Subject: SMML VOL 1273 Date: Fri, 01 Jun 2001 17:40:46 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Post-PH Arizona 2: USS WArd 3: Re: british Sloop 4: Kitbashing to the 27 Charlie.... 5: POST ATTACK ARIZONA 6: A critique of Pearl Harbor - the movie 7: Re: Hurrying for the Nats 8: Pearl Harbor Movie- much too accurate 9: 3rd International Festival of The Sea (UK) 10: Arizona Dioramas 11: Re: Lightships-(1272-19) 12: Thanks to all for 40 mm gunsights 13: Re: Strange Notion 14: Why "Pearl Harbor" will be a smash hit 15: London ship 16: Light Ship -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: June Internet Modeler 2: 1/700 weapons 3: Steelnavy.Com Update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Steven P. Allen" Subject: Re: Post-PH Arizona From: Derek Wakefield >> Has anyone here ever thought of trying to model a post-attack Arizona as part of a diorama. << Derek, There was an article in SSM about 6 or 7 years ago about a post attack Arizona. There really wasn't a lot to it--you could gather enough parts from your donor kit and not screw up your main project--and it was fairly well done. The forward super structure wasn't handled sas well as it could have been, but the result looked really good. Your idea has a lot of merit to it; you'll probably be needing a coupla Loren Perry's PE sets, but the idea is intriguing, and the result would, as you say, make a statement. Hmmm. Maybe . . . . Now you've got me thinking. Steve Allen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Hub & Diane Plott" Subject: USS WArd Anyone know where I can find a 1/350 USS Ward? Hub -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "graham and melanie" Subject: Re: british Sloop I think you mean Wellington (HMS Wellington) build at Devonport dockyard in 1934 990 tons displacement, length 266ft 3in beam 36ft. Armerment 2x4.7/45qf mkIX 1 3in HA. There is a book too. HMS Wellington one ships war) by GJ WILLIAMS. isbn 1 85421 166 8. Hope this helps. graham -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: stillmo@mb.sympatico.ca Subject: Kitbashing to the 27 Charlie.... Just noted a thread starting up on kitbashing/converting the Hasegawa ESSEX to a 27 Charlie. Before the gent who posted this (cant remember the name at this time) goes much further. I cannot announce it yet but coming soon as early as the next couple months, a respected manufacturer is to be releasing the 1/700 resin kit of a 27 Charlie circa 1968 1969...retooling of an extinct kit. It will be gorgeous and if that sells, an SC 125A is in the works, and yet another 27 Charlie, different bow configuration is not in dreamland, but, in the works. I was asked to do the instruction sheet for one or more of the kits and I am expecting them anyday now....so, before chopping and hacking commences on the poor old Hase kit, do another project till these are ready to hit the shelves. Please consult a few past issues of PLASTIC SHIP MODELLER where I did a couple indepth articles on THE 27 CHARLES, SORTING OUT THE DIFFERENCES---while not a benchmark series, it answers a lot of questions I think (while surfacing more?) Yes, I did a total rebuild years ago of the Hase ESSEX to the INTREPID. It was a garguntuan project, and I still have the kit amazingly enough. Comparing it to the Jim Shirley USS ORISKANY showed me I wasnt too far off, and, to be honest, I dont think I would want to tackle that project again. But it was truly a FUN project and at times it seemed like it would go nowhere, and to prove it was a rebuild to my fellow IPMSers up here (tank and bird builders) I had to lay down a from the box kit of the ESSEX in WWII rig right beside her to show the huge rebuild. Jaws dropped at that point, and, gee, I took home a second place in my category after getting whipped by a out of the box 72nd scale Spitfire......as usual. Wait for these new kits, they will happen and I think you all will be very very pleased. Ray D. Bean -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: stillmo@mb.sympatico.ca Subject: POST ATTACK ARIZONA Derek..... Please check SCALE SHIP MODELLER JAN/FEB 1993 front cover and interior photographs, ARIZONA is done by yours truly, post attack, sans smoke. Its rough and actually I intend to re work it after i finish the same kit pre-Dec. 7th, to place alongside. This diorama, though a bit crude and done many years ago, sparked HUNDREDS OF INQUIRIES at a local mall display years ago as most folks who had been to the memorial at Pearl, or who were never there at all, all thought that the ship sank totally out of sight,!!!! I ended up in hour long conversations at my model display with an attentive audience re-educating people about that fatefull day and the ships involved. I am no teacher, but by days end I was tuckered from talking so much, but wow, did I feel great.....someday after i dust off the model (and I almost threw it out a few days ago) I will fix it up even more since I have been totally inspired by not only the movie, but by owning both the GMM set and the kit, so i better get off my keester and do something with this. What I did to do the wreck would take far too much space here but perhaps in a future PSM article. Ray D. Bean, Winnipeg, Canada. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: David Sepos Subject: A critique of Pearl Harbor - the movie Greetings All, Having seen it Monday and having had a couple of days to digest it, my overall rating on a 5 star scale is a (yawn) 2. 140 million dollars just don’t buy what it used to. As I said to my buddy the other day when he asked if I wanted to go see it again with a group of fellow modelers, my comment was: "Forget it, I’d rather stay home, get a good 6-pack (beer), a bag of microwave popcorn, and watch Tora! Tora! Tora! on VHS." If you want to go see a recent release, IMO, Enemy at the Gates is a far superior film and it probably captures the essence of what the fighting at Stalingrad was like. Not a Private Ryan, but a real close #2. (and yes, it too has some historical inaccuracies I am told) I will not nit-pick the small things that have already been well picked. Theatrically, the movie tries to be a blockbuster of a love story, on a historical background, with a modern action-thriller / computer graphics / special effects bonanza (a la Star Wars, Matrix, etc.). History took 3rd place. Somehow, the attempt to combine these three genre failed miserably in 3 hours of screenplay. By trying to play to everyone, it plays to no one. Hey, the mushy love theme was hoaky and the ending was telegraphed. We didn’t even get to see any provocative skin scenes! (but that would blow the PG-13 rating for Disney wouldn’t it?) The historical story line was poorly choreographed, as we had all expected, but documentaries aren’t a Hollywood trademark are they? The same could be said for the movie Memphis Belle, and while supposedly a "historical" piece, there were a great many liberties taken in that story line too. Why shouldn’t we expect this from those movie people on our great left coast? It’s a movie after all, a formula to make money, nothing else. The action shots ranged from some excellent ones to completely overdone. IMO, air to air was pretty good, but had it’s trying moments. Some of the CG scenes of battleship row were very good. In the end, it seemed a lot of the action was merely to shoot it up, blow it up, and flaming pyrotechnics for the people who wanted to "ooh" and "aah". Regards, Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Hurrying for the Nats >> Better hurry Rusty! You only have a month before the Nats! << The U-505 diorama will have to wait till next year. I'll be lucky to have my Ben Stoddart ready to go. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. You can now pay using your Visa / MasterCard http://okclive.com/flagship/ "That's mighty bold talk for a one-eyed fat man!" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: GrafSpee34@aol.com Subject: Pearl Harbor Movie- much too accurate Dear SMMLies I saw the Pearl Harbor film which was ruined by the director's inflexible obsession with complete historical accuracy. These days, with high tech special effects and such talented film artists as Chuck Norris and Steven Segall, there is simply no reason to have the Americans lose the Battle of Pearl Harbor. It is a real downer when the good guys lose. Instead, for example, Chuck Norris could have easily leapt from the top of a palm tree onto the wingtip of a passing Japanese airplane and kicked the pilot's ass. He could have then landed on the Japanese carrier and kicked Yamamoto's ass. I do not recommend this movie because (a) there was not enough kung foo (b) it might promote negative feelings towards our bretheren Japanese global community citizens and (c) it may encourage young children to play with war toys. Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "sell4853" Subject: 3rd International Festival of The Sea (UK) Hi "SMMLers" The 3rd International Festival of the Sea is being held in Portsmouth UK from 24th to 27th August. Twenty of the Tall Ships have been booked with over 500 classic and traditional boats taking part. Being held in the Naval Base the Royal Navy is obviously well represented with 45 Navy ships including ships from ten overseas navies, including the USS Winston Churchill. The venue within the base for the model boating exhibition will be the Old Chain Testing House which is situated next to the berths of the Tall Ships. There is so much more to this event than can be put on this page suffice it to say that of course there will be spectacular displays from Apache gunships, Lynx, Merlin and Sea King helicopters along with fixed wing displays from the Red Arrows, Battle of \Britain Flight and the Royal Navy Historical Flight. This will all be backed up with music from 2,00 musicians including the Band of HM Royal Marines, a concert orchestra and other popular bands within the purpose built 10,000 seat arena. This is an ideal opportunity to see various naval ships at close quarters within a naval base so why not visit, stay locally as it will take more than a day to absorb all the activities, ships and atmosphere. If anyone is interested tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster or by phone 08705 50 50 40 (UK) Best of luck and pray fro good weather ! Norman PS: Have a look at: http://www.festivalofthesea.co.uk/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Arizona Dioramas Derek asked - >> Has anyone here ever thought of trying to model a post-attack Arizona as part of a diorama. << Ray Bean did one hell of a nice post-attack ARIZONA several years back, and Dave Judy and others have done impressive models of the memorial and sunken wreck. I believe they both used the 1/426 Revell kit as a basis. MWL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Gord and Doreen Smith Subject: Re: Lightships-(1272-19) Hi Dave, They got it right, the lightship was not supposed to move anyway and they used the extra space for gas for the older vessels and fuel for the generators later on. Notice how much freeboard there is, these things were on station (hurricane, nor-easter or whatever) because that was when they were most needed. Most often towed to station and moored 'four ways to Wednesday' they were designed to be a kind of floating island on which you mounted a lighthouse. Would like to see some pics during construction and after finished. I am afraid to admit that the lines for the one I built 20 years ago for a model regatta were taken from the Encyclopedia Brittanica and it has to be towed onto station and moored for and aft so it would not swing. It was equipped with a 12 volt strobe light because I was too lazy to build a rotating beacon. Good luck with this most interesting diversion in ship modelling. Gordo CANADA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Drees Joe Subject: Thanks to all for 40 mm gunsights I have been onerwhelmed by your responses for my posting. If I have not responded to you personally please except my apologies and THANKS! This newsgroup is fantastic, see you at the Nats..............Joe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Jowfx@cs.com Subject: Re: Strange Notion Derek Some years back, Scale Ship Modeller had an article about someone who built a diorama of the Arizona after the attack. It looked pretty decent IIRC. If I can find the issue, (if I still have it!) and you're interested, I can send you some photo copies. John Fox -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Loren Perry Subject: Why "Pearl Harbor" will be a smash hit After seeing Pearl Harbor yesterday in a nearby theater, I am convinced that this film will make a fortune, probably in the middle nine figures. Here's why: Like James Cameron's "Titanic", Disney and Bruckheimer's "Pearl Harbor" gives equal amounts of time to both the romantic love story and the action sequences. We all know about the flaws in the ships depicted therein (Ticonderoga-class CG's escorting IJN Carriers, the numeral "8" mysteriously appearing and then disappearing from the "Hornet's" deck during the B-25 launch sequence, lots of 1970's vintage mothballed ships standing in for WW2 destroyers, etc. plus scores of other silly goofs), but the aviation scenes are excellent. They've set a new standard here, and all the IJN planes look superb. Ditto the U.S. aircraft that appear. CGI must have been the reason, because there surely aren't that many airworthy planes of these types left in the world. The effects are outstanding. To enjoy this film, treat it as it's meant to be treated: entertainment with an historical event as the backdrop. Nothing more, nothing less. Leave your photos, plans, and references at home. Don't count rivets or gun barrels, and then try to take in the action as a whole, without focusing too much on the individual elements. I believe Disney and Co. have come very close to capturing the essence of what it must have been like to be at Pearl when the bombs began to fall. Now for the good stuff: The capsizing of the Oklahoma is horrifying to see, and probably as realistic as the sinking of the Titanic in Cameron's film. And yes, it capsizes to port as did the real ship. Equally disturbing is the destruction of the Arizona. It's the human element that makes it so. This is why Pearl Harbor will succeed at the box office while Tora Tora Tora failed. I love Tora - I own a VHS tape of it that's almost 15 years old plus two DVD disks (the second one is the special edition that was released months after the original version.) But Tora nearly bankrupted 20th Century Fox because so few people went to see it. Why? Nothing to attract women. No reason for repeat viewings. Very dry, almost documentary-like script. Little or no emotion. But it was very accurate! Just as the film "A Night To Remember" was more accurate in many ways than "Titanic", the latter took the world by storm because of its characters, and the emotions that were portrayed throughout the film. Everything from humor to treachery was there, and it caught the fancy of the movie-going public like nothing had in years. Women loved the two principal (and fictional) characters, and went back to see the film again and again. Men loved the ship and the hardware, and went to see it again and again. Modelers loved anything about the Titanic, and everyone loved the spectacle. And they kept coming back for more. Pearl Harbor had some pretty good principal characters. I expected to be bored and annoyed, but instead, I found myself actually liking these people. The cliches that the critics hated so much didn't seem all that horrendous to me. In fact, I had to pay strict attention just to notice them. Most people won't be bothered by them. But if you can sell the woman on a film, the man will take her to see it. And it won't be a tough sell, with all the military hardware present. There are other nifty touches, too. The trains in the mainland scenes looked terrific. A recently restored Southern Pacific 4-6-2 is shown pulling a period passenger train carrying some of the principals, and Santa Fe No. 3751 (a huge 4-8-4) made a brief appearance at a station platform. If you like old automobiles, buses, and trucks, this film is full of them, and they look terrific. But some of the CGI scenes of Battleship Row were actually breathtaking, even if things weren't quite what history tells us. (Once again, try to take it all in as a single scene - don't get caught up in the small details) One of the opening shots of Battleship Row is a low flyover approaching from the ships' sterns; this MUST be seen on a full sized Cinemascope theater screen to get the full effect. A couple of other shots were almost as good, and come very close to taking the viewer back in time. Gone With The Wind's brutal hospital scene was surely one of the inspirations for a similar set piece focusing on the nurses' sudden and overwhelming burdens as wounded sailors and soldiers began streaming into wards ill-prepared for carnage on such a scale. The filmmakers did very well here. Another film that provided some inspiration was Star Wars. Who among us didn't notice the similarity of various air-ro-air combat scenes to the famous Imperial Empire vs. Rebels battle sequences in space? Even the scene of Luke Skywalker's fighter racing down the long corridors of the Death Star was ripped off with P-40s and Zeros flying at head-height down the streets of Honolulu. Pure bunk - but what fun! Anyone here who decides to boycott this film for whatever reason (lack of accuracy, etc.) is really shortchanging himself. IMHO, every cent of the $140 million that allegedly went into this film is up there on the screen. You will get your money's worth, I assure you. It's full of great stuff, and the 3+ hours seemed more like 2 hours to me. I loved the film and I will be first in line to buy the DVD when it's released. (I can't wait to pause the film to see what other classes of modern ships are escorting the Japanese CV's besides those Aegis cruisers!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "nickbalmer" Subject: London ship Hello, What you saw was probably HMS President, which is just up stream of Blackfriars Bridge on the northbank.. The vessel was built during World War I. The ship is due to be towed around to a ship yard, in I beleive Great Yarmouth shortly for a major maintenance overhaul including repairs to it's hull. It is fitted up as a nightclub inside, and is a bit run down, but many original bits remain in the more remote cabins and rooms. I beieve she was a destroyer, and would be interested to learn more of its history. Regards Nick Balmer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: david.ward@lister-petter.co.uk (N David Ward) Subject: Light Ship In response to the posting about the South Goodwin Lightship, most lightships were 'dumb', ie had no propulsion, they were towed to position, and comrehensively anchored. These vessels were owned and operated by Trinity House, a semi-independent HM Government Department. They were manned until the mid-80's, then were automated. The model itself is a ex-Frog mould, I remember making it in the late 60's, I seem to recall it came complete with paint ( glass bottles ). The companion model was 'Shell Welder', a coastal tanker, which I see is still available. Amazing, the original Frog moulds must have been exceptional for them to have lasted so long. The detail on these was good, albeit a little heavy, but for the age a vast improvement on the then available Revell-Monogram merchant ships. Dave Ward (goofing off at work) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Bob Pearson" Subject: June Internet Modeler Hi all, The June Internet Modeler is now live. Naval content this time includes articles from Dr Kerry Jang (WEM Warspite) and Richard Eaton (Samek Type VII Destroyer). I take a look at the Revell 1/72 Flower Class corvette, while Kerry does a comparison of the GLS and Sirmar detail sets for the same. Regards, Bob Pearson Managing Editor / Internet Modeler http://www.internetmodeler.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Mike C" Subject: 1/700 weapons Bruce, I make a set of 20mm guns that puts the others to shame, even if I do say so myself. They have resin bases so you don't have to futz around with flat brass; the bases have a raised center column so they can be accurately shown in the fully elevated position (as most often seen when not manned); the guns can be displayed at any angle of elevation; they have "V" bracing on the back of the shields- something not featured on any other brass set; they have both shoulder braces, unlike the silhouette profiles of other sets; and the guns are separate so you can paint them separately and so you can attach them last. 24 guns with 32 bases for $4. Even with the numbers you'll need it's a lot better than scavanging from a perfectly good kit. I also make open 5"/38 guns in resin. You may want to sand off the cast-in recuperator tube, but, overall, they're a lot better than the generic guns that Skywave has. The set features eight guns and a practice loader. I don't have a quad 40mm set...yet. I'm thinking about doing a set based on the resin and brass example included with the WASP kit, but I need more feedback on how they work for people and I will also need to design brass for the shields. If you need .50 cal naval mounts, there are some great ones on the Classic Warships small weapons brass set. I dip the front half of the gun in crazy glue to add depth to the water jackets. That set also features the only twin 20mm guns in brass (as far as I know) for anyone wishing to upgrade the Tamiya INDIANAPOLIS kit. BTW, I think the Fujimi 5" guns are supposed to represent how they looked with canvas covers, but I don't think those were ever used during wartime. Good luck with your project. It's an old kit and could use the extra attention. Mike Czibovic Corsair Armada Productions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Rob Mackie Subject: Steelnavy.Com Update We've updated the Steelnavy.Com site (www.steelnavy.com) with four highly informative and interesting articles: Kombrig 1:700 Vitse-Admiral Drozd (Kresta I Missile Cruiser) by Steve Backer WSW 1:700 T28 (T22 1939 Class Flottentorpedoboot) by David Angelo Revell 1:96 CSS Alabama/USS Kearsarge Comparative Review by Joel Labow NAVIRES & HISTOIRE Le Magazine d’Histoire Maritime by Steve Backer The Steelnavy.com site is updated constantly with new material. Most of the updates go unannounced here on SMML, so check out Steelnavy.com 3 or 4 times per week (or more often if your doctor recommends it). Rob Mackie Steelnavy.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Backissues, Member's models & reference pictures at: http://smmlonline.com 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