Subject: SMML VOL 1676 Date: Mon, 29 Apr 2002 12:19:53 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Neosho and otehr Pitroad paraphernalia 2: funnel colors 3: COLBERT and SALISBURY Plans 4: Pit-Road Paints 5: USS ARKANSAS color conundrum! 6: Sad news about Cousteau's Calypso 7: flags 8: Aquila airgroup 9: USS COMTE DE GRASSE, BARRY & CAPE ST GEORGE; CVN-65 COLOURS 10: deck color 11: almost forgot to praise the ANZAC day parade visitors -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Gernot Hassenpflug Subject: Neosho and otehr Pitroad paraphernalia To the gentleman who thinks that Pitroad makes their kits out of wood. I admit I have no idea where this news comes from, as Pitroad do not list Neosho (or Uji for that matter) on their english website. Instead, in the Japanese page it is listed underLimited Edition Releases at the Shizuoka Hobby Show (this May).... see the following link. http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~pitroad/pit811.html The (R) stands for resin, notice that this is a special edition, and not a Waveline offering. If you click on the two active links, you can see a photo of Neosho, and one of Uji. On price I will pass, though Pitroad quality is not going to disappoint those who want a Neosho model. I hope we will eventually see these kits in plastic too. The other interesting kits here - all in resin though - are Cimmaron and Hashidate (SP-44 and 45), New Jersey and Iowa (SP 58 and 59) full-hull versions (note they are post-modernization, I think that means 1982). M-16S is a New Jersey (modernized) with turned brass barrels. Persumably no full hull though. M-17S is an Iowa (modernized) with photo-etch set. Hmmm. Probably the best bet is to get a full-hull kit and use existing photo-etch sets to build a really good model. Comparison with the Tamiya kit would be interesting - notice Pitroad are only selling their Iowa class in Japan, not outside of. From Himold there is HM-40, Soryu as she was at Midway (rather than as in 1938 like the initial release). Could be just different aircraft complement? And W-54S is a 1942 Takao with turned brass barrels, hmmm. You can buy those separately anyway. Much more interesting is the news that a photo-etch set for the JMSDF Aegis DDGs is out, not very extensive (and for 1500yen you cannot expect much in Japan), but it does give the all-important mast. This is due out now (25th April is date set), while in July a set for their Murasame class is due too, maybe the air-search radar assembly will be better done than in the Aoshima photo-etch which apart from that is most satisfactory. By the way, totally off ships, I have translated an interview with a former IJNAF fighter pilot, Mr. Komachi Sadamu, and posted it on my website at http://www.kurasc.kyoto-u.ac.jp/radar-group/members/gernot/komachi.htm Enjoy, any translation errors are my own. Regards, Gernot -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Phillip Anz-Meador" Subject: funnel colors http://www.ukans.edu/~kansite/ww_one/naval/s0300000.htm the above URL has scans of "shipping line house flags and funnel markings-1913", as well as many other interesting bits. also, someone had mentioned the old series of Texaco marine calendars--I have one. I'll find it and scan it in, if anyone is interested. Phillip -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: JFR1945@aol.com Subject: COLBERT and SALISBURY Plans I need help finding deck plans for the French cruiser COLBERT, after her conversion to a CLG in the early 1970s. I also need deck plans for the UK frigate SALISBURY (Type 61). Any suggestions would be appreciated.... Thanks, John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Dboykap@aol.com Subject: Pit-Road Paints I'm about to experiment with some Pit-Road paints. Can anyone recommend what to use to thin them with, esp. for airbrushing? Also, can they be overlaid, or used in proximity to, Tamiya acrylics without ill effect? (I know not to mix them.) Your advice/experiences appreciated. Thanks, Dan Kaplan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Fritz Koopman Subject: USS ARKANSAS color conundrum! OK GUYS'N'GALS ! Conundrum of the day. I recently purchased the IS ARKANSAS model which portrays the ship as she apeared in early '44. In this fit she had just lost the machine gun nest on her main mast and had it replaced with a simple platform with the SK2 Radar. This is how she is depicted in the GA plans avaiable from Floating Drydock. Later in Sept. She had the SK 2 moved to her foremast, And an interesting tower/director-thingy stuck on top of the mainmast, as well as an extra 40mm quad slapped onto her fantail. Now.... According to the directions, as well as John Sheridans excelent Camo site, the Ark was wearing MS 21 (all blue) system, or 31a/7b at this time. However a check on the Navsource photo site, the only photos that show her wearing the blue, is from the later part of the year after her SK 2 had been moved forward. The only photo that I can find (on navsource or anywhere else for that matter) That shows her with the SK 2 on her mainmast (ie. early '44) is the following: http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/013323.jpg Looking at the side of her hull, she is definately only painted a dark color up to her sheer line, and a much lighter color on her upperworks, and what apears to be the usual deck blue on her decks. It looks an awful lot like the MS 12 that she had early on in the war. But Sheridans' Camo site says she hadn't worn that since '42. Sooooo....... Now I'm not sure which way to go. Did she go back to wearing MS 12 in '44 for a short time? or is this a rather dull and way too non-paternistic MS 31? Or is this a typo on Johns site? HELP! Thanks in advance for any input you guys'n'gals may have. Best Regards. Fritz Koopman -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Bruno Gire" Subject: Sad news about Cousteau's Calypso (source : local newspapers and personnal external visual inspection) The famous oceanographic research vessel Calypso is now in a very poor state and in danger of sinking again, this time definitely. Calypso had been accidentally sunk by collision with another ship in Singapore bay on January 11, 1996. The ship had been later refloated and returned to Marseille, France, where she was left for two years. In the meantime, Jacques-Yves Cousteau died on June 25th, 1997. In June, 1998, the Calypso was again towed to the French Atlantic coast, where she was to be included in the Maritime Museum of the historic port of La Rochelle. Owing to her very poor condition, she first entered drydock in La Pallice, a suburb port of La Rochelle, not far from the WWII german sub base (which can be seen in the movie "das Boot"). Here, a large part of the port underwater wooden hull (about 10 to 12m amidship-my visual estimates) of this former WWII british minesweeper had been removed and replaced by new framing and planking and underwater body cured and painted. By then the overall ship was in a very poor state, having been submerged for a while. Superstructures of this quasi-wreck were damaged, masts broken off, helo platform and electronic or scientific equipment had been also removed. On July 22d, 1998, the Calypso was floated again and towed in the nearby "Musee Maritime" of La Rochelle, where it was intended to restaure to her oceanographic ship state (for about $ 700,000 including the towing from Marseille) and open her to the public, along with Cousteau's experimental "turbosail" ship Alcyone (this one in good state !), other ships (the '60 vintage meteo-frigate France 2, two trawlers, a tug and a fine collection of wooden sailing boats) and maritime artifacts (some related to Cousteau : his yellow saucer mini-sub for ex). Repairs were to be made by a relief association for long time jobless people rehabilitation. Opening of the "new" ship was to be by July, 2002. La Rochelle also is now home for the Cousteau Society. According to the press and a recent warning letter from the head of the port authority, overhauling the ship isn't possible as today, as the Museum (which got the money for) needs first to obtain the formal go-ahead of both Mrs Cousteau (who owns the name) and M Guiness (the true owner of the ship, who hired her to Cousteau for the symbolic Franc during all her carreer). As far as today, this proved impossible to obtain and the ship is now a rusting sitting duck. Some specialists say the ship hull remains sound: only the superstructure is being weathered and damaged by salt air and rain. But officials are anxious about a second -and this time final- sinking and urge the ship to be taken out of the water for security -and image- reasons. (For those interested, I can send some pictures I took recently of the ship in her present state : contact me off-line) Bruno Gire Bordeaux, France -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: flags As I put forward before, but mine was mixed in other responses I was putting forward..i though & from pic's that I have seen...Subs only carried their flags only when coming or leaving their home port..as for signals the old WW2 boas used to fire signal flares if they really believed it was a friendly aircraft..but I think & im sure on this that every aircraft was treated as an unfriendly...a few US subs were sunk by friendly forces..one even after the sub had fired the signals for the day & the destroyer still pumped 5" shells into it...read it in an issue of World war 2 magazine... who needs enemies when you have friends like those..well guess riendly fire is bound to happen in any war -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: Aquila airgroup Yes the 2001 was going to be the fighter...bomber & plans for torpedo aircraft as well... my guess would be top side green & under sides a pale blue/light grey.. the supermodel re2001 shows a version taking off from a catapult of a Italian BB as it was planned to mount 2001's on them.. If I remember correctly they did think about using older planes I think the Re2000.. I remember I did write something about this some time ago as I saw an article in the World war 2 magazine about the Aquila & graf Zeplin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Roy McKay Subject: USS COMTE DE GRASSE, BARRY & CAPE ST GEORGE; CVN-65 COLOURS Hi all, looking for info on which kits (Revell, Dragon, Skywave; Spruance, Burke & Ticonderoga classes) contain decals to build these three ships in 1/700 scale. I am also looking for the Cape St George in 1/350. If anyone can help (or even has spare decals) I would appreciate it. The Revell kits are the only readily available in my neck of the woods, and I can't look inside boxes on the web! Also, I've just invested in the Tamiya big E, what is a good FS595 match for her deck and hull greys? Previously, I've used Humbrol 64 & 123 on the Italeri kits with good effect, but it seems to light for the bigger scale. Is there any aftermarket parts to enable her current fit to be built? I know of only the GMM set, what's in this, and is there anything else I should get? many thanks in advance....... Roy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: EBENCARL89@aol.com Subject: deck color hello ship modelers, iam working on the model of the SS UNITED STATES and wanted to know what is the closest deck green color my liner, testors, fl green mat or beret green or model masters,euro dark green or maybe none of those but some other green? thanks i would like some help, because i cant seem to find a nice color picture of the deck, thanks again, Ed Wilde -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: almost forgot to praise the ANZAC day parade visitors Not sure about other states, someone said that the NZ navy was in Melbourne, so I figure they might have marched down their, but here in Sydney a high praise to the US NAVY & Marines for their march in the Sydney parade.. The USS Lake Erie sailors marched under their own banner & the marine contingent from I guess the Erie marched later on under their USMC flag/banners with it was reported some marines that are stationed around the Sydney area.. Nice to see foreign visting warships march..also it used to be a good source of open days , but thanks to Sept 11 no more open days with US or any warship in Sydney I figure the only open days now will be Navy day sometime in Oct or Nov I hope.. mumbles something about those ^&^&*^&^%$ people for ruining good open days ... What about the overseas people... I see from previous posts that museum ships that are located next to active bases are tuffer to visit, but what about navy open days???? does the RN or USN or any other foreign navies still have open days in your countries??? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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