Subject: SMML VOL 1476 Date: Wed, 16 Jan 2002 00:14:36 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Why did you become a ship modeller 2: Re: Why I'm a ship modeler 3: LCI 4: Why to build? 5: Re: Why did you become a ship modeller 6: Re: How I became a ship modeler 7: Blue Acryl Putty 8: U/I carrier model 9: Re: worst modeling habit 10: Naval Base Hobbies 11: Worst kits (Caution: Ranting) 12: Why I bacame a shipmodeler 13: news 14: Re: There are no "bad kits..." 15: Re: Akagi boot top 16: U-boat Anti aircraft guns 17: Re: Why I became a ship modeler 18: Re: Why I Am A Ship Modeler 19: Re: Why I became a ship modeler 20: Re: USS Forrestal Doomed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: NAVYDAZE@aol.com Subject: Re: Why did you become a ship modeller Aw, that is an easy question, I even make reference to it on my web site. I was a brand new little Cub Scout, wide eyed and bushy tailed. Our first outting was to Long Beach Naval Ship Yard to go aboard the USS HELENA. I could not believe the size of that ship including her beautiful teak decks. Topside on the one of the bridge wings I could see the whole world - and I have never forgotton the cookie the nice mess cook gave me. When we went back to our city for our "pack" meeting we were all given a Revelle model of the HELENA's sistership the USS SAINT PAUL - That did two things to me - one it started a love affair with model ships that continues to this day. Second, it started me on the road to becoming a Naval & Aviation Artist because of the wonderful painting on the cover by John Steele. The SAINT PAUL, HELENA and John Steele are all gone now but not the everylasting impression they left with me. Michael Donegan NAVYDAZE - Naval & Aviation Artist http://www.navydaze.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Rod Millard" Subject: Re: Why I'm a ship modeler I think it start in the fifties when those old Erroll Flynn swashbuckling movies were on late night T.V. I loved those sailing ships. Than as I got older I started to really enjoy History and ships are a real central part of how man got where he is today. So every model I build or most times just open the box. I read the history about it and try to build it as I think it was. Rod Millard -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: SPYDER62@aol.com Subject: LCI >> A pair of very nice little LCIs are among the 1/350 amphibs made by Iron Shipwright. << MWL Yes, and they are a great company. I have a Salt Lake City and needed a part that I could not fine in the kit. When I called they said it would be in the mail (no questions asked), plus told them of an error I found in the directions and might need a few life rafts. When the parts showed up they sent 50 live rafts and almost enough other parts to build a second kit. Will be getting more from them for sure, best service i have found. rich -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Devin J. Poore" Subject: Why to build? Why build ship models? Because I'll never be able to walk the decks of the USS Yorktown (CV-5), USS San Francisco or any other of the ships I'm so fond of reading about. Having a model of them is about as close as I'll ever get. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "David & Mary Jean" Subject: Re: Why did you become a ship modeller We got a tv when I was ten. The broadcasting day started at 4:30 PM, we could get four different channels, and all tvs were black and white. One of the first programs I ever saw was "Victory at Sea", the very first time the series was aired, and I watched every episode with rapt wonderment. I don't think I had ever seen film of warships at sea, unless it was in the newsreels at the movies. The images bored into my little ten-year-old brain and lodged in there forever. Then I found Revell's good old flatbottomed Missouri at the dime store and hectored my father until he bought me the kit. Naturally I made a horrendous mess of it, but I did it all by myself, including the uneven red stripe around the waterline, and my pride was unbounded. The bug had bit. Throughout the succeeding fifty years I have suffered periodic bouts of modelmania, the most recent of which ended about a year ago. I think I am in remission now, but probably not for long. David Hackley -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: How I became a ship modeler I built my first ship model as part of a club theme (sort of a dare if you will). In short, the theme for the build was "building out of your field." Put simply, we were to build anything out of our normal preferred discipline of modeling. At the time I was strictly an a/c and sci-fi builder. I tried a car once before and didn't like it (because I couldn't master the finish), so that was out. I did a few figures in the SCI if realm, so that was out. So it came down to a decision between armor (arrrrgghh!) or a ship. On the way home, I picked up a 1/700 USS Hornet kit to try my hand at. Once I got it put together I was so impressed with its delicate antennas and details, I fell in love with ships and haven't looked back since. That was about ten years back. Well, I briefly look back from time to time. The only a/c I'll build are naval a/c. I still enjoy building sci-fi figures and kits to take a break from the technical accuracy ship modeling demands. Rusty White 2003 IPMS/USA National Convention Chairman OKC IN 2003! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Jim Kloek" Subject: Blue Acryl Putty I've used Blue Acryl Putty for a number of years, and it is great. It is useful to thin it with acetone, you can thin it to any consistency and then use an old paint brush to flow it into seams or anything else you need filled. You minimize the amount you do not get where you want. You can also smooth it out with a Q-tip moistened in acetone, but you have to be careful you do not get too much acetone on styrene. This cuts way down on the amount of sanding you have to do. You can get acetone at a hardware store, but be careful, it is flammable. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: JOHNEME@aol.com Subject: U/I carrier model Back in the mid-60's (Gosh, that was a long time ago), I built a carrier model, and for the life of me, I cannot remember which one. I hope that someone can help me. The main thing that I remember was that it had a full cardboard(!) hanger deck. I think it was the first Wasp, but I don't think there ever was a large-scale Wasp. We can take it for granted that it was cheap, and no it wasn't Revell. any help? John Emery -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: worst modeling habit >> I do however have this terrible habit that I dragged over to ship modeling from my 35 years as a winged thingie modeler. I seem to enjoy throwing the parts tree away once I THINK I have used all the parts on it, only to discover three months later that I now need part 14 on Tree A to finish the project and of course Tree A is now buried under a 100 tons of garbage at the landfill. Happy modeling and save everything! << That's been my philosophy over the last 20 years. I'm now on my second 40 yard dumpster trying to clean the place out as part of my latest modeling venture A 1:1 partial conversion project on the house!!! Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Peter Subject: Naval Base Hobbies Someone wrote with a bad experience with Naval Base Hobbies and asked for others' experiences. I only ordered from them once and it did not go well. While this is thus based on only one episode, you'll forgive me for not experimenting more with my money by trying them again! I ordered from them via the web site a DML 1/700 Aegis cruiser kit and Flagship PE, not exotic items by any definition. I emailed in advance and was told both items were in stock. My credit card was charged immediately. The model arrived about two weeks later (and was shipped five days after my card was charged) and there was no PE in the box and there was no explanation. I swapped emails back and forth for 14 days. The PE was in stock and they forgot to send it; the PE was not in stock and they'll get it tomorrow, the manufacturer doesn't fill orders so wait a while longer, etc. I guess the good news is that I did get the order, but the overall experience was so poor, and the lack of transparentcy so obvious, that I have since ordered from others and continue to encourage my friends to do the same. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: JKrakow@aol.com Subject: Worst kits (Caution: Ranting) Worst kit: I vote for the Lindberg 1/32nd scale "PT 109". It is not really a model of the PT 109. It is actually a magnified copy of their lousy 1/60something "scale" bathtub toy PT 109-- you remember it it from second grade, the one that instructs the builder to paint the torpedo tube covers gloss red. I should have known better but how can this massive box displaying a PT boat tearing across the Pacific not deliver on its promise of a ripping great big thrill inside? And if the art on the cover was not enough to convince anyone, the 12 year old with a bad 1970s haircut shown on the side of the box certainly seems to be enjoying his model. Alas, this was mere subterfuge. This big expensive kit is an abomination inaccurate enough to annoy even the die-hard scale modeler into assembling it as a working pond model (an alternative to the pound or two of epoxy putty needed to correct the hull). But of course, with its pathetic little electric motor, it faithfully reproduces the lame performance of the bathtub version. It hardly produces a ripple as it crawls along, rapidly draining big D-Cell batteries, the laboriously cranking gearbox rattling loudly, scattering ducks and attracting unwanted attention to the now greatly embarrassed and annoyed former scale modeler. Had the bean counters at Lindberg not sullied the gallant traditions of the PT boat by putting the world's wussiest motor into this styrene monstrosity, I would have cast my vote for the "Life Like" 1:350 Yamato (about as "Life-Like" as Tammy Faye Baker's makeup). I confess I actually assembled one because of an idle boast I made to a non-model-building friend of mine who expressed doubts about his own ability to put it together. He bought it at a garage sale for a grossly overpriced $3. If I were smart, I would have thrown it away, and substituted the Tamiya kit. Naturally, he would have known nothing, and I would not be suffering from putty fume inhalation. I would now be able to walk proudly into my friend's home without averting my eyes from this model or suffering Yamato-phobia induced palpitations. Ahh well, I should have known my arrogance would not go unpunished. So, as I've said before, if either of these kits are spotted, back away from them slowly and do not make any sudden movements. Dave www.PrinzEugen.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: O'Connor Subject: Why I bacame a shipmodeler Well, I grew up as a Navy brat, watching the big grey monsters come and go from NOB Norfolk, then watched as dad departed from Quonset Point, RI on Essex. Later, he was staff ordinance officer aboard Independence before retiring in '72. All that grey paint imbedded in my brain, and I gravitiated toward shipmodels after flirting with aircraft and armor modeling for almost 20 years. I still do the occasional plane (my current side project being the colorful Williams Bros F3C Sparrowhawk), but ships are my current, and probably long-term, addiction. Some of my fondest memories are of recreating the great naval campaigns of the second world war with Revell and Airfix kits, attacking Bismarck with my bb gun, pretending I was a Stringbag flier, or a Jap pilot at Pearl Harbor attacking Arizona. Kind of makes me want to do that again. Now where was that horrendous Lindberg kit?????? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: news Coming soon to an airport or nuclear reactor - Phalanx CIWS. There was a Rueters news service that there maybe plans to mount the latest version of the CIWS at certain installations after the sept 11 attacks. Ratheon is upgrading many CIWS systems for combat ships around the world to the latest system & now it seems they have been asked to see how they would work in ground based units..picture based at an airport. would clear the seagulls or pigeons. Other news, the US navy hopes to present Taiwan govt 4 preperred concepts in Feb/March for building 8 diesel subs. Netherlands & Germany that both make diesels are not part of the deal as the US has not made regular subs since the 1950's. One company in line is Nothrop Grumman said has presented its "concept paper" for the diesels. Problems might arrise as the US has not built regular subs for many years which could cause problems in construction & cost blow outs & Taiwan said it might like to build their own, also the Dutch have refused any of their deisgns to be copied. Northrop's Ingalls SHipyard won a contract in 2000 to build 2 diesel subs for Egypt, using the Netherland's RDM Moray-class design -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: JohnVCP@aol.com Subject: Re: There are no "bad kits..." >> John...do you REALLY expect anyone on this list who is old enough to remember those things to actually admit it??! Not that I remember any of those things.... ;^) << Come on guys - own up and admit that some of you can remember when....! I do remember coming off active duty in the Navy in 1958 and wandering around the hobby shops while awaiting the Fall semester at college to start (thought I'd finish under the GI Bill) and seeing rows of plastic kits. Being away from modeling for quite a few years I was amazed. As I stated before - I grew up as a "balsa butcher" and "back then" everything was blocks and sheets of wood; and during the "Big One" (WW2) the wood turned to a heavy card stock and the balsa was pine. Tissue and stick "flying models" were an exaggeration - these things dove like bricks! I bought a few of these plastic kits and had fun putting them together. I guess this is the operative word - FUN. I now see airplane models were all you do is shake the box, open it and the plane flies out. Does the wonderful world of plastics make modeling any easier? I think not and have seen works of art. The fun of modelling is the act of putting it together and making some thing from either a few blocks and strips of wood or a massive pile of plastic parts. As to the molded wooden hulls - when I was just a lad I had a Ideal North Carolina with one of these hulls and you are correct - one size fit all!!! John Heasel Ambroid glue helps razor cuts heal faster!!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: Akagi boot top >> I just couldn't believe with that level of commitment (and his considerable modeling talent) that he would have made such a basic mistake as to add boot topping where there was none! << Tim, There are times when even experts make mistakes. I do not consider myself to be any sort of expert and I sure as hell have made a few mistakes. Like that time when me and my drinking buddies were tipping cows and ......... But seriously, after taking another look thru IJN references I do not see and boot topping on anything. After a very close reexamination of the Fuji Art drawings, they might possibly be interpreted as having the under hull paint coming up to the height I stated earlier. I would highly recommend you pose this question on the www.combinedfleet.com web site. Scroll down the home page to the IJN Ship message board and enter the question to that discussion group. There is a vast amount of knowledge on the IJN on that site/discussion board. Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "John Anderson" Subject: U-boat Anti aircraft guns Can anyone tell me where I can get a 2 twin 20mm anti aircraft guns and 1, 37mm anti aircraft gun in or around 1:32nd scale both with bases i can build the splinter sheilds but need the guns and bases, i am building a German U-Boat U-505 she is just short of 8 feet long and will be an operational model and need these guns badly for the conning tower she had no deck gun so all i need id the anti aircraft guns john anderson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Daniel Bauer" Subject: Re: Why I became a ship modeler My family history as far back as we can go shows all the males in the military. My Great-Grandfather was an NCO in the Bavarian Army in the Astro-Prussian War of 1866. My father was in the U-Boot Service during the last War. I was in the U.S. Marine Corp. I had the honor of being on the New Jersey in Beruit Harbor in 1983. Ships are in my blood, I have always been fond of a sleek warship making it's way thru the waves. I enjoy researching a project, then having the sense of pride after it is finished. Ship modeling is the hobby that does that for me. Regards, Dan Bauer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Minadmiral@aol.com Subject: Re: Why I Am A Ship Modeler Hi; I Like ships. Chuck Duggie WoodenWalls Listmeister eGroups : WoodenWalls Naval wargamer, amateur naval historian, and ship modeler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Matthew Prager" Subject: Re: Why I became a ship modeler I began modeling when I was about 9, influenced by two of my older brothers who built models (one built armor and planes, the other built cars). I built a little of everything, but gradually gravitated to ships. I grew up on the Great Lakes in Michigan and have always loved boats and ships of all kinds. I became very interested in history as I grew older, particularly military history. Anyway, all this lead to two major parts of my life, building ship models and a carreer in the United States Navy (19 years so far). I enjoy the research involved in ship modeling and the opportunities for scratch building. I don't put my models in shows, but there is a lot of satisfation in getting it "just right". Matt Prager -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: annobon4@aol.com Subject: Re: USS Forrestal Doomed Hi Guys About the USS Forrestal being doomed. It's seems she lives a charmed life. Back in late 1993 I went on a tour of the now closed Philadelphia Navy Yard when it was still active. The Forrestal, Saratoga, Coral Sea, Iowa and Wisconsin were mothballed togather. The tour guide told the group that the 3 mentioned carriers had been sold for scrap at $100,000 apiece. With the Coral Sea to be first to go and be scrapped in Baltimore MD. Outa curiousity how much did the Forrestal cost to build? Craig -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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