Subject: SMML VOL 1262 Date: Wed, 23 May 2001 23:58:55 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Hasegawa 1/450 Vanguard 2: Montana Options? 3: Re: Montana Class 4: WW1 Submarine Chasers 5: Monogram Chicago 6: Escort Carriers and Aviation Support ships of the US Navy 7: Re: Squalus Info 8: Missed opportunity for Tamiya re PH 9: German Greys Revisited 10: Hobby shops in Rome 11: MTB 363 12: Re: UK Bookshops -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: New Conversion kit from Toms Modelworks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Mitsuaki Kubota Subject: Re: Hasegawa 1/450 Vanguard >> There was a multi-part article in Model Ship Builder a few years ago on building, or modifying, the Hasegawa Vanguard. I think Robert Dick was the author, but I'm not sure. This should help a lot. << As Art wrote, Robert G. Dick posted excellent (and useful) article on Hasegawa Vanguard to "Model Ship Builder". The articles are 4 parts, span from No. 85 (Nov/Dec 1993) to No. 88 (Mar/Apr 1994). Unfortunately I don't have all of volumes mentioned above, but they would be very helpful. Best regards, Mitsuaki Kubota http://www.hig.tocolo.or.jp/hmdock/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Ned Barnett Subject: Montana Options? I suggest that you convince your friend to kit-bash two of the Monogram Iowa-class kits into a "mock-up" of the Montana - a test-run prior to tackling the Tamiya 1/350. For what he seems to want, Monogram may be good enough ... and would either convince him to drop the larger-scale idea or get him fired up to do it right. While the Monogram kit isn't entirely accurate, it's not bad for a "mock-up" ... Ned -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Fernando, Yohan" Subject: Re: Montana Class Derek, From what I remember reading, the Montana hull would have been more along the lines of a stretched North Carolina rather than an Iowa hull. The Montanas were a return to the slower BB designs of the North Carolina/South Dakota classes rather than a followup to the fast Iowa design. As a result, the elongated, narrow stem of the Iowa's (which was in part required to achieve the listed 30+ knots) would not have been a feature of the Montana design. So you and your friend may want to look at what's available for North Carolina class kits rather than Iowa class kits for the basis of kitbashing. It also turns out that many of the superstructure features on the Montanas look alot closer to those on the North Carolinas than any other US BB class. Yohan Fernando -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: WW1 Submarine Chasers There is a small but dedicated group whose members are deeply interested in the little known W W 1 U.S.Navy vessel known as Submarine Chasers. We are especially looking for literature, Operator's Manuals (engine operation and repair, and listening device instructions, target plotting, etc.) in particular, and would appreciate leads from SMML about how to procure copies of material we do not happen to have. We do have three different texts written by crewmen, and a few old magazine articles, but we want to gather unto one location anything and everything we can before it disappears forever. If you have, or know of, anything we solicit you to let us know about it. If we happen to have it (between us), it is still nice to hear about it. If we do not have it, we would be delighted to hear about it. We have already helped one SMMLer to begin to compile a Family History of his grandfather's service in one of these boats. We have also helped a few modelers who are interested in making a model, and another to expand his data base, all at no charge. Hey, this is a hobby for most of us, and it is a two way street. But this does not exclude those who service the hobby for a living. Who knows, perhaps we could even be of help to you. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Please contact me on or off list. Off list use Thanks Franklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Rod Dauteuil Subject: Monogram Chicago >> I'm trying to locate a Monogram ~1/500 scale Albany class CG kit << >> I have a bunch of them, but they're not for sale. That hull is soooo nice, and it will lend itself well to conversions. If only the lattice masts were better....... << That's like telling a starving person that you have a couple of nice, tasty sandwiches, but you won't give him one. How cruel! Seriously, Les Dorr wrote in volume 1250 last Monday that he was selling one. Perhaps he still has it? Good luck, Rod. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Bruce Burden Subject: Escort Carriers and Aviation Support ships of the US Navy >> I am looking for a copy of Stefan Terzibaschitsch Escort Carriers and Aviation Support ships of the US Navy and would pay up to $50.00 for a copy. << A search for this book on the ABE (Advanced Book Exchange) turned up 15 copies for sale, only two of them are over $50.00. http://www.abebooks.com/ Bruce -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 14:40:56 -0700 Subject: Re: Squalus Info Here is an interesting link to information about the Squalus rescue for anyone interested - http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq99-1.htm I have to agree that the movie on TV the other night was a real disappointment after reading these articles in the link above - Tom Morgan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Doug Marrel Subject: Missed opportunity for Tamiya re PH Oh, if only Mr. Tamiya was there at the roll out to present a professionally completed model of a new mold Tamiya 1/350 Arizona with a plaque honoring US servicemen and a respectful bow at a donation ceremnoy to the Arizona museum! Can you imagine the amount of basically free publicity the model ship building hobby would get? Can you imagine " A portion of each kit sale goes to support the Arizona museum, to keep the memory of those who died alive forever?" style PR campaign on US TV? Egads, what a HUGE missed opportunity for our hobby. After the release, I would wager the kit sales would be stunning. And don't give me that "made in Japan" BS or that "It's too sensitive a subject" BS. They just released a kit of the Indianapolis, they can do a Arizona. Note that I left out any US modelling companies, because there are none worth the name. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: GrafSpee34@aol.com Subject: German Greys Revisited Pirie writes: >> I have a great deal of difficulty seeing the two grays supposedly used on German warships in WW1. << Me too! To begin with, there was very little difference between the two shades of grey (one wonders why they even bothered). Furthermore, the delicate contrasts of an original photo tend to get washed out in publications. And even on original photos of these ships, sometimes you see the two greys, and sometimes you don't. A 1930s vintage article by Groener (one of the great German Navy historians) describes the greys as “hoechst neutrlalen perlgrauen” (highly neutral pearl greys). I interpret this to mean greys without hint of color, or much the same as you see them in the black and white photos. But I would be interested to hear other opinions. >> With the exception of that one really odd photo of Seydlitz in 1918 that always shows up, I can't see any difference in color between the hull and superstructure. << The scheme in this particular photo was more likely a wartime attempt at camouflage. At any rate, the prewar grey/light grey scheme was far more subdued. >> Does anyone know if the Imperial Navy actually used the slightly darker color on the hulls of its ships during the war? << The same Groener Article mentions that the regulations for paint schemes on ships were relaxed at the outbreak of the war to include "camouflage and special paint schemes applied according to particular needs." From what I have gathered so far, by the time of Jutland, the grey/light grey scheme was becoming less common. I believe that a number of the heavier, more modern units of the Kaiserliche Marine were painted in monotone grey even before the war started. That being said, I have at least one close up photo of SMS Koenig in dry-dock after Jutland that tends to confirm it was in the 2-tone grey scheme during the battle. The same goes for SMS Seydlitz. And, as previously discussed, the Ostasiengeschwader was in 2-tone greys from 1910-1911 until its annihilation. Incidentally, the 2-tone greys were again adopted by the Reichsmarine and used until early WW2. I believe the Bundesmarine used it as well. It seems to be a German naval tradition. Dave Krakow PS Finally read Ed Hoyt's book "The Germans Who Never Lost" about the SMS Konigsberg in East Africa. Enjoyed it immensely. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "enrico_villa@libero.it" Subject: Hobby shops in Rome Hi everybody, does anybody (especially Italians, I guess) in the SMML know of any good hobby shop in Rome? I'm going to spend some time there for business and I'd like to do some shopping as well... BTW, I'm very eager to see the Pearl Harbour movie (due out in Italy at the beginning of June), even if someone on this list has told that one of the two main characters will die at the end...:-) Happy modeling to everybody Enrico -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Friedrich Kappes Subject: MTB 363 Who can tell me something about the MTB 363 - MTB 378 = BPT 21 - BPT 52 that were built in the US: armament, speed, date of commission/delivery? Thanks in advance Friedrich The FriedrichFiles http://sites.netscape.net/friedkappes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "David Griffith" Subject: Re: UK Bookshops If anyone's visiting the UK, and adventurous enough to escape the fleshpots of London to come up to Scotland (as I've heard described elsewhere [was it in Fine Scale Modeler?] as the prettier bit to the north of England), then you could do worse than visit:- McLaren Books, 91 West Clyde St, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, G84 8BB. Tel 01436 676453 Fax 01436 673747 This is about 15 miles outside Glasgow, on the north side of the Clyde, and just around the corner from Faslane Naval Base, where the Royal Navy keeps a submarine or two. Not that you gat a chance to see anything! It's a fairly small second-hand bookshop that specialises in naval and maritime subjects. It even had two mint copies of "British Battleships" by Oscar Parkes, but there's only one now, since I was in there last time and feeling flush! Regards, David Griffith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Tom & Carolyn Harrison" Subject: New Conversion kit from Toms Modelworks New Conversion kit from Toms Modelworks allows the modeler to convert the 1/350 Tamiya Missouri kit into the Late 43 New Jersey with the round enclosed bridge. Kit contains resin bridge parts etched brass and Kingfisher aircraft. The basic conversion kit is TC3502 and list for $12.00, Conversion kit TC3505 contains the basic kit plus brass set 3510 and list for $25.00 Free shipping to SMML members. Our web site www.tomsmodelworks.com has been updated to show all our etched brass sets that are currently in production. As we are just getting back up to speed we expect to start releasing new sets starting around the end of June. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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