Subject: SMML VOL 1395
Date: Sun, 28 Oct 2001 00:04:35 +1000

shipmodels@tac.com.au

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MODELLERS INDEX

1: The RE-BIRTH of our hobby
2: Re: Subject: Market Survey
3: Short Seamew
4: HMS Asturias
5: Subchaser mania
6: The "Z" kits revealed
7: Re: SC Diorama

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MODELLERS

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1)
From: Keith Butterley <keith_butterley@telus.net>
Subject: The RE-BIRTH of our hobby

 Hi group,

 Ok enough of the hand wringing and the woe-is-us attitude. I don't know about the rest of the world, but we in North America have one of the greatest opportunities, next Wednesday, to make the youngest members of our society aware of the joys of ship modeling. That is right, Hallowe'en! How often do you get a chance to interact with a couple of hundred children in a short time? Here is the idea. Photocopy the plans of any injection molded kit and haul out the spares box. Instead of giving them candy, you give them a photocopy and one part. They will be so intrigued by this, that they will want the rest of the parts to build the whole ship. The parents will be so grateful for the money they will save on dental bills, they will gladly fork out the cash for juniors new interest. Soon the cash registers across the land will be ringing with new sales, the manufacturer's will glady open production lines to flood the market with kits. It will herald the New Golden Age of ship modeling.

 Damn I'm smart!<g>

 Keith Butterley
 warshipbooks.com
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2)
From: "Quinn Bracken" <yukikaze@uswest.net>
Subject: Re: Subject: Market Survey

 John,

>> One of the longest-selling Revell kits--virtually never out of production in its 40-year run--has been the 1/72 Elco 80' PT, variously released as PT-109 and PT-117. I've felt for some time that there is great potential for doing aftermarket armament parts for this kit, given how widely the PTs varied. Such parts could include a 40mm Bofors single mount (with suitable PE), 37mm Oldsmobile cannon (again, with suitable PE), 20mm Oerlikon (with PE), single and twin Browning .50 Cal. mounts, late war roll-off torpedo racks and torpedoes (PE propellers for the torpedoes?), depth charges with roll-off racks, and rocket launchers. <<

 I remember building this kit as a kid, and have fond memories of it. I had sometimes thought it'd be neat to do a "Barge Buster" Version PT-Boat, and would certainly build one again if the upgrade parts were available. WEM would do a nice job, I'm sure.

 On the topic of "after-market add-ons", how does White Ensign Models feel about an upgrade set for the Banner Arizona, to make the kit into a late-war Pennsylvania?

 Cheers,
 Quinn Bracken
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3)
From: "Kenneth Hagerup" <hagerupk@prodigy.net>
Subject: Short Seamew

 Sword make an injection molded 1/72 Short Seamew.

 Ken Hagerup
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4)
From: Mithrand@aol.com
Subject: HMS Asturias

 Hi gang,

 im looking for some help with details of HMS Asturias, all i can find out is that she was an armed merchant cruiser equipped with a catapult. 702 Squadron F.A.A operated the Fairey Seafox from this ship. Any help with oal, beam, tonnage any change in name etc,etc, would be a great help.

 Roy Allen
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5)
From: "Victor M. Baca" <modelships@earthlink.net>
Subject: Subchaser mania

>> Which leads me to the perennial question: When will the second generation of subchasers--the World War II SCs--also be given their hard-earned place on the model-makers' pedestal, so long overdue, yet so richly deserved? <<

 Ted makes a valid point about WWII subchasers. Ted Treadwell, by the way, is more than just an empty talker, he put his money where his mouh is by writing the landmark, "Splinter Fleet, The Wooden Subchasers Of World War II" (U.S. Naval Institute Press). In my print review, I described his book as, "...(a title) that promises to appeal to modelers of small combatants.  Long overdue for recognition, this class (of WWII subchasers) deserves the recognition Mr. Treadwell has given it." Ted's book is definitely needed on every ship modeler's bookshelf.

 If Treadwell had read my SMML SC posting closely, he would realize that I have only recently come to appreciate the very first iteration of mass produced anti-submarine vessels in U.S. Naval service. I've tried to interest modelers in the later WWII SCs by devoting 4 pages in my magazine on the SC-772 in her June 1943 configuration (Summer, 2001 issue). With this piece, we included beautiful, crisp photos and told a little about the "unromantic" part of subchaser life as well.

 One thing I would say about Treadwell's posting is that this isn't a contest about which class of subchaser was the best. We go down that slippery slope and you'll soon hear from the big ship chauvinists who think that if it wasn't a cruiser, battleship or carrier, it wasn't a "real" participant in the war. The "Antique" SCs of WWI were the basis for the improved version coming out in WWII. The WWII version was the genesis of more capable post-war ASW escorts, gunboats and small fighting ships. All these ships and boats have a story to tell, without the need for romanticizing, but there's nothing wrong with pointing out their finer qualities, from an enthusiast's point of view.

 For instance, Ted, I know full well the harsh realities of emergency ambulance work. Still, I have an appreciation for the hand-built, beautifully rendered Miller-Meteor Cadillacs that rolled during the 1970's. These were my rigs before we transitioned to more capable units, but I staked my life on them and loved their gorgeous lines. It ain't romance, bud, it's an appreciation for a well-built tool that does a job with class, like the early subchaser designs did.

 For the modeler, there are indeed sources for WWII SC material. Al Ross has drawings, available from the Floating Drydock. The French Musee de La Marine produced a beautiful WWII SC plan set, including nice model photos (available, I believe, from Taubman's Plan Service) and a new 1/32 scale fiberglass hull is coming down the ways from Microglass which will re-write the book on accurate WWII SC hulls. With the exception of the Microglass hull, these plans have been around and used by modelers for a very long time. If you go back further, Glenn Staubitz (the man behind the old Staubitz Of Buffalo company), built a beautiful R/C WWII subchaser back in the 1970s. That model appeared in one of the first issues of Scale Ship Modeler magazine.  Staubitz's SC replica inspired a new generation of modelers to include fine detail in accurate radio
controlled models.

 I'd say, Ted, that if you're so upset about not seeing info on your favorite ships in this forum, stop whining--tell us the story. And I don't mean which ship had more gallons of blood and guts dripping from her scuppers, either. Lobby the manufacturers for plastic and resin kits so we have something different to buy at the hobby shop. And definitely don't trivialize other modeler's enthusiasm for appreciating something beautiful when they see it.

 Victor Baca
 Editor & Publisher
 MODEL SHIP JOURNAL
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6)
From: Derek Wakefield <iscandar@chatter.com>
Subject: The "Z" kits revealed

 I think I finally figured out the source of the "Z" brand kits I mentioned awhile back. Due to an odd schedule at work, I haven't had a chance to get over to the Hobby Lobby to get one of these kits, so the issue got shoved back on the backburner.

 A few days ago someone mentioned something that triggered my memory and got me thinking about this again, so I managed to get over to the hobby shop. The kits are put out by a Chinese firm called Zhengdefu, and the ships are probably reissued Nichimo 30cm box-scale kits. I was going by memory earlier and I guess my brain short circuited and inflated the size to 80cm.

 I didn't get one of the ships but instead I picked up one of their 1:72 F-18D kits. I'm in more of a winged thing mind set at the moment, and have been wanting a two-seat Hornet for awhile, so it drew a higher priority. The kit isn't half bad (especially for $10)...recessed panel lines even. However, Zhengdefu's description of it as a "Fighting Falcon" and "US Air Force Trainer" leaves a LOT to be desired. ^_^. Still, I'm curious as to what company originally produced this Hornet kit (given their ships are copies of the Nichimo kits). They also have a F-14A and D, but the box-art is swapped around. I'm thinking about picking up a couple of those, but am leary that if I buy two D's I may get two A's.

 Derek Wakefield
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7)
From: Minadmiral@aol.com
Subject: Re: SC Diorama

>> What scale do you need for a drawing of the S/C for your diorama? <<

 Hi;

 1:600 scale. Do you know of any changes in appearence or armament that the USCG made to these boats?

 As far as G'Grandpa's boat. I have no real idea what it looked like, no known pictures. Not even sure of the name. All I recall being told was that it looked like a "normal lobster boat" for the area. Major changes were inside, like an extremely oversized engine. Reportedly she had 5-6 knots advantage over the sub chasers 18 or so knots. Boat was built special for the job. Above waterline she looked like a lobster boat, below waterline she had better lines for speed.

 Chuck Duggie
 WoodenWalls Listmeister
 http://www.egroups.com/group/WoodenWalls
 Naval wargamer, amateur naval historian, and ship modeler
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 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/
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End of Volume