheers, Ian http://www.geocities.com/macrachael/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: Friedrich Kappes Subject: ONI-222-US "United States Naval Vessels" Who owns the Reprint 1996: ONI-222-US "United States Naval Vessels" 1.09.1945 and is willing and able to send me scans of the landingvessels mentioned there, with line drawings (p.e.: LCA, LCPL, LCT, LCM, LVT, LCAC, LCU, AMTC, Alligator)? Friedrich The FriedrichFiles http://sites.netscape.net/friedkappes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Rod Dauteuil Subject: Revell Germany Flower Class Corvette for sale Hello All, I presently have a Revell of Germany 1/72 HMCS Snowberry Corvette on Ebay for sale. Here's a special deal for the SMML gang: If a SMMLie has the high bid, I'll take 10% off of the final selling price. At this time the selling price is $49.99. Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=540194692 Thanks, Rod -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, 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