Subject: SMML VOL 1284 Date: Sun, 10 Jun 2001 19:02:28 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: 1:400-500 Parts 2: Re: Bloody Battleship Blast Bags 3: Yamato 4: Finishing wood hulls (was: Mastering) 5: Buyer beware--shrink wrap 6: Mastering 7: Photoetch rails HMS Intrepid 8: Re: eBay ´steals´ 9: Re-mastering thread (?) 10: Re: winch orientation in Airfiw 1:72nd E-Boat 11: T.V. - Hornet at Alemeda 12: Re: A-1H Skyraiders 13: Liberty ships 14: Re: Shrink Wrap 15: P.H. 16: E-Boat Winch 17: Re: hats 18: Re: PH battleships 19: Re: Liberty models 20: Re: SS BEN ROBERTSON 21: Re: USS Langley at Tarakan, Borneo on 10 January 1942? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: 1:400-500 Parts Does anyone know of a source for Twin 5/38s, Quad 40mm's, Single 20mm's, and Kingfishers in this scale? A buddy is thinking about reworking his Revell Arizona into a c.1944-45 Pennsy. My guess is the odds are pretty slim that any exist. The only thing I can think of is trying to locate an old Hasegawa 1:450 Missouri for use as a parts kit. I can't think of any other kits in that 1:426 range that might have the needed parts that would be half-way passable. At the moment, I'm trying to figure out how to do this without having to scratchbuild all those guns (given everything else that has to be scratchbuilt). Derek Wakefield -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: wem Subject: Re: Bloody Battleship Blast Bags Derek, Remember, the "bloody" battleship blast bags are always on British battleships...the USN uses other epithets. >> Perhaps I'm just used to the more "billowing" type of blast bags that extend further out on the barrels. << That's exactly what's happening. The blast bags on the BBs at PH were much tighter fitted and less bulky than what you're used to seeing. But they were there! Cheers, John Snyder -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: ModelFlags@aol.com Subject: Yamato Hi Graeme You may find the info useful info at: http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/naval_ship_colors.htm You probably already have it but, if not, check out "Requiem for Battleship Yamato" (see the customer book reviews on Amazon) at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1557505446/qid=992087617/sr=1-1/ref=sc_ b_1/002-6470671-6337619 Good luck with the painting Regards Brian Model Flags Buy Online: Miniature Cotton Flags & Vinyl Lettering http://www.modelflags.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Don Leonard Subject: Finishing wood hulls (was: Mastering) From: SteveWiper wrote: >> If one bothered to treat the wood properly, then one would not get the grain to show! 84 ship model master patterns and no wood grain proves me correct. A master pattern can be made from almost anything, you just have to finish it correctly. << Steve, What would you recommend as the best method for eliminating grain from a wood hull, basswood for instance? Al Ross mentioned lacquer auto primer a few postings ago...I'd be interested in more detail on finishing wood hulls from Steve, Al or anyone, as I'm getting started on the Bluejacket 80' Elco PT kit (which Al designed). Thanks, Don Leonard -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Rod Dauteuil" Subject: Buyer beware--shrink wrap Hi Gang, Keep one think in mind when you're looking at a model which is supposedly new in factory sealed shrink wrap: A lot of companies used cellophane wrap in the early years, up through the 70's and maybe even into the early 80's. For instance, I'm a Monogram and Revell collector, and they used a cellophane which was wrapped around the box and folded neatly on the ends, then heat sealed. That is different from today's shrink wrap. When I hear of a early edition model still in shrink wrap, I ask the seller to describe the type or wrap and how it looks before I bid. Fortunately I learned this very early on when I bought a sealed Monogram Blue Angels set from the early 70's, and it was in the latter type of shrink wrap. That's when I learned it had been re-sealed. Switching gears, as an Ebay seller I got burned once by a guy who claimed never to have received his product. At the time I didn't use Delivery Confirmation, so I had no way of proving or disproving his receipt and refunded him the money. Now I use DC always, and make a provision in my auction that the item is FOB my town. FOB is a shipping and accounting term meaning Free On Board, and either the origination point or the destination point listed determines where ownership changes. In my case, I consider the ownership of the model transferred once I receive payment and drop it with the post office. Since then, I've had no problems. Rod -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Paul and Renee Jacobs" <1250man@home.com> Subject: Mastering >> If one bothered to treat the wood properly, then one would not get thegrain to show! 84 ship model master patterns and no wood grain proves me correct. A master pattern can be made from almost anything, you just have to finish it correctly. << I agree with Steve. While I use only plastic to build my masters for Saratoga Model Shipyard, the key is in the finish. I virtually polish my hulls like ivory to get them as smooth as possible. The same can be done with wood. It just takes concentrated effort. Paul -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Paul Jordan Subject: Photoetch rails HMS Intrepid Help! I just purchased a 1/96 R/C model of HMS Intrepid (not the WW2 vessel but the Falkland one!). I wasn't into "Naval vessels" (other than paddlewheelers) before I bought this yesterday...but for the equivalent of 15 pounds I couldn't let it go. (Wife is greatly underwhelmed by my purchase and at 5' 6" is currently sitting on the living room floor (.the boat!...not the wife.) Now I realize this is hardly a plastic kit, (although the hull is fibreglass) and it was once a magnificent model before it became "neglected". I can pretty much restore anything BUT I cannot figure out what I'm going to do about the railings. These are all photoetch and VERY soft. Most of them are bent or collapsed but not broken. I have tried straightening them out with marginal success, but they are also undersize and have to be replaced. If this was a display only model I'd have no probs with photoetch rails, but this is a fully operating ship and the first thing that gets hit during moving is railings. I normally build 1/48 railings with commercial turned brass stanchions and piano wire which are fine for more traditional vessels....but there are literally dozens of stanchions on this model and it would cost a fortune. If any of you large scale modelers have any ideas please do contact me as I won't attempt restoration of this model until I can find a solution to the railings which can "make or break a model" an my (humble) opinion! Also I would appreciate it if anyone can point me towards some good Internet reference material on the ship (I have a very small set of detail plans) I have searched and come up with a fair amount of text but not much graphic reference on Intrepid..maybe I'm not looking in the right places. Thanks for any help and please feel free to contact me offline if necessary PJ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: thorstenwahl@t-online.de (Wahl, Thorsten) Subject: Re: eBay ´steals´ Jeff Herne wrote: >> Now there's a good thread idea...tell us about your amazing kit finds, err...steals... << Well, how about a Revell Polaris (visible, 1975) for eleven bucks incl. p&h and a Revell Great Eastern for $13. BTW - how´s that one coming along, Ken? ;-) R/ Thors ´At least we don´t name our ships for our mothers-in-law.´ USS Reuben James to HMS Battleaxe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: HAZEGRAYADM@aol.com Subject: Re-mastering thread (?) I used basswood for the master we (Tom's Modelworks) did for our first 1/700 kit, the Liberty ship. The hull pattern was easy to shape and took a smooth finish with lacquer that sanded well. Tom cast a second (Final) master in resin that I detailed (Gun'ls, hatches, etc.) with plastic. Basswood is easy to work with, sands smooth and is close grained. Maybe its just a question of what works well for you. Our second kit (1/700 CVE Casablanca) I did with built up sheet plastic using a waterline base plate, bulkheads, deck w/ side plates over strips (Similar to balsa & tissue flying model airplanes). I'll try anything once (At least). Bert McDowell -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "michael thrupp" Subject: Re: winch orientation in Airfiw 1:72nd E-Boat Doug Thanks for the info. I'll do it the Fock way - I hope I spelled that right. Cheers Mike Thrupp -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: JRKutina@webtv.net (John Kutina) Subject: T.V. - Hornet at Alemeda I am a great fan of "JAG" on the USA channel. Last thursday, June 7, 2001 the channel did a program concerning a "ghost" on the USS Hornet. There were many sequences on the decommissioned Hornet's deck and superstructure that those of you who are carrier fans would have enjoyed. This series does re-runs so watch for the program that concerns ships ghosts. Regards, John - Seattle P.S. The lady lawyer fills her uniform well. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: ECammeron@aol.com Subject: Re: A-1H Skyraiders The squadron was VA-152, not VF-152. Assigned to Carrier Air Wing 16, tail code AH. Look at www.abledogs.com Eugene -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "John" Subject: Liberty ships Jodie, Here is a bunch of links to the USS Jeremiah O'Brien, they should help you in your quest for information on liberty ships she is here in san Francisco as a working floating museum and she operates, if you need more let me know http://www.geocities.com/jeremiahobrien/ John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: James Corley Subject: Re: Shrink Wrap >> A modeler on another list passed the word that, with the current availability of shrink wrap machines, buying a kit in shrink wrap does not guaranty it has not been opened or tampered with. A friend of his bought a shrink wrapped kit at a swap meet with the intention of building it. When he got it home and opened it, the box was full of junk! No model at all! The seller had evidently thought the kit would be bought by a collector and sold and resold without ever being opened (or, of course, was a victim himself.) << Sounds like somebody from an old Hobby shop in Alexandria, now out of business. I have a regular customer who bought one from him, shrink wrapped. When he inspected it - at the show - he discovered the perfidy of the dealer and confronted him by posing to buy another, with an inspection first. When the scamp refused, he loudly proclaimed what had happened. The dealer refused to acknowledge any involvement and declared the kit was sealed when he bought it himself. Said former customer then staked out the tables and killed any further sales for the next two hours until the merchant relented and refunded his money. Needless to say, the business the rest of the day was very light. Said merchant still frequents many shows here in the southeast, but his table traffic is considerably lighter than what I remeber it being in the past. I guess word-of-mouth is still the best form of advertising whether it is positive or negative. JZ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "DUCKMAN" Subject: P.H. HI ALL, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVEN'T SEEN, I JUST SAW THE "PEARL HARBOR G.I. JOE" ADVERTISED ON THE T.V. DAVID -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: GrafSpee34@aol.com Subject: E-Boat Winch The instruction sheet shows the correct orientation for the winch in question. The box art is wrong. Not that it matters much; the kit part is only a vague representation of the actual winch anyway. And that, sorry to say, is the least of this particular kit's problems. The biggest problem is the dreadful hull, a really ugly clunker that looks nothing like Luerrsen's sleek design. Oddly, the kit's deck is laid out nicely and some of the smaller details are well done. It seems as though Airfix worked from an incomplete set of plans. I pitched my kit into the spares bin when I head that Revell is releasing a S-Boot soon. Dave Krakow -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Keith Bender" Subject: Re: hats Hi SMMLies, As for hats and questions. I have 35 ship hats including USS Inchon LPH -12, my ol' tub. I have many from WWll and wear them all the time. I am always asked things like , "is that your ship?", "I thought that was a carrier ?" and yes, the big one I had to control myself and not call this person some sort of not so nice name, I had my Arizona hat on just the other day and this older fellow asked if that was my ship? I guess I shouldn't take for granet and think that everyone in the world knows about the Arizona. And anyway I'll only be 40 in three weeks but don't look a day older then 39 unless I take the hat off. My Dad was only 3 when Pearl was hit. But on the other hand like the other SMMLie stated, these hats do bring up some interesting conversations. I meet people that like models, were former sailors and even former shipmates that I never knew was aboard when I was, small world. Hats are great, KTB -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Jeffon10@cs.com Subject: Re: PH battleships For Michael C. Smith re PH battleships. I have a color slide from the US National Archives showing USS NEVADA beached on Hospital Point in Measure 1 Dark Gray with pale gray/off white upper masts. Without pulling it out, I seem to recall a Measure 5 false bow wake too. Jeff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: Jeffon10@cs.com Subject: Re: Liberty models For Ian Wrenford Apparently, you haven't heard of Iron Shipwright's 1/350th resin kit of a Liberty Ship available for about $100-200. Try Pacific Front Ship Models. Jeff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: wem Subject: Re: SS BEN ROBERTSON Hi Jodie, I can't add much: in 1947 she was renamed KASTOR; she was scrapped in December 1968 at Hirao. Source: Sawyer, L.A. and W.H. Mitchell, The Liberty Ships: The History of the 'Emergency' Type Cargo Ships Constructed in the United States During World War II, Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1970, p.150 Cheers, John Snyder White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: wem Subject: Re: USS Langley at Tarakan, Borneo on 10 January 1942? None of my references (Pawns of War: The Loss of the USS Langley and the USS Pecos; The Fleet the Gods Forgot: The U.S. Asiatic Fleet in World War II; The Lonely Ships) mentions LANGLEY at Tarakan on 10 January 1942. She was in Balikpapan in December. She was not ordered on the aircraft-ferrying mission until early February 1942. John Snyder White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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