Subject: SMML VOL 1613 Date: Thu, 28 Mar 2002 00:05:08 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Don Leonard's wish for a 1:35 scale PT Boat 2: Scale Rulers 3: Re: PT / Naval .50 cal MG's 4: First fuel-cell submarine is christened at HDW 5: Scale Rulers 6: HMS Fearless -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Bill & Kaja Michaels" Subject: Re: Don Leonard's wish for a 1:35 scale PT Boat >> An 80' Elco PT, available in early- and late-war variants, in 1:32 or 1:35 scale (1:35 would probably be better, because a lot of aftermarket armor details like cal.50's, etc would be transferable). << I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned the 1/32 scale PT-109 by Lindberg. (Maybe I missed it....) Bill -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Richard Sweeney Subject: Scale Rulers Steve. YES PLEASE!!!! Rich Sweeney -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Edd Pflum Subject: Re: PT / Naval .50 cal MG's Edward F Grune wrote: >> I don't think the Army .50 caliber is a direct swap for a Naval version... << Don wrote: >> 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? << I believe the PTs would have used the Browning AN-M2 aircraft gun, The M2 used in Army applications has a removable heavy barrel, the aircraft model has a lighter weight barrel with a perforated cooling jacket (similar to the M1917 .30 Cal. MG). The AN-M2 has no sights, spade grips or triggers, or charging handle. These accessories would have been incorporated into the mount. I believe the Mk 17 mount used on the later PTs had a recoil buffer in the mount as well. Because of the lack of a charging handle, the AN-M2 left side plate is smooth metal with just a slot. The M2 side plate has an additional metal piece riveted around this area. Although only the left side is shown, I suspect the right sie is the same on both versions. There is a horizontal mounting boss (side to side) just forward of the receiver proper, underneath the circular boss where the barrel mounts, and another beneath the reciever, about 2/3 rds of the way back, a couple of inches behind the small step in the bottom plate. The front boss was missing on flexible (pintle) mounted vehicle weapons (M2.) These guns were usually mounted on aircraft. The Revellogram ProModeler 1:48 B-24 has some nice versions of these for the waist positions, but I don't know if the turret guns are as well done (I don't have the kit.) Cast metal .50s are available in 1:72 and 1:46 as aircraft accessories. PT guns often has a flash suppressor mounted on the muzzle. (BTW, flash suppressors are to prevent the gunner from being blinded by his own weapon's flashes, not to hide them from the enemy. Took me years to learn this!) SOURCE: Handbook of Ordnance Material, June 1944 Edd -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: First fuel-cell submarine is christened at HDW Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) in Kiel has christened the first of four 212A class submarines as the "U31". The submarine is destined for the German Navy. HDW in Kiel and Thyssen Nordseewerke in Emden are currently constructing the four boats. After comprehensive tests and trials, "U31" is scheduled for commissioning on 30 March 2004. The new class 212 submarine developed by HDW has an air-independent propulsion system using a hydrogen fuel cell. HDW is the first shipyard in the world to offer a fuel cell propulsion system ready for series production. The fuel cell plant, which produces electrical energy from oxygen and hydrogen, allows the new class of submarines to cruise under water for weeks without surfacing. Conventional diesel-electric submarines have used up their battery power after about two days cruising under water. In addition, the fuel cell makes no noise and produces no give-away exhaust heat. These factors help to make the submarine virtually undetectable. Advances in detection capabilities and the increasing ability of anti-submarine warfare means as well as the extended scope of operations prompted the development of this new submarine class 212A. The extremely favourable signatures, the fuel cell propulsion plant and the boat's detection and weapon systems ensure that these new submarines will be suited for successful employment in every conceivable area of operations. At the same time, the design allows for high availability and low maintenance cost. The development of the fuel cell propulsion system also furnished HDW with a number of follow-on building contracts. Orders are on hand for export version submarines of class 214, with three on order each for the Greek and Korean Navies. The Italian Navy has followed the lead of the German Navy and is building two class 212A boats at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy. Technical Data of "U31" at a glance: General characteristics: Length over all - about 56.0 m Height to top of bridge fin - about 11.5 m Maximum diameter - about 7.0 m Displacement - about 1450 tons Crew - 27 Pressure hull - non-magnetic steel Fully integrated control system Command and weapon control system X rudder Propulsion plant: Diesel generator Propulsion motor - SIEMENS Permasyn motor Fuel cell plant Low-noise skew back propeller Weapons: Heavyweight torpedoes Torpedo tubes with water-pressure expulsion system http://defence-data.com/current/page13976.htm (has a artist impression of the sub) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "John Anderson" Subject: Scale Rulers Hey How about someone making a scale ruler available in 1/96 and 1/72 and 1/48 and 1/32 for us R/C Guys I am building a 1/72nnd scale S.S. United States (14feet long and a 1/32nd Scale German U-boat U505 almost 8 feet long these would be of immense help as well as the 1/700 and 1/350 rulers for my display ships John Anderson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Peter Subject: HMS Fearless Thank you for your kind remarks about my Fearless. I must start by confessing that research is for me the least enjoyable part of ship modeling, and so anything you think might be "wrong" on my ship, you are most probably right! If your enjoyment extends into research and you found something at variance to what I did, you are probably right! I am a firm believer in choosing one's own level of enjoyment in modeling and am happy with my own path (and still do enjoy reading the SMML debates on fine points of detail). I understand that not everyone agrees, and that contest judges require things that I choose not to get into, and make no apologies. No flames please! I have a love-hate thing with Airfix. I go for a long while swearing that I will NEVER return to the Airfix planet of old molds, gooey soft plastic, that 1/600 thing and then BANG! I again see a ship that I want to model and only Airfix makes a kit. On the Fearless I used yards of Evergreen strip stock to cover seams. The parts fit was such that that was about the only way to get it built-- I don't have enough free time to fill and sand all the gaps in that kit. I cut off the lower hull with a razor saw to make a waterline version. I could not find enough evidence of exactly where that waterline might be and thus made an educated guess. The helos are WEM resin additions. Most of the PE is from WEM's Royal navy set, with the figures being from Gold Medal Models. The small boats are scavenged from many sources. Some of the deck fittings and the like are Pitroad stuff from the scrap box. I scratchbuilt the "interior" of the landing craft and added the tank. The rigging is all one pound test fishing line. I used dry transfers for the flight deck markings. Again, thanks you for your kind words about my model. Like many of you, I dropped out of the hobby to go to college, get a job, a marriage and all those other non-modeling things, and then came back to the hobby in my middle age. This has been good in so many ways-- kits and cottage industry stuff is so amazingly well-endowed since I last looked into a hobby shop, and having a job and all, I don't have to worry about the cost of paint and supplies (though a weakness for photoetch does stress my budget). Regards, Peter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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