Subject: SMML VOL 1332 Date: Fri, 27 Jul 2001 00:42:43 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: WARSHIP BOOKS 2: Re: Airbrushing Tips, CVL PE set 3: Re: Rigging for America of America's Cup Fame 4: Re: Bob Steinbrunn's KIDD 5: Re: Bismarck query 6: So you have finished a model 7: US Navy Ships Database 8: Building the WEM Sussex 9: Re: Noah's Ark 10: Re: scale thicknesses 11: Re: Rigging for America of America's Cup fame 12: Airbbrushing tips 13: USS Vogelgesang 14: Chinese Guided Missile Destroyer 'Zhuhai' 15: "Hood live webcast" 16: Lindberg Air Force Rescue Boat 17: HMS Illustrious by Heller 18: Re: Rigging for Schooner Yacht America -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation 1: SubCommittee SubRegatta -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: MSJ Back-Issue Availability -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Kerry L. Jang" Subject: WARSHIP BOOKS Hi Everyone, Keith Butterley has asked me to pass on a message to the SMML list that a virus has attacked and shut down the computers at WARSHIP BOOKS computers. Keith is working had to be back on-line soon and he will let the list know when he is. He thanks you for your patience! Regards. Kerry Jang -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: Re: Airbrushing Tips, CVL PE set I second Ken's note about using an airbrush. It allowed me to paint and later dull coat several models simultaneously, once I figured out the right paint/thinner ratio. If you don't have one, you should at least borrow a friend's to try out. You may end up not giving it back. :-) Thanks for the pointers to the CVL sets. I saw the "Escort" and missed the "Light" part of GMM's set. Doh! Joe Poutre -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "David Griffith" Subject: Re: Rigging for America of America's Cup Fame Dear Carl, The History of American Sailing Ships by Howard I Chapelle has a drawing of "America" with a very simple rigging and sail plan. I suspect it's very over-simplified but it maybe "better than poke in the eye with a sharp stick." Don't go out of your way hunting down a copy of the book or spending your hard-earned pennies on it. Send me your postal address and I'll let you have a photocopy (for what it's worth!) Regards, David Griffith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Loren Perry Subject: Re: Bob Steinbrunn's KIDD >> Thanks to Loren Perry, David Lombard, and Vince McCullough for their kind words regarding my model of the destroyer USS KIDD. I very much appreciate it. I won't get a swelled head, however, since I am in awe of so many other modelers' talents. Bob Santos I've mentioned. Loren Perry has, perhaps, done more for this hobby than any other individual I can immediately think of. His Gold Medal Models photoetch business has raised the bar to the highest imaginable standard. His model of USS VOGELGESANG was an inspiration to me in detailing the decks, bulkheads, and deckhouses of my own model. Imagine crew members' bicycles stowed onboard and an apoplectic Chief Petty Officer berating a group of sailors who have spilled a can of paint on deck. (!) << Bob, I'm already insufferable as it is. Don't make the situation worse. In all seriousness, thank you for the very nice words, but I really haven't built that many models, although I'm trying to find time to to so. Builders like you and Bob Santos and many, many others have left me far behind over the years. I don't understand how you guys do it - maybe I waste too much time eating and sleeping. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "D.Przezdziecki" Subject: Re: Bismarck query Hello Kevin, according to the book about the discovery of Bismarcks' wreck the only turret they have found was upside down so no help here I am affraid. Regards D.P -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "nickbalmer" Subject: So you have finished a model Hello, I find that it is an almost certainity that shortly after I have finished a model, a photgraph will appear, as if by magic to prove that something fairly fundamental is wrong? Am I the only one this happens to? Regards Nick Balmer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: US Navy Ships Database A nice database compiled by the Naval War College: http://www.nwc.navy.mil/usnhdb/default.htm Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Building the WEM Sussex Hi All I'm currently embarked on building the White Ensign 1/700 Sussex and thought it might be interesting to record my impressions as I go through the process. I hope you find them interesting. Firstly the kit, this represents Sussex in August 1942 when she had just emerged from a complete refit after being bombed in 1940. You need photos and the Sambrook Plans to really do justice to this model. The hull is nicely moulded in the usual creamy resin with bags for the smaller parts. The scuttles though do not bear any resemblance to Sussex herself and the square windows at her stern are missing but I can live with this. I drilled out the anchors and replaced the moulded chain with the etched brass chain provided. This looks a lot better. The next stage is painting the hull basing the scheme on the plans and photos (see Man O' War 1 County Class Cruisers - an essential guide to this class). The port side is fully covered by photos but the starboard side is not and to date I have not been able to find any photo which shows the port side. This represents a bit of a problem as both the starboard side scheme represented in MOW1 and in Raven Camouflage Volume 2 contain errors, particularly on the funnels and the gun turrets so you cannot be sure about the rest. The Camouflage Vol 2 is probably slightly more accurate but repeats the error of the earlier scheme in showing the 271 tower in B5 when it was actually AP507A and here photos are invaluable. They are also essential for the bridge camouflage as neither scheme addresses the three dimensional nature of the scheme. Mixes for the colours were Humbrol 147 for 507C, Humbrol 112 for 507A and Humbrol 144 with a touch of white for B5 (thanks Dimi). The underside of the decks is also quite difficult and I ended up painting them 507C as this seems better. Very little of the model is assembled at the moment but I did start on the rear bridge and deckhouse. Here I came across a serious problem with the kit, either X and Y turrets are over scale or the barbettes are in the wrong place as there should be a space between the rear of the turret and the corresponding structure. Two options exist, to move the barbettes or cut the locating lug off the turrets and reposition them, I chose the latter. I also added the small davit at the starboard rear of X turret using one from a spare Dido set of etched brass. Also added were the walls round the pom-pom platforms using plasticard and leaving space at the rear for the ladders. Here I must mention a failing of the etched brass - there is not enough ladder with handrails, there are quite a large amount of these on the Sussex and the amount provided is paltry. I also added ladders to the 285 directors and the back of the bridge (which incidentally should be painted AP507A). The support frame for the rear searchlight and director looks very nice but I did add a trunk for the director and a ladder on the starboard side. The searchlight tub needs some trimming to fit properly. I cannot stress how important it is to use plans and photos together. I also replaced the bases of the pom-pom directors with 20 amp fuse wire which gives a nice three dimensional look to things. Also as a result of studying photos I added a boat boom on the port side of the hull (there does not seem to be one on the starboard side) and the fore deckhouse booms I made 18 millimetres in length rather than the dimensions mentioned in the White Ensign instructions. White Ensign also mention that booms should be fitted to the rear deckhouse but there is absolutely no evidence for this and I left them off. That's all for now but I will keep everyone informed with further instalments. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Ned Barnett Subject: Re: Noah's Ark >> Look up Fernando Navarro and sign up for his next hike up Mt. Arrarat. Some of the photos and satellite views I saw on the last TV presentation could give you a few good ideas here. I have seen some of the pieces of wood he brought down on earlier expeditions. Just need an exceptionally rainless winter for a few years in a row....... << Hello, all - I'm working on Noah's Ark myself (not going to Turkey, though ...); before launching the project, I did extensive research on the Internet and elsewhere, pulled in several hundred pages of research text, illustrations, plan views, etc. I'm not sure Fernando is going to find this semi-mythical ship, but if he does, I'll be surprised if it's much different from the design I'm focusing on (although there's a great alternative look that another list-member has done, and published in IPMS(USA)). Ned (not Noah) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: GKingzett@aol.com Subject: Re: scale thicknesses To Doug Marrel. I think you have been visited by the elusive sliding decimal. 1" on a 1:350 model = 350" (about 30 feet) of the full size prototype. 1 scale inch on a 1:350 model is .00286 real inches. 6 scale inches is then .017 real inches. That is more than 1/64", more than the distance between two of those teeny weeny little marks on the ruler. Even my bad old eyes can see that. If you meant 1/2 scale inch, that would be .0014; you would be right, that would be real, real small. As a point of interest, I think many of the fine old ship modelers actually used good paper as their plating. It gave them a firm edge, was easy to cut and bend, and was easy to glue using the adhesives they had to work with. Single ply Bristol board was the material of choice, I believe. If it was a little over scale, they would use their paint as a fillet, and make the edge less prominent. Gary Kingzett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Paul Jordan Subject: Re: Rigging for America of America's Cup fame >> Need instructions of how to rig the original America, the sailing ship that started the America's Cup races. Can anyone guide me to a diagram for my son-in -law to finish his model? << Hi Carl: By the time you read this you will have received an email from me showing you where to obtain an excellent book illustrating the rigging plans for the Schooner "America" you are looking for. It is called the 'Long low Schooner: Yacht America 1851-1945" by Rousmaniere in 1986. There is an original rigging diagram in a fold out section in the back. You can pay big bucks for this book, but you'll see on the page I sent you a copy available for $4.00..so GRAB it you'll be glad you did! Regards Paul Jordan Victoria Model Shipbuilding Society Victoria, British Columbia, Canada http://members.home.net/vmss/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Kurt Van Dahm Subject: Airbbrushing tips Ken Youngstrom wrote: >> I wonder how many other things like airbrushes there are that existing users assume that everyone knows about, but potential users are frightened off by price and/or assumed difficulty of use? << Ken: I recently made three airbrushing demonstrations for Badger Air-Brush Co. to approx. 90 modelers at each demo on a Sat. at a large model RR distributors place in Milwaukee, WI. As part of my opening "let's get to know one another bit" I asked how many present owned an airbrush. Surprisingly at least 50% of the hands in the room went up with each group. Then I asked, how many use their airbrush regularly? At least 2/3 of the hands went down with that question. I then asked, how many gave up after just a few attempts at using the airbrush? Most of the hands stayed in the air with that question. This told me that most of those who buy an airbrush never master it and give up after only a few attempts. After I gave my talk and demo and showed how to use the airbrush I offered to let modelers try out the various airbrushes I had set up. With just a little bit of over the shoulder assistance or being able to watch me close up most who tried felt they were able to do well enough to go home and break out the airbrush and have the confidence that now they could actually use it with some degree of success. Many felt confident enough that the place sold a whole bunch of airbrushes that day. All it took was for them to see one actually used and then be able to try it and have their technique corrected on the spot and they were able to then do it on their own. Ken, I think this is a pretty good idea of what you meant. I always tell modelers that they will never learn how to use an airbrush without putting paint through it. Practice, practice, practice and you too can play your airbrush at Carnage Hall! Take care, Kurt Van Dahm Westmont, IL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Joel Labow Subject: USS Vogelgesang >> I must confess I havenīt been on a ship like this before but everything seems to have been in place since WW II, except for a small GPS receiver and computer to view digital maps, the bridge, the guns, torpedoes, even the kitchen looks the same, etc. << The Vogelgesang received the FRAM (Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization) 1 in the early 60's. This means that, with the exception of her two remaining twin 5"/38 mounts, the ship was entirely reconstructed from the maindeck up. Once again, with the exception of her gum mounts all her weapons systems and sensors date from the 60's. A small point perhaps, but those of us who served in the destroyer force in the 60's thought the FRAM 1 ships the very pinnacle of modernity! Joel Labow -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Wilgossett@aol.com Subject: Chinese Guided Missile Destroyer 'Zhuhai' Last week I purchased a 1:200 scale plastic kit of the 'Zhuhai', a Chinese Guided Missile Destroyer built in 1992 per the only reference that I have. The box lists the name as two words 'Zhu Hai' but my reference has it as one name. The kit is basic, with a nicely shaped one-piece hull about 24" long, but has a gear box and two shaft housings pre-installed should the builder wish to add radio control. It has quite a few parts with separate sides for the deck structures, multi-pieced mast assemblies, etc. The nicest part is that the railings, although oversize and crude, are separate so would be easy to delete and add photo-etch (hint, hint). The rest of the kit could do with a large photo-etch set. The second nice thing was the price - about $33.00. If this kit is not too far from scale, this would be a great buy in these times of high priced plastics. The hobby shop had a couple of other Chinese ship kits at the same scale, but I believe by different model companies. Does anyone have any info on this kit, or references (such as drawings)? I do not recall seeing mention of this kit before. The box has a large AA where the company's name would be, but on the side it says Wasan Plastic Model Co., China. My reference notes that this particular ship was a one-off of the Luda-II class, pennant number 166. Thanks in advance for any help. Will Gossett Atlanta -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "John Sheridan" Subject: "Hood live webcast" >> To see the webcast, visit the expedition website at www.channel4.com/hood. New still pictures of the Hood are also available, along with breaking news and up-to-the minute information. << For those of you who get a chance, I highly recommend that you take a look at the video clip of the wreck at: http://www.channel4.com/hood/news/video.html It is very sobering to see the amount a damage to the ship as a result of the explosion. I looked at the video and sat in stunned silence as they described the damage. John Sheridan "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" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Nathan Pettigrew" Subject: Lindberg Air Force Rescue Boat Hello all, I recently picked up a Lindberg Air Force Rescue Boat on Ebay. It's a bit on the crude side, but could possibly be fixed up (the scale doesn't help, 1/84, maybe 1/72 or 1/96 parts might work). I've done some Internet searches and haven't found much about these boats. Are there any good books or other references that are recommended? I'm guessing this is a post-war boat, but beyond that I have nothing to go on. Thanks for any help y'all can provide. Nathan Pettigrew Garland, TX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Hank Lapa" Subject: HMS Illustrious by Heller A little while back, someone was looking for one of these (see subject). Call APC Hobbies NOW 434-973-2705. Kit number 1052, US$19.95 (page 14 of "Old Kit List." email at apc@apchobbies.com, before it's gone. (USA, Eastern Time Zone) Also Revell Randall, Boston, JohnPaulJones, Pine Island, Eastwind, fireboat, etc. Please do ask to be subscribed to their old kit list -- well worth the money, esp for those who built airplanes, too! I am in no way affiliated . . . just trying to help SMMLers. (I should have bought it myself just a moment ago and held it for one of you, but the box they'll be shipping me will be big enough already. Regards, Hank -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "Hank Lapa" Subject: Re: Rigging for Schooner Yacht America I have some kit plans, and also what are supposed to be the best available (most original) rigging plans as a fold-out in a book. If you care to swing a few miles north to have a look, I live in "North Potomac." 301-251-2706 Regards, Hank -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: SubCommittee SubRegatta All- The 10th Annual SubCommittee Subregatta will be held this Saturday and Sunday (July 28, 29) on the grounds of the New London Submarine Base in Groton, Connecticut. Most of the Regatta entails highly detailed, very large working R/C submarines, most of which are first rate models in scales (1:96, 1:72 and 1:35) you will salivate over. There will also be display models (you got one of a sub, please bring it if you come!). We are at the North Lake. You will need a valid driver's, registration and vehicle insurance card to get on the base. Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: MSJ Back-Issue Availability It's a sad thing to hear a full-grown ship modeler cry when we tell him or her that the issue of MSJ (that's an abbreviation Shane 'missed') they want is no longer available. This is what we have left in inventory. Remember, when these are sold--no reprints are likely to be made. MODEL SHIP JOURNAL BACK-ISSUE AVAILABILITY Issue Zero--Quantities Limited Autumn 2000--SOLD OUT Winter 2000--Available Spring 2001--SOLD OUT Summer 2001--Available Note that all new subscriptions begin with the next issue after current mailings are completed. The subscriber mailing schedule for the year is as follows: Spring Issue: Mid-March Summer Issue: Mid-June Autumn Issue: Mid-September Winter Issue: Mid-December Subscriber issues are mailed VIA U.S. Postal Service as Standard Presorted Mail and deliver from 2-4 weeks after arrival at the post office. International subscriptions are sent via Surface Post. We can also mail your subscription USPS First Class (U.S.) and International Airmail IF you make arrangements with us prior to mailing. Visit us at: www.modelshipjournal.com Victor Baca Editor & Publisher MODEL SHIP JOURNAL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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://apma.org.au/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume