Subject: SMML VOL 1493 Date: Thu, 24 Jan 2002 11:58:39 +1100 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Naval Base Hobbies 2: DD-933 USS Barry 3: Re: MiniMite Battery Pack (Was: Minimite motor) 4: USS Scorpion 5: Launchers 6: Orange Blossom 7: Submarine 8: Mirage Models Type IX Uboat 9: Orange Blossom Hobbies 10: Re: Cast 3D figures 11: Re: cast 1/350 figures 12: Re: 3D in 1/350 13: Re: Display Cases 14: museum info 15: Note of thanks 16: Nanuchka/Osa kits in larger scales 17: 1:350 BB Row 18: Re: Cast 3D figures -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Rod Dauteuil Subject: Naval Base Hobbies Good morning, I've only bought from NBH twice, but both times the service was fast and courteous. In fact I even called them on one order and spoke to Shaya, who was very helpful. However, I don't like the idea of any merchant charging the customer for an item when it is out of stock. I have no problem with a customer putting a deposit on an out-of-stock item, when it's on the customer's request. While perusing their web page earlier I noticed they are releasing a 1/125 scale Admirable class minesweeper. Is this an old Lindberg model? In the past I recall NBH had the Lindberg LST repackaged for their own line. I suppose I could email NBH as well, but had a few questions. What's the quality if this kit? Is is on par with the 1/125 Fletcher? Does it have potential? Thanks, Rod -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Friedrich Kappes Subject: DD-933 USS Barry When was Barry rebuilt? She received a FY64 funded ASW-refitt. When was this completed and Barry back in service? TIA Friedrich The FriedrichFiles http://www.geocities.com/friedkappes/flagship.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Eduardo Luis Marcovecchio" Subject: Re: MiniMite Battery Pack (Was: Minimite motor) >> 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! << Hello Edd, Thanks for the info! That will save some good money once my powerpack dies too. Another idea I have is to modify a dead powerpack to turn the Minimite into a conventional cord-powered tool. That shouldn't be hard: just to build a 2.4V + 2.4V power supply that could feed around 1A (or in the worst case two 2.4V power supplies inside the same box), and then solder the wires inside the empty powerpack. Then you could use your Minimite with a powerpack, or directly connected to a power outlet at your workbench. Thanks. Eduardo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Ed Grune Subject: USS Scorpion Hi Roy -- welcome aboard One of the finest photo reference sites I've found on the Scorpion is the US Naval Historical Center's Photographic Section. They have a large spread of photos, from builder's photos - through the last known photos of her alongside the USS Tallahatchie County - to photos of the wreckage on the sea floor. See the site at: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-s/ssn589.htm Ed Mansfield, TX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: pelle@nord.alfaromeo.org Subject: Launchers Aye, a mk 11 launcher it was. Thanks for putting me in the right direction. Shane, does that HMAS Perth of yours have the Ikara included or do you have to scratchbuild that? If included, which no:s are the parts? Hi Pelle, Ok, the Dragon kit is ex Skywave and they did at least two versions of the CFA, one of which includes an extra sprue attached to the main set for the Australian ships. It involves some minor surgery to the basic CFA kit. Although looking at the Ikara launcher, it looks to be a prime candidate for a resin upgrade part ;-) Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Ramses Martinez" Subject: Orange Blossom Roberto, It is sad but true, I went there on December and the place was boarded up. As a South Florida native this has become common place. I have seen most, if not all hobby shops in the area close down. At this point I think that there are maybe two big shops left in the Broward county area, Thank god for mail order and online stores. regards Ramses Martinez -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: corlasvan@webtv.net (Case Van Hoboken) Subject: Submarine Some time ago I approached this group of experts in regards of a kit for building a British WWII, T-Class sub. In spite of all the helpful responses, I have not been able to locate one. I have now been informed by a Mr. Chris Jackson, of "Traplet Products" (I believe that's the name), that an outfit called " Metcalf Mouldings" in the UK, sells a kit to build a.....T-Class sub. The kit, supposedly,includes besides a set of plans, a moulding of the hull. I am in the process of contacting the Traplet reps, here in California, to find out more about this kit. In the meantime, are any of you, builders, familiar with "Metcalf Mouldings"? What is usually the quality of their kits? I would like to know a little more, before (perhaps) ordering an unseen kit from overseas.....BTW, I am strictly a recreational, non-expert builder ! I would like to build me a model of the 2 subs, of this class, that I served in, way back. Any info would be appreciated! Case Van Hoboken -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Ed Grune Subject: Mirage Models Type IX Uboat In a local hobby shop I came across a Mirage Hobby 1:400 scale U-511 Type IXB Turm I + WG42 U-boat. This is the second Mirage U-Boat kit I've purchased -- and like the Type VII sold as the U-571 it features engraved deck planks, and flood holes. The model surface is a bit rough -- probably from when they sand blasted the die molds. I prefer the Mirage kit over the Heller, since the latter has raised flood holes and "grosser" details. Overall - I'm impressed with Mirage. I know that Tom Harrison has listed in his 2002 product catalog a 1:400 U-Boat fret. I've corresponded with Tom and he says that it will be designed to fit the Planet Models/Mirage Models Type II and the Heller Type VII. I'm hoping that one of the other etched manufacturers out there may jump in with some products that will fill the detail gap for the growing 1:400 Mirage Models sub line. The back of the box shows several Type VII variants, both with and without the extended Wintergarten, Type VIIs with flak stands ahead of - and behind the conning tower, and several other Type IX variants. My second question has to do with the WG42. It looks to be very similar to the German army's 28 cm rocket launcher - perhaps cased for water use. The box art shows a submerged rocket launch. I've not seen any reference to the naval use of this weapon. Is it truth or fiction? It can't have been too accurate! Any leads to a more interesting set of markings than gray over gray? Ed Mansfield, TX -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Subject: Orange Blossom Hobbies hello all.... Roberto Paredes wrote: >> Somebody told me that Orange Blossom in Miami was closed, Is it true? << Unfortunately, yes...it succumbed in late summer/early fall. The remaining supply of kits was bought by Pearl Art and Hobby (for a price so low it's sad) and divided between its Miami and Fort Lauderdale stores, where it's being sold at bargain-basement prices on discount tables out in front of the store. Ralph and I saw some of the remains at the Fort Lauderdale location when we were down there last month, and...well, it was sad. On a happier note, the legendary Pat Parnther (OB's world-famous plastics guy) seems to have landed on his feet...after helping Pearl sort through the inventory, at last word he's been hired by Atlantic Models (they of desktop aircraft model fame) to work in its new retail shop in Miami. jodie (who spent a ton of money at OB) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Devin J. Poore" Subject: Re: Cast 3D figures There is one definite source I have found. Preiser out of Germany does a set of 6 in plastic. They're merchant seaman, but a little paint of the blue and khaki variety nicely converts them to a USN appearance. The only problem with them is that there are only 6 in the set, and only one set. If you need multiples, you're going to be buying several sets and modifying some to get various poses. The other problem is the price, in the US I paid $13 for a set. Photos of the figures in use can be seen on my USS Farenholt model: http://users.rcn.com/devinj/models/farenholt.htm Another option I'm currently exploring are 6mm war gaming figures. There is a company called Heroics and Ros (I want to say they're based in England or Scotland) and they do 6mm white metal war gaming figures. I've ordered one set called Heavy Artillery, or something similar, and the figures don't look bad. You get a dozen or so for $4.00, so the price is much better. The figures are machine gunners standing (great for 20mm mounts), some guys carrying shell casings, some guys with binoculars, etc. I haven't really got into what they will look like when cleaned up and "modified" for naval use, but I will post my findings and some photos after I do. As far as I know, only Regal Miniatures in the US imports this line of figures: www.regalminiatures.com This is one of those things I can't understand why a resin manufacturer doesn't jump on. I know if someone offered 1/350th scale military naval figures in resin or white metal I'd buy a TON of them. The PE figures just don't do it for me... but maybe I just haven't figured a way to "fatten them up" properly as of yet. Devin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: SantMin@aol.com Subject: Re: cast 1/350 figures >> Need SMML help, does anyone know a source for cast 3D figures around 1/350 scale. I heard they might exist, source unknown << The only ones I know of are in a set of six workmen (easily made to look like sailors) from PREISER set #89350. Not inexpensive, I got mine from www.walthers.com Cheers, Bob Santos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Mike Leonard" Subject: Re: 3D in 1/350 Tom asked - >> 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. << Preiser makes a set -- six painted figures (I think). Expensive. Have had a set on backorder for well over a year now via Walther's web site. Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: Display Cases For UK based companies try www.theshowcasecompany.co.uk or Golden Silkwood of Leicester (phone 0116 271 4433) Regards Les Brown -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "paveljana@accesscomm.ca" Subject: museum info Dear SMMLíes, I would like to know if anyone could give me any pointers on maritime subjects / places of interest and museums in the San Fransisco, Los Angeles and San Diego areas. We will be travelling through those parts soon. Also could Jon Iverson contact me on this new e-mail please. I have lost all my e-mails, please don't ask how. Also anyone who would like to renew contact. Regards Pavel -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: JAGURNUT@aol.com Subject: Note of thanks I would like to thank the Webmasters and all who injoy and share information on this site. It is the first thing I read when I check my Email daily. I am not a model builder as most of you are. However, I am building a 1/96 model of the USS Samuel B. Roberts DE413 on which I served during WWII. I bought the wooden kit from BaD models and I am enjoying building it. I have refined the kit with more detailed accessories that I have ordered through The Floating Drydock. I also have drawings of the ship from them and this has allowed me to refine the model more. I am building mostly as reference for some paintings I want to do of the ship during the war. Again, thanks to all. Don Young -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: thorstenwahl@t-online.de (Wahl, Thorsten) Subject: Nanuchka/Osa kits in larger scales Hi Alec, Poseidon of Poland (?) did 1/144th scale kis of a Nanuchka and Osa III a few years ago - *very* nice kits. Only drawback to those was that you needed a certain p/e-set from Eduard which never came into existence (not here in Germany, anyway) :( Other than that, finely detailed kits w/ an astonishing finesse to their finish. Real winners. Best Thors At least we don´t name our ships for our mothers-in-law.´ USS Reuben James to HMS Battleaxe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: 1:350 BB Row Okay...I must profess curiosity here. ISW has listed as "planned" every battleship on battleship row at PH on 7 Dec 41 in 1:350 scale. The only thing I see missing is the Neosho, and knowing Jon that's probably on his "to do" list. This begs the question of who out there is making plans for the near-ultimate diorama? Not me...I have neither the room nor the bucks nor the time for a 1:350 BB Row (but rest assured if I did I'd do it). Just imagine the look on your dinner guest's face when they walked into the game room and saw THAT. Whoa nelly!! So, if there is anyone out there who's mad and rich enough to do this I have just one thing to say... I WANT PHOTOS!! Derek Wakefield -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: thorstenwahl@t-online.de (Wahl, Thorsten) Subject: Re: Cast 3D figures Hi Tom, Preiser of Germany does a set of very nice injected-plastic people in 1/350th... BUT! Better win the lottery before starting to look at them as they will set you back 9 bucks for six (!) people. Granted, they come pre-painted and are wonderfully detailed but even for a guy as sick as I am (admittedly, when it comes to this hobby) this is *way* outta line. Could you imagine how much 150 ppl for your avg. BB would set you back??? The shop owner I talked to tried talking to the Preiser rep. regarding possible sale of ´bulk quantities´- best unpainted but Preiser said that they get those already painted so this wouldn´t be possible... Other than that - what about the resin manufacturers? WEM, ISW, CW, Tom? Wouldn´t it be possible to get decent full-bodied folks on the market? HTH Thors ´At least we don´t name our ships for our mothers-in-law.´ USS Reuben James to HMS Battleaxe -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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