Subject: SMML VOL 1672 Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2002 10:44:29 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Inchon 2: Yamato Wreck 3: Re: USS Inchon 4: Colossus class carriers colors 5: Re: WEM Colors (or Colours) 6: Re: Flags for U.S.Navy submarines 7: Fine Art Models, RMS Titanic 8: The Sinking of HMS POW & Repulse 9: Kitech 1/600 scale Charles De Gaulle 10: S-100 Schnellboote Etched set -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: 1/200 Yamato Gun Barrels 2: Ship models for sale -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: Re: Inchon Jim Shirley Productions also made Iwo Jima class, and with a hangar deck, but obviously they're hard to come by. I thought of doing one as USS Nassau in Sea Control Ship configuration, with Harriers and Sea Kings. Or, as HMS Nassau, with Sea Harriers and an added ski-jump. This was a proposal by someone in case the RN lost a carrier during the Falklands, so they could keep up their NATO commitment. But not until I win a lottery and have the time and cash to spare - the Waveline is a bit expensive for an idle What-if project. Joe Poutre -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Lou Meszaros Subject: Yamato Wreck Did the program of the Yamato wreck ever get broadcast, any info? I believe I once viewed a page with someone making a model of what she looks like today from the video of the expedition. Lou -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: NAVYDAZE@aol.com Subject: Re: USS Inchon Glenn and Kelly Neklason, Let me rephrase the OKLAHOMA CITY statement from "quickly" to "proudly"! I was actually refering to the fact that I believe there were other shots to be done but when she broke her back that was it. But she did go down proudly and I believe, correct me if I am wrong, with a flag flying. I miss seeing her as she was easy to spot in the mothballed fleet as I would pass over the bridge to Vallejo. Those high masts made her easy to spot among the other ex-warships in the first row. . . and refering to my other statement I hope everyone has seen the web site concerning the long drawn out scrapping of the CORAL SEA. Not for the faint at heart!! Mike Donegan NAVYDAZE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "John Rodriguez Asti" Subject: Colossus class carriers colors Hello: I am currently building a scratchbuilt Colossus Aircraft Carrier Model in 1/700 (HMS Ocean in 1955), and I need to know which colors I will have to use for the hull, the flight deck and for the deck markings. Does anybody could help me? Many thanks, John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: FBustelo@aol.com Subject: Re: WEM Colors (or Colours) Hi Gernot, To thin my WEM Colourcoats, I have successfully used Floquil Railroad Colors airbrush thinner. I have also used this to thin my Humbrol paints and Floquil paints of course. I don't know if you live in North America so I cannot speak as to the availability of the Floquil brand in the rest of the world. Regards, Felix Bustelo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Re: Flags for U.S.Navy submarines Have I sunk the entire SMM: fleet with my query about flags worn by U.S.Navy suibmarines in wartime? I haven't seen any replies, a rare occurrence for SMML. Franklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Fine Art Models, RMS Titanic Fine Art Models has a 1:48 scale model (they seem to prefer the term "miniature, and rightly so) of RMS Titanic on display in the National Geographic auditorium in Washington D.C. It took five years longer to build the miniature that it did to build the original (now there's my kind of pace), with the cooperation of Harland and Woolf, the original builders. All rivets etc are precisely sited, etc. There are some eight miles of fiber optical cables for the illumination. I believe the finished display weighs about 1800 lb. Fine Art Models has a website displaying over 440 photos showing construction in progress, at www.fineartmodels.com They make exquisite automobile and railroad models as well. It is suggested that SMML people visit this site. All their work is "museum quality", superbly made by professional modelers (and they get paid for doing absolute top quality work, what a dream job !). Franklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Geoff Baker" Subject: The Sinking of HMS POW & Repulse Hi Just letting you know that i have just watched a BBC Timewatch program about diving on and the sinking of HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repluse in 1941.It was shown on BBC4 on digital so it should appear on BBC 2 in the next week or so. The same happened with the Norwegan dive oon the Sharnhorst shown earlier in the year. The credit said the Program was made for the BBC and The History Channel, so our ex-colonials should be able to see it soon. Cheers Geoff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Geoff Baker" Subject: Kitech 1/600 scale Charles De Gaulle Hi I was wondering if anybody else has seen one of these kits yet, Mike Bartel managed to get one and review it, but is unable to source anymore. Has anybody else seen one yet, or knows who sells them ? I've also heard mention of a 1/600 Essex class being produced, does anyone know about this ? Finally, has anybody got any new photo's of the new Royal Navy LPD's Albion and Bulwark, i was wondering if anyone has been to Barrow recently to get a view of them and perhaps some current photo's, as i am doing a scratch built one and would like some photo evidence of the superstructure and fittings, as we all know designing models off the drawings and plans doesn't allways work. The Airfix Amazon was based on the builders model and plans, that why there are a few errors, such as the shape of the rear upper superstructure and the Oversized ships numbers, which for some reason Airfix have continued to issue, even going as far to re-issueing them in the Kits last release with the added exocet !!!!!!!!!!!!. Cheers Geoff -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Daniel Taylor" Subject: S-100 Schnellboote Etched set Hi I'm back after a long absence and I hope that the following does not duplicate postings made whilst I was away. So delighted was I with the Revell Schnellboote that I am already embarked on a second build. It is so many things that previous releases of fast patrol boats in this scale are not; finely cast, accurate in plan, well sculpted etc... etc In truth, though, I am a little bitter about it. You see, for the past few years I have been embarked on a project to build an S-100 for a resin production run. Just as it was nearing completion, Revell announced theirs. To make matters worse, it is a complete peach. And what a snip of a price? Ah well, I thought, at least I can get one finished in my lifetime. And how! I found the moulding so good that I reckon you could remove the parts from the sprue, shake it around in the box and it would build itself. Well almost. It's not perfect, but the errors, such as the flank propellers that cannot revolve because of the support arms, are fairly trivial. Besides, I like making things, so they have to leave the odd challenge. Now that I have one just about done, I fancied having a go at a more detailed build and White Ensign Models have come to my aid. I ordered their part etched detail kit on the S-100 about a week ago and it arrived in the post yesterday morning. It comprises two frets; one of about 2.5 inches by 3 inches, the other about 4 inches by 11 inches. combined, they make up seventy parts comprising over 100 components. The larger fret is made of slightly thicker brass - Maybe 5 thou to the thinner 3 thou of the smaller fret. In terms of quality, they are very sharp. There is a myriad of minuscule parts included and I feel sure that, before long, I shall be searching through carpet pile for minute bits that went 'ping'. There are a wealth of parts for the guns, torpedo tie downs, a radio, all manner of binnacle and compass accessories. With the benefit of having built this vessel both from scratch, and from the kit, I consider this Brass set practically indispensable for creating a quality rendition of the S-100. It seems a shame, therefore, that there has to be a statement that starts 'however', and please bear in mind the praise before dwelling on, what I consider to be, limitations of the offering. However, a couple of points: 1 There is, so far as I can judge, only one actual error on the frets. That is part number 15, the bow 20mm framework and sight. It would appear that the framework has been miss-interpreted. In all of the reference that I have seen on the Dehrkranz 41 2cm mounting, there is only one element to the upper framework, and that is on the left hand side (looking forward). The sight itself comprises a rubber eye piece and ring-sight assembly mounted on a tubular arm that shoots off to the right of the upper framework. On the brass fret, the upper framework has two sides and a plain ring sight is fitted on the centre section. Still, the result of this error is that you have effectively two upper frets and a ring sight you can use on another project. Incidentally, this is an area in which the Revell kit is incorrect as it places the gunner on the left side of the gun where he should be on the right (this is still looking from the gunners point of view). Also, the rod that supports the mount is 3.25mm too tall and, unmodified, would make the gun stand proud of the deck. Back to the brass parts. The remaining observations are primarily based on the point that flat brass cannot represent round-section subjects. I'd accept that they will provide a better scale representation than some of the thicker plastic parts in the kit, but the only true remedy is building them from brass rod. 2 The hand-rails are usefully supplied in both 'open' and 'with dodger' format. They look fabulous and are certainly better than the plain, bulky items supplied in the kit. But they are not round in section. They are usable, but not a solution. 3 Ditto really on the depression rail for the forward 2cm. Scraped down, the kit version is probably a better bet as it does not need to be bent to shape This is particularly so because a replacement for the handrails for the forward deck is not provided, so these items next to one-another would look a bit odd. 4 The ready ammunition for the 3.7cm. Gun rounds are really too big to depict with flat section brass. Omissions. Having created a number of parts that might better be built of a material that is less flat, there are some parts that should have been included in such a kit and are not: 1 & 2 Gun shields for the 3.7cm and the twin 2cm. The poor, over-thick shields in the kit, and in particular the rather bizarre asymmetrical 3.7cm shield, are prime cases for replacement in brass. There are details on the 3.7cm that would also be useful and I am not at all convinced of the pieces connecting the shield to the mount. 2 Wind protector for the rear hatch (just aft the 3.7cm). 3 The wind break component of the Kalottenbrucke - the kit part is too thick. As I have already said, the WEM set is really very nice and, considering what's on it, not bad value. I, for one, will be getting a set for future builds. Now then, where were the plans I had for the S-26 class.... Dan Taylor -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: John Snyder Subject: 1/200 Yamato Gun Barrels We have received a set of machined aluminium (that's "aluminum" to you Yanks) Type 94 main barrels for the Nichimo 1/200 Yamato. These are directly scaled from the Skulski book. The kit consists of 9 barrels, 9 brass tompions, and a set of 30 (27 + 3 spares) clamping and testing rings to construct the individual blast bags. This set is NOT inexpensive, and will not be a regular stock item; we can special-order others in the future. Price of the set is £120.00 ex-VAT (£141.00 UK/EU). Pricey? Yes, but they are VERY impressive. Orders being taken. Cheers, John Snyder White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Rod Dauteuil" Subject: Ship models for sale Hello all, In case any SMMLies are interested, I'm currently auctioning off several of my older Revell ship models. Available are: USS Pennsylvania, 1/720 USS Intrepid, 1/720 USS Mission Capistrano, 1/400 USS Helena, 1/480 USS Midway, 1/542 HMS Queen Mary, 1/568 I'll be adding more models as the weekend progresses, including a lot of airplanes. Trying to thin down the collection (1,168 is getting ridiculous!!!) Here's a link to my main page: http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?MfcISAPICommand=ViewListedItems&userid=c177guy&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=200 If that doesn't work, my username is "c177guy". Rod -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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