Subject: SMML VOL 1554 Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2002 12:34:47 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Chevy specs 2: Chinese Companies 3: Airbrushes Revisited 4: Re: HP Valiant 5: Modelist Constructor on Tupe 7U Destroyers 6: A British Wreck Could Hold Treasure 7: H-P kits 8: USN Slang 1941, Parts L - M -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Warship Pictorial prices reduced again 2: Correction On MSJ Reprints In #1553 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Steve Sliwka" Subject: Chevy specs For the person regarding Trumpeter kits: I'm a mechanic by day...what do you need to know about the Nova, Monte and Bonnie? If it's for a model, sorry, can't help much, but if you need to fix one of these fine automobiles, please let me know. I highly doubt that is the case, though, as they're GM products. If they were Ford crap.... Hey, I've yet to see a Ford diesel in a ship, but tonnes of GM 600-series in ships in my area. I'm open to discussion, so if anyone cares to comment on Fix Or Repair Daily autos, let's go. Steve -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "D.Przezdziecki" Subject: Chinese Companies Just what is your problem with Chinese Steve???? Some time ago you (along with few others) have been very vocal in calling for a ban on their "Arizona" insisting that it was an outright copy of Revel's kit and so a breach of copyrights. In your more recent posts you have accused Chinesenot of stealing US technology only to add in parentheses that Clinton actually did have give it to them. So what was it exactly -theft or trade??? In another post you (ironically) state that: "I for one completly trust Communist Chinese, especially with my aircraft!". Let me remind you (in case you have forgotten) that Communist Chinese Ambassy personell in former Jugoslavia have no particular reason to trust US Air Forces and Iranian Airlines pilots have every right to distrust US Navy. Let him who is without a sin cast the first stone.... Admitedly the early Chinese injection kit making efforts were shady and not in keeping with good trade practices but since than they have improved greatly and their latest efforts (Sovremiennyj) are something that they can be justly proud about. While US and European's injection kit companies seems to be preoccupied mostly with re-releasing their old kits over and over again and fate of ICM is still uncertain, Chinese seems to be the only ones prepared to produce new and exciting subjects. So instead of getting obsesive or xenophobic about it shouldn't we rather applaud their efforts and wish them well on their way??? Regards D.P -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "John E. Fail" Subject: Airbrushes Revisited Again my thanks to all who responded to my earlier inquiry about air brushes and what to buy etc. I have had my Aztek 470 and compressor for about a week now and doing pretty well with it although I still need a lot more experience. My question(s) now revolve around the type of paint to use. Being a former Coastie of 20 years I became very tied to using enamel paint since that is all we used to paint those white ships. In view of this experience my mindset became "locked" to enamels for building models. I have become concerned with the disposal of enamels and the enviroment and that also leads me to want to start using acrylics. I have never used acrylic paints and know nothing about them but the obvious incentive to use them is the easy clean up of the airbrush and bottles/cups. Apparently they dry a lot quicker than enamel paints. Enamels of course are a major pain in the butt to clean up. I could order a bunch of spare siphon bottles or paint cups to be used with specific colors to overcome the problem but then I have bottles/cups laying all over the place. Do acrylics require a primer to be applied to the plastic or resin surface before applying a acrylic color coat such as white or black? If so which primer should I use? I don't seem to find any acrylic primer in my catalogs. Possibly I should use regular old Krylon sandable primer in spray cans? Do acrylics adhere to the surface as well as enamel? If I put on a white hull surface using acrylics and then tape over it to add a waterline or a underwater hull color will the tape pull off or mess up the white paint when I remove the tape? I have used the blue plastic tape available from Micro-Mark for many years with great results when using enamels. Since it appears that all acrylics are flat, how does one get at least a semi-gloss surface after applying the color coat. A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter would look weird in flat white. I ordered some Model Shipways acrylic paints from Model Expo to experiment with but they seem awfully thick. To what consistency should I thin this paint? Will thinning affect the color when diluted? Are there acrylic paints that are ready-to-go in an airbrush as supplied with no thinning required? I have used Testors enamels in the 1/2 ounce bottles for years (brushing on). How much do these need to be thinned for air brush use? From the very, very limited information that is included with the 470 airbrush it is suggested that it be thinned to the consistency of milk which seems to me to be a bit thin but my inexperience may be showing here. Which manufacturer seems to be the best for Acrylics; Tamiya, Model Masters, Model Shipways? I am still waiting for my March issue of Fine Scale Modeler to show up which might answer many of my questions. Any and all input would be very much appreciated. My thanks to Shane and Lorna for maintaining this system, what would we do without it? Living here in the remote mountains of Southwest Colorado with no other modelers around for advice I would be stumbling around throwing money at the situation and making mistake after mistake. SMML is truly an incredible resource. John E. Fail QMC U.S. Coast Guard (Retired) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Re: HP Valiant Hi, According to the Pacific Front update, the HP Valiant is a 1943 version. I just got the HP Queen Elizabeth, which is supposed to be a 1943 or 1944 version; it's definitely post-reconstruction. Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Modelist Constructor on Tupe 7U Destroyers Hi, Does anyone know where I can find the Modelist Constructor book on the Russian Type 7U destroyers of WWII? No, I checked and Pacific Front has sold out of them. Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: JRKutina@webtv.net (John Kutina) Subject: A British Wreck Could Hold Treasure http://www.nytimes.com/2002/02/24/science/24SHIP.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: H-P kits Just saw the SMML post about the Pacfic front specials whats the standard like for the HP kits , especially the WW2 german boats Are they resin etc? regards Andrew Oz PS: oops nearly forgot they are 1/700 scale I guess they would be I just coulnt find the HP link, I might has missed as I got bosses walking round my desk. so just sorta skimmed thru the page -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: John Snyder Subject: USN Slang 1941, Parts L - M "Landlubber: anyone who sleeps in a bed." [as opposed to sleeping in a hammock, like a sailor] "Late blast: last call." "Limey: a British sailor." [Did I really have to add that one?] "Liquid lightning: Okulehau, pronounced o koo'ly how. Sugar cane and rice beverage made in Hawaii. Three drinks make you wicky wacky better than a native." "Lucky bag: store room for stray and miscellaneous articles." "the Luff: Lieutenant Junior Grade." "Mail buoy: Navy humor. Raw recruits write letters all night to be posted in the non-existent Mail buoy." [In the 1960s Navy, new recruits were stationed on the Mail Buoy Watch to try to find the elusive buoy.] "Man an oar: grab an oar. Man a broom, man a brush, same thing. Just plain work." "Man overboard: means a sailor took an involuntary bath in the ocean." "Man o' war's man: $2.00 word for a gob." "called to the Mast: this is the same thing as on report. It means a serious talk with the Captain about shortcomings--and I don't mean the Captain's. "Meal pennant: pennant flown to indicate that the crew is busy with the knives and forks and no other work is being done." "Meat ball: pennant flown to indicate excellence in some field, often athletics." "Military wedding: nuptials where the male parent wears firearms." "Misery hall: emergency dressing station." "got the Mokers: the blues; depressed." "Monkey drill: calesthenics." "Muck up: clean up." "Mud hook: the anchor." "Musical Marine: member of the band." Best, John Snyder White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Keith Butterley Subject: Warship Pictorial prices reduced again Hi all, OK you guys win, the prices have been reduced yet again on the remaining stocks of books from Classic Warships. PLEASE NOTE: We shall be closed during the month of March. Regards Keith Butterley http://www.warshipbooks.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: Correction On MSJ Reprints In #1553 OOPS! I have a typo in the MSJ re-print information posted in SMML #1553. It's the Spring 2001 issue that had the missing links to photos. The bigger and better Spring 2002 issue is just fine and almost ready for the printer. (It wouldn't be available as re-print material until the last issue is sold, anyway.) Sorry for any inconvenience! And happy modeling, Victor Baca Editor & Publisher MODEL SHIP JOURNAL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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