Subject: SMML VOL 1191 Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2001 23:45:07 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Seaplane tenders 2: Re: Battleship Cove 3: digital Adm. Graf Spee 4: Re: U.S.S. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY 5: Re: Camouflage Volume Two: Royal Navy, 1942 6: Re: U.S.S. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY 7: Re: 1) BANANA, 2) CVN naming 8: Re: getting started 9: Re: California Power, a fact 10: Re: stars 11: KING GEORGE V Class WWII battleships. 1/600 scale Atlantic Models Proposed Detail Resin Parts Sets 12: Re: getting started 13: Nimitz Museum 14: Re: Virtual Modeling 15: USS United States? 16: Carrier Names 17: JAG Modern Coast Guard Cutters 18: CVN report -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation 1: Hornet Con 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Plastic Ship Modeler magazine #24 2: For Sale: Issues of Warship World magazine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "B. Fish" Subject: Seaplane tenders Regarding the text about the 'USS Cumberland' and not having photos of Seaplanes or can't find any? The writer shouldn't feel so bad; I've been trying for a while to find Either 1\96th or 72\ scale seaplanes, for the Carrier USS Langley {not many photos here either} If I build in 72nd scale the model will be too big to fit in my work den, or move to a Museum, With out renting a Rider Van, So I'm working in 1\96th scale, this scale will work out as deck fittings go And it's much easier to buy from companies like GMM, or floating dry dock, Just to name a few, so I'm working with whatever one can find, in the The scale shipbuilding world Thanks for any replies PS We all have to help each other with scale ship modeling and stop the Undesired bitching going on Thank you Bruce "Retreat hell were attacking in another Direction" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Battleship Cove >> Stop the presses! I just got an advisory from SMMLer Art Herrick informing me that when he visited Battleship Cove last summer the Destroyer U.S.S. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY was not there. They had a Russian missle boat moored in her spot. I hope this is only temporary (for repairs or something). I will indeed try to find what the story is, and will turn inform SMML << The USS Massachusetts and the Lionfish (SS-298) were placed in drydock recently for much needed patching, painting and other services. IIRC, all the ships were due to cycle through, as they had spent considerable time without overhaul, and had some serious problems to attend to. Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "william k code" Subject: digital Adm. Graf Spee I was very interested with this digital model, What program was used to produce her? I doubt that it will replace building models but sure gives an artist some interesting angles to view a subject. Reminds me of the Poser program for digital people. cheers Bill Code -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Re: U.S.S. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY Many thanks to the SMMLer who were kind enough to inform us about the reason for the temporary absence of the U.S.S. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY from Battleship Cove, including John Frohock of the U.S.S. SALEM museum. Franklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: PT191@aol.com Subject: Re: Camouflage Volume Two: Royal Navy, 1942 Alan Raven's Camouflage Volume Two: Royal Navy, 1942 is an excellent book. Good descriptions, excellent drawings and good supporting photos. T. Garth Connelly -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Robert J. Bartolacci" Subject: Re: U.S.S. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY >> Stop the presses! I just got an advisory from SMMLer Art Herrick informing me that when he visited Battleship Cove last summer the Destroyer U.S.S. JOSEPH P. KENNEDY was not there. They had a Russian missile boat moored in her spot. I hope this is only temporary (for repairs or something). I will indeed try to find what the story is, and will turn inform SMML. << >> Franklyn and Art, Don't worry, The JPK is still at Battleship Cove. When SMMLCon2000 visited Fall River last May, the JPK was out at sea being a movie star. She was a principle character in the recent movie "Thirteen Days." She play 2 different destroyers, one of which was herself. I think the Joseph P.Kennedy Jr. may be the only surviving ship that participated in the CubanMissile Crisis. (I'm sure somebody will let me know if I am wrong.) << U.S.S. Barry DD-933, currently a ceremonial visit ship at the Washington NAvy Yard, was also involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis. see the following link: http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/baryhist.htm see also: http://yoda.bmi.net/rbartola/special_features.html There have been stories that she is due to be scrapped or sunk as a target next summer, but I recently heard from a crew association member that that has changed and she will be preserved - the problem is supposedly hull deterioration - they were too cheap to drydock her & repair her, but the crew and other friends are fighting to save her Bob -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Roland Mar Subject: Re: 1) BANANA, 2) CVN naming Just a couple of thoughts further on the California BANANA syndrome, then I'll drop it. Even their local politicians and activists admit it exists. I will grant that the power generators have made their own screw ups, and further that corporate America is not a perfect or benevolent entity. However, when the government runs things, you have the efficiency of the post office, the compassion of the IRS, and the frugality of the Pentagon. A major chunk of the problem is the environmental maze imposed by the local culture. Last I heard, it took either 37 or 41 environmental permits from different offices just to open a retail shop in Los Angeles. They have cancelled the construction of a hospital in Southern California because someone might have seen an "endangered" species of sand fly in the area. It takes 7-10 years for the permitting process for any power plant, and after they get the paper they have to fight their way through the demonstrators. BANANA is real. Corporate stupidity is also real. Witness the placement of a nuclear plant [thankfully closed] square atop an earthquake fault. Speaking of political stupidity is to engage in redundancy. A "deregulation" that locks into law low retail rates, lets wholesale rates float, and makes it impossible for utilities to either contract for long term supply or build their own is mind boggling. The average figures cited are probably correct. But the real world does not live by averages. They are getting blacked out during peak loads and/or dips in supply. They have been covering the difference for years with purchases from out of state utilities. But now the surplus capacity of those sources is drying up, California can't pay for the purchased power, and there is very little political will here in Colorado to black out the West Slope so that a used car dealer in Encino can run another string of lights. Short term, they are in a world of hurt. Medium term, they have to deal with the economic losses as business shifts to places where power is more reliable. Long term, they have to either bring production up or consumption down. This will have to involve mandatory conservation efforts with some teeth plus accelerated building of capacity. Neither is politically popular or feasible there from what I understand. As for my daughter's business; her company is the one that shippers call in panic when the bloody great cranes break. For which they charge an arm, two legs, and a first lien on the pancreas. They would laugh and put in a bill for a single limb if called out just because the power went out. HER computer and equipment however doesn't work on candlepower. I suspect that she is more worried though, if shippers start going to other ports because of lack of reliable power in the Bay Area. CVN naming: News reports out of DC [Washington Post and Washington Times on a meeting between Rumsfeld and Bush] indicate that the Bottom Up Review Process [love that acronym!] is recommending cutting back to 10 CVN's, and all new construction, presumeably but not definitively post CVN-77 which is already authorized, be much smaller ships with smaller airgroups. We may end up with fewer CVN's to discuss names for. I vote for traditional names for the big ones [LEXINGTON or CONCORD (if T-AFS-5 is ever stricken). I fear that the small ones will need names like BULLSEYE or LILLIPUT. Roland Mar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: downscope@earthlink.com Subject: Re: getting started >> I'm new to the ship model hobby! I live out in West Texas out in the desert and have never seen sea water before. Id like to build a model of a coral atoll island with a little sea area around it. I have a 3m x 7m area to work with -- the island could have a 4000ft runway on it --providing I use 1/700 scale stuff. i guess my first question is what books are available on this??? Bear in mind that here we can only get well known books. i know this is a big topic and I'll try to break it down into smaller questions. thanks for your help! << Andy - is that 3 meters X 7 meters or 3 MILES by 7 MILES???? At any rate, I am reminded of the Texan who came to visit a friend in New York City. The friend took the Texan to see the Empire State Building and was rightly proud of how big it is. The Texan made the observation that in Texas, they had outhouses which were larger. "Yes," the New Yorker replied. "You need them." BTW, I was raised in Texas. Best Kevin Wenker Oh, living now in Arizona, I can tell you that it is going to be very very difficult to build a reef like you are proposing. The desert is not quite the right environment. Try a large pool. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: GKingzett@aol.com Subject: Re: California Power, a fact I know this is getting wildly off topic, except I am a little concerned that I will be sitting aboard the Hornet on April 21, 22 and 23 and the lights will go out. Pirie Sublett states that California has 42-44,000 MW average generating capacity, and 33-36,000 MW average consumption. Unfortunately, averages have very little to do with this situation. Capacity is finite, demand (either seasonal or growth based) is unlimited. When there is a shortfall of supply, even the illusion of shortfall, the price is bid up by the consumers. We can pretend that is not so, or the politicians can try to hide it, or we can try to pass the costs off to others, or we can pass laws, etc, etc, etc, but the facts remain, if demand exceeds supply, someone is going to go without. There is going to be pain. Trying to shift the blame is the 2nd oldest profession in the world (maybe the oldest). George Bush didn't cause this, and Bill Clinton didn't either, or their friends or their enemies. Lets look in the mirror, gang. That is where the blame is. It is not the other guy. Every unrealistic action we take, every short sighted decision we make, every time we listen to what we want to hear rather than look for the truth, every subsidy we accept, those things cause this problem. I don't have any better answer than anyone else does, and if the lights go out I'll be where I am most of the time, in the dark. But here is the basic fact. We are in this together, we'll get out of it together. Gary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: royrichey@att.net Subject: Re: stars Devin, Checked out the local military store (AZ Nat. Guard uniform store). The stars are single--65 cents, double, triple and quad---85 cents each. Plus the governors share, 7.5%. Drop me and e-mail if your interersted. Roy p.s.-- I have two triples and two singles you can have. Do any of you other former military have some stars to donate to the kitty? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "NICK & JOY ROGERS" Subject: KING GEORGE V Class WWII battleships. 1/600 scale Atlantic Models Proposed Detail Resin Parts Sets for Airfix kit. EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST REQUIRED. Hi all, Just noticed this great news,possibly old news to most of you. Anyways,I have just spotted the following on Felix Bustelo's excellent International Maritime Modelling website, http://members.tripod.com/~Febus65/pelists/atlantic.htm the following. >> Atlantic Models may be a new name, but the man behind it, Peter Hall, is certainly not a stranger to ship modellers. Peter is the principal designer for White Ensign Models PE sets, so you know that he produces quality. With time, Atlantic Models will introduce new and exciting products for the classic scale modeller. Atlantic Models products are available through White Ensign Models but you can communicate with Peter via email by peter@shipmodels.freeserve.co.uk Back in December 2000, I announced that Atlantic Models was planning to produce a series of resin upgrade/conversion sets for the Airfix King George V kit. Peter Hall as told me that he would proceed with casting only if there is a demand for these parts. To register interest for these, send Peter Hall an email. Peter is also planning a 1/600 Modern United States Navy photoetch set with parts for all of those 1/600 and near scale kits that are currently on the shelves. Remember, if you want it, he will do it - so let him know! << The proposed KGV resin sets include the following goodies, * bridge sponsons for 4-barrel pompoms AA mounts for HMS Duke of York & Anson. * replacement 5.25" turrets & gun barrels. * midship deckhouse/boatdeck for former catapult deck. * HAC MK5 directors for HMS D.O.Y.,Howe & Anson. * sundry ships boat & AA armament bitz for late WWII refits. See International Maritime Modelling website for full list. OK folks.All interested should start E-mailing Atlantic Models now.I certainly have. In the absence of a decent kit of HMS Vanguard, these parts are the best way of modelling the swansong British battlefleet of the late 1940's and the Scottish mothballed reserve fleet of the 1950's. Disclaimer = I do not work for Atlantic Models. Nick Rogers Auckland,New Zealand. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Marc Flake Subject: Re: getting started Andy: Don't limit yourself as far as books are concerned to Barnes&Noble/Walden Books/Hastings. You have a computer and access to the Internet. I've bought a good half-ton of books by using AddAll to search for out-of-print goodies and eCompare for the newer stuff. Both provide multiple listings with different pricings -- one of which should fit your pocketbook. Also, through the interlibrary loan program, you can borrow just about any book for two or three weeks. I just recently read a book titled "The Czar's British Squadron" about some naval types in armored cars in WW1 Russia. If I can find something as esoteric as that, you can find what you need, too. I can understand why you were inspired by the Nimitz Museum, I just got back for there myself (see next post). Marc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Marc Flake Subject: Nimitz Museum SMMLers: Someone else may have already talked about this, but I can't keep quiet about it. I went to the Nimitz Museum last Tuesday and was very impressed. Actually, there are two museums, the Nimitz and The National Museum of the Pacific War. They're both on the same block. A third collection, known as The History Walk, was closed, but is scheduled to re-open in December with a PT boat exhibit. The Nimitz Museum is focused on Nimitz. There's a large scale model of the USS Decatur (Nimitz's first command) and a 1/72nd scale model of the USS Nimitz, complete with aircraft and sailors. It took about 15 minutes. On the way over to The National Museum of the Pacific War, you pass a Gato-class conning tower, a torpedo launcher and some deck guns. Inside the museum they have a life size diorama of a Japanese sub launching a midget sub. They also have life-size diorama's of Doolittle's B-25 warming up on the deck of the Hornet and Henderson Field being shelled by the Japanese Fleet. These dioramas are incredible as you are walking through the museum, turn a corner and find yourself standing in the middle of history. The sound and visual effects are pedestrian, but you can use your imagination to amplifiy them. Other, modeling related, exhibits inlcude a 1/96 scale four-piper destroyer and a large scale USS New Mexico. I spent two hours in the museum and would have spent more, but I had an appointment to keep with the rest of the family. For those of you in Texas, it's worth the trip from whereever you are. For those of you who visit Texas, try to work this into your itenerary. If the pictures I took come out looking good, I'll send them to the site. I could go on, but it would ake for an even longer posting. I'll just succinctly say: "Highly recommended." Marc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Chuck Messer" Subject: Re: Virtual Modeling There was an article at the Starship Modeler site recently concerning turning virtual 3D models into physical resin models, using laser-cured resin that seems to grow the part or entire model right before your eyes. I've seen a similar process proposed for interplanetary spacecraft, which, like a submarine, may need a part but can't run to the local hardware store to get it. Long story short, the author found a company that for a reasonable fee, turned the author's computer model into somethng in resin. Based in the photos, the results are impressive. Perhaps rather than replacing physical models, virtual reality will make them more plentiful. The site address is: starshipmodeler.com. Chuck -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: raisingirl@mindspring.com Subject: USS United States? hello all.... Regarding all the discussion about the possibility of a future USS United States, it's worth sharing here something I read somewhere (might have been a Proceedings Naval Review issue) about the renaming of CVN-75 for President Truman. Since it was during the Truman administration that the carrier v. B-36 conflagration took place, one wag noted that it was the second time that Harry Truman had kept an aircraft carrier from being named "United States." :) While I think a new USS United States would be a wonderful thing, let's not forget about the passenger liner by the same name, which still sits awaiting an uncertain future in Philadelphia. Much as I would love to see a flat-top with that name, I'd much rather see the passenger liner back to sea under her own power. :( jodie -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "John" Subject: Carrier Names As I see it the only problem with naming an aircraft carrier USS United States is it might cause some severe confusion with the ocean liner SS United States which is still in existence in Philadelphia, and there is a group trying to save her, I am all for the names Lexington and Yorktown, or better yet it is a nuclear carrier so why not the USS Albert Einstein John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Michael Zwierko" Subject: JAG Modern Coast Guard Cutters I just recently purchased the two JAG USCG Cutters (Bear and Hamilton FRAM). These are outstanding little kits, but does anyone have a source for a lower hull, perhaps some diagrams (besides the ones from floating drydock)? I'm not a waterline modeler and would prefer a lower hull option for these two kits. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks. Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: CVN report Hi All The discussion on US aircraft carriers has been very interesting particularly in light of a report in the British press that President Bush's administration had completed its strategic review. Flawed though this obviously was the review indicated that the Ronald Reagan was to be the last of the Nimitz class to be built and that no more large super carriers would be built after it. The reasons given were that they were too expensive (5 billion dollars quoted) too big and too vulnerable to sea skimming surface missiles and that if any new carriers are built they will be a lot smaller. Any comments Chris Langtrree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Duane Fowler Subject: Hornet Con 2001 Hello All, It is less than a month to go until the SMML Con aboard the Hornet. We have several speakers lined up including John Youngerman who will be discussing the history and techniques of small scale modeling. I have also been loking into other distractions in the area. Just minutes away is Coast Guard Island which is the 11th Coast Guard District Headquarters. Currently there are two 378 High Endurance Cutters in port: the Morganthau and the Boutwell. Across the bay of course, is San Francisco and Fisherman's Wharf with the SF National Maritime Museum, the SF Maritime Museum, the USS Pampenito, and the Jerimiah O'Brien. North is Mare Island Naval Shipyard and the Susiun Bay MARAD Reserve Fleet, including the US Coast Guard Icebreaker Glacier. A photographic excursion around the fleet is being considered. The 21st of April aboard the Hornet is also designated a "Living Ship" day where the present crew will be moving aircraft about, operating the bow elevator and simulating as much as possible what it was like to be aboard and active Essex class CV. Along with several naval aircaft aboard (both prop and jet) is an Apollo capsule and an isolation trailer like the one used for the Apollo 11 mission. Unfortunately helecopter 66 is not around anymore but the museum is attempting to get another Seaking of the same type to represent the original. On the 22nd there will be an IPMS contest and show and all conference attendees are encouraged to take part. There is no additional charge and you don't have to be an IPMS member. Oh, did I mention that BB61, the USS Iowa will be in Benencia by then? If you need to book a room, I suggest checking on Yahoo or a similar service for accomodations in the area. The Days Inn on Webster and Atlantic is the closest to the ship. Hope to see you there! best regards, Duane Fowler dlfowler@uscg.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: dhjonespsm@juno.com Subject: Plastic Ship Modeler magazine #24 To all our subscribers on SMML - Plastic Ship Modeler 24 is out at last! I am pleased to announce the arrival of the corrected and reprinted copies of PSM 24. The first batch was picked up today. Our printer has done an excellent job of correcting all the major mistakes and the offending photos now look MUCH, MUCH better. There are a few minor layout glitches that were created from the correction process (which was not entirely in my control) but in all other respects the magazine is now up to the high standards we have established for PSM. All the photos in the interior articles that were darkened were reshot and are now better than any we have ever done. The image quality that you will see in the Skytrex article is the new standard for all future issues. Again, I do apologize for the delays, but in comparing the original issues and the corrected ones I felt it was totally necessary and the result is a much better and more useful publication. We hope you will be pleased with the results. We will be mailing out the first copies on Monday. Thank you for your patience. Daniel Jones Editor/Publisher Plastic Ship Modeler magazine -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: For Sale: Issues of Warship World magazine Hi SMML, I have nine back issues of Warship World magazine for sale. They are: Vol. 3, No. 7 (Summer 1990), Vol. 4, No. 6 (Spring 1993), Vol. 4, No. 7 (Summer 1993), Vol. 4, No. 8 (Autumn 1993), Vol. 4, No. 9 (Winter 1993), Vol. 4, No. 10 (Spring 1994), Vol. 4, No. 11 (Summer 1994), Vol. 4, No. 12 (Autumn 1994), & Vol. 5, No. 1 (Winter 1994). Published by Maritime Books, all are in very good condition, with many photographs and interesting articles, such as ones by John Lambert on Bangor class minesweepers, U & V class submarines, Vosper 70-ft. MTB's, and Admiralty trawlers (Pt. 1), articles on the ships HMS Renown, HMS Repulse, HMS York, HMS Exeter, HMS Scylla, HMCS Haida, and HMS Dido, articles on the weapons Sea Sparrow, the 8-in gun, Crotale, Sting Ray, post-war 3-in guns, and British post-war torpedoes, as well as articles on Italian explosive boats, Depot Ships, and "Royal Australian Navy: A Short History." Available for US$5 plus shipping each or US$42 plus shipping for the lot. Thanks, Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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