Subject: SMML VOL 1182 Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2001 23:55:19 -0800 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: sailing ship blocks 2: String thing 3: question 4: Steve Wiper's career 5: Tiny ships 6: Re: sub-in-a-park 7: Re: GraphSpee/ Right and Wrong 8: U-Boot Crew Pix (U564) 9: Re: Sub in a park 10: Re: String length 11: Re: Fletcher model 12: A J Fisher, Inc 13: Re: foot in mouth 14: Re: Jack Daniels 15: A pretty bunch of Floowers 16: now two subs in a park 17: Shipping out, for a while 18: Re: Nautilus model 19: Titanic Decals in 1/570? 20: Waldron Punch Sets 21: Re: 1/700 love or hate 22: Lee Ship Kits / Japanese CV s 1:700 Scale -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: IHP Notice correction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "David Griffith" Subject: sailing ship blocks Dear "vmclawyer" Glad to hear you're making a model of a "proper ship". Wood and rope, lovely!!! Whenever I need very fine wire, I get a length of TV co-axial aerial cable and unravel it. The woven stuff in the outer layer is very fine indeed. I don't know what guage it is, though. By the by, when I was doing my HMS Unicorn, I stropped the blocks using the linen rigging thread that I was using for the rest of the model. Wrap it around the block lengthwise and secure it with superglue. Then take some of the ultrafine thread that fly-fishermen use to tie their flies (any good fishing tackle shop should sell it) and use this to bind the two ends together at the other end of the block. You then have two loose ends to tie around the spar or whatever, or just secure with superglue again. Looks good, pretty strong and has some flexibility, despite the superglue. Hope that's useful. Regards, David. PS. Strange folks those fly fishermen. Most of us use buttons or zips for our flies!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Bill Dane Subject: String thing Steve Wiper recently stated that How Long is a piece of string. Obviously this was a facetious comment - everyone knows that How Long is a Chinese gentleman. Avast! Bill Dane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: dl9cm@t-online.de Subject: question Dear Sir, for an excellent builder of warships (model ships), an former German Navy Officer, I am searching for building plans of Royal Navy warships, for example HMS "King George", HMS "Repulse" or HMS "Duke of York". Could you please help us, to find adresses in the United Kingdom or Australia, where we can buy this plans? Thank you for your help, please send your answer to the above mentioned eMail-address! Yours faithfully Rolf Marschner -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Mike C" Subject: Steve Wiper's career Don't get the wrong impression of Steve; he's a real classy guy- all his moonshine drinkin' jelly jars match...AND he can make his pastie tassles twirl in opposite directions! One question about the elevator, though. Do you push all the buttons before you jump off? Col. Flagg Lookin' forward to the LEX book from America's Left coast. ;-D -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Bergschöld Pelle Subject: Tiny ships As for the gentleman making inquiries about who builds 1/700. I build them too, and actually I do not build anything else. Why? The great variation combined with the relatively compact format of the larger ships. I build almost exclusively modern/post-war ships, and I can find almost any kind of ship, from the DML:s small Osa-class missile boats via minehunters, frigates, destroyers and cruisers to battleships and carriers. Even submarines. By modelling them in the same scale, I can display them together and experience the actual relation in size, which by the way is quite amazing. In this scale, even the Nimitz-class CVN:s are compact enough to allow me to keep them on a shelf - together with the rest of the CVBG, rather than having to dedicate half a room. I might be considered parsimonious, but since my spouse is a professional musician, a certain amount of space is occupied by a grand piano, etc. And though our living isn't cramped, it could be more spacious. You may build whatever scale you like, and I will interestingly view the results. I have to say though that it seems a bit narrow-minded and also a bit presumptous to generalize this the SMML community in a way as has been done. All the best - to all the scales and their fans. Pelle SWE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: raisingirl@mindspring.com Subject: Re: sub-in-a-park hello all.... Mike Donegan wrote: >> We have one here in the states, only this one is a real one in Muskogee, Oklahoma - the USS BATFISH. They originally dredged a small channel for her to sit in but at some time the river flooded and filled everything in and she is high and dry << My best friend visited Batfish about 10 years ago and reported her to be in excellent condition -- hope that's still true. Along those lines, isn't the USS Marlin (SST-2) mounted in a park in Omaha? Art wrote, re n/s Savannah: >> The cook tells me that I glow in the dark - but not from radiation !! ;-)) << And the fact that my hair is curly has nothing to do with my several visits aboard Savannah! (It's naturally that way!) :) Steve Wiper wrote: >> In answer to your question, I worked as a bouncer and hosted/anounced for the "Hot Body" contest on Friday nights, in probably one of the best FEMALE strip clubs in the good 'ol USA. << Steve Wiper, Renaissance man...! ;) jodie, the Renaissance girl (who's worked at a radio station, a newspaper, and a sewer plant) http://www.mindspring.com/~raisingirl/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "J.Pasquill" Subject: Re: GraphSpee/ Right and Wrong >> Grow up! Learn the meaning of the word HOBBY! << Oh for goodness sake. Sign your name if you're going to make an attack like that. It is a sign that you yourself have not "grown up". Only real immature folks make anonymous comments like this. And while you're bashing Dave for pointing out the unseemly side of the "hobby" think about this: if "because this is a hobby" means to everyone that it's OK to steal other's work, than no one would ever get into the hobby business, and you would have NO HOBBY. There would be no incentive to ever try to publish one's historical work or produce a new etched fret, or model. I suggest that you consider your own values before casting stones. Also it is completely insulting to anyone of Polish or Eastern European decent to suggest, as some have on this list, that it is acceptable that this Polish publisher rip off other's work because it fills a need in Poland. First, not all folks in Poland condone this kind of behavior and honest businesses are hurt when one person tries to follow the rules and another guy makes more money by breaking the law. Second, the publisher of this crap is not selling the stuff just in Poland. Finally, the folks that are importing it are accomplices in crime and honest people shouldn't buy the stuff. I repeat, if you accept this kind of behavior, whether it is in historical resources or parts copying you hurt the honest people that try to cater to the small hobby markets and ultimately hurt yourself. That is a real "modeling" issue that you should mull over as you're looking at all those nice resin kits you have piled up to build that someone put their sweat into in the hopes of breaking even. Jim Pasquill -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: john.baumann@talk21.com Subject: U-Boot Crew Pix (U564) The UKs Daily Mail today published some UBoot No.564 crew pictures, these were discovered in an attic. Conning tower and hull views included. Regards, John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: mumfordlibrarian@netscape.net Subject: Re: Sub in a park Detroit Michigan used to have a sub moored in the Detroit River next to the Broadhead Navel Armory. When it became redundant, instead to transferring it or scrapping it, it was rolled on its side, in place along the wall, filled, and then paved over as an esplanade expansion of the River Walk. As this was done 20 or more years ago few Detroiters realize that they are walking over the corpse of a submarine just as they think that the bridge next to it to an island park is not the Belle Isle Bridge, but properly the Douglas McArthur Bridge. Isn't the Public memory wonderful? Paul T. Weaver -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Re: String length Referring to that query in SMML Vol. 1181, about how long is a piece of string. First, how long is not a piece of string. He is a Chinese man. Secondly, trying a different interpretation, after extensive and expensive thorough research, I have come to the conclusion that a piece of string is exactly (plus or minus zero) twice the length of one half the total length. Franklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: RollerDad34@aol.com Subject: Re: Fletcher model For ZELIKO HANICH Woud like to buy DD445 FLETCHER model. Norman Detar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "John W. Wressell" Subject: A J Fisher, Inc Very sorry to read that A J Fisher is going out of business. I've dealt with them for over 30 years and they are not only first rate craftsmen, but very nice people. I've been to their shop in Royal Oak, MI. They made beautiful brass fittings and other items. It's sad that someone didn't pick up the business. John Wressell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: foot in mouth >> Seek help Steve before you spread the Foot IN mouth disease. << Actually while in England last time, during the Mad Cow disease, I was craving a "Cheese Burger" and mad secret trips to a nearby Burger King, where is was truly satisfied with mounds of beef! Dave Carter just laughs at all of us carnivores, and said "Never seen a carrot with "Foot and Mouth" disease"! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: Jack Daniels >> What was it? Jack Daniels or a single malt? << Actually I prefer "Captain Morgans Spiced Rum". Its good, unlike that that paint stripping Royal Navy Rum that either the Carter's or Alan Raven brought to Columbus IPMS National Convention. For American beers I like Mic's Amber Bock. From New Zealand I liked Tui and Lion Red. Fosters from Aust. and some of the great wines from Caroline's fathers cellar. Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: CA139JOHNF@aol.com Subject: A pretty bunch of Floowers Hello all, Spring is about to pounch on us, can you hear the sap running? The kind in the trees that is. Time to think about about, what else, Flower Class Corvettes. Particularly mine own 1/48 (gloat) early short foc'sle version. (still a'building). I've seen a number of posts here, recently, regarding this delightful subject and I am gratified that I am not a lonly voice in the night extolling the virtues of these wonderful little vessels. Everyone different and chock full of detail. Now for the good part. If you Flower class affectionados have never taken advantage of the magnificent sets of plans from our own John Lambert, you are really cheating yourselves. You can literally build any one of the class at whatever time period you may wish with John's plans and a couple of poor photos. His stuff is that good, right down to the rivets. If you have an urge to try some scratch building for fittings or the entire ship, its all there. Me I just like looking at them (the plans that is). Now I'm gonna try and get Steve W. to tell me how he made the transition from adult entertainment club bouncher/announcer to model shipwright/author/publisher. Can't figure out what may be more fun. John Frohock USNSM I have no interest in John Lambert's plans service other than I am very pleased to say that he is a gold mine of knowledge, his plans are absolutly the finest and he is a true gentleman and friend. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Simon Wolff" Subject: now two subs in a park Hello Mike The HMAS Otway protruding from the lush green grass of the local park, in Holbrook is genuine (gen.u.wine) 100% Unter der see boot..(okay so it never sank anything) and you can drive by her within feet of her black hull. . Of course this is on the way to another town which has a dog on a tucker box. Good to see there are other like minded people in the world. Though what a bizarre sight at 3 AM in the morning ! The looks on our three faces was like stunned mullets.. eek. Another O class is located here in Sydney at the National Maritime Museum (Darling Harbour), now she you can walk around inside. regards Simon Hi all, The Oberon class SS at the National Maritime Museum is HMAS Onslow. There'll soon be a very short walkaround on HMAS Onslow for the APMA & SMML sites, along with some Vampire shots as soon as I get a chance to scan them. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Marc Flake Subject: Shipping out, for a while Just in case anyone tries to contact me--I'll be on vacation in teh glorious Hill Country of Texas for the next full week. I plan on taking the tour of the Nimitz Museum in Fredricksburg. I'll be taking a camera in case I find anything interesting. See y'all later. Marc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Nautilus model >> I was in my favorite hobby shop (Nautilus Hobbies, Halifax) and noticed a big selection of Lindberg kits. Nautilus, Hood, LST, Gato's etc. I looked at the Nautilus kit, and wondered if the cover art is indicative of the kit inside. Anyone have an opinion? It looks like a really bad toy! << I actually purchased both the Nautilus and the Gato for review in the column I write for the SubCommittee Report. The Nautilus would run neck & neck with the Revell Nautilus for "Worst Rendition of an Early Nuclear Submarine". This kit has a marginally better stern and rudders than the Revell kit. It includes a "deck cannon" (looks a bit like a shrunken version of the old "atomic cannon") and a missile (not a loon, not a regulaus, more like a miniature "Destination Moon" rocket. This sits, BTW, unprotected with no shelter on the front deck. I guess the plan is "don't submerge until after you fire it". And my favorite is the large clear bubble that goes onto the forward part of the sail......don't ask. Clearly, this kit is destined for great service as a PTS class ("Paint Trials Ship"). Anyone want to hear about the Lindberg Gato kit which has a very clearly defined Balao conning tower? Kinda funny as the Revell Lionfish (Balao class) has a very well defined Gato conning tower. No, huh? Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Bill & Kaja Michaels" Subject: Titanic Decals in 1/570? Hello all, Does anyone know of a source for decals for the Revell 1/570 scale Titanic model? I'm currently doing the kit as an out of the box project as a give-away for my son's school fundraiser auction. I figure a decent OOB job, mounted on a nice base, should go for something.... Anyways, I don't want to spend the time and money on photoetch add ons for this particular project. Still, I was thinking that something could be done to make the model look a little better. It seems to me that a couple ofdecals could really improve this model. There are long sections of blank deckhouse, where there should be a lot of windows. I would think some long thin rows of windows/doors would be asimple way to improve this part of the kit. Similarly, the molded in railings might benefit from some sort of railing decal. Does anyone know of a source for decals along this line? (If I had more time, I'd look into making my own.) TIA, Bill Check out my US Coast Guard subjects model list at: http://www.tiac.net/users/billkaja/kitlist.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: "Btbldr" Subject: Waldron Punch Sets Wow - did you see those prices! Anyway, does Waldron sell the punch set that does the hexagonal bolt heads etc, or do they only do circles? Please can I get some feedback on Waldron punch sets, and/or generic equivalents - and is Roll Models the only place to get them? regards Malcolm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: Mithrand@aol.com Subject: Re: 1/700 love or hate this topic could become very interesting so ill put my two peneth worth in. 1/350 scale pros, no eye sight problems/PE easier to work with. Cons ,money, money, money, space, space, space 1/700 scale pros, not expensive, well occasionally. plenty of choice, small but very pleasing to the eye, easy to paint, offers greater diorama possibilities and when i exhibit at shows 80% of people like these compared to 350 cons, your eyes get a tad sore after awhile, your spouse plus those you work with think your a raving lunatic, a good drink is needed before you start (oops i think that's a pro) so i think ill stick to 1/700 for the majority of my work at leased until my eyes pack in TTFN Roy Allen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "Axel Wolters" Subject: Lee Ship Kits / Japanese CV s 1:700 Scale Hi everybody, since a few weeks I joined this interesting discussion location. I too, have bought some LEE kits, which are not too bad. I have two 1/350 scale sailing ships, the "Nippon Maru" and the "Gorch Fock" and a two 1/24 scale 1958 Cadillacs. The sailing ships are exact copies of the IMAI "Operation Sail" 1/350 Scale Series, which started in 1976. They only offer the Full-Hull models, not the waterline models, which I built long time ago. I dont know, whether the tools are leased from IMAI (does this company still exist? since a couple of years I didnt hear any news from them and they had built such beautyful sailing ships) or whether the tools are copied. The same for the Cadillacs, they are copies of ARII models, like some 1/800 scale ships. The quality of the sailing ships and Caddys is OK. I also heard that LEE offers a 1/150 Scale "Nippon Maru" (probably Ex-IMAI), but I didnt see it. So LEE seems to have a wide range of quality. Is there anybody out there (except Allan Parry from Liverpool, UK - Hi Allan), who builds 1/700 Waterline Carriers of the Imperial Japanese Fleet? In Germany, unfortunately you hardly find much stuff about this theme. Greetings Axel Wolters, Monchengladbach, Germany -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Michael Bartel Subject: IHP Notice correction IMPERIAL HOBBY PRODUCTIONS Just a note on the FANTASQUE notice from yesterday: I stated mistakenly that the release date was 2 June. It is in fact, 2 April that we are shooting for, which is only a couple of weeks away. Please do not send orders now. No kits are in stock yet. I'll be sure to let everyone know when they are here and then orders will be taken. Mike Bartel IHP -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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