Subject: SMML VOL 1144 Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 22:42:33 -0800 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Eastwind to Labrador 2: Hedgehogs 3: Re: Pedestals 4: Re: Slotted Pedestals 5: Re: wood decks on steel ships 6: Re: Paint formula needed 7: Rabbits 8: Re: IJN Linoleum 9: Re: Mystery Cruiser 10: Modelmaster enamels - Thinners 11: Re: USN Museum Ships 12: Thanks 13: Colour information on bits of Airfix Vosper 14: Sad Loss 15: Titanic plans 16: E-Bay insanities !!!! 17: M1 Sub 18: wood decks on steel ships -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: paint mixing pipettes for sale -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Ian MacCorquodale" Subject: Eastwind to Labrador Hi Gang, Looking for info on converting the USCGC Eastwind kit to HMCS Labrador. (Am I nuts or whut?) Ian http://www.geocities.com/macrachael/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Rod Dauteuil" Subject: Hedgehogs I had an old half-built Lindbergh Fletcher class sitting in the basement. I'm working on it now to convert it into a modernized ASW USS Cassin Young, DD793, as she sits here in Boston. While it won't be an exact model, it will capture more of the prominent features of the prototype, after I invest a ton of work. The Squadron book on the Fletcher class has a simple drawing of the Hedgehog unit, and my question is as follows: Very simply speaking, the Hedgehog looks like a small barrel unit with a handle. As the projectile sits in the launcher, does the handle face upward, or is it in some sort of a launching tube. The Squadron drawing looks like the handle is pointing upward, but in some photos it looks like the barrel is on top. Thanks, Rod -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Marc Flake Subject: Re: Pedestals John: I should have used a "wink" emoticon, too -- ;^) -- as I was being just as light-hearted. List: My journey for the perfect pedestal was long and arduous -- especialy for those of you who have been using these things for the past umpteen years. However, I've never used them and wanted the expertise of the list to help in my selection of the proper pedestal for my project. What I've learned is that, with my current set of tools, my best bet is to purchase lamp risers and use screws obtained by the friendly neighborhood hardware store (whose location will go undetected by the great unwashed). I may, in the future, purchase some of those "pin-type" pedestals at Modelers Boatyard. This way I don't have to drill, cut or otherwise mutilate brass with a drill press or Dremel tool. I hope others who are thinking of moving from waterline to full-hull have benefited from my quest. One of the main reasons for this list is, afterall, the sharing of ship modeling secrets. If it has bored those of you who knew all this already -- I'm sorry. For those of you who provided the information -- I'm eternally grateful. Marc :^D -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: Slotted Pedestals >> Hint: If you use a large diameter gindstone in a dremel or drill you will have a nice convex surface that with a little judicious use of elbow grease and a file will match your hull shape. Or just counter bore a hole in the model's hull. In either case, a long wood screw thru your display base and the pedestal into a pilot hole in the hull and you're moored against the hundred year storm. << Actually John has the fruit of a good idea there, At least for larger models, why not counter bore to the diameter of the slotted portion of the pedestal and bury the slotted portion within the hull; that would add tremendous strength to the mounting! Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Ramires, Filipe C" Subject: Re: wood decks on steel ships Hello list Ned said: >> I was looking at a modern Soviet destroyer kit and was surprised at the intensity of the wood colour << The decks of modern soviet-russians ships are of steel. Simply they just paint them with that colour. It is some sort of paint to avoid rust and to make a weathering deck. I also had that doubt once but after studying the Sovremmeny's for a while I came to conclude that they were all steel. Perhaps the post-WWII ships still have those kinds of decks (50's) but after that I have strong doubts. Regards Filipe C. Ramires Colchester, UK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "J. London" Subject: Re: Paint formula needed The colors listed all appear on Snyder & Short Color chips US Navy Set #1 and will soon be available through them and/or White Ensign Models (in Spring I believe). Bear in mind that using the prototype colors will probably be too strong on a small model and they will need toning down to allow for the effect of fading due to sun and salt as well as reflection off the water. Using HUMBROL colors the following are good approximations:- 5-H Haze Grey: Mix equal parts of #34 White and #64 Light Grey (this color approximates US Navy pre-war light grey) and mix 7 parts of this mixture with 1 part #25 Blue. 5-O Ocean Grey: This changed in 1941 from a very dark, almost black color to a lighter bluer color. For the latter mix 6 parts #27 Sea Grey with 1 part #25 Blue and 1 part #34 White. 5-N Navy Blue: Again a very dark color. Mix 10 parts #112 Asphalt with 1 part #25 Blue. 20-B Deck Blue. Use #112 Asphalt straight out of the tin. Michael London -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "JOHN CURRIE" Subject: Rabbits Peter hit the nail on the head, us sailors when we go ashore in foreign ports go on whats been known for years as rabbit runs, it is a run ashore to find/buy presents for the family and loved ones, though with sailors it used to take more than one run ashore to get them, as they always ended up worse for wear, John Currie CPO(M) HMS EXETER -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: IJN Linoleum Regarding IJN linoleum, our IJN paint chip set includes the linoleum color. And regarding its wholesale removal for fire reasons, I've seen too many photos of IJN ships at the end of the war that still had linoleum on the weather decks. I suspect--but have no documentary proof--that the order to remove linoleum from decks applied to interior decks. The USN also issued similar orders to strip ship and get rid of interior flammables; this led to linoleum disappearing from interior passageways and spaces, wooden wardroom furniture going over the side or being offloaded when in port, and layers and layers of peacetime paint (a REAL fire hazard) being chipped off. If topside decks had been much of a worry, we'd have seen teak decks disappearing too. John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises White Ensign Models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: GKingzett@aol.com Subject: Re: Mystery Cruiser Now that is interesting. Ned Barnett writes about a light cruiser described in a book by a seaman named James C Fahey. Could that also be Jim Fahey, who is associated with the Model shop onboard the USS Salem? Hmm? Gary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Steve Holton Subject: Modelmaster enamels - Thinners The hobby stores sell thinners as well as brush cleaning concoctions for around $87.95 a gallon or more. What is the appropriate alternatives: Lacquer Thinner, Mineral Spirits,....????? I know lacquer thinner works on their "lacquers" like dull cote, clear coat etc but I'm just trying some of their "enamels". -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Craig R Bennett Subject: Re: USN Museum Ships Hi Guys Concerning the choice of the Perry FFG-7 as replacement for the Barry at the Washington Navy Yard reminds me of interesting story. The Perry is currently mothballed at the Philadelphia Navy Yard one of several ships of the Perry class. Near her is the Stark FFG-31. In a newspaper article it was announced that the Camden City Fire Dept is going to get a former Navy Harbor tug because the New Jersey will be museum and they sent their fire boat divison over to learn how to fight fires on ships . Some one I know who was there and said that the Stark was used as training ground for it. As for the New Jersey work has began on her restoration however her opening day for the fall of 2001 may not be due to politics such as who's design for the pier to be used and who will build it. Craig -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Thanks My thanks to those who responded to my inquiry about the code interpretation of the "Day shapes" used in place of (or in conjunction with) signal flags. Is there a corresponding code for lights for night-time signals? Franklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Jens H. Brandal" Subject: Colour information on bits of Airfix Vosper A member of IPMS Norway who is not a member of the SMML phoned me last night asking me if I knew what colour to paint the following areas: Torpedo "noses" Steering wheel (part no. 26 and no. 155) Floats, parts nos 125 and 126 Naturally, I couldn't give a sensible reply so I'm turning the the collective knowledge of the SMML. Any takers? Finally, are there any webisted sites showing rigging? Jens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Graham Walker" Subject: Sad Loss Air Vice-Marshal Johnnie Johnson Air ace who brought the principles of wildfowling to air combat and notched up the record score of RAF combat victories in North West Europe The highest scoring RAF fighter pilot to survive the war, Johnnie Johnson shot down 38 enemy aircraft in the skies over Western Europe between June 1941 and September 1944. This tally is remarkable on two counts. Johnson began his operational career after the end of the Battle of Britain, which provided such a rich harvest of combat victories for many of his peers as the Luftwaffe's air fleets attacked virtually day after day. Kills were much harder to obtain on the fighter sweeps over enemy territory which succeeded the battle, operations for which the Spitfire was much less suited than it had been to the role of air defence in the summer of 1940. In addition, all Johnson's victories, with the exception of a quarter share in a Messerschmitt 110, were against single-seat fighters - easily the most formidable opponents. Johnson had that sine qua non of the combat pilot, a relentless desire to be at grips with the enemy, which is the hallmark of the finest troops. This was allied to coolness as a pilot and a tremendous eye and judgment once the target was in his gunsights. Johnson often likened air combat to wildfowling, and brought to his performance with the 20mm cannon of the Spitfire much the same principles of deflection shooting which had made him so effective against game birds with a shotgun in his youth. Johnson's combat career might easily never have happened. During the Battle of Britain a prewar injury caused him such agony that he found flying very difficult and was threatened with being grounded, as well as suspected of being 'LMF' - Lacking in Moral Fibre, as the terminology of the time had it. In the event he opted to have an operation which returned him to flying duties. From that moment he never looked back, ending the war with three DSOs and two DFCs and going on to hold high appointments in the RAF afterwards. James Edgar Johnson was born at Melton Mowbray and educated at Loughborough School and Nottingham University, where he read engineering. Before the war he worked as a civil engineer and also applied to join the Auxiliary Air Force. But, unknown to him, a broken collarbone sustained while playing rugby had not properly set, and his application was turned down. Undaunted, he enlisted in the Leicester Yeomanry, TA. With war clouds gathering, however, he was able to join the RAF Volunteer Reserve for weekend training. In August 1939 he was called up and after gaining his wings was first posted to 19 Squadron. But No 19 was far too heavily involved in the Battle of Britain to absorb a 'rookie' pilot (it was also having frustrating teething troubles with its first cannon-armed Spitfires, and in the end reverted to the tried and tested eight Browning machine-guns). Johnson was therefore sent to 616 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force, which was not in the thick of the air fighting at that time. Johnson's injury, which had been exacerbated by an accident during training, now began to plague him afresh. With his shoulder and arm often in excruciating pain he found flying extremely difficult. Opting to have an operation to correct the condition, he returned to the squadron too late to participate in the battle, but was to gain valuable experience in 1941 when 616 flew on fighter sweeps over France as part of Douglas Bader's wing. He frequently flew No2 to the wing leader. It was one of Bader's great qualities as a leader that he allowed relatively new pilots to perform this vital function - many wing leaders liked experienced No2s guarding their tails - and Johnson learnt a lot from the old master of fighter tactics. Johnson opened his account on June 26, 1941, when he shot down his first Me 109. By September his score had risen to six (all Me109s) and he was awarded the DFC and made a flight commander. (Bader had been shot down over France in August and become a PoW.) By this time the Spitfire was encountering stern opposition to its sweeps in the new radial-engined Focke Wulf Fw 190 which could outpace and outmanoeuvre it and had a formidable armament of four 20mm cannon and two 13mm machineguns. Johnson first encountered one of these aircraft in April 1942, getting a shot at it and damaging it. But it was not until the Dieppe raid of August 19, by which time he had been given command of 610 Squadron, that he had his first Fw 190 kill. It was to be the first of many he shot down as improved marks of the Spitfire closed the gap on the Fw 190. Early in 1943 he was appointed leader of the Canadian wing at Kenley. As Bader had discovered with the Canadian 242 Squadron in 1940, he found that its pilots distrusted him at first. But, by improving on the wing's somewhat outdated flying tactics he led it inspirationally in what turned out to be a period of hectic action over the Continent. Over the next four months the wing took a severe toll of occupied France's fighter defences, its leader adding more than a dozen to his own tally in that time. Johnson was soon held in affection and respect by his men, who awarded him the insignia 'Canada' which, in breach of regulations, he had sewn to the upper sleeves of his uniform tunic. In September 1943, by which time he had brought his score to 25, Johnson was rested from operations and given a staff appointment as an operational planner at Headquarters, 11 Group. He returned to operations in command of another Canadian Wing in March 1944. As part of 83 Group 2nd Tactical Air Force this was involved in the intensive air attacks on the occupied Continent which preceded D-Day, and Johnson continued to add to his tally of combat victories. After the landings themselves, Johnson led his wing to Normandy where it became the first Allied fighter unit to operate from French soil since the fall of France four years before. In Normandy his wing supported the advancing Allied armies with strafing attacks and by taking on the enemy's fighters. Johnson's last combat victory came on September 27, 1944, in the skies over the battle for the Falaise Gap. He shot down an Fw 190 that day, but himself sustained damage - his first during the entire war - when his aircraft was struck by a single cannon shell. Johnson ended his war in command of 125 Wing which in May 1945 he led to Denmark to put on a victory air display. His wartime tally of 38 was exceeded only by that of the South African ace 'Pat' Pattle, who was credited with 41 kills in the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean before being shot down and killed in April 1941. After the end of the war Johnson was offered a permanent commission and stayed in the RAF. In 1950 he was attached to the USAF as the Korean War was breaking out and he went to Korea, adding the US Air Medal and the Legion of Merit to his Second World War decorations. Among his later appointments was the important command of RAF Wildenrath in the 2nd TAF in Germany, 1952-54, and he was commander of the V Bomber base RAF Cottesmore from 1957 to 1960. His last appointment was as AOC Air Forces Middle East, from 1963 to 1965; he opted to take early retirement the following year. He was appointed CBE in 1960 and CB in 1965. His retirement was an active one. In 1969 he founded the 'Johnnie' Johnson Housing Trust, a charitable housing association for people in need, which today manages some 4,000 properties in the North of England. He was also a director of companies in Britain, Canada and South Africa. Johnson published both in his own account and jointly, a number of books: among them were Wing Leader (1956), The Story of Air Fighting (1985), Courage in the Skies (1992) and Winged Victory (1995). His marriage, in 1942, to Pauline Ingate was dissolved. He is survived by two sons. Air Vice-Marshal J. E. (Johnnie) Johnson, CB, CBE, DSO and two Bars, DFC and Bar, fighter ace, was born on March 9, 1915. He died on January 30 aged 85. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Keith Bender" Subject: Titanic plans Hi SMMLies, I'm looking for a good set of Titanic plans. Any idea on where to find them? Thank you, Keith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "John Sheridan" Subject: E-Bay insanities !!!! Here's two Naval releated auctions that have completely spun out of control: BRITISH BATTLESHIPS OF WORLD WAR TWO http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1407259987&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=981489258&indexURL=0&rd=1 and BRITISH CRUISERS OF WORLD WAR TWO http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1407260350&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=981489389&indexURL=0&rd=1 And only 1.5 days left to enter your bids!!!!! John Sheridan The only human to defeat the Minbari is behind me, you are in front of me. If you value your lives, be somewhere else. : Delenn Hi gang, You'll need to copy the whole url into your browser if it wordwraps. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Cyp Klish" Subject: M1 Sub I just happened to see the BBC documentary on the M1 loss on the Canadian History Channel last week while on a business trip to Montreal. In brief, the wreck revealed that the gun house had been knocked over and off by collision with a vessel. The barrel of the gun had been severed. It was postulated that the loss of the sub was caused by flooding through the opening left when the gun mount, which was mounted on a king post, was dislodged. Evidently, the design of the king post was such that it penetrated directly through the pressure hull, hence uncontrolled flooding with no provision or practical chance for damage control would occur should the post be unshipped while under water. The documentary found no other major damage that would account for the submarine's loss, although there was a vee-shaped gouge in the outer skin abeam the gun house location. I don't remember the name of the merchant vessel that the M1 collided with but there were pictures of its damaged bow as well in the documentary. Also, as stated in the previous post, a deck hatch aft was shown to be open, leading to the conclusion that some survivors had unsuccessfully tried to escape. It was also discussed that there were rumors and comments attributed to the crewmen that the vessel was unstable; top heavy because of the weight of the 12" gun and difficult to the trim - but no hard evidence was presented that this was so. Lastly, the accident occurred during a training exercise in the Channel; M1 was supposed to be locating a cruiser. In all, a well done and very interesting (and sad) documentary for those interested in such things. Kip -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: SJantscher@aol.com Subject: wood decks on steel ships Hi All, I believe I read somewhere that the wood decking was to act as splinter protection, i.e. it would act to absorb and reduce the formation of metal splinters. While one might justly fear wood splinters flying off a deck under attack, they lose their energy much faster than metal ones, and are less of an overall hazard to personnel. FWIW Good luck Steve Jantscher -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: paint mixing pipettes for sale I'll offer them here first before they go on the "Bay" I have a bunch of those soft plastic pipettes that Testors and others offer for use in transferring and mixing paint. I'll offer them at 10 for a buck, plus postage in the US and Canada, in any reasonable multiple of ten. Please reply off list if interested. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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