Subject: SMML VOL 1456 Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2001 00:23:19 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Plans to scale, CAUTION! 2: Merry Christmas 3: hunt for modern upgrade parts 4: Re: Actual Scale Plans 5: Guns 6: Re: Revell's USS BOSTON 7: Re: Free offer reminder for members of U.S. Armed Forces 8: Re: Paint problems 9: Hi Mold Maryland 10: Question on repairing ivory carved items from World War II 11: Battleship tour -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: 1:700 SIMS kits Update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Plans to scale, CAUTION! I want to echo a very important point that someone has already mentioned on this board. DON'T RELY ON STANDARD PHOTOCOPIERS TO ACCURATELY REPRODUCE SCALE DRAWINGS! Take your drawings to an architectural supply shop for accurate scale reproduction. These guys have the expertise and specialized equipment to do the job right. Look in your phone book under architectural supplies. Every town has someone there who does blueprint reproduction for local engineers and architects. It will cost a bit more, but rest assured your plans will be accurate, and to scale. Rusty White Architect Flagship Models Inc. Purchase on line with your Visa/Master Card http://okclive.com/flagship/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Ken Dase" Subject: Merry Christmas Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Ken Dase -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: tangui De Saint Hilaire Subject: hunt for modern upgrade parts As a newcomer on SMML, greetings and respects to all the members. I am currently starting a 1/700 modern fleet, which I beginned with some Revell escort ships, as I still don't know if I will present it waterline or full-hull. The question I am asking is: does anyone know if I could find somewhere an upgrade set including Mk 41 VLS and RAM launchers(respectively for US Ticonderoga CG and German Lütjens DDG)? Those guys from Revell do not seem to know what modernization means. Merry Christmas, happy New Year and fine holidays to all of you! Tangui de Saint Hilaire, Tarbes, France -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Bill Rowe Subject: Re: Actual Scale Plans The rule for drafting in the U.S. was go by the dimensions shown. A 1 Ft. error over the length of a carrier wouldn't have been seen as worth changing. That rule equivocates somewhat, because drawings started as a layouts that fitted the available space or required size. Some what related. I found that photocopying scale rulers, strengthening the paper with tape, and cutting it out, makes a reasonable ruler. Bill -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Clem Jensen" Subject: Guns Hello Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. I'm building the USS Ashville PG 84 and would like to find photos or drawings of their main gun a 3" /50 cal single, MK 54 mod 2. Would anyone know of a source for this information? I've tried several websites without any luck. I get up to MK 12 or thereabouts. This is a ship of the 1960's. Thanks Clem jensen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: Re: Revell's USS BOSTON John, Not to sound too terribly discouraging here, but....I wish you the best of luck in getting one of these, because my luck hasn't been so good. The BOSTON kit has been out of production since at least the late 70s/early 80s, and tends to lure high dollar bids (and competitive bidding) everytime I've seen one on ebay (when, once in a rare blue moon one appears). Revell also put out an identical CANBERRA kit (which the CANBERRA was not), but yet again...hard to find. I still have the BOSTON I built back in the early 80s - oldest vessel in my model fleet age wise. However, I've had no luck in finding another one in my price range (or that I could bid high enough at the last minute to secure). I can still kick myself for giving my similar all-gun Revell PITTSBURGH to a neighbor kid about 15 yrs ago...yet another hard to find/high price kit (but not nearly so as the Boston). I've seen about five of those on ebay in the last month, but all were going in excess of $35 with several days left before auction's end. The last BOSTON/CANBERRA was going for in excess of $50. If ya really want one, that might not be too bad, but it's a bit more than I prefer to pay for one given how much work would be needed to accurize one. I keep on hoping Revell will reissue these two kits, but I suppose they don't see it as being a good seller. Then again, perhaps if JAG would come out with a really decent one....(hint, hint). Derek Wakefield -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Keith Bender" Subject: Re: Free offer reminder for members of U.S. Armed Forces Hi SMMLies, First off, Well Said Bob Santos. Thank You Vets. for being there. I remember being away my last Christmas in the navy back in 1982. We even lost a shipmate that day due to an accident aboard ship. A Christmas I'll never forget. I'm glad I had the experience of being away so I know what sacrifice you people are making for us, it's appreciated. Thank You, Keith -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Ted0330@aol.com Subject: Re: Paint problems Thanks to all for your replies about paint. I appreciate the advice. The spray paint is Tamiya's white primer. I believe it is an enamel, but don't know for sure- the label is in Japanese. I got an airbrush for Xmas- a Badger single action that came as a 'kit'. This included a small starter can of air. There is one tip (seems very broad). The paint I used was a Humbrol enamel thinned with mineral spirits (is this bad). Should I- Use a finer spray tip? Use ordinary paint thinner instead of mineral spirits? Get a whole different airbrush? The one I was interested in was a Paasche single action, but one does not reject presents. Thanks to all. Ted -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: IAAFru2@aol.com Subject: Hi Mold Maryland Any body know how to translate Japanese, I bought Hi mold's 1/700 scale Maryland, but unbeknown to me there are no English directions. HELP what do I do now, Anybody have a set in English. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Steven Brejnak" Subject: Question on repairing ivory carved items from World War II To all who could help, I was approached by a customer to repair an antique of a ship that was carved by a prisoner of war from World War 2. That is all I know of at this point. The item is made of ivory and I was informed that it is of great value. I was also told that another museum had carved ivory ships from this same era (1940's) I'm not sure which museum this could be weather it is the smithsonian or a naval museum. I feel I may be out of my league on repairing an item such as this but wonder if anyone could assist me as to how to repair it or answer a few questions. Or does anyone have any ideas of any other museums that have items such as these that were carved by prisoners of war during the 40's that could assist me. Thanks Steve -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Baumbach, Werner" Subject: Battleship tour Hello all, I hope you all had a merry and peaceful Christmas in this crazy times. We just got back from our trip to the States and I would like to thank everyone on this list, who gave us tips of where to go in Fall River and Norfolk. We had a blast and even my wife enjoyed the boats. We got there in December with temperatures in the 70s F/20s C and enjoyed USS Massachussetts. Fall River is great. If anyone is planning to go, reserve at least half a day. It is a lot of stuff to do, and quite a distance, that you'll walk so bring good shoes ;-) Then, in Norfolk we were really lucky. The weather was not too good there (kind of wet and chilly) but what a place. Nauticus is a great museum. We loved the AEGIS simulation and then boarded USS Wisconsin. Great ship also, very friendly folks. If anyone of them is on this list, I'd would like to say a big thank you. We had some very nice chats on board. After that we boarded the harbour cruise and again we were lucky. The base was quite busy. Big E was back from unloading ammunition the day before. Then two Wasp class (can't remember which), several Burkes, one or two Perrys, several Ticonderogas, three subs, a couple of oilers and transport ships ... Really impressive sight. And then the big disappointment: no pictures. Gosh, I had my big lense right there, ready to take detail shots. Oh well, we were there. I guess it's not worth getting shot at. Don't know, how dangerous a couple of pictures would have been after you have seen all the boats, but okay, not everything has to make sense. In any case, very impressive. Well, now it is back home and we are looking at another year. Let's hope against realitiy, that it is a more peaceful one. To all of you on this list a Happy New Year and all the best Werner -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Michael Bartel Subject: 1:700 SIMS kits Update The metal SIMS suffered a bit of a setback when preproduction tooling didn't come out like we had wanted. It has to be done a different way which will take some time, and I now project the SIMS release in early February. Reserve NOW if you haven't already, because the first batch is now almost completely reserved! Mike Bartel IHP http://ihphobby.tripod.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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