Subject: SMML VOL 1733 Date: Sun, 02 Jun 2002 00:36:45 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Dimensions of Southern Rail Road Track in 1861? 2: Interesting items on eBay 3: Re: A message to authors and pubishers 4: 1942 flags and ensigns 5: Pearl Harbor Colors 6: 1/700 Hiryu 7: Sub Question from Target Builder -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: AAA Hobby Subject: Re: Dimensions of Southern Rail Road Track in 1861? >> Would any modelers know the answer to the length, width, and thickness of the rail road track in Mississippi and Tennessee during the American Civil War? << Well, them thar tracks were standard gauge, for the most part - there were a few "narry-gage" lines scattered about, but they was in the hills an such or just outright deceptions placed by Yankee infil-traitors before the War of Northern Aggreshin. Now whut means is that them rails were about 3-1/2 feet apart, normal thickness (well, towards teh end we did skimp on the thickness to sacve metal), but the length is the really hard part to figure. We (the CSA) had done planned for thousands of uninterrupted miles of track, but those damned Yankees like Sherman, Sheridan and Grant - you wanted to know about what that debbil did in Mizzip - kept blowin' the darn things up! By 65, we were lucky to have 4 or 5 miles without gaps!! James -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: paulship37@aol.com Subject: Interesting items on eBay I saw these items for sale at eBay. SHIPS OF THE ROYAL NAVY http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1538997958 US Battleships BB-1 to BB-71 Pictorial http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1540118967 Book Ship Recognitioin Warships of NATO 1953 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1540131409 British Warships since 1945 part 2 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1540182790 VOLUNTEERS FOR SEA SERVICE*CANADIAN NAVAL RES http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1539222464 1944 - BATTLE REPORT - WW II http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1540865956 Regan GUINNESS BOOK OF NAVAL BLUNDERS Ships http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1540563228 Big gun Monitors WWI & WWII Mini battleships http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1540801517 Book on 1939-1945 St. Lawrence Attacks WWII http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1540861266 Old Wood Military Ship Boat Model #2 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1736513560 INDEPENDENCE LIGHT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1538949408 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Michael J. D'Silva" Subject: Re: A message to authors and pubishers Robert Lockie has echoed the sentiments many people (including me) feel. However, believe me Robert, you're fighting a losing battle. Whenever I mention something like this I get shot down in flames because people are extremely defensive when it comes to their mistakes -- especially native speakers making mistakes with their native language. Would that they had the same passion about correcting their mistakes. Bring back the proof readers. God knows the written language needs them. Publishers should realize that they aren't saving money by not using proof readers because, if I preview a book with poorly written language, I will look for every possible alternative rather than buy it. It's the only way, 'vote with your wallet'. Robert, it could be likened to a holy endeavour, and like most holy endeavours, I don't fancy our chances :-) Michael D'Silva Melbourne, Australia (Which, thankfully, is also a large place.) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: =?koi8-r?Q?=E6=C4=D5=DE=D5=CE?= Subject: 1942 flags and ensigns Hi! I am total newbee in flag aspects, so my questions might be silly. I need to choose between versions of Allied forces flags used in Pacific area circa 1942. I have seen several sites crediting to different versions, and since i am not an expert in these, i need your advise: Which were RAN, RNZN and RCN ensigns? Some sites suggest that they were similar to RN ensign, while some depict those with stars and leaf. The same question regarding RAAF, RNZAF and RCAF. Were rank flags of RAN, RNZN and RCN similar to those used in RN? Were those USN rank flags (dark blue with 2, 3 and 4 white stars) used in 1942 or other ones were used instead? Which were USAF rank flags in 1942? Had RNN have naval/airforce ensign and rank flags different of national flag at all? Thanks forward. Alex -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Jim Kloek" Subject: Pearl Harbor Colors I agree with John Snyder about old film fading and possibly changing color with time. The other thing to keep in mind is that motion pictures are first captured on negative film. After all the editing is done, the negative images are then printed on positive film, which is what is projected for viewing. Cinematographers often will do things during editing and printing to create a certain "look" to the final product which matches their artistic intentions. If, for example, (and this is complete speculation) John Ford decided he wanted the ships to look more blue, he could have changed the color balancing during printing to produce that look. I am not saying whether or not that happened in this case, but want to make the point that when you view a motion picture, you are not looking at the original capture medium, but rather a display medium which has been through one or more intermediate processing steps which are subject to manipulation. This same caution should be made for any image originally captured on negative film. However, an image captured on slide film is a different story. Most color slides taken during WWII were shot on Kodachrome, which has proven to be a remarkably stable film, with very little color fading evident over time. Additionally, these images were captured as positive images, so what you look at during display is the originally captured image. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: 1/700 Hiryu Hi, I see that Pit Road is offering a 1/700 photoetched flight deck for the carrier Hiryu. Does anyone know if it is planning on offering a complete 1/700 Hiryu at some point, to go with the recent 1/700 kit of the Hiryu's near sister, the Soryu? If not, could you use the Pit Road photoetched flight deck with Aoshima's 1/700 Hiryu and end up with a decent kit? I know the Aoshima Hiryu is an old kit, but how good or bad is it? Thanks! Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Ralph Batykefer" Subject: Sub Question from Target Builder Hello Submariners, I'm a target builder but I want to build a diorama of a sub base using the following subs/targets and wanted advice. I have a few boomers (Skywave - USS George Washington), some attack boats (JAG - USS Skipjack), a floating drydock (Corsair Armada - ARD), and a sub tender (Loose Cannon - USS Fulton). I know the time period would be 1960's, but what sub base would have all of these ships (if they ever mixed boomers and attack boats)? Also does anyone have photos that may include how the ships would be placed in a harbor scene? I'm also looking for some photos of a USS Fulton subtender in the early 60's. What other targets may be included in the diorama. I wanted to put one of the subs in the drydock. I tend to be a stickler for accuracy and do not want to offend the submariners. Thanks again from a target builder... IHS, Ralph -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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