Subject: SMML VOL 1303 Date: Wed, 27 Jun 2001 00:02:14 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Iced Coffee 2: Sheffield Photos - Dec 1943 3: Re: 350th Arizona 4: Resizing plans 5: Blue or Gray 6: Re: E-Boat v. S-Boot 7: Re: Rigging Wire 8: Re: Minbari 9: Re: GMM 1/350 USS Arizona set 10: bore evacuator 11: Re: Minbari 12: Re: Resin vs. Plastic 13: Re: Turrets and Capsizing 14: HMS Agincourt 15: Re: Poseiden Instructions 16: Great Lakes Training Center 17: Another K-19 movie Report 18: Re: Resin v plastic 19: Re: Iced Coffee 20: Resin kit producers 21: Going home -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation 1: Re: IPMS 2: NRG Web Page Updated -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Rare Book for Sale 2: Warship Books announcement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: Iced Coffee >> (For those of you who live outside of Eastern Massachusetts, a regular coffee is with cream and sugar) << Glad you told us that John. Duh! And we outside Massachusetts thought it was to keep our bowels regular. << I thought that's what all the peat in Laphroig was for!! :-) Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Dimi Apostolopoulos Subject: Sheffield Photos - Dec 1943 Dear All, Does anybody know if there are any photos of HMS Sheffield from around the time of the Battle of North Cape? Dimi -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: " Jim Mc" Subject: Re: 350th Arizona Oh Man!!! I for one, am going to take it as a VERY good sign that a manufacturer had the sack to approach Loren and GMM for a PE set for an upcoming kit. This is sounding really intersting!!! Jim Mc -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: Resizing plans All right, I admit it, I'm a numbskull. Here I am, a mathematician fer cryin' out loud, and I can't do simple maths! I have a set of plans in 1/192. I need them rescaled to 1/700 or 1/720. I confidently calculated the percentage reduction needed, since that's what the copier place needed, and handing the plans over. They made beautifully clear copies, well scale, but the BL**DY WRONG SIZE! So, will one of you people out there please let me know what the h*ll I did wrong? How do I calculate the percentage reduction from one scale to another? I need to walk back into that place and say "I need these reduced by X%" and not blow another $20 on useless copies. Thank you in advance. Joe Poutre -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: Blue or Gray Does anyone here know whether the California was painted 5-N or #7 5-N after her 1945 refit. In Blue Water Beat, one of the recollections of the former crew members stated that after the refit the ship was painted a "filthy battleship gray". Considering the ships refit was being wrapped up around the time 5-N blue was being replaced with #7 5-N Navy Gray... Derek Wakefield -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: John Maze Subject: Re: E-Boat v. S-Boot >> 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. << I'm kinda dumb about the smaller class boats - are the E-Boat and S-Boot the same class boat? JohnM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Jim Warsher Subject: Re: Rigging Wire >> Steve James is spot on, I worked as a Xerox engineer and the Corona/Corotron wire is possibly the best thing for 1/700 rigging possible, Its immensely strong and the diameter is true over the whole reel (Try that with stretched sprue!), usually the right colour and needs no painting. I'll ask one of my friends still there, to see if I can find out manufacturer. One reel of this wire should last even the most avid kit builder a few years. << Nice one, Andy Airlie. I, for one, will be waiting with interest for details. Bill Gruner carries a line called Dai-Riki of monofilament nylon and the 8x looks pretty nice but I go bonkers trying to rig it in place. Jim -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "John Sheridan" Subject: Re: Minbari >> The actual quote from Severed Dreams is: "Only one human captain has ever survivied battle with the Minbari Fleet. He is behind me, you are in front of me. If you value your lives, BE somewhere else" << It's my ship, my TV wife, and my universe so I can mis-quote it any way I want! John Sheridan "The original artifact" You are not ready for immortality.............Kosh. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Keith Bender" Subject: Re: GMM 1/350 USS Arizona set Good for Gold Mdel Models, Loren is "The Man". I'll be looking forward to it. Keith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Norman C. Samish" Subject: bore evacuator Thanks to those who explained the bulge in the middle of the barrel on tank guns and some modern ship guns. I'm always gratified by the friendly expertise on this list. Jon Warneke, your explanation was the most detailed. I had to think awhile to figure out how the high-velocity gases inside the barrel could cause a vacuum in the bore evacuator, but it finally dawned on me - a high-velocity fluid going past a hole can pull gas out of the hole into the fluid, even if the pressure in the fluid is higher than that of the gas in the hole. Thanks, Norm Samish -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: wem Subject: Re: Minbari >> "Only one human captain has ever survivied battle with the Minbari Fleet. He is behind me, you are in front of me. If you value your lives, BE somewhere else" << And I'M that human captain.... John Snyder -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: wem Subject: Re: Resin vs. Plastic >> The premise with resin is that it doesn't take that much cash to do a resin kit as a plastic kit and more daring examples of kits can be exicuted. << That said, Hugh, it's well to remember that your typical resin kit manufacturer doesn't have the financial resources of Hasegawa or Tamiya. Kit production is still expensive, and it takes market research to determine how many kit sales will be needed to amortize the investment, before a profit will even be seen. Heck, I'm still a newby at this and I'll be glad to discuss the issues of funding paint production.... John Snyder Illegitimus non carborundum White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: wem Subject: Re: Turrets and Capsizing As far as the BBs go, Bismarck wasn't unique. When the turrets weigh upwards of 2000 tons, gravity is all you need to hold them in place under normal conditions. Capsizing, however, is beyond "normal conditions". John Snyder, A.B. White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "D.Przezdziecki" Subject: HMS Agincourt Thanks for the lonestar link, it is a new one to me. The only downer is that the guy does not include even a single sample of his drawings,no description and no hint which particular year in Agincourt career did he picked. I will drop him an email and ask thou. Regards D.P -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Dave Judy Subject: Re: Poseiden Instructions Hans, I have that kit, email me off list and I will copy them for you........ Dave Judy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Kurt Van Dahm Subject: Great Lakes Training Center The Great Lakes Training Center (as I understand it) is the single boot camp the US Navy now operates. They graduate a new class every Friday. I belong to the area Navy league and they occasionally go up there for the graduation ceremonies. Plan to go along when their trip coincides with a Friday I can take the time to tag along. When I go up I will check the Museum. Our Navy League President mentioned something about the museum at our previous meeting so I know one exists, but have no idea of its size or areas covered. If you heard of an IL Naval Training site being shut down, it was Glenview Naval Air Station where they trained carrier pilots during W.W.II. It was shut down a few years ago and turned into a shopping center, golf course, sub-division of VERY expensive homes, though they did save hanger #1 and plan to retain it as a museum of some sort. There is some historic significance of hanger #1 but as a ship guy I never paid any attention to what it is. Take care, Kurt Van Dahm Westmont, IL NRG member -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: Another K-19 movie Report http://www.geocities.com/macamodius/ Shaya Novak Naval Base Hobbies The Store for The Model Ship Builder www.modelshipbuilding.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "D.Przezdziecki" Subject: Re: Resin v plastic From: "hugh1lottie2" >> I fail to see why producing a kit that you enjoy and undoubtly have references is a sin. << And where exactly do I state that it is a "sin"?? All I said was that there are various reasons for producing resin kits but nobody is doing it for purely humanitarian or charitable reasons. >> If every resin producer followed your advice and only the most popular market researched ship were produced we would be stuck with twenty resin Hoods, Iowas, Bismarks and Yamatos ad nauseam....SNIP << You missed my point completly Hugh. Research will tell you where the market is saturated and where there is a gap, will also tell you where you have a chance to compete and where you don't. It might prevent a potential resin producer from releasing a model which falls well below the market standart or is so "daring" as to be right down obscure. I am not slamming the resin producers here,to the contrary I wish them all to be as succesfull as possible, and to continue to design models we all want rather than something which "seemed like a good idea at the time" but turned out to be only one product wonder. Regards D.P -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: SolidStump@aol.com Subject: Re: Iced Coffee >> Glad you told us that John. Duh! And we outside Massachusetts thought it was to keep our bowels regular. << Funny thing John....while on a stay in Pittsburg, PA I asked for a light coffee.....the young lady at the counter replied...Oh, we only have one kind of coffee here!! My first trip to a Pizza house in California resulted in thoroughly disgusted looks when I tried to order by the slice...stupid me...individual pizza!!! Then there was the "tomato sauce" incident in Brazil, the matzohs in Texas..... Simon Scheuer ex NY, ex LA, ex SA, ex TX, now of GA...... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: Michael Bartel Subject: Resin kit producers >> On the other hand resin kit producers are not giving us any favours. << I wasn't aware that resin kit manufacturers were supposed to be doing favours by producing their products. I do it because I want to make money selling products that I hope people will enjoy and find uses for. We all do it because we want to produce something that you probably won't get any other way, and we know there is a market for it. >> I am a designer myself and althrou I am not connected with ships or armor models I do know that a great number of kits are produced because designer himself wanted a model not available commecially and after putting all the hard labour into the process has decided to share his baby with the rest of the public. If they make some money out of it -great, if they don't -it is sad,but not a big deal really. << Do you REALLY think that is how resin kit manufacturers think? Do you really think that this is easy work? I haven't kept IHP going since 1993 by thinking this way. >> If company folds it is mostly because designer forgot to do the basic market research beforehand and/or thought that his idea and final result are terrific but he was the only person to think so. << No it isn't. Maybe a product turns out not to be popular, but companies are more likely to fold if they don't make more money than they spend. Or, they didn't keep a paper trail to keep track of what money went where. Sure, you don't fall in love with your product instead of finding someone who has a use or a desire for it, but that's only part of the story. Maybe that company sold fewer models than they thought they would, but you can have a bomb of a kit and still stay in business, IF you get what you need to get out of those few kits that you did sell. What we resin and metal kit makers do is for our own benefit. I do this to make money. That I happen to love doing it is just a HUGE, FORTUNATE plus. If you are a serious manufacturer or businessperson, you do not ever think that it is easy to run a business. Even if it's just making kits, it's still a business like any other. Only those who have daytime full-time jobs don't think this way, because their sideline of resin kit production can go hang for all they care. They also have said that if making kits turns into a business instead of pleasure, that they will quit. Beware any manufacturer who states this! I'll bet that besides myself, Ted Paris, Steve Wiper, Loren Perry and a host of others who have been around for awhile, didn't get to where they are today by taking a casual approach to their business. I think we are all just experienced enough, dedicated enough, and gluttons for punishment enough that we make it look easy. But, don't ever think that we are arrogant enough to think that we are doing anyone any favours, or that it is so easy that anyone could do this. If it were that easy, everyone would be making resin kits. Mike Bartel IHP http://ihphobby.tripod.com 'You can lead a horse to water, but if you can get him to swim on his back, you've got something' -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: "Ramires, Filipe C" Subject: Going home Hello list Well time have just arrived to leave good old United Kingdom. I have finished my studies here so I am going back to Portugal next Thursday (28th of June). It was a pleasure to stay in this country for 5 months. A wonderful place that you've got here. I will never forget. By the way. This e-mail address is going to be closed Thursday so if anyone wants to contact me after that do it to : filipesnavy@mail.telepac.pt Regards and Happy Modelling. Filipe C. Ramires Colchester, UK P.S.: Just counting the days to put my hands in my models!!!!!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: IPMS Well I made my hotel reservation, bought my airline ticket and will arrive in Chicago on the 4th. Hope to see many of you there. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Vincent Mccullough" Subject: NRG Web Page Updated I've just completed two updates to the Nautical Research Guild's web page. The first is the addition of the table of contents for the June issue of the Nautical Research Journal, which is mailing to Guild members as I write this. It's definitely a modeler's issue, with something for both sail and steel modelers. Check it out at the NRG's web site at: http://www.naut-res-guild.org/journals/nrg0601.html In the other update, I've added the brochure and registration form for the NRG's upcoming annual conference, which will be held in Rockville, MD, outside of Washington DC, the Week of October 1-7. The registration form includes spaces to register for both the conference itself, and the Mid Atlantic Maritime tour, which will occur immediately prior to the conference. There are still a few openings for the tour, thought all of the slots on the cruise on the replica schooner Sultan are taken. To find out more about the conference, check out: http://www.naut-res-guild.org/confer_files/confer-new.html Vince McCullough Webmaster, Nautical Research Guild -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: wem Subject: Rare Book for Sale Here's one we just acquired today at WEM: Used book #452. Schiffs-Erkennungsdienst: England,Berlin, Sonderausgabe, 1944, s/b, 124pp, German text, nearly 200 photos and drawings, many depicting camoouflage, plus builders¹ and technical data.You¹ve seen USN and RN identification books of enemy vessels, now see the German view of the RN in 1944 in this VERY RARE volume produced by the Luftwaffe training staff for Luftwaffe ship identification. All RN ship types down to landing craft are covered. Cover tatty and spine taped, but all else VERY GOOD, 40.00 Pounds. John Snyder, A.B. White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Keith Butterley Subject: Warship Books announcement Hi all, New books from Poland: AJ Press Tirpitz Part II Soft cover, 56 pages, 90 b/w photographs, 2 pages of color profiles, detail drawings in 1/200 scale. Polish text with English summary and captions USS Lexington/Saratoga Part II Soft cover, 56 pages, over 100 b/w photographs, 2 pages of color profiles, detail drawings in 1/350 scale Polish text. BS Publishing (Profile Morskie) HMS Renown Soft cover, 56 pages, 20 b/w photographs, color profiles, detail drawings in 1/200 and 1/400 scale Polish text Duca D'Aosta Soft cover, 56 pages, 20 b/w photographs, color profiles, detail drawings in 1/200 and 1/400 scale Polish text HMS Abercrombie Soft cover, 56 pages, 20 b/w photographs, color profiles, detail drawings in 1/200 and 1/400 scale Polish text Price each for above books (shipping not included) Canada $27Cdn USA $18US July clearance special S&S Paint Chip Sets (quantities limited) USN#1 USN#2 RN#1 RN#2 Price for each set (shipping not included) Canada $15Cdn USA $10US Remember: You can sell your used books or extra kits on the site at no cost or obligation, just email me with your ad. Regards Keith Butterley http://www.warshipbooks.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