Subject: SMML VOL 1445 Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 00:34:51 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: 1/400 scale old aurora uss enterprise 2: Revell NEW JERSEY 3: one-ship classes and model kits 4: RN 4.5" Gunhouses 5: Re: bubbly polyurethane resin hull 6: Another body putty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Billgior@aol.com Subject: 1/400 scale old aurora uss enterprise dear members of the smml the uss enterprise kit that is going to be released is the 1/400 scale aurora uss enterprise being reissued by revell/monogram. i work for rider's hobbies in detroit michigan and i got that from a reliable source from revell/monogram. the kit was not very good and it lacked detail. you are better off getting the arii/otaki uss enterprise it is very nicely detailed. sincerely bill giordano -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Mark C Krumrey" Subject: Revell NEW JERSEY In regards to the Revell New Jersey. If they haven't cobbled the kit, the extra parts will make a Korean War era Missouri. I used some of the parts to make a Tamiya Viet Nam era New Jersey, using both the Missouri and the New Jersey, and some of the parts of the Revell New Jersey, as I had no intention of finishing it. Using GMM Photo Etch, it is a doable project, with the usual amount of references. Mark Krumrey New RIchmond WI -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Jodie Peeler Subject: one-ship classes and model kits hello all.... Shirley Sachsen wrote: >> if not, if it is a retool, why oh why must manufacturers continue to release a one ship class? how do we convince them that a Forrestal, Nimitz, or--perish the thought--an ESSEX would be more appealing to more people? << If it's indeed the Aurora tool (and the picture on the R-M website indicates such, along with what James Corley wrote he heard from MMD), it's worth noting that tool is probably as old as the Big E herself. It's part of the '50s/'60s period when model companies were willing to do new/unique stuff that had everyone excited, the same that gave us stuff like the "Atomic Cannon," the n/s Savannah kits, and the Polaris submarines. When she was being built and was commissioned, few ships captured the public imagination more than did Enterprise -- lots of books written about her, magazine articles, so on and so forth. I think the Aurora kit is symbolic of that -- every kid wanted the Big E, and a BIG Big E, to build, thus we have not only the big Aurora kit but the still-so-sweet Revell 1:720 kit. Nowadays I SERIOUSLY doubt you'd see one of the big companies in the US do a one-ship class of anything, let alone a new-tool ship period. On a selfish level, it doesn't really affect me too much because my modeling skills are now to the point where I can scratchbuild just about anything I can't find in kit form, and a lot that's in kit form that doesn't look right to me. But on another level, it means modeling isn't nearly as fun as it used to be when I could go into a toy store or hobby shop and find something unusual and (thus) fun. For those of us who have always loved doing things that everyone else isn't (i.e. the only Spitfire I've built is an MPM PR.XIX that I bought in a lot of secondhand kits), it's not as fun as it used to be. One-ship-class kits are sometimes funny. In the case of R-M, it's a repop of an existing tool representing a ship that's been in the news of late, and since it already exists (albeit in pre-modernized form) it costs them relatively little to haul out the same ol' corn and give it another roast. In the case of Italeri, with the USS America, I think it was a case of over-optimistically thinking they could get three ships (America, Kitty Hawk and Constellation) out of one basic set of tools (with different superstructures), when those three ships are vastly different. My $.02.... jodie http://www.mindspring.com/~raisingirl -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Richa5011@aol.com Subject: RN 4.5" Gunhouses Are the twin 4.5" gunhouses (not talking about the mounting which is Mk VI) on the following classes all the same?...or are there differences in size and shape from class to class? Daring Class DD Type 61 - Salisbury Class Frigates Type 41 - Leopard Class Frigates Type 12 - Whitbey/Rothesay Class Frigates Type 12M - Leander Class Frigates County Class DD Nat Richards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: John Maze Subject: Re: bubbly polyurethane resin hull From: Douglas >> I just finished pouring a polyurethane resin hull I'm confronted with a gazillion tiny air bubbles at the surface of the hull. I've been contemplating filling them with CA glue and an accelerator (just swabbing the whole thing with glue and zapping it with the catalyst), but I think I've read where folks have had good luck using auto body filler. Can someone tell me what kind to look for, and will it work with the poly resin? << Any automotive body filler should work - I prefer 3M Acryl Blue myself. However, I would suggest filling the holes with baking soda and CA glue. Cheaper, easier, and just as effective for "pinholes". JohnM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: BSteinIPMS@aol.com Subject: Another body putty Another excellent body putty to use in filling seams, pin holes, and unwanted cavities is 3M "Acryl Blue". It comes in a large blue and white tube and the putty itself is a pleasing light blue. It's an acrylic formula which dries quickly and is very fine-grained. By this I mean it can be sanded out to a feather edge without flaking, cracking, or pitting. Once painted it's not discernable from the surrounding plastic or resin. I think it's much superior to Squadron's Green Putty. Bob Steinbrunn Minneapolis Member, Nautical Research Guild Tin Can Sailors IPMS/USA #3345 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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