Subject: SMML VOL 1490 Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 00:04:42 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: WWII USS Arkansas BB-33 2: Why I build ship models 3: Combat Models PC? 4: Revell 1/429 (not 1/426) Arizona 5: Peculiar launcher 6: Gray Lady Down 7: Side effects of SMML and Russian PE sets -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: SPYDER62@aol.com Subject: WWII USS Arkansas BB-33 Just checked and ISW does have a 1/350 model of the Arkansas. check their web site www.commanderseries.com It is not cheap but the detail is there and great service. rich -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Edd Pflum Subject: Why I build ship models I'm weighing in a little late on this, but because my reasons are a little different than most, I thought I'd respond. After years of building models as toys, my first serious modeling was armor, especially scratch-built and conversions. I stopped modeling when I went to college full-time, and when I returned, the landscape had changed. There were kits of almost every armored vehicle made, and conversion kits for the rest. I got into R/C flying, but my kits wouldn't stay built :). At a swap shop, I picked up a bunch of old Model Boats magazines. I build an R/C tug boats from full-size plans in one issue. It didn't crash (or sink) and the rest is history. My main ship focus is operating models of small craft in larger scales. A second reason is there is a certain legitimacy to ship models, but not to cars or tanks or planes. A non-modeler will appreciate a ship model, especially a sailing ship, where another subject will be viewed as a 'toy'. Edd Pflum -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Stephen Allen Subject: Combat Models PC? Dear all At the risk of causing apoplexy, are there any opinions out there concerning the buildability of the Combat Models vacuform 1/72 scale PC? I recognise that it is likely to be a 'renovator's opportunity', but is the hull halfway decent? Has anybody even seen one? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. TIA Steve -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Loren Perry Subject: Revell 1/429 (not 1/426) Arizona The Revell Pennsylvania is indeed a re-packaged 1/429 Arizona. Totally identical except for decals. BTW, the Revell kit was made to 1/429 scale, not 1/426 scale as many still believe, and Revell catalogs state today. How do I know? I happen to have in my collection the original blueprints from Revell's engineering department that were used to plan the original kit back in the 1950's. These prints (a portion of which are reproduced in the GMM instruction sheet for the PE set for this kit) are clearly marked 1/429 scale in several places. I was fortunate to be able to (legally) acquire these prints when Revell left Venice, California in the 1980's for Illinois during the merger with Monogram. So why the ongoing 1/426 "legend"? Apparently a Revell catalog from some years back had a typographical error that has been perpetuated with each subsequent printing. The Revell "suits" don't seem to be bothered by such trivialities, so the 1/426 Arizona myth continues to this day. Loren Perry/Gold Medal Models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: pelle@nord.alfaromeo.org Subject: Peculiar launcher In the 1/700 Charles F Adams/Mölders kit from Revell Germany (or DML Cochrane, it's identical sprues) is a launcher of some kind included that isn't used when building the boat. I'm referring to parts no 10, 11 and 12 on the main sprue. It is about as large as a single-arm standard missile laucher but it is twin armed, eggshaped when viewed from the side and the munition seems more like a torpedo than a missile. I do not know whether the munition should hang underneath the arms of the launcher or rest on them. My questions are: - What kind of system is this? - Which targets do you use it against? - On what class can you find it and when? - Does the munition hang or rest? Gentlemen! Enlighten me, please. All the best Pelle SWE (at the moment violently slaughtering an O-class destroyer and kitbashing it into an evolved type 18 ASW/patrol FF. No, you don't want to see it. Yes, it's nasty) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Glenn and Kelly Neklason" Subject: Gray Lady Down Hi All Can anybody hazard a guess as to what type of submarine starred with Charlton Heston in the 1977 flick "Gray Lady Down"? Thanks, Glenn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Baumbach, Werner" Subject: Side effects of SMML and Russian PE sets Hello all, I love this group. I have met so many great people and received so much help, it is amazing. It is hard to find too many ship modellers in central Europe (Germany) where still armor and air craft dominate. If any of you live near Heidelberg, send me a mail ;-) One of the side effects of SMML is, that my expectations when building a model have grown. I don't trust the manufacturer any more and have to try and find as much pictures as possible before I start building and then I think about what I can add or modify. It is a lot more fun and challenging, but also more time consuming. So now, even more than before, I build several things in parallel. Right now I have a couple of Nanuchkas, Tarantuls and Sovremenies on my table and was looking for PE sets, to improve them. Any ideas? Is there anything for the masts. They look quite massive in the kit, where on pictures it is quite delicate. Well, any tips are welcome. Happy modelling Werner -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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