Subject: SMML VOL 1666 Date: Wed, 24 Apr 2002 11:31:28 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: The question of scale 2: USS Inchon to retire? 3: Thoughts on scale...or...INCOMING!!! 4: One more question aout flags 5: Kaiten 6: Rigging Materials 7: Re: Piotr Velikij 8: Re: Where did 1/35 scale come from? 9: more stuff from the navy league magazine 10: 1/350th Scale Unrotated projector mounts 11: USS Inchon 12: Interesting items on eBay 13: Reuters news DD-X 14: tomorrow is ANZAC day for us Aussies & the New Zealanders -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Results of Roll Models' Online USS Decatur Contest -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: The question of scale I build the models I want in the scale I can get them. Most of the time we don't have a real choice. I find 1/400 and bigger are best as individual display ships, mounted on pedastals or such, where 1/600 and smaller look better on a water base, either singly or in groups. I haven't built many of the intermediate sizes, so I can't really say how I'd work with them. As for future releases, we're really down to 4 scales, (5 or 6 if you include the wargaming scale ships): 1/350, 1/400 (Heller and l'Arsenal, mainly), 1/600 (some are being planned, plus the American Civil War line from Thoroughbred, though that's aimed as much at wargamers as modelers) and 1/700-1/720 (close enough for government work), plus the 1/1200-1/1250s. The other scales should be allowed to fade away, since most modelers like all their models to the same scale. Of course, now Trumpeter et al are creating a 1/200 line, again close enough to the traditional 1/192 to work well together, but these suffer the same space problem as 1/350 ships. And there's 1/72 scale, which appears to be the choice for patrol-type vessels with new ones coming out, probably due to the ubiquitous PT-109 and related models. It's a scale you can hold in your hand, detail well, yet for those vessels doesn't take up much more space than a 1/700 BB. Scratchbuilders are free to work in whatever scale they choose, but if they want to take advantage of the myriad of aftermarket parts they'll have to stick close to one of the above scales. In the end, though, no scale is best for everyone, nor for every class of ship. While it's fun to build a PT boat in 1/700 and put it next to a BB, if you really want to detail the boat you'll want something rather bigger. And if the ship you want it build is in a scale you don't like, you're either going to have to bite the bullet and buy it, or find the plans and scratch it. Joe Poutre -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: USS Inchon to retire? >> * USS inchon to retire. Plans were to keep the ship until 2010 but a fire & increased costs changed the plans & hope to use a Leased Incat high speed catamaran in its place..till then LHA & LHD's will take over responsibilities << How on earth would a high speed cat carry a flight of minesweeping helos, or serve as a mother ship to MCMs and MCSs? Perhaps once LHD-8 is built they'll modify/convert one of the LHAs, since the projected requirement for LHA/LHD is 12. JoeP -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Jeff Herne" Subject: Thoughts on scale...or...INCOMING!!! I find the topic of scale purism a bit over the top. I see a model I like, I build it...plain and simple...here's some off the wall stuff I've built...all of which I still have... Doyusha 1/250 Shinano (still trying to be converted from a toy) 1/429 Arizona (even the scale purists have built this one) 1/400 Tauro RM Gorizia 1/125 Fletcher (Lindbergh, ugh, a valiant attempt though) 1/32 Paddinghouse PBR 1/35 Tamiya PBR 1/72 Amati U-boat (still chugging away on that one) 1/600 Airfix Mauretania 1/600 Airfix United States 1/192 Renwal USS Ethan Allen SSBN 1/500 (Nichimo?) Akagi 1/200 Nichimo Kagero All of these kits have been purchased, acquired, or traded for in the last 5 years. This is in addition to the 1/350 and 1/700 scale stuff I've got piled up. There's alot of nice stuff out there in scales we may not build in...if you're a true naval enthusiast/modeler, then scale won't matter...it's the subject that matters... Now, where's my 1:1 scale dugout canoe??? Anyone have any ideas on weathering birch bark? Jeff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: One more question aout flags I have one more question about U.S.Naval flags. What did they do on submarines in wartime? A sub on patrol, or even transiting, was constantly vulnerable to air and surface attack, and had to submerge QUICKLY when aircraft and/or surface vessels were seen. It doesn't seem prudent to have to be concerned with flags when that happened. Any comments? Franklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Kerry L. Jang" Subject: Kaiten Hello all, I have the Scale Shipyard I-19 hull and was thinking of doing somethng a little different with it. Several books I have show that some versions of this sub were converted to KAITEN carriers (e.g., I-58). Does anyone have any clear photos or drawings of the method the KAITEN were mounted to the deck of the submarine? Any good drawings of the decks of the mother sub (I-58)? Thanks, Kerry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Kerry L. Jang" Subject: Rigging Materials I use fine nichrome and/or tinned copper wire for rigging. Check out Pelican Wire Company for supplies. You cna get it whisper thin and, nichrome can be snapped straight and does not sag. Kerry -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "D.Przezdziecki" Subject: Re: Piotr Velikij I was expecting a flood of answers but since nobody pipped in here is mine: you can see build-up reviev of Kirov by Steve Backed on Steel Navy's web site. Since I do not think that PV's kit has any improvements over Kirov and since Sreve did such a good job there is nothing for me to add to his review. Except that if you have references about this ship check them carefully and do stock up on filler and elbow grease ;-) Good luck D.P -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Jim Johnson" Subject: Re: Where did 1/35 scale come from? Good Question! Here is my explanation for it. Back in the early days of model kits, some standard scales started to emerge. They were started in the countries that used the "english" system of measurements. The three standards were 1/72 (1"=6'), 1/48 (1"=4') and 1/32 (3/8"=1'). There were some others. Frog started to make 1/96 kits. Revell and Renwall made some 1/40 armor kits. A whole lot were mate to say $.98 scale. A standard size box contained a kit worth 98 cents, so the kit was sized to fit in the box and sell for that amount. The Japanese entered the market just when "standard" scales were becoming common. They, however, were on the metric system so they did things in a base 10 scale. I still have some early Hasegawa and Tamiya kits in 1/75 and 1/50 scale. Tamiya did some armor in 1/35. The 1/75 and 1/50 planes went up against the flood of Airfix, Frog, Revell, and Monogram kits in 1/72 and 1/48. First they changed the box to read 1/72 or 1/48, then they actually make the kits to those scales. In armor, however, Tamiya pretty much had the field to themselves. Airfix did 1/76 armor in smaller scales, and Revell did 1/40, but not a whole lot. Tamiya released 10 new kits for every 1/40 or 1/32 armor kit released. This caused the standard to become 1/35. Jim Johnson IPMS 1788 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: more stuff from the navy league magazine It was actually Turkey not Poland that were getting the FFGs, oh well good to hear that the US is keeping it with them *HMAS vengeance is about to be scrapped in Brazil, but there is an organisation trying to raise funds to save the ship that is now sitting in the South American country. She was dcommissioned Oct 16, 2001.. The british Port athorities have shown their interest by offering her a berth in Southampton Water.. if interested contact Martin Hill Fax (0011 internaional) 44 01 262 490248 or email vengeancecampaign@fleetairarmarchive.net The navy story in this issue is the THE RAN & AIR WARFARE DESTROYERS This is the first time since 1911 the RAN has been without destroyers now that the DDG's are decommissioned, some of the proposed contenders when the govt finally decides to tender (SEA 4000 project) appear to be the F100 class anti-air warfare frigate, the Dutch LCF air warfare frigate, the Gibbs & cox " international frigate" concept which is a cut down Arleigh Burke destroyer or maybe a home grown design as drawings done by the RAN's naval Materials group in Canberra, & then if any ships are selected then there wil be a need to replace the FFG's with the oldest FFG's now 20 years old & will be modernised between 2002 - 2006 till about 2013-17 & the newer versions the Melbourne & Newcastle to lat till 2017-2020 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "David Harris" Subject: 1/350th Scale Unrotated projector mounts Looking to backdate the Tamiya POW kit to the Battle of the Denmark Strait and am wondering whether anyone knows of a manufacurer who offers these, either as a casting or as part of a photo etched kit for the KGV Class? Alternatively, does anyone know of either a source for plans or of any photo's online to assist with scratchbuilding? The best photo's that I have found are at http://www.warships1.com/Weapons/WNBR_UP.htm but they only cover two of the four sides. Thanks in advance. David Surrey, England -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Dave Shirlaw Subject: USS Inchon USS Inchon will decommission 20 June 2002 at Ingleside. Dave Shirlaw Editor, Seawaves Magazine www.seawaves.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: paulship37@aol.com Subject: Interesting items on eBay The Fast Carriers, Clark G Reynolds, WWII http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1531494135 Principles of Warship Construction - 1935 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1532590143 OUR MERCHANT NAVY SIDNEY HOWARD HB DW 1942 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1530831825 Illustrated Guide to Modern U.S. Navy HB http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1531402286 CARRIER WAR--TASK FORCE 58-PACIFIC SEA BATTLE http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1532735894 The Encyclopedia of Ships~Over 1200 Specs. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1532664096 History Coast Guard Cutter "Bear"-Arctic-1900 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1096537716 book:"GRAF SPEE" the German surface raider. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1532620256 Naval Ordnance 1939 colored plates, photos http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1531368668 SEA CHEST- 3/02 - Exper. in the Army's Navy http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1532589225 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: Reuters news DD-X The US navy is expected to announce within the next few days which corporateteam will design the DD-x, the lead ship in a new family of smaller US warships. Industry officials said they expected the navy to make an announcement on Friday about the huge program, which will replace the 425 billion DD-21 program.. Rival teams led by General Dynamics & northrop Grumman are vying for the contract.. general Dynamic are joined with Lockheed martin while Northrop are teamed with Raytheon. The Navy's designated winner will receive $350 million in fiscal 2002 funds to design the ship which will include electric drive propulsion & other advanced technologies & smaller crew numbers. The potential value of the DD-x design contract is huge, but it is not being awarded on a "winner take all" basis like the JSF. The navy initially planned to build up to 32 DD-21's at an estimated cost of 25 billion, but has not detailed exactly how many DD-x's it will build. It had spent 300 million to 400 milion dollars a year on reasearch & development of the DD21, which was launced in 1994, but most of that work was transferable to the DDX said Navy officials -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: tomorrow is ANZAC day for us Aussies & the New Zealanders Here is a poem written by a bloke that commanded the enemy at Gallipoli & yet thinks of Australians as friends, a touching thought ATATURK'S TRIBUTE 1934 "Those heroes that shed their blood and lost their lives .. You are now lying in the soil of a friendly country therefore rest in peace. There is no difference between the Johnnies and the Mehmets to us where they lie side by side here in this country of ours .. You, the mothers who sent their sons from far away countries wipe away your tears; your sons are now lying in our bosom and are in peace after having lost their lives on this land they have become our sons as well." Lest We Forget -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Brent Theobald Subject: Results of Roll Models' Online USS Decatur Contest Howdy! The contest results are all in and counted now (finally). I extended the voting time to allow for the "later" time zones. Before I announce who won the contest I would like to thank you for taking the time to participate in this contest. Since the response to this contest was so favorable I promise there will be more in the future. In fact, I am only waiting on the p/e to arrive to start the next contest (1/700 Tamiya Prince of Wales with GMM p/e). Okay here's the results! http://www.rollmodels.net/contest/dd-341/decatur.php Our Winner is: Patrick Roach with his Spanish Civil War HMS Hood. Bob Steinbrunn came in second with his USS Kidd and Kevin Wenker came in third with his USS Boone. We're going to send Patrick the resin USS Decatur. Congratulations Patrick! Once again I'd like to thank you all for participating. Like I mentioned above there will be more contests, so if you didn't do so well this time you will get more chances. Let me know what you would like to see as prizes. What scale, subject, resin or reference? Plese stop by and check out our online catalog: http://www.rollmodels.com Thank you, Brent (brent@rollmodels.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