Subject: SMML VOL 1612 Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 12:31:06 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Mystery picture 2: JKN Class 3: Scale rulers 4: Re: Graf Zeppelin/Russian Aircraft carriers 5: Peter van Buren's HMS Fearless 6: PT Models and Sacle Rulers 7: Re: 1/700 RN WW2 Destroyers 8: Re: PT / Naval .50 cal MG's 9: Re: PT / Naval .50 cal MG's 10: Re: Detail sets 11: Re: Scale Ruler 12: Re: Graf Zeppelins 13: Scale 50's on PT's -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Model Ship Journal Update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Mike Potter Subject: Re: Mystery picture >> does anybody know, what is the name of the ship in the centre of this image http://www.marinai.it/ospiti/volpe/foto/32.htm? << She appears to be Chile's CHACABUCO, an Armstrong cruiser of 1898. The funnel caps, ram bow, two levels of bridge wings, and a gun mount on the main deck athwart the fore funnel all match. Best regards, Mike Potter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Chris & Lulu Langtree" Subject: JKN Class Hi Ian The WEM Kelly has the elongated aft deck house fitted to only the leaders (Jervis, Kelly and Napier) so strictly speaking you want the WEM Kashmir kit for any of the other destroyers. The publisher's Chatham have told me that the book should have reached the distribution centre and will be in the bookshops shortly. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Chris Drage" Subject: Scale rulers Hi All, That's a big YES, PLEASE from me too for 1/700 and 1/350 scale rulers. My Murphey's is getting a bit worn! Regards Chris He tao rakau e taea te karo kupu kaore e taea te karo (Te reo Maori) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Volker Haeusler Subject: Re: Graf Zeppelin/Russian Aircraft carriers I think there was some confusion about the "Graf Zeppelin" and itīs potential sistership "B" in the last volumes. There are a number of good publications on the GZ by now, mainly U. H.-J. Israel: Einziger deutscher Flugzeugtraeger Graf Zeppelin, Koehler Verlagsgesellschaft Herford, ISBN 3-7822-0786-6 and Siegfried Breyer: "Flugzeugtraeger Graf Zeppelin", Marine Arsenal Special Bd. 1, ISBN3-7909-0334-5 (the second one also available in an English version from Schiffer, IIRC) So: The Graf Zeppelin was scuttled on April 25, 1945 in Stettin. Raised by the Russians (date not clear, but most probably only March 1947). renamed PB 10, used as a barracks ship and for evaluation purposes (this was one period where the Russians actively considered building carriers). Finally sunk June 18, 1947, by russian PT boats and the destroyer Grozyashtchiy. There have been many different stories, like the ship being overloaded and capsizing, the ship running onto a mine during the transfer to Russia etc, but the "most recent" findings have it that she was sunk as she was just simply beyond repair. The few photos showing GZ after the raising show her in a very sad state indeed. The carrier "B" was neither launched nor named. The name "Peter Strasser" (for the FdL/commander of the airships in WW I) is speculation only. While the name might have been proposed, there are suggestions that in Nazi Germany the name "Strasser" would not have been used (there were 2 Strasser brothers - not related to Peter Strasser - who were rivals to Hitler in the Nazi Party, and he got one of those murdered in 1935). The Russians indeed asked for the supply of a "GZ" class carrier in 1939 (as they did for a Bismark class battleship), but beside a sightseeing tour on the GZ on Sept. 1, 1939 (!) by a Russian delegation, that is about it. Construction of carrier "B" only started in September 1938 - far behind schedule -, and the ship was still in a very early state of construction (as can be proven by existing photos) when the decision to scrap it was taken on February 29, 1940. However, the Russians acquired another "would be" German carrier after WW II. rebuilding of the unfinished (modified) Hipper class cruiser "Seydlitz" into an aircraft carrier had indeed started in 1942, but got little further than actually scrapping the existing part of the superstructure. Like GZ, the Seydlitz was scuttled at the end of WW II, raised by the Russians thereafter and scrapped. There was little they could learn about that ship, I guess, as they had received the sistership "Luetzow" in 1940. Volker -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Baumbach, Werner" Subject: Peter van Buren's HMS Fearless Hello folks, I just saw Peter van Buren's HMS Fearless on the warships site. What a beauty. I am building one myself at the moment and now feel that I should go back to the drawing board (= research and looking for additional pictures). Peter, are you on this list? There are quite a few modifications to the Airfix kit that I would be very interested to chat about. Maybe you can contact me off list (or on list, if others are interested as well). For the rest of this list, if you have not seen the model, risk a look. It is an awesome piece of work. Happy modelling Werner -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: PT Models and Sacle Rulers I saw a recent posting talking about 1/35 scale PT boat hulls. If you want fiberglass, try Microglass (www.microglass.net). Their catalog lists a 77' Elco, 78' Higgins and an 80' Elco, all in 1/32 scale. They also have a molding of the 80 foot Elco in 1/48 for the guys working in "traditional" scales. In addition to these, Karl Kalb also lists several small combatant types such as SCs and a 62' Italian ASW/Torpedo boat. All the hulls include plans and the units I've purchased from Microglass exhibit a very high level of skill in the hand-laying of the resin and 'glass. I have no connection with or interest in Microglass, but am a long-time and very satisfied customer. Now about those downloadable rulers from Steve Wiper---You Rule Man!!! Excellent idea. Victor Baca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Gordon Scott Subject: Re: 1/700 RN WW2 Destroyers I too am building 1/700 RN Destroyers and have completed about 10 so far. I would agree with Shane that a WEM J/K class is a good point to start as they can be built straight from the box. The only limitation is your eyesight & how steady your hands are! Other options are the B-Resina Hunt class which are very simple but clean models that just need some WEM railings and 20mm guns. Finally, I have the Samek Eskimo on order which should be good if it lives up to their reputation, has anyone else seen a copy? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: ALROSS2@aol.com Subject: Re: PT / Naval .50 cal MG's >> Good point, one I hadn't considered. Anyone know off the top of their head what the differences might have been? I know the fifties on some PT's had tubular muzzle brakes, such as were seen in some aerial applications. Any other differences? << PTs used the standard aircraft M2 which had the perforated barrel heat extractor running the full length of the barrel. The standard US Army unit is the M2HB on which the heat extractor extends only a few inches. Al Ross -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: AAA Hobby Subject: Re: PT / Naval .50 cal MG's >> Good point, one I hadn't considered. Anyone know off the top of their head what the differences might have been? I know the fifties on some PT's had tubular muzzle brakes, such as were seen in some aerial applications. Any other differences? << They were flash detectors, a muzzle brake would be of little use in a gun of such small recoil power. The standard US Army M2 .50cal. machine gun of WW2 fame is still used, largely unchanged since the 1940s, as a standard anti-personnel weapon aboard many US and foreign ships, tracks and trucks. The primary upgrade to the M2 has been in the form of the bullet - including new AP rounds, an HE round and an new API round with a tungsten alloy core wrapped by an incendiary casing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: Detail sets >> I'm searching for resin (or white metal) ship detail sets in 1:125 scale. I have an old Lindberg "Blue Devil" destroyer that I'd like to build..I can correct the hull shape pretty easily. We have the USS Sullivans here in Buffalo, which I can use as a reference. Some of the stuff I'm planning on doing my own photoetch detail for...doors, porthole covers, hose reels, deck hatches, cleats etc. I've found a source for the quad 40's, dual and single 20's and 5" gun houses. I just haven't been able to find quad 21" torpedo mounts or any gun directors. << I think that a fellow also named Steve is casting up some parts for this kit. His business name is "Dreadnought Model Shipyards" and can be found on the www.modelwarships.com web site. After clicking on the "DMS" web site icon, you will find photos of some of the parts he makes. They look a whole lot better than what comes in the kit. Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: Scale Ruler >> To Steve Wiper, That is a great idea Steve. HOW SOON can we get it? I did the paper thing a few years back and it DOES work very well. By the way, I got your S Boote Book and it is excellent. Where can I get plans for the S 10 type as in the Airfix kit? I would like to make corrections to the hull. << Denis, I have made a metric ruler and also a scale ruler in 1/350. A few more days and I shall have some other scales done. I am thinking about 1/96, 1/100, 1/192, 1/200, 1/400, 1/500, 1/600, and 1/700. Each ruler will be only 8in. long so as to fit on a sheet of paper for any computer printer. I will try to work with Shane and do some testing. As to the S-10 drawings, I will need some time to locate those, but I think I have a set of interior cross sections and hull lines. Call me at my business phone (520)748-2992. Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: Graf Zeppelins >> AFAIK, the Germans only got their first carrier complete enough to be floated and that was the Graf. It was about 85% done at one time, but went downhill from there as it was cannibalized for parts. There was even a novel written about the sinking of the GZ. << There is a great book available thru www.christian_schmidt.com about the Graf Zeppelin by Israel. I highly recommend it. Steve Wiper -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Steve Cowardin Subject: Scale 50's on PT's I don't know what the differences are, but I have an old salt in my church who manned one of those twin 50's on a PT. He tells me that the only way he advised "new" people to fire them was to pull their heads down as low as they could get them and just fire in the general direction of the Japanese as they ran along the coast. One poor kid's curiosity evidently got the best of him as he popped his head up to take a look and caught a 7.7 round between the eyes. Even now old Bud's eyes tear up, "I tried to warn him, I tried to warn him" I mention this because I can't begin to number the times when I have modeled a gun position on a boat, plane (cough) or tank (gag) and placed the gunners in position only to find them fall well below the mounting looking like children more than men. Perhaps the master modeler was just stating a fact of life, keep your head down. Happily modeling in Richmond, Steve -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: Model Ship Journal Update All of the Spring 2002 issues of Model Ship Journal have been mailed. Subscribers in Canada and Mexico should have theirs by this week as they go out via Air Letter Post. U.S. subscribers will see the journal in their mailboxes within a week or two. Other foreign subscribers will see theirs in about 4-6 weeks. The Spring 2002 issue marks our expansion including additional pages and kit reviews with "something extra" which will become a regular feature in the journal. In a nutshell, we pick specific kits, purchase same and give an in-depth review and follow it up with an appropriate plan feature or pertinent book review, then top it off with a photo feature showing the prototype ship. You get a lot of the research before deciding to buy a particular kit. You may have read a negative comment about our reviews on this site, but we didn't want to let the cat out of the bag until the current issue hit the stands. We're in a competitive field and I want to keep 'em guessing as we move along. We will be shipping the 1/72 scale Revell Corvette kit we reviewed in the Autum issue to a lucky subscriber and we'll do this with the majority of the kits and ancillary product we review in MSJ. We aren't hesitant about giving out our review pieces so you can see for yourself whether or not we're "B.S.ing" about the samples. See Page 6 of the Spring issue for details of this new program. Our office manager, Cindy Arnett has full control over this program and I have no say whatsoever in which kits (or how many) she sends out. She utilizes a computer to assure a completely random method of picking quarterly winners. I will have Spring issue updates off to our webmaster for the MSJ website this week and you can still order single issues or subscriptions from us directly by e-mail, fax, snail mail or toll-free phone (U.S.). Squadron should also have the new issue up on their site soon. Also check with your local hobby shop for single issues, we have them served by two distributors, so if they don't have MSJ yet, it's easy for them to order through regular supply channels. f you need the Winter 2002 issue, I have been advised that Squadron Mail Order (www.squadron.com) has good inventory (they purchased heavily to satisfy single-issue demand). Victor Baca Editor & Publisher MODEL SHIP JOURNAL www.modelshipjournal.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