Subject: SMML VOL 1492 Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 00:42:46 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Cast 3D figures 2: DISPLAYING A SHIP IN DRYDOCK 3: Re: Display Cases 4: Re: Display Cases 5: Re: Newbie with an Idea :) 6: What is that launcher? 7: Revell Calypso-- need some detailing advice 8: Worst Model/Best model 9: Re: HMS Aurora 10: Re: Peculiar launcher 11: Re: CF Adams Launcher 12: Intro, USS Scorpion & USS Thresher 13: Re: MiniMite Battery Pack (Was: Minimite motor) 14: Re: Display cases 15: Re: Peculiar launcher 16: "N" identification 17: Orange Blossom 18: Display Cases -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Dunagain Decals -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Tom & Carolyn Harrison" Subject: Cast 3D figures Need SMML help, does anyone know a source for cast 3D figures around 1/350 scale. I heard they might exist, source unknown. Thanks Tom -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Scott Weeks" Subject: DISPLAYING A SHIP IN DRYDOCK For pictures of a Burke-class DDG in drydock, please see: http://www.hazegray.org/features/cole/repair.htm It is a collection of photos of USS Cole (DDG-67) being docked and repaired. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Ives100@aol.com Subject: Re: Display Cases >> I am looking for someone who does display cases, this must be a top quality custom built item. Can anyone suggest a prospective candidate. << Contact Don Preul. He makes beautiful cases. Contact: http://www.jdproduct.com/history.htm Tom Dougherty -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: ALROSS2@aol.com Subject: Re: Display Cases >> I am looking for someone who does display cases, this must be a top quality custom built item. Can anyone suggest a prospective candidate. << Contact Dan Turner - Dancyco@aol.com. Dan builds all of my cases and my customers love them. He works primarily in cherry, but will also work with other woods and brass. Al Ross -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: NAVYDAZE@aol.com Subject: Re: Newbie with an Idea :) Re: C. S. Baily Trust me everyone C.S. Baily is a terrific artist and please check out his web site. I would like to expand on what he said about making water. I think that when you make a diorama you have to make a few considerations in the color of the water verses the color of the ship. When doing a painting the ship will pick up the color of the water and sky and the water can pick up the color of the ship and the sky - the end result is a nice harmonous (that is a big word for me) look and everything looks balanced. Now I have actually added a tint of the color of the water (and I do mean lightly) on the lower 1/3 of the hull down to the waterline of the model to give it a little of that balance. Ok, now I realize that those of you who have to use measure so-and-so and nothing else you will poo poo this effect. But I tend to want my model to be something just for me and my enjoyment and this seems to lend a nice effect. A little rust here and there and you end up with a nice 3 dimensional piece of art - yes, I have said before modeling is an art. That is just my two cents. Mike Donegan NAVYDAZE - Naval & Aviation Artist -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: STUART ROYDON ROBOTTOM Subject: What is that launcher? Hi all. The parts in the DDG kit could be the Mk 11 launcher, fitted to earlier USN Charles F Adams class ships. Later USN units, and German and Australian ships, had the Mk 13 single arm launcher also found on many other FFG type ships in various navies. Mk 11s should have the missiles located underneath the twin arms, as in the British Sea Dart system. See US Navy website or www.warships1.com etc for illustrations if wishing to put together a Mk 11 on your DDG. Please note (only if I am wrong!)that I am at work, being hassled and commenting without reference to any instructions or other materials. Regards, Stuart Robottom -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Dan Owsen Subject: Revell Calypso-- need some detailing advice I just got a Revell Calypso that's in pretty bad shape. A lot of the railings and such detail are broken off. But the more I looked at it the more I thought, it would look better if I re-did all that detail anyway. Ditto for the antenna and ladders. I'm fairly sure there isn't a detail kit for this kit, so, does anyone have any advice on raw materials to use at this scale? I'm thinking it might also be good to open a few of the doors, and I'll need new props (the kit ones are missing) and propeller shafts. Thanks! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: NAVYDAZE@aol.com Subject: Worst Model/Best model I read all of the great responses to the question of what was the worst kit. I think this would be the proper time to defend all of those bad kits and model companies. I remember a lot of those that were mentioned as I was a just a kid in the 1950's and then into the 60's in my teens when a lot of the worst ones became available. I think what we are overlooking is the fact, and it is only my opinion, is that what we got is what was expected of them. I really do not think we can make a judgement in 2002 for a kit that was made in 1955 or something like that. At that time we did not have the resource that we have today to determine if a kit was accurate. We had only two options: get the blue prints (if you could as some as many were still classified at that time) or photos from books which were reprinted over and over again. Maybe photos from the Navy - or "Our Navy" magazine, but you paid a lot for them. What I am getting at is we really had nothing to compare our models to as far as accuracy on the large scale that we have today. Yes, there were some experts in the field but heck I was just a kid and not an expert. I looked forward to Revell's next model with the plastic railings and flat bottoms - because I did not know any better. There is an old saying: if it looks like a duck and it quacks like a duck then it must be a duck. Same thing for me: if it looked like the USS HELENA and was shaped like the USS HELENA then it must be the USS HELENA. Model companies at that time were sort of on the honor system when it came to accuracy and I do not think anymore was demanded of them. I remember getting my hands on a some of the balsa models - preplastic - I think they were made by Revell or Monogram. Anyway talk about accuracy - gun barrels were usually a piece of wire or a pin stuck in the turrent. So my lowly opinion is they were great for what we expected from the companies and were a far cry from what was availabe before the advent of plastic models - Yes even the terrible Nautilus with the missle launcher. And I will tell you one more thing - they were a lot more fun to do - I did not have to worry about accuracy or color, where is my airbrush, which version of the ship do I want to build, are there any add ons and so on - I had a whole wall full of them, painted with a brush and was proud of each one Sometimes I think we make things too complicated in our lives!! Mike Donegan NAVYDAZE Naval & Aviation Artist -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: MMclau1079@aol.com Subject: Re: HMS Aurora Hi Graham, On page 171. of Alan Raven & John Roberts book "British Cruisers of World War Two, there is a starboard close-up photo of HMS Aurora dated 1941 that shows that most of the lower row of forecastle portholes were plated over. It appears to me that only 3 or 4 widely spread portholes remain not plated over on the lower row. One lines up below the front of A turret's barbette. Another lines up below the back of B turret's barbette. Lastly, one or two potholes seem to bracket just below where the boat boom attaches to the forecaslte. These last one or two lower row portholes line up below the front of the bridge. Regards, Miles -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: Re: 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. << Pelle This is just a guess, but perhaps it's a Mk-11 Twin Tartar/SM-1MR Launcher (same mount employed on the Albany cl CAGs). The first of the Adams class ships (DDG-2 thru 14) were equipped with this mount, while the later Adams cl ships (DDG-15 thru 24), along with the similar German and Austrailian ships, were equipped with the single arm Mk-13. Derek Wakefield Denton, TX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Hughes Family" Subject: Re: CF Adams Launcher Pelle, Parts A10, A11 & A12 are the Mk 11 twin launcher and Standard Missals (surface to air). This launcher was installed on the USN versions of the Charles F. Adams Class DDG 2 thru DDG 14. The single rail Mk 13 launcher was installed on DDG 15 thru DDG 24 and the RAN and German variants. The missiles would be "hung". Originally the launcher was for the Tarter surface to air system which was replaced by the Standard, my reference sources also state that the Mk 11 twin launcher is also capable of launching Harpoon anti-ship missals and between 4 to 6 of these would be normally carried. FYI the Mk 13 single rail is also harpoon capable. Externally the radars/illuminators for both types of launchers would be the same. If I am mistaken here I am sure others will correct me. Hope that helps. Jeff Hughes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "roy knight" Subject: Intro, USS Scorpion & USS Thresher Hello all; My name is Roy Knight and I just found the list and I wanted to drop a letter to let you know that if the first two letters that I have received are any indication of the information being passed on, I am going to be very busy building for a very long time. My main interest is nuclear submarines, but I also have a 1/429 Arizona I am working on. If anyone has a good web site pertaining to the USS SCORPION I would be very greatfull, as this is my primary project at the moment. I am also looking for a web site for information about the USS THRESER (later subs were renamed PERMIT CLASS as the THRESHER was origionaly the lead boat in the class)as that is also a future project. Please keep the information flowing. Thanks, Roy Hi Roy, Glad you're enjoying the list ;-) Check out the Sub Committee site (getting in before Tom does ;-) ) at: http://www.SubCommittee.com/ They will be able to help you out further. Regards, Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Edd Pflum Subject: Re: MiniMite Battery Pack (Was: Minimite motor) >> I'm not sure, but I think the Minimite battery is just a pack of 4 Ni-Cd regular cells. I don't know how to open that power pack to check, but since yours is dead, I guess it would be worth to cut it and open to look inside. :) Well, just an idea. << My MiniMite battery pack died, and I rebuilt it with cells from Radio Shack (though they may be cheaper at the R/C Planes Dept. of your LHS.) The cells are AA sized NiCads. The pack doesn't have to be cut, the top and bottom nest together and snap apart. Be careful while doing this to note the orientation of the cells. The cells are linked on the bottom to form two packs of two cells each. The switch connects the packs in parallel (slow speed) or series (high speed). A little wire and solder is needed to link the new cells (negative to positive, each pair). Insulate the bottom ends, pop the pack back together, clip it in the charger, and Bob's your uncle! Edd Pflum -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject: Re: Display cases Try BC Plastics. They do first rate job for me. Here's their web site: http://bc-plastic.com/ Rusty White 2003 IPMS/USA National Convention Chairman OKC IN 2003! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: pelle@nord.alfaromeo.org Subject: Re: Peculiar launcher Hi Don & Shane. Nah, the Ikara had a quite clumsy deltawinged carrier missile and as Shane said, it's not that. But how do you know that the thing goes in instead of the Standard launcher? Qualified guessing or knowledge? The CFA:s did have a twin arm launcher in the beginning, but that was the "regular" twin arm variant, the same as carried on the Leahy's etc. I've got good shots of CFA:s with twin arms and this is not such a thing. More suggestions, please. Best regards Pelle, SWE Hi Pelle, Ahh, would you believe qualified guessing after looking at the instruction sheet on my Dragon 1/700 HMAS Perth kit. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Friedrich Kappes Subject: "N" identification Sorry, but in the S-Boote volume of Gröner I found nothing similar to this, nothing in volume VII (army and air force craft) exept the FL.F 301 which was not completed but by the French after the war and looks a little similar. In Conway nothing, too. Friedrich The FriedrichFiles http://www.geocities.com/friedkappes/flagship.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: roberto paredes Subject: Orange Blossom Help, Somebody told me that Orange Blossom in Miami was closed, Is it true? Thanks in advance for your help. Roberto Paredes Sitio No Oficial del Ejército y Armada de Chile http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Cavern/3389/homeffaa.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: andy vu Subject: Display Cases The best display cases I've ever seen are done by Bob Lee in Houston, Texas. They are not cheap but very artistically done. To reach Bob Lee: Web site: www.acaseplace.com E-mail: boblee@ev1.net Tel.: (713) 688-7451 Andy Vu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Shaya Novak" Subject: Dunagain Decals Duane comes thru decals arrived today Thanks cheif. Shaya Novak Naval Base Hobbies The Store for The Model Ship Builder www.modelshipbuilding.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