Subject: SMML VOL 1584 Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 01:09:21 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: New book from Classic Warships 2: Model reviews in magazines (Money) 3: Books 4: Tamiya 1/350 Yamato deck 5: Re: New Books 6: Re: That lousy Model Ship Journal 7: Saving to another format 8: Re: new books 9: Kingfisher 10: Quality of kit reviews 11: New Book from Classic Warships 12: Re: new books 13: WW2 Schnellboot Discovered in UK 14: Re: New book from Classic Warships 15: Re: New book from Classic Warships 16: Re: New book from Classic Warships 17: Re: New book from Classic Warships 18: Re: New book from Classic Warships 19: Re: New book from Classic Warships 20: Ogoniok Cruiser Aurora and Battleship Potyomkin 21: Re: CW book suggestions 22: The Royal Navy at Malta 1900 - 1999 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "bob and teresa" Subject: Re: New book from Classic Warships Mr. Wiper is looking for our suggestions for his new series.Well here's mine,the Colossus class CV's.Members of this class have sailed under at least 7 flags,and saw service in the very last days of WW 2, Korea, Suez, Vietnam, and the Falklands. I feel like there would be a warm welcome for this volume. Also how about Buckley class DE's; Tribal class DD's; and the Leander class frigates? Thanks, Robert McClain Ironton,Ohio -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: aandmblevins@att.net Subject: Model reviews in magazines (Money) I have been intrigued by the comments concerning writing for magazines and getting paid, or not, for the effort. I have done both, and IMHO getting paid is better. That said, I have had a couple of modeling hints published and a few answers to "The Photograph" section of the Nautical Research Journal and I took great pleasure in seeing my meager comments published in a prestigious journal. As far as one comment made concerning the review of, or an article about building, a model that indicated all of them are slanted toward a good result because of the fear of losing a vendor's advertising I take issue with that statement. One of the articles I wrote for the former Model Ship Builder concerned a model with which I had problems with quality and accuracy. I spoke about my concerns with the publisher and was assured to write it as it was, that the magazine's experience was that, good review or bad, the manufacturer sold more models after an article was printed. Al Blevins -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: Books Steve... USS California (BB-44) Nuff said Derek Wakefield -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Aragiannis Evangelos" Subject: Tamiya 1/350 Yamato deck Hello everyone. Anyone who has opened a Tamiya 1/350 Yamato box has been amazed by a truly excelent model but also dissapointed by Tamiya's shortsightedness motorizing the kit. First, who would work countless hours building and detailing a fine model and then just jolt it in the pool? Second, this configuration calls for a two piece deck, and this is the true disadvantage. I am currently confronted by this task of joining the two deck parts together. I do own some reference , a book by Mike Ashey, that gives some basic advice, but I think I could use some extra tips. So, if someone has something to add , I would be very glad to listen. Many thanks in advance, Evangelos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Re: New Books >> I would like to see one done on the battleship U.S.S. Oregon (BB-3) (or maybe one on the Indiana class), one on the U.S.S. Maine (Second-class battleship/ former ACR-1), one on the old armored cruisers of the New York, Brooklyn, Pennsylvania and Tennessee classes. Another one I think would be a good seller would be one on the protected cruiser U.S.S. Olympia (C-6). Since it is a museum ship, the book would have an automatic audience for those who tour the ship at the museum store at the Independence Seaport Museum at Penns Landing in Philadelpia where the Olympa is moored. << Hear Hear Hear, I'll second that and what's more I'll buy one of each!!!!!! Regards, Bradford Chaucer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "melee" Subject: Re: That lousy Model Ship Journal SMMLers I sent a letter to Victor, in support of his defense. He sent a letter back, thanking me for my support. I decided to write publically against John. Most here know I think silent support is good, but it is much better to be outwardly supportive. Many people on this mailing are quite vicious in their attacks. They don't even pretend to try to discuss things in a calm, mature manner, so those who support the victim are afraid to show support, in fear that the attack will turn to them. Would any one of us do anything less than Victor? Something he puts a lot of work into is being attacked. I would defend my good name or my product, vigorously, the first time anyone attacked it, for if you don't defend, people today, assume that the attacker is correct, solely because he is louder than the defense. Keep up the honest work, Victor. Lee Shackelford PS: I have no affiliation with Victor. I do not even build models anymore, but collect 1:1250 scale ships made by Neptun....from a company in Germany. I like to receive this posting, just tired of reading attacks in this posting instead of mature discussion. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "john fiebke" Subject: Saving to another format >> I just wanted to echo Rusty's comments on "keeping digital files around". I too have documents and scanned photos from my first computer back in 1994. If you keep on top of it you won't have any problems. << And though it seems to be a fading format, even at age 28, I find that even if I don't save what is discussed here to disk, or cd, or dvd, I save it to memory. My only proof is that my modelling skills have at least doubled since reading SMML...and I started building at age 5. I rarely save any of the info here, but I remember it when I sit down with my tweezers and photo-etch. And as an aside,thanks to all those who responded to my query regarding a 1/700 San Francisco. Looks like the Waveline kit will be my choice. I think I even have a GMM Cruiser set sitting around waiting for it. john f. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: arthur w rohloff Subject: Re: new books Probably wouldn't be alot of interest out there, except for us "tin can" lovers, but a book on the Farragut class Destroyers would be very nice. Art Rohloff Winfield, IL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Burl Burlingame Subject: Kingfisher Wondering about the old Monogram 1/48 Kingfisher kit ... what's the consensus on its accuracy? I seem to remember some sort of problem with the main float. What needs to be done to make the kit more accurate? BB -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Kerry L. Jang" Subject: Quality of kit reviews John wrote about Victor Baca's magazine: >> I just find it hard to believe that just about every review I ever read in your pub had nothing but glowing comments about the items reviewed... << Victor, in an earlier post, you noted that rotten model kits you have received for review went into the "circular file" or something along those lines (correct me if I am wrong) that impled that poor kits went into the garbage bin and never got reviewed. I was wondering, if this is true, why don't you provide reveiws of poor kits and say so? This query is not just asked of you, but anyone who writes. Several years ago, I believe it was an ongoing debate in "Scale Models" out of the UK where the whole issue of truthfulness of reviews came to the fore. In short, the comment was that if a magazine was to give a poor review, that magazine was never to receive a free review sample ever again. I recall the editor stood his ground and vowed to call a spade a spade. In short, I think it is very important that all kits or whatever receive a fair review. Its important to steer people to the good stuff as well as away from the bad! Even the very best kits have flaws and the very poor have some virtues. I think reviews should be descriptive or formative, not evaluative. Let the buyer decide for him/herself as to if the kit is worth his or her hard earned cash. My criteria will be different from someone elses! You just have to read the comments on this board. Some will love a kit, warts and all simply because it gives them a head start on a subject they love (e.g., the Banner Arizona). Others will hate a kit if it isn't perfect in any way (it has one air bubble in the resin!). Others will hate a kit for some other peculiar reason that has nothing to do with the kit itself, like because it comes from a manufacturer in a country that the model builder is not happy with because of current (real or imagined) geopolitical conflicts! Kerry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Kelvin Mok Subject: New Book from Classic Warships Steve, One on every type and size of landing craft. There had been lots of enquiries and discussions on SMML in the past on this subject. Will be nice to have it in a single authoritative source. And plenty of plan drawings please. Another one on Liberty Ships. Kelvin Mok -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: SolidStump@aol.com Subject: Re: new books >> Like the "Anatomy" series, I plan on having extensive drawings << See if you can get the drawings to be published in true scale! As we all know some of those anatomy drawings saw 1:200 or whatever and are not. Most of their drawings don't have dimensions so you cannot even guess the true scale. Best Wishes Simon Scheuer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: JKrakow@aol.com Subject: WW2 Schnellboot Discovered in UK The hull of Schnellboot S-97 has been found, and a recovery effort is underway. I just added an illustrated feature about this to the Schnellboot article on: www.PrinzEugen.com Cheers Dave -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Graham Preston Subject: Re: New book from Classic Warships From Chris Preston, Hi Everyone. Steve Wiper asked for a show of hands from anyone interested in an AOTS style hardcover book on the USS ARIZONA - YES PLEASE!!, and the same for anything else you may be thinking of for Battleship Row. I'm slowly working on an R.C. model of her in 1/96th scale and desperately need some AOTS type of reference material. Chris Preston, Victoria, B.C. Canada -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: New book from Classic Warships >> Perhaps a good comprehensive book on minesweepers or PTs or landing craft would do quite well while another book on the Bismark or Later US Battleships would be one more member of the crowd. << You will have to trust me on the minesweeper subject. I would not touch that one with a ten foot pole unless someone ordered 1000 copies up front. Yes, the Bismarck has been covered, but in my opinion, not well enough. I know I could do a much better job. The only book that comes close to an "Anatomy" style publication on the later US fast battleships is the Missouri Plan Book form the Floating Drydock. That still leaves the North Carolina's and the South Dakota's. >> BTW if you duplicate subjects between the two series won't you impact the sales? How many people will buy both versions? << That is actually two different markets, with a little crossover. Thanks for the comments, Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: New book from Classic Warships >> How about Essex-Class Carriers, maybe a book on British Carriers of WW2. << Those have been done by Alan Raven (Essex) and Ross Watton (Victorious). Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: New book from Classic Warships >> I think the idea of an "Anatomy of the Ship Series" in a hardbound book is a great idea. My suggestions would be: 1. USS Enterprise CV-6 2. USS North Carolina 3. USS Texas 4. Essex Class Carriers 5. USS Quincy Two of the above (Texas, North Carolina) could be sold at their respective visitors centers since they are memorials. The other three are marketable due to their popularity and/or have multiple sister ships. On another note, as much as I have enjoyed your Warship Pictorials, I hope that this does not signal an end or a slowdown to your model kit production. I have a lot of resources for books and plans but the resin kit producers have dwindled. I am betting the books are a lot less hassle with much more distribution potential. I have built many of your 1/350 ships and have quite a few in boxes ready to be built. I hope to have some new releases to add to my pile. << Wayne, I still owe you for the April Fool's joke!!! You are right on track as far I think for a sound business program. These are all great subjects and are high on the list. I am in the process of trying to get my casting shop built. My financing has been approved and I have started to draft up the drawings for the structure. I hope to start casting again by this summer. I have a lot of cool kit ideas, so hopefully will return to the kit business with a vengeance. My publishing business have taken off so well that I have little time for anything. Thanks, Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "Ken Goldman" Subject: Re: New book from Classic Warships I'd like to echo one of Bradford Chaucer's recommendations, a book on landing craft. Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER unique wood sculpture and fine scale models www.walruscarpenter.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: New book from Classic Warships Kevin, I too like any of the USN pre-Dreadnought era ships, but W.W.II is king. Have faith. If the hard bound series takes off, I will sneak in one of those topics. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: Dan Owsen Subject: Ogoniok Cruiser Aurora and Battleship Potyomkin Hello, has anyone built these kits, and if so, any suggestions for assembly / detailing / painting and recommended research materials? Thanks! D. Owsen -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: "Mike C" Subject: Re: CW book suggestions I like the idea of a good reference on the Arizona and I'm looking forward to the CV-6 book. I'd like to see an AOTS type book on the Sumner/Gearing class eventually. The Floating Drydock was going to do a plan book like their Fletcher book, but it still hasn't materialized after many years of waiting. Maybe there are too many variations of this class for one book... Mike C BTW, Thanks to John at WEM for the plug on my 20mm gun sets. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "sell4853" Subject: The Royal Navy at Malta 1900 - 1999 Hi SMMLers Bearing in mind the recent correspondence has been relating to books I thought that some readers may be interested in the following.......... "A Century of the Royal Navy at Malta" (DDC:359.00941) by Joseph Bonnici and Michael Cassar first published by Book Distributors Ltd and printed by Gutenburg press, Gudja, Malta. (gutenbrg@digigate.net ) Priced at £9.99 (GBP)and containing 320 pages of A4 size this is a good value high quality book containing large number of photographs taken in and around Malta during the last century and relate to many facets of the Royal Navy's association with Malta. It features many historical facts with photos and references to navy establishments, shore bases, navy schools and the social connections between the Royal Navy and the civilian population. More important it contains individual photographs and brief details of over 750 individual ships of the Royal Navy taken when they visited Malta since 1900 up to 15th May 1999. These photographs have been taken in the same manner as those taken by the Wright & Logan naval photographers that were base at Portsmouth UK. I found this item in the book section of a gift shop in the centre of Mdina walled City last year. I have no connection with the book or publishers and am not gaining any benefit regarding this information but thought that the photos may be of benefit to any fellow modellers etcetc etc Norman SELLS from Kent in the Spring -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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