Subject: SMML VOL 1548 Date: Thu, 21 Feb 2002 12:02:37 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: What color were they 2: HMT Rhona 3: Re: US CVN's under construction 4: Re: Fehgrau (RAL 7000) 5: Thank You WEM 6: Re: Chinese KGV & POW kits 7: Re: Flight Deck Fires 8: Re: Tamiya 1/72 PT-15 JMSDF boat 9: Re: Kits For Free 10: USS Ronald Reagon/Newport News 11: seems U-505 is in trouble 12: Re: Arizona aircraft -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Susan Cowardin" Subject: What color were they I am in the midst of finishing Banner's Arizona (What a bear!) as well and even bought really nice Kingfishers to place on some gorgeous photo etched catapults, only to learn she had no aircraft onboard at the time of the attack. Sorry, Steve Cowardin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Frederick Wagner Subject: HMT Rhona I would suspect the government handled the casualty reporting just as they did after the Slapton Sands disaster prior to D Day in Normandy. They lumped the casualties in with the subsequent campaign, to avoid embarrassment and demoralization. It's the only way to fight a war. Fritz Wagner -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Rod Dauteuil Subject: Re: US CVN's under construction >> CVN-76 is still at Newport News and is, of course, USS Ronald Reagan. CVN77 has begun construction and is still unnamed at this time. I am rooting for a traditional carrier name like Lexington or something, but expect it to have a political name such as Geo. H. Bush, LBJ, or even Woodrow Wilson. If it is a president name, I'd vote for Thomas Jefferson. << Oh, I thought there were two more, in addition to the Reagan. Thanks, Rod -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: URUDOFSKY@aol.com Subject: Re: Fehgrau (RAL 7000) An RAL color chart site is shown at: http://www.kern-gmbh.de/index_ral.html?http://www.kern-gmbh.de/kunststoff/service/lackierung/ral.htm Colors are listed in German/English/French. As if you really wanted to know, RAL is an abbreviation like FS. It is gratefully abbreviated and stands for Reichsausschuss für Lieferungsbedingungen - Reich-Board for Supply Regulations. Ulrich Rudofsky -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Felix Bustelo Subject: Thank You WEM Hi Everybody, On behalf of all of the 1/600 scale fans out here in SMML Land I wish to thank the fine folks at WEM (Caroline, Dave, John, Jackie and Peter) for taking a chance by providing first rate photoetch, resin upgrades and now a complete resin kit in that still popular but overlooked scale. I guess all of my nagging paid off some dividends! I hope it the Exeter will be a success. Cheers! Felix Bustelo International Maritime Modeling URL: http://members.tripod.com/~Febus65/imm.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: Chinese KGV & POW kits >> This could be asked before, but I just saw in the local hobby shop some 1/350 kits of the KGV and the POW (also a Bismarck, I believe) by a company called New mini Models or something like that (had only ten minutes to look around before the next train and I was just looking for some paint). The kits seem to be Chinese in origin and as they were on the same stack as the Sovremenny by Trumpeter I assume them to be from the same source.... Question is, what is the quality of these kits? Are they plain copies of the Tamiya kits? As they are about 1/3 cheaper than the Tamiya-ones they could be nice alternatives. << Having heard from a reliable source who often travels to the Orient on business, these kits are really bad copies of the Tamiya kits and are complete garbage. What a surprise! The Chinese copying! I am shocked! Buying this garbage only supports these thieves. While the original designed kits like Sovremenny are good, the copies are all bad. The kits sold under the Banner, Trumpeter and Mini Hobby labels are all from the same company. That's hard to believe! If you see a kit from a Chinese company that has been available from someone else for a while then you can rest assured it is a bad copy. Dont be a cheap skate and think you are getting better deal 'cause the price is lower, you are only getting ripped off. If you want a good kit of the Bismarck or KG5, buy the Tamiya kits. The Academy kits are not that good and the Chinese kits are Junk, pardon the pun. Always remember, "A fool and his money are soon parted". Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: Flight Deck Fires >> Great story Jim, When I got aboard the Shitty Kitty, all I heard about was the big fire that happened in 67 or 68. Took something like 36 hours to put it out and I believe it was a flare locker like one of the other carriers had. << Nope, the flare locker fire was ORISKANY. FORRESTAL's (and ENTERPRISE's in 1969) were cook-offs of Zuni pods in the flight deck spot aft, 'mongst all those fueled/armed aircraft. ENTERPRISE, fortunately, was already at General Quarters as part of the Operational Readiness Inspection she was undergoing, so had a quicker reaction time than FORRESTAL. She was still a nasty sight as we joined up on her and escorted her back to Pearl that day. John Snyder USS BAINBRIDGE (DLGN-25), 1966-70 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: Tamiya 1/72 PT-15 JMSDF boat According to Conways All the World's Fighting Ships 1947-1995: "TYPE 11 fast patrol craft. Displacement: 110t standard; 125t full load. Dimensions: 116ft 6in pp x 30ft 3in x 3ft 11in max (25.5m x 9.2m x 1.2m) Machinery: 3-shaft CODAG: 2 Mitsubishi diesels plus 2 IHI gas turbines, 11,000shp = 40kts. Armament: 2 - 40mm (2 x 1), 4 - 21in TT (4 x 1). Sensors: Radar OPS-13. Complement: 28 Class (no, laid down, commissioned): PT 11 (811, 17.3.70, 27.3.71), PT 12 (812, 22.4.71, 28.3.72), PT 13 (813, 28.3.72, 16.12.72), PT 14 (814, 23.3.73, 15.2.74), PT 15 (815, 23.4.74, 10.7.75). All were built by Mitsubishi, Shimonoseki and were deleted 1990-94" Best, John Snyder White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Ken Goldman" Subject: Re: Kits For Free Goody, goody! Model Ship Journal already is a prize. Now we have Denvonshire cream on top of that. Thanks Victor. Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER unique wood sculpture and fine scale models www.walruscarpenter.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "john fiebke" Subject: USS Ronald Reagon/Newport News Regarding the Reagan Being a former resident of Virginia, I've been to Newport News Ship Building many times. A friend of mine's uncle gave us an insiders tour, and I've seen the Reagan in various stages of construction. I'd imagine that she's almost done, as I first saw her in pieces in the drydock in '95 or '96. One of the most interesting things I found out was that the Island (for the Truman, at least) was more or less structurally intact before they lift it as a whole and fit it onto the flight deck. There was a fascinating picture on the front of the paper of the Truman's island sitting beside the hull, ready to be lifted. Interesting dirorama possibility. If you wonder how they do this, you should see the size of the gantry crane. At the time I was there I believe it was the largest in the world. I'm not sure if they give civilian tours, but its a fascinating place and the birthplace of many of the ships we talk about here. On one of my visits I was told that the ship after Reagan would be of a slightly modified Nimitz design. This was a while ago, before it had even been laid down. Does anyone know if this is still the case? j fiebke -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: seems U-505 is in trouble I what a quick look @ the new edition of the Wolrd war 2 magazine, so when I buy I'll give you a quick run down , but it seems there is an article in it this month that the U-boat in chicago is in serious money or repairs trouble.. saw something about that the number of visitors are starting to take its toll on the sub & they are needing donations or major support , as I said I didn't read the full story so when I do get the mag & I'll give you the full info. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Chris Preston Subject: Re: Arizona aircraft There was a query regarding the colour of aircraft carried by the USS ARIZONA, in late 1941. Her aircraft were painted "Non-specular Blue-Gray" (flat, FS 35189) on the upper surfaces, and "Non-specular Light Gray" (flat, FS 6440) underneath. This colour scheme was carried by USN Aircraft from October, 1941, through to February 1943. National insignia consisted of white stars centered on an Insignia Blue roundel, with a red dot carried in the center of each star. The stars were carried in four positions only, at this time: the upper port and lower starboard wings, and both sides of the fuselage, between the end of the observer's canopy, and the horizontal stabilizers. No Red/White rudder stripes were worn at this time. (They were worn form January to May 1942, with oversized national insignia in six positions.) The aircraft carried by the ARIZONA were coded "1-0-1, 1-0-2, and 1-0-3", in black numbers and letters, for Observation Squadron VO-1. This coding was carried on both sides of the fuselage, just forward of the fuselage national insignia, and was one foot, in actual height. The wing insignia were 39" in diameter, and the fuselage insignia were 24" in diameter. Hope this helps. Happy Modelling. Chris Preston, Victoria, B.C. Canada -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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