Subject: SMML VOL 1362 Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 12:01:49 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: 1:350 Sumner Class DD 2: Re: Konishi kits 3: SF Ships 4: Re: Arizona questions 5: Naval miniature rules 6: US Heavy Cruisers book 2 7: Re: RN colours 8: Re: ships to visit in SF 9: naval camo 10: Sussex - Final Stages 11: Triton -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation 1: SMML site update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: MESSAGE TO ALL OUR AMERICAN CUSTOMERS FROM WHITE ENSIGN MODELS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS Hi all, Here's more SMMLies "checking in" from the East Coast: Derick Arnold Mark "from Boston" Dan Kaplan Jodie Peeler and Ralph Nardone Les Dorr Bob LaPadura Craig Bennett John Sheridian Al Blevins Herbert Plott John Fox Paul Shay If you know of any more to add the list, please do so. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Ken Youngstrom Subject: 1:350 Sumner Class DD Is there a decent kit (resin or plastic) of the US Sumner Class DD? And, given the frustration of searching lots of makers web sites, is there a central listing of available kits? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Mike Dassele" Subject: Re: Konishi kits >> Can Alan Mcgivern or anyone tell me where we can buy those beautiful Konishi kits? I thank you very much! << Mike Hall at www.Kitlink.com lists several Konishi kits in his selection. They are very expensive. I have much experience dealing with Kitlink, and you will not find a better online shop to deal with, and he carries an extensive line of ship kits, accessories and references. No affiliation, blah, blah, blah... Please buy and build a Konishi kit so we can all enjoy the experience!! Mike Dassele -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: cfrieden@calpoly.edu Subject: SF Ships Hi everyone, There is one other WWII era ship in the SF area, Roosevelt’s Presidential Yacht Potomac. She gives bay cruises from Oakland’s Jack London Square on Thursdays and Saturdays. For those planning on visiting the Pampanito, the conning tower and bridge are ordinarily not open to the public. They do open up these areas for special events. The Jeremiah O’Brien’s schedule has been brought up, so I thought I would clarify a few things that are not mentioned on our website. The ship is currently out of the water at San Francisco Drydock. In addition to the routine inspections we are repairing a dent in the hull that was sustained when the ship bumped a pier a while back. Yesterday they finished cutting a large (about 10 by 15 foot) hole in the starboard side, and repairs seem to be going on schedule. If all goes well the ship should transit back to Fisherman’s Wharf on the 20th or 21st of September. I have been living aboard during the yard visit, and I will send detail photos for the SMML site. Photos detailing the work done will also be available on my website and the O’Brien’s website. Also, the ship will be doing bay cruises during Fleet Week, so she will be closed to the public Friday through Monday of that weekend. Regards, Chris Friedenbach -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Chris Preston" Subject: Re: Arizona questions For Steve Cowardin, Steve, these are referred to as "Awnings", and were used as a form of sun-shade, especially in tropical locations. They were made of canvas, and left in their natural colour of white (or off-white). Paul Stillwell's book "BATTLESHIP ARIZONA, An Illustrated History", shows awnings spread right aft, over the Quarterdeck, at the forward end of the Quarterdeck, between Turret 3 and the Foc's'le break, and right forward, on the Foc's'le deck. If you have access to this book, check P.234 for a painting of the ARIZONA, showing a picture of her, just before "Colours", 07 DEC 41, and a photo of Battleship Row, taken just after the attack began, and before she suffered her fatal hit, and P.240. If you don't have access to this book, let me know, and I'll scan them and e-mail them to you. Chris Preston, a proud neighbor of the U.S. Victoria, B.C. Canada -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "David Miller" Subject: Naval miniature rules First of all, almost naval miniature rules are for 1/2400 or smaller scale. The BEST WWII miniature rules were "Clear for Action" published in the late 70's or early 80's. They had wonderful movement and torpedo gaming aids that made the simultaneous movement and fire easy and realistic. Unfortunately I only have the gaming aids left and I have lost the rules so I cannot give you any more information. Perhaps ALNAVCO could help you out. Simple but effective miniature rules can be found in the tactical rules for Avalon Hill's "Bismarck". I hope this helps. Dave Miller Palm Bay, FL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: annobon4@aol.com Subject: US Heavy Cruisers book 2 Hi GuyS I recently purchased thru Squadron Mail Order the new book US Heavy Cruisers Part 2. The book has 52 pages starting with a developement of the cruiser in the USN. It starts with the USS Wichita CA-45 covering her operational career and techincal specifications with photos covering her career. Then comes the Baltimore Class and while it gives mention to the follow up designs Oregon City and DesMoines it doesn't cover them as well as they do with Wichita, Baltimore,Alaska, and the missile conversions of the Baltimore class Boston, Canberra, Columbus, Albany and Chicago. In the drawings of paint colors you get a first from Squadron they do both sides of the Canberra's Measure 32/18D,Wichita's Measure modified 12,Alaska's Measure 32/7C. It's small but loaded with information. I like this book. Craig Bennett -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: annobon4@aol.com Subject: Re: RN colours Hi A few issues back a member of SMML asked about the deck colors of HMS Antrim or Glamorgan and they emailed me directly about it. I don't have any information about it. Sorry my computer was down and I couldn't answer. Craig -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: dlfowler@apple.com Subject: Re: ships to visit in SF Hello Andrew, The submarine at Pier 45, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco (the "left" or west side of the bay) is the USS Pampanito (SS 383). It is located just forward of the SS Jeremiah O'Brien and is a Balao class fleet submarine of WWII vintage. Apparently, contrary to reports, the USS Hornet which is at the former Alameda Navy Base (the "right" or east side of the bay) is is very good shape. Where you ever got the idea that it is in "big state of disrepair" is beyond me. Especially since you "didnt manage to see it as it is not located right in SF." I was just there last Friday and she was looking quite good. The staff has done a lot to maintain the ship and although there is more work to be done, it is in very good shape. Please feel free to visit her any time. Also, please refrain from making derogatory remarks until you have actually seen the subject of your remarks. Some may take it quite personally. The associated web pages for the ships can be found at: USS Pampanito: http://www.maritime.org/pamphome.htm SS Jeremiah O'Brien http://www.ssjeremiahobrien.org/ USS Hornet http://www.uss-hornet.org/main.asp Best regards, Duane Fowler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "denis james" Subject: naval camo Any news on David Williamsons book on Naval Camo cira ww2? ?publication date ?price ?Will anyone in Oz stock it? rgds denis james -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Chris & Lulu Langtree" Subject: Sussex - Final Stages Hi All This is the last set of my impressions on building the WEM Sussex as I've now finished it and moved on to other projects. In my last post I mentioned that I was going to try and improve the WEM Walrus that came with the kit by removing the square moulded seating for the engine. Well it worked! I attached the struts to the upper wing first and then attached that assembly to the lower wing. Once that had dried I cut the engine support struts from 5 amp fuse wire and added them. The whole thing really does make a difference and the Walrus looks quite good. Roundels came from the GMM aircraft transfers set which is a pretty poor thing but there were enough useable ones. Oerlikons for this kit come in three parts, the gun and two halves for each shield. These are pretty fiddly but are worth the effort though WEM do give you solid shields in later sets. On B and X turrets there should also be an access ladder on the starboard side for access to the tubs. These were added using spare Toms ladders (the WEM supply having long since run out). I also added a couple of etched brass hatches (from the WEM KGV set) to the foredeck and the quarterdeck. The plans show where they should be located. Having completed all this I started to add the yards to the masts. Once again WEM miss out several yards. I replaced the etched brass lower foremast yard with a simple one out of plastic rod as I'd assembled the mast first and forgotten to add the etched brass version before cementing the mast in place. Briefly there should be another 5 mm yard above the crows nest on the foremast (see photos) and two horizontal yards, running towards the ships stern along its axis just below the radar platforms, one on each mast. I made these about 3 mm in length. I also used the plastic rod for the support struts for the fore mast. Next came the radar outfit and unfortunately the WEM radar is not very good being significantly overscale. The Type 285s I replaced with ones from the TOMs KGV set but the 281s were more difficult and reluctantly I used the examples provided by WEM. They're very nice pieces of etched brass and look very good but a simple comparison with the photos shows the problem. WEM also miss the Type 240 IFF on the foremast, above the Type 281. I used the Type 291 from the JKN set (as my WEM Kashmir will become Kingston as commissioned with no radar) which is perfect. This is a really useful piece of brass as it can also represent the Type 286P which several destroyers carried as well. The MFDF also came from the destroyer set, at least it comes in two pieces and can be made into the correct 3D form. The one provided with the Sussex is disappointingly two dimensional as is the support. The support came from the TOMS KGV set with 5 amp wire added for the cable run to the aerial. I also noticed on this on the KGV set and think that WEM should endeavour to make sure that these items are three dimensional. Final stages were the attachment of the boat davits and here the falls should be removed if the davits are positioned facing inwards. They're only needed when the boats are swung out. Another point to note is that the davits are camouflaged up to upper deck level. Above that they're in plain AP507A. Finally I added the jack staffs. The fore one I fabricated out of brass rod, the support legs should sit on the fairleads. I didn't bother with the paravane chains as none of the etched brass chain was fine enough. The stern staff was constructed from the example provided in the kit (with the boom and ladder removed and cut down) and a spare set of support legs from the WEM KGV set. There should be support legs included with the WEM set. It sounds as if I've been a bit hard on the Sussex but this is a nice kit which with some effort can build into a truely impressive model. Caroline told me that it was an early kit but I do feel that WEM should have studied the photos before bringing it out and there is clearly a lack of this. It also suffers from using standard parts as much as possible - the Type 281 is pretty standardised but this is a kit I would recommend. The problems can be cured and even a moderate modeller like myself can end up with a stunning looking replica. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "John Rule" Subject: Triton Can anyone tell me where I might be able to obtain a copy of the as fitted drawings for the RV Triton. Sincerely John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Infomation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Shane Subject: SMML site update Hi all, Have uploaded the latest backissues to the site. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "WEM" Subject: MESSAGE TO ALL OUR AMERICAN CUSTOMERS FROM WHITE ENSIGN MODELS We at WEM have posted a message to all American SMMLlies on the website which we ask you to read Thank You, Caroline Snyder Business Manager 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://apma.org.au/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume