Subject: SMML VOL 1353 Date: Fri, 17 Aug 2001 00:42:49 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: US Navy Declares War against Boston Police! 2: Re: USS Brooklyn 3: Re: First Time Modeler 4: Re: FIRST TIME MODELER 5: USS Brooklyn 6: Arizona to Pennsylvania conversions 7: Re: cage masts on battleships 8: First Model 9: Re: Cage masts 10: 1/720 Italeri CVN Truman (The kit is SLIGHTLY updated....) 11: ? Re-print of book 12: New drawings of the Kaga, Shinano and Hiei, plus others 13: Re: Arizona phoroetch 14: UnOfficial Chilean Navy site 15: Re: Brooklyn 16: Re: FIRST TIME MODELER 17: Re: USS Brooklyn 18: Re: Arizona Brass 19: Re: After Market Goodies for Arizona 20: Re: Cage masts constuction 21: Looking for USS Talladega transport ship in 1/350 or 1/720 22: Admiral Scheer Camouflage Scheme -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: News from W R PRESS 2: Re: USS Brooklyn 3: Imperial Japanese Naval Flags and Pennants 1937-45 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS IMPORTANT NOTICE!!! Hi all, We leave for the UK tomorrow for five weeks to attend FOTS and have a look around. As such SMML will be put on a reduced schedule, possibly two to four days apart depending on where we are, but we'll see how we fare with access. As it is we arrive at Heathrow at "O-bloody early" on Saturday, so the earliest SMML will be at least two days away. Regards, Shane & Lorna -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Fritz Koopman Subject: US Navy Declares War against Boston Police! Just some interesting stuff.... Sunday the USS CONSTITUTION was performing a turn around cruise as Cmdr. Foster (Boston SmmlieCon 2000 attendees may remember him) was turning over command to his sucessor. As the ship proceeded to fire a salute, it was discovered too late that someone had left the Tampion in the starboard saluting cannon. The Tampion hit, and holed, an escorting policeboats' bow, just above the waterline at a range of approx 100 yds. DOH! Best Regards Fritz Koopman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Edward F Grune" Subject: Re: USS Brooklyn Iron Shipwright was working on a 1:700 scale Brooklyn. I was talking with Jon Warneke at the IPMS USA National Convention early in July. His production schedule on this and other turn-of-the-century ships has slipped while he tries to finish the US destroyer fleet, the battleships, the USS Langley, and a few oilers. They're still on his to-do list, they're just pushed farther down the list. Ed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Ned Barnett Subject: Re: First Time Modeler Dear Duckman David I used to teach basic modeling to a cub scout pack at an orphanage up in Columbia (BTW - this is not a bad thing for modelers to do - it gets kids interested, and it helps kids who really need help). They were a bit older than 6, but the principles are the same. Start with EASY kits. They didn't have snap-tites in those days, but I used basic Matchbox airplanes (donated from a local hobby shop). I used non-sniffable glue and a small array of acrylic paints, to avoid toxic problems. I let them build it - I helped with the knife-work, but the main thing is to guide them, rather than to do it for them. Praise is welcome; and the standards should be for those of a six-year-old, not one of us old guys. They now have pre-painted kits; those might be great for kids, though I haven't seen them. If I was teaching ships, I think I'd start with some of the Lindbergh kits - simple, easy to build - screw accuracy. To that extent, the new Lindbergh Pearl Harbor set might be OK - but I think I'd start with one of their landing craft. Something they could put little toy cars in ... Good luck, guy! Ned -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: EDKRU@aol.com Subject: Re: FIRST TIME MODELER Duckman The best way is to start him with some kind of lego type project. The attention span is 1/2 there age in min. I have tried every type of kit, bugs, planes ships and the best that I have found is to help them create a model that you are working on,or have completed with lego type blocks Good luck and have fun with your six yr old Ed Krucenski Panama City, FL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "D.Przezdziecki" Subject: USS Brooklyn It will be realeased by Iron Shipwrights, according to e-mail from Jon Warneke it SHOULD be available by the end of August. We shall see..... Regards D.P -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Jon Warneke Subject: Arizona to Pennsylvania conversions Hi Everyone, Having constructed both a 1944 era Pennsylvania and the parts for the late 1941/Early 1942 Pennsylvania, I think I can provide a little insight on the differences between the two. I'll start with the 1941 version. The only major difference between the Arizona and the Pennsylvania is the forward superstructure. All of the platforms are different between the two ships since Penn. was a fleet flagship. You'll have a higher conning tower to construct, and by saying different, I mean shape, deckhouse location, and splinter shielding. To get an accurate Pennsylvania, you will have to construct four new platforms, and add a clipping room between the two bridge structures on the Banner kit. As for the 1944 version, there are major differences. The only things from the kit that should be used are the hull, turrets, and stern catapult. Everything else will need to be replaced. Since the reconstruction was as extensive as it was, there is a lot to change. You'll need a new 5" gun deck with turrets, 6 40mm tubs with 10 quad mounts, about 6-8 20mm tubs of various sizes, completely redesigned bridge and foretop, new main tower and director aft, and numerous vents, winches, rangefinders, director tubs, and other assorted items. Now I'm sure that if some company may decide to undertake this conversion, you should be prepared to spend a lot more than the Banner kit costs to get it. You'll be looking at a conversion that will almost equate into a complete kit. Jon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Re: cage masts on battleships About a current thread concerning cage masts on earlier battleships, several people have referred to them as parabolic. I am not sure of the details of construction, but if the (almost) vertical slat-like members forming the cage are straight (individually), then the apparent contour will be hyperbolic, not parabolic. These two curves may LOOK the same, but they are not. A hyperbolic curve is mathematically different from a parabolic curve, and the engineering considerations that are mathematically involved would therefore be different. The resulting difference may be, as the mathematicians say, "trivial but true", and totally indiscernable in a model (except in 1:1 scale). No, I am not from England, but from New England, and I did stay at a Holiday Inn once. Franklyn Brown Boston, Mass. U.S.A -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Tom Dean Subject: First Model To David in Dixie: Bottle of Canadian Club???? A man from bourbon country who actually appreciates REAL whiskey!!! The whiskey will actually be older than the child you intend to help. Seriously, both my kids started with kits around the same. I would suggest an easy plane kit (I know) like a 1/72 Spit, Mustang or Zero. Maybe save it for a rainy day when with nothing much else to do and little distraction. Watch and instruct but let the little guy do the work. Resist panic when it takes half a tube of glue to affix one wing and the canopy becomes opaque. Keep painting if any to basics. The exercise will take an hour at most, will look like you had done it after drinking a 40 pounder of CC. He will spend a good portion of the day bombing whatever until something probably gets broke and needs repair. The whole idea is not to scare them off I guess. My kids are both in their 20's and still build a model now and then. They still recall the fun we had building them when they were younger. Tom Dean Hamilton, Ontario Canada ( Known to have a sip of Canadian Club now and then) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: SantMin@aol.com Subject: Re: Cage masts >> No, it is not geometrically possible to do so with the conic section that the PE is provided in. The parabolic profile results from giving the individual stringers a twist around the base axis. I think that Rusty once described a technique for fabricating as cage mast from brass wire. His technique would probably result in a more correct profile. Perhaps he can repost it. << It was Bob Santos that did that and it is shown in Fine Scale Modeler July 1992 and reprinted in the currently available Kalmbach book Scale Model Detailing. Cheers, Bob Santos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Timothy J. Barron" Subject: 1/720 Italeri CVN Truman (The kit is SLIGHTLY updated....) Month's ago, I started working on a CVN model and got sidetracked. To get re-energized, I decided the other day to basically start over, with encouragement and full support of my better half. Before getting sidetracked, I was working from the Italeri CVN-72 Lincoln model and noticed all of the known inaccuracies about the Italeri kits, and had started modifications, etc. Today, I stopped by my local store to get a "fresh" kit and selected the Truman - heck, it's the newest kit. Another $20. At home I compared the sprues and noticed that the some of the parts are rearranged and there are a few new parts. At first glance, it appears that both forward weapons platforms will be now somewhat accurate. Irrelevant for photo-etching, they even added two tiny "safety net" pieces to fill in the gaps on the bow (where early CVN's had the catapult extensions). I haven't looked that closely yet, but I was VERY suprised that there were some changes. I, for one, thought that it would be 100% the same except decals. Timothy J. Barron mailto:tjbarro@worldnet.att.net -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Phil M. Gollin" Subject: ? Re-print of book On another board, someone has raised the possibility that one of the most interesting reference books - Raven & Roberts' "British Battleships of World War Two" MIGHT be re-printed next year. I was wondering if anyone knew anything one way or the other. Phil -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: New drawings of the Kaga, Shinano and Hiei, plus others I thought some of you Imperial Japanese Navy enthusiast would want to know about this information; Pacific Front Hobbies will be getting in the latest set of drawings of the IJN. They are of the aircraft carrier Kaga, as refitted 1937, from MYCO of Japan. This is a three sheet set of drawings showing just about every exterior view wanted. Also included is a 12 page booklet of detail drawings of fittings, weapons, ships boats and aircraft. Price is $60.00 plus postage. I recently purchased the new drawings on the aircraft carrier Shinano and the battleship Hiei. They were also a three sheet set for the Shinano and are really great. The Hiei set is on two sheets. These also come with the detail booklet. Lots of different views of both sides of the ships. They cost $60.00 for Shinano, and $45 for the Hiei, plus postage. Bill Gruner of Pacific Front Hobbies has informed me that these will be in stock about the first week of September. He also said that MYCO Plans has now started to draw some of the IJN destroyers in 1/125 scale and that the detail of these drawings is some of the best ever done by anyone. If interested contact Bill at Pacific Front Hobbies @ www.pacificfront.com or by phone at (541)464-8579. You can also order by fax at (541)957-5477, if he already has your address and credit card info on file. Thanks, Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: roberto paredes Subject: UnOfficial Chilean Navy site Hi guys, After a long time I just released my Unofficial Navy site. I published pictures and a brief history for every ship. In the next update, I wll add more ships. You will see Ironclads, battleships, light cruisers, protected cruisers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, etc... I wait your feedback. Kind regards, Roberto. http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/3389/english/navy.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Dave Judy Subject: Re: Brooklyn John, Iron Shipwright Has a 1/350 Brooklyn class, the Nashville. Check link on Steel Navy web page.......... Dave Judy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Randall.O'Malley@clarica.com Subject: Re: FIRST TIME MODELER >> ALL, A LITTLE ADVICE PLEASE. I AM ABOUT TO EMBARK ON TEACHING MY SIX YEAR OLD GRANDSON TO BUILD KITS. HOW DOES ONE FORTIFY ONESELF FOR THIS VENTURE? I HAVE CONSIDERED A BOTTLE OF CANADIAN CLUB, BUT THAT DOESN'T SEEM A VIABLE OPTION. YOUR HELP PLEASE. MM David, Try a cardboard model kit first. All of the mental and physical skills required to later build advanced plastic models will be developed. The child can cut the parts out with safety scissors and assemble them with harmless hide glue, fish glue, or potato glue (I'm making myself hungry). There are no small parts and sharp blades are not essential to build to the standards of a six-year old. If an X-Acto knife is called for then Grandpa does the cutting. I have seen realistic kits of everything from sailboats to battleships, Wright Flyers to Stealth Fighters, even working models of sawmills and windmills. They are inexpensive, and unbuilt are the size of a magazine. Many experienced adult modellers in Britain and Europe build card models exclusively. The kits and materials are available at some hobby stores and most educational toy stores. The Polish delicatessen near me sells cardboard models made by a company in Poland; a new subject is printed every month. Thank you for bringing a new, young modeller to the hobby. Sincerely, Randy PS As a recovered alcoholic I say ditch the booze and toast your grandson's efforts with an icy cold Coke. The boy and your liver will thank you. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: USS Brooklyn >> As I recall a new resin model of the USS Brooklyn was coming out this year. Does anyone recall who is making it and where it will be sold? << ISW has a 1/700 scale Brooklyn presuming you mean the armored cruiser of the Spanish American war fame Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: Arizona Brass >> I usually lurk and learn but, it seems to me the first we heard about the Banner Arizona was from Loren Perry who had been approached by the manufacturer (at that time, unknown as Loren had been sworn to secrecy?) and was about to produce a PE set to make at least two versions (1941 and 1930's) and, I think, also to produce the Pennsylvania. We haven't heard any more from Loren since people started reporting that they had bought the kit - don't know if he went ahead or the project fell through. I am waiting until the furor settles to decide if I will buy this kit but on some other kit subjects, I know that Loren and Tom seem to almost complement each other and it is can worth while to get both PE sets. << Loren's set is out, and has been for a while. I did a review on SteelNavy.com. Tom's set is now out and I will be doing a review in the next few days. Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: After Market Goodies for Arizona >> The Arizona arrived today, in good condition (thanks AAA Hobbies). I've already talked to Tom Dougherty about his new Arizona brass << I think you mean Tom Harrison, not me. Although I consider it a distinct honor to be confused with Tom & his fine work! Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: Gord and Doreen Smith Subject: Re: Cage masts constuction Hi, Depending on the fiddely scale this gets harder and harder. 1. two rings (base of mast and top of same) 2. join together with straight "lines" between the two ( have tried it with stretched sprue = obvious lash up; wire is better) 3. when satisfied with the soldering (or glue up) secure the bottom ring and give the top ring a 20 degree rotation and then back off 5 degrees for stress relief. 4. After about 14 tries you will have a beautiful little jewel of a cage mast with a delicate parabolic curve to the sides. 5. Now ask yourself the question "CAN YOU SEE THE CURVE" The answer you give yourself may explain why the manufacturers sent you a conic section. Gordo Canada (of course , since you know its there , that's all that really matters) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: "Mike Kear" Subject: Looking for USS Talladega transport ship in 1/350 or 1/720 A visitor to my site has asked if I know where he can get a model kit of USS Talladega in 1/350 or 1/720 (other scales considered if available). I don't know but I said I'd ask you guys because collectively there's nothing you don't know about ships and ship models. Here's what he's told me about the ship he's looking for: >> The USS Talladega is a transport ship. Designation APA 208, much like the troop transports that hauled the men from England to Normandy and in the Pacific to launch the landing craft to the beaches. This one was around from '44 I think until it was scrapped shortly after Vietnam. The Hull Class was Haskel, which if memory serves me was designation APA 117. I'm more or less looking for anything remotely close to the ship. The rest will end up being scratch built. << Can anyone help here? Cheers, Mike Kear Windsor, NSW, Australia www.modelwarship.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Admiral Scheer Camouflage Scheme Hi, I've noticed a photograph of the panzerschiffe Admiral Scheer in a very interesting dazzle camouflage paint scheme on page 135 of Whitley's "German Capital Ships of World War Two" and on the top of page 70 of Whitley's "Battleships of World War Two." Would anyone happen to know what her starboard side looked like when she wore this pattern, and does anyone have an opinion on what the colors were? One is very light and one is very dark.... Thank you! Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: WRPRESSINC@aol.com Subject: News from W R PRESS Camouflage Volume Three Royal Navy 1943-44 has gone to the printers and the book should be received from the printers in approximately ten days from now, deliverys to retailers will begin immediately thereafter. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: USS Brooklyn >> As I recall a new resin model of the USS Brooklyn was coming out this year. Does anyone recall who is making it and where it will be sold? << John, I am about to release a 1/350 kit of the light cruiser USS Brooklyn CL-40, maybe next month. The following month I will release a 1/350 kit of the light cruiser USS Helena CL-50. Both kits will be available exclusively thru Pacific Front Hobbies. Both patterns are completely repaired and ready to start casting, so it is only a matter of getting them worked into the line up in the casting schedule. On a side note, it is real important that you be more specific as to which ship, there were a few "Brooklyn's", and what scale, as some modelers will only build/collect in the scale they are interested in. Thanks, Steve Wiper www.classicwarships.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: dlfowler@apple.com Subject: Imperial Japanese Naval Flags and Pennants 1937-45 Hello All, I would like to announce that I have just finished my last (for now) naval flag and pennant set: Imperial Japanese Naval Flags and Pennants 1937-45. This set includes 69 signal flags and pennants, five rank flags, and the Naval Ensign and Jack in two different sizes. It is available in 1/700 and 1/350 scales. The instructions list definitions of every flag in English and Japanese and include the Katakana designations. This set will be available from dealers shortly. This will be my last flag set for a while because I have a number of other sets for which people have been patiently waiting (some for a VERY long time - sorry!). I am also working on a set for modern aircraft carriers in 1/700 scale that includes the deck numbers in outline and a set for modern naval ships in 1/700 and 1/350 scales that includes many of the deck and hull markings. Thanks for all the support and encouragement! Best regards, Duane Fowler (Anyone going to the FOTS with special requests: get them to me now!) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Loren Perry Subject: Re: Arizona phoroetch >> I usually lurk and learn but, it seems to me the first we heard about the Banner Arizona was from Loren Perry who had been approached by the manufacturer (at that time, unknown as Loren had been sworn to secrecy?) and was about to produce a PE set to make at least two versions (1941 and 1930's) and, I think, also to produce the Pennsylvania. We haven't heard any more from Loren since people started reporting that they had bought the kit - don't know if he went ahead or the project fell through. << WOW! How did I fall through the cracks so soon? The GMM 1/350 Arizona PE set has been available for almost a month now and over 100 sets have been shipped out so far. The PE sets are available from several good dealers including Pacific Front Hobbies and KitLink.com, among others. Loren Perry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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