Subject: SMML VOL 1759 Date: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 13:29:32 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: The Count Von Luckner 2: USS Shoup Aegis destroyer to be commissioned June 22 3: Re: Another thread? 4: Re: Another thread? 5: Re: Daring Class Destroyers 6: Re: Seadler 7: Re: Count Felix von Lucknow 8: Re: Another thread 9: Re: Felix von Luckner 10: Re: von Luckner/Washington DC Model Stuff 11: Re: Count Felix Von Luckner 12: Von Luckner and the Washington Navy Yard 13: Re: Okinawa Sinkex 14: Re: Another thread? 15: Re: Washington, DC Model Stuff 16: Re: Washington, DC modeling stuff 17: Re: What is the definition of "Caliber" 18: Re: Another thread? 19: Re: USN in WW1 20: Re: Another thread? 21: Re: What is the definition of "Caliber" 22: Count von Luckner 23: Re: Count Luckner and Calibers 24: Re: What is the definition of "Caliber" 25: looking for..... 26: Re: Another thread? 27: this may not be exactly naval stuff but something for the Sydney people 28: Washington DC Area Model Shops 29: Re: Washington Area Hobby Shops -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: 1/192 SAMUEL B. ROBERTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: The Count Von Luckner Under the heavy wing of the British colonial powers, Fiji entered the 20th century: a peaceful, relatively prosperous little country mostly unaffected by the world beyond the surrounding seas. Fiji was hardly noticed during World War I except by Count Felix von Luckner, whose infamous raider the SEEADLER was wrecked in the Society Islands. Intent on finding a new schooner with which to continue the war, von Luckner and five men sailed to Fiji in an open boat. They found a suitable ship to commandeer in Wakaya, but their plans were foiled by the untimely arrival of a British officer and four Indian soldiers. Lacking the uniforms in which to fight chivalrously, they surrendered and were interned in Auckland for the remainder of the war. from http://www.naia.com.fj/fiji/history.html & his photo http://www.goldinc.com/~seadevil/felix.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: USS Shoup Aegis destroyer to be commissioned June 22 USS Shoup (DDG 86), the newest in a series of advanced Aegis guided missile destroyers built for the US Navy by Northrop Grumman Corporation'sShip Systems sector, will be commissioned at 11 a.m. PDT Saturday, June 22, 2002, at Port Terminal 37 in Seattle, Wash. This ship is named in honour of US Marine Corps Gen. David M. Shoup (1904-1983), a World War II naval hero, a Medal of Honor recipient for his actions during the initial landings on Betio, Tarawa Atoll, in the Pacific in 1943, and who later became the 22nd commandant of the Marine Corps. Following commissioning, DDG 86 will be homeported in Everett, Wash., as an element of the US Pacific Fleet. Cmdr. E. Bernard Carter, a native of Hopkins, S.C., will command the 509.5-foot, 9,300-ton destroyer. USS Shoup (DDG 86) is the 36th ship of the DDG 51 Aegis destroyer programme and the 16th to be built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems. The ship is the fourth of the revised Flight IIA ships built by Northrop Grumman, with hangars for two SH-60B/F helicopters and an enlarged flight deck. Following DDG 86, Northrop Grumman has contracts to produce nine additional Aegis destroyers, with six of those ships in various stages of production, including Pinckney (DDG 91), which will be christened in a public ceremony in the shipyard Saturday, June 29. USS Shoup was delivered to the Navy by Northrop Grumman Feb. 18, 2002, and departed Pascagoula April 22. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: MrkLeonard@aol.com Subject: Re: Another thread? Felix Von Luckner was the captain of the SMS Seeadler, which was the converted sailing ship Pass of Balmaha. The Seeadler was a commerce raider whose career was ended when she went aground in the Pacific. Depending on who you talk to, the ship was wrecked by either a tidal wave, or by Von Luckners' failure to set enough ground tackle to prevent the ship from drifting onto a reef. There used to be a kit of this vessel, but I don't remember the manufacturer. Hi mark, Revell put out a kit of the Seeadler. Shane -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Ken Goldman" Subject: Re: Another thread? Felix Graf von Luckner was captain of the auxiliary cruiser "Seeadler", earning the Pour Le Merite. Ken Goldman THE WALRUS AND THE CARPENTER unique wood sculpture and fine scale models www.walruscarpenter.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "John Rodriguez Asti" Subject: Re: Daring Class Destroyers Dear Mike: I have some photographs and drawings of Daring class destroyers that can help you. If you wish, contact me off the list to my e-mail. I have build an scratch HMS Diana model in 1/500 using various sources and official drawings. Regards, John Rodriguez Asti Lima, Peru -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Richa5011@aol.com Subject: Re: Seadler >> Who was Count Felix Von Luckner, of the German Navy in WW 1 and what was his ship? << Von Luckner commanded SMS Seadler, a three masted sailing ship (ex-Pass of Balmaha) outfitted as a disguised raider. Departing in December 1916,she raided down through the Atlantic and around the horn into the Pacific. Von Luckner was the younger son of a German Count, who when he failed at school, ran away to sea. Working first as a cabin boy, Von Lucker eventually commanded sailing ships in the merchant trade. When the First War started, he took a commission in the German Navy. Lowell Thomas wrote a book entitled "Count Felix Von Luckner - The Sea Devil" that chronicled the Von Luckner's life and the cruise of the Seadler. After 8 months at sea and a number of ships taken, the Seadler was wrecked by a tidal wave on the reef of Mopelia Island in the Society group in the South Pacific. Most of the crew and all of the prisoners (captured ships crew) were ashore at the time. There were no lives lost. After salvaging what they could, Von Luckner and several crew members sailed one of the ships boats to another island (Fiji?) to capture a ship so they could rescue the crew and prisoners from the island. Captured in the process of commandeering a ship, the Count was sent to a POW Camp in New Zealand, from which he escaped...was recaptured and ended the war there. Unbeknownst to Von Luckner, the rest of his crew and the prisoners commandeered a ship that called at their island and sailed to South America where they were interned for the rest of the war. Thomas wrote another book later called "The Sea Devil Speaks" which was a collection of sea stories from Von Luckner's pre-war career as a merchant sailor and, later, captain. I seem to recall that Von Luckner passed away along about 1931 or there abouts. A great story, most of which is true , about a man that was apparently "much larger than-life". Nat Richards -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Lester Abbey" Subject: Re: Count Felix von Lucknow Count Von Lucknow was the captain of the WW I Raider Seeadler, a sailing ship which operated in the South Atlantic and Pacific. The Seeadler was wrecked near Samoa and the crew taken to New Zealand as prisoners. After a daring escape attempt (which nearly succeeded) Count von Luckner was imprisoned on Soames Island in Wellington Harbour. Soams Island is clearly visible from my house and office (I'm looking at it now) and I often think about what it must have been like 85 years ago when playing host to the Count. I've visited there several times looking for any memorabelia (it's been nearly deserted for most of those intervening years) but there is nothing that old left there. Lester Abbey Wellington New Zealand -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Roland Mar Subject: Re: Another thread Count Felix von Luckner was the captain of the WW I Hilfeskreuzer (auxiliary cruiser) SEEADLER (Sea Eagle). SEEADLER was unique in that she was a 3 masted sailing ship. My books, including my copy of "Count Luckner, the Sea Devil" by Lowell Thomas, are packed away; but IIRC she ran the British blockade disguised as a Norwegian merchant sailing ship with a deck cargo of lumber. She was boarded by a party from a British cruiser and bluffed past the inspection using a German sailor dressed as the "captain's wife". Once at sea, SEEADLER began a fine career attacking Allied merchant ships, including a large number of sailing ships, which were still common then. Though armed only with a couple of small caliber cannon, SEEADLER bluffed many ships into surrender by calling out "torpedoes ready!". Torpedoes so terrified ship captains that many surrendered instantly. SEEADLER ended up at a Pacific atoll, where they tried to careen her and scrape her bottom. A freak tidal wave wrecked her. The Count and crew sailed in small boats and were captured by the New Zealanders (I think). After several escapes, and captures of Allied vessels, I believe they ended up in South America. Von Luckner spent several years after the war on the lecture circuit in the US talking about his career. I may be wrong on details [I read it quite a few years ago], but this should be enough to start the thread. In any case, I recommend the book highly. Roland Mar -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Gernot Hassenpflug Subject: Re: Felix von Luckner Regarding the good Count meantioned by a disappointed SMMLie, I trust you will be more successful with this endeavour :-) The story of the Seeadler is much more a story of the sea than a war story, especially when the story of the Seeadler II is taken into account! I would go as far as to say that this should be required reading along with the Hornblower and Bolitho accounts at prep (primary) schools, because it is all true! By the way, whoever did the english translation did a fine job, I read both the original German and the English versions, and they were both grippingly written. Cheers, Gernot -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: von Luckner/Washington DC Model Stuff I'm going to say out of the von Luckner thing. I know perfectly well who he was and the name of his ship (I even remember which company produced a kit of it). I also met a lady who knew him, while I was still working for the California highway department. The mention of the underground story in DC selling souvenirs jogged my memory. Be sure to take in the Navy Memorial as well, which has a fair little store, a great bit of carrier film, and some other things of interest. It's right across Pennsylvania Avenue from the National Archives (IIRC). Best, John Snyder White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Minadmiral@aol.com Subject: Re: Count Felix Von Luckner >> O.K. Here's another thread for SMML. Who was Count Felix Von Luckner, of the German Navy in WW 1 and what was his ship? << Hi; The Count was a German naval officer who commanded the raider Seaadler (sp?). This was an armed sailing ship sent out to raid allied shipping during WWI. Just a brief answer, I'm sure we will get at least a half dozen extremely detailed answers to this one. Chuck Duggie WoodenWalls Listmeister eGroups : WoodenWalls Naval wargamer, amateur naval historian, and ship modeler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Katz, Gene S" Subject: Von Luckner and the Washington Navy Yard >> O.K. Here's another thread for SMML. Who was Count Felix Von Luckner, of the German Navy in WW 1 and what was his ship? now that I have your attention... << Von Luckner was the Sea Devil and (I think) Captain of the Emden. >> Note that the Yard is in a not so nice neighborhood, so consider that when making plans-- early morning day time visits are best. You also need photo ID to get in. << That is putting it mildly. My firm has offices at the yard and we have put out a written BEWARE for our employees and visitors. Do not go into the convenience store across from the yard, it is a drug and crime haven. Do not walk about the area alone. Do not drive,i.e., take the Metro or a cab (best).If you must drive, don't leave anything in plain sight in the car, use the trunk. Don't wear your flashy, expensive jewelery (LOL!). Don't look like a tourist. Don't wear your 35mm camera around your neck. Ladies, wear your purses slung across your body, not just your shoulder. Etc., etc. It's a shame, but that's everyday life in the Nation's Capital. (I was born and lived there, and my father was a local cop.) The Marine Barracks at 8th and I (eye) St. is a nice visit also, especially if you can see the Tattoo, Evening Colors. Otherwise, enjoy your visit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Devin Subject: Re: Okinawa Sinkex >> Any web site pictures? This would be interesting. Sounds like she lasted longer that the OK City. << Okay, this may just be me, but I have this morbid fascination with photos and film of ships sinking. I have a huge digital photo of an Adams class DDG taking the final plunge, a movie file of an Australian DD being torpedoed in a weapons test. Am I the only one that that has this affliction? :) Devin -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Diodor@aol.com Subject: Re: Another thread? For Franklyn K. Brown: Who was Count Felix von Luckner? Well By Joe! He was the commanding officer of the Seeadler, a German raider that roamed the seven seas during WWI, sinking many merchant ships by looking innocent until the last moment of attack. He had a personality larger than life. By Joe but he loved the sea! And By Joe he loved the people who went to sea. Not until he had taken everyone aboard from the captured ship did he sink it, and as his collection of commanding officers grew he formed a little club aboard his ship and had cocktail parties for them and formed lifelong friendships with them. By Joe but he was a real guy--my boyhood hero By Joe. If you haven't gathered it by now the expression "By Joe" was his favorite, used extensively throughout his book. And your questions about Durazzo are accurate. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: MIKE.LEONARD@customs.treas.gov Subject: Re: Washington, DC Model Stuff Peter noted - >> Air and Space Museum on the Mall, Capitol end. On the second floor they have a large exhibit on carrier aviation, complete with an amazing Enterprise (maybe 1960's or 70's config)in either 1/72 or 1/100 scale << It's 1/100 scale. Nearby there's also a fantastic 1/72 diorama of the 1920's "Army World Flight" during a stopover in Alaska. This diorama won a major IPMS award several years ago. One of the aircraft involved has been restored and is on display. >> Navy Yard. Many, many models, almost all in very large scales, all beautifully done. << But no longer open on weekends! >> This one I am a bit fuzzy on but in the underground shopping mall connected to the Crystal City Metrostation is a small shop that sells "nautical" items, including ball caps for many, many USN ships. No models per se, but some carved and lacquered display pieces for sale. << "The Ship's Hatch". Two DC area locations. >> National Geographic museum usually has something interesting on display. << Apparently they have an exhibit with some very large ship models (Titanic included) at present. Now back to hobby shops: Nostalgic Plastic (Silver Spring, MD) and Piper Hobby (Chantilly, VA) are also well worth visiting. MWL Alexandria, VA USA -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Phil Stewart Subject: Re: Washington, DC modeling stuff Pete mentioned the Navy Yard-- thanks Pete! There is also an exhibit at the National Museum of American History on the Mall (part of the Smithsonian Institution), with a Web presence at http://americanhistory.si.edu/subs/ . Included in the exhibit are some models of various submarines to illustrate the history of the subject. Also thanks to Vincent for the commentary on Granddad's hobby shop in Annandale. I've put it on my itinerary as a result. Random note: I've become interested in finding a model of the seaplane tender U.S.S. Pine Island, after a chance conversation at the Folklife Festival here on the mall last summer, in which a man described to me the travels of his ship after World War II, which included a trip to the Antarctic (apparently Operation High Jump). I never got his name, but it was an interesting research exercise figuring out what ship he must have served on-- and an interesting conversation. Phil Stewart Washington, DC -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: Ken Subject: Re: What is the definition of "Caliber" Your usage of caliber conforms to the US Navy use of the term, e.g., 3"/50, 5"/38 for DD's, indicating barrel length in terms of a multiple of the projectile diameter (or, of course, the barrel diameter). Note that as propellant science developed longer burning materials, the barrels got longer to enhance range and accuracy. WW I saw 3"/25 grow to 3"/40 and 3"/50 in WW II an out to 3"/70 in the 1950's. A progression in appearance from stubby to spaghetti! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Sab1156@aol.com Subject: Re: Another thread? Graf Luckner was a german naval officer and commanded a sailing ship the "seeadler" which was rebuild as a merchant raider (hidden guns,secret rooms etc.).After a succesful time in the south sea,the ship founded in a storm on an island,I think it was the Muroa Atoll,where the crew had to spend some time. D.Hartwig -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: Re: USN in WW1 >> I was disappointed that just one SMML member responded to my remarks about the U.S.Navy being involved in only one battle (other than convoy and patrol engagements etc.) in WW 1, and the fact that in that battle (the Battle of Durazzo on the Adriatic Sea in 1918) the Navy was represented by 110 Ft. wooden-hulled submarine chasers only. That respondent concurred. I rather doubted that claim when I first read it, but unless someone can submit evidence to the contrary, the claim remains unchallenged. << Sorry, there's not much to say. The big boys didn't get to fight much. In 1918 the fleets did approach each other again, with US BBs in the van of the Allied formation, but never caught sight of one another in those pre-radar days. There were incidents involving US warships, including the sinking of the armored cruiser San Diego by a submarine-laid mine. And several large troop transports were torpedoed, along with many smaller vessels, but the US entered the fray too late for any significant at-sea combat. Joe Poutre PS: "The Sea Devil". And I ain't that old. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: Pieter Cornelissen Subject: Re: Another thread? >> O.K. Here's another thread for SMML. Who was Count Felix Von Luckner, of the German Navy in WW 1 and what was his ship? Sic 'em, you (other) older guys. << Count Felix von Luckner was the commanding officer of SMS Seeadler, probably the only 20th century surface raider the looked like a sailing ship - and sometimes acted like a sailing ship too. (anyone ineterested in producong a 1/700 version?) Pieter Cornelissen Only 33 years old I'm afraid -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: dlfowler@apple.com Subject: Re: What is the definition of "Caliber" Hi, Actually there are basically two definitions for caliber in the military. One refers to larger weapons and the other to smaller weapons. In the case of the latter, a .50 caliber machine gun refers to the bore diameter of 1/2 or 0.50 inches. A M-16 round is 5.56mm or .223 inches (just slightly larger than a .22 caliber). (no offense RB, but most .50 caliber weapons have a barrel length considerably longer than 25 inches) When talking about larger weapons, caliber refers to the barrel length in relationship to the bore. That is why there are two numbers as in a 5"/38 (5 inch bore, 38x5 or 190", 15' 10" barrel length) or 16"/50 (16" bore, 50X16 or 800", 66' 8" barrel length). Encyclopedia Britannica: caliber (or calibre), in firearms, unit of measure indicating the interior, or bore, diameter of a gun barrel and the diameter of the gun's ammunition; or the length of a gun expressed in relation to its interior diameter (now used only of naval and coastal defense guns). Best regards, Duane Fowler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "Clem Jensen" Subject: Count von Luckner Count von Luckner was a German sea raider in WW1. He disguised and armed freighters and other ships. These ships had guns mounted behind false walls that would drop down when it was time to attack. He was very effective. He was known as "The Sea Devil" and has ship was the "Seadler" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: "Michael London" Subject: Re: Count Luckner and Calibers Lieutenant-Commander Count Felix von Luckner was an officer in the German Naval Reserve who was put in command of the armed sailing ship Seeadler (formerly the US flag Pass of Balhama). She narrowly escaped capture by British patrols off the Shetlands who intercepted and searched her but did not find her two 4.1 in guns nor her two torpedo tubes. The German crew pretended to be Norwegian and got away with it. She headed for the South Atlantic and then the Pacific where, after sinking ten ships, she was wrecked in the Fiji Islands in August 1917. Von Luckner was his own propagandist making much of his prowess as a "sea devil" but his exploits were tame in comparison to other raiders. He did however make the point that an innocent-looking sailing ship was quite capable of waging an effective war on commerce. (Source: Bennett, Naval battles of the First World War). Now to calibers - or calibres depending on which side of the pond you went to school. The caliber of a gun is the diameter of the bore but confusion exists in that guns are also classified by barrel length expressed in calibers. A 12 inch 40 caliber gun would have a barrel length of 40 x 12in = 40ft. It would be unusual for a gun to be classified by barrel length alone so that when the word caliber appears unsupported by another dimension one can take it that it refers to bore diameter. The number of calibers is a useful guide when comparing guns of the same bore but of different lengths. As an example the first British dreadnoughts (completed 1906 to 1910) had 12 inch 45 caliber guns while Neptune (1911) and the two Colossus Class had 50 caliber. Michael London -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: Edd Pflum Subject: Re: What is the definition of "Caliber" RhinoBones wrote: >> Caliber seems to have several definitions, one of which is the diameter of the round, but the one that that I learned is that caliber was originally a French term used to describe barrel length as a function of the bore <> Need one of the experts out there to set the record straight. << I don't have reference for this, but I believe it is as follows. The caliber is the diameter of the bore, i.e. 3". The barrel length is expressed as a multiple of the bore diameter, i.e. "3" Caliber, 50 Calibers Long", shortened to "3"-50 caliber." Stating the barrel length in multiples of the bore gives a "figure of merit", independent of the actual bore size. Thus a 3"-50 calier gun would have similar properties to a 4"-50 caliber (high velocity) and be differentiated from a low velocity 3"-26 caliber (Poole gun). Edd -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: "Jansen,Matthijs M.P.T.W." Subject: looking for..... I am desperately looking for Michiel Woort. If anybody knows how I can contact him please mail me off list on jansen2690@zonnet.nl He has got some stuff for my USS Enterprise CVN65. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) From: KHS1392@webtv.net (KARL H. SCHULZ) Subject: Re: Another thread? Luckner, Graf Flelix Von (1881-1996), German naval officer, was captain of the armed merchant crusier Seeadler, a square-rigged sailing vessel with an auxiliary engine which operated in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans in 1916-17 during the First World War. His cruise lasted from 21 December 1916 to 2 August 1917, when the ship was wrecked on Mopelia in the Society Islands, having sunk fourteen allied merchant ships, eleven of them sailing vessels. After the shipwreck Luckner was taken prisioner by the New Zealand authorities. When the was over he sailed the world in his own four-masted schooner Vaterland until she was destroyed by fire in 1935. (from page 502 The Oxford companion to Ships and the Sea). I am writing this beneath an autographed lithograph of his schooner Vaterland dated Aug, 1927. This is date he visted San Pedro, California on one of his trips around the world. My parents and I visted the ship. I don`t remember anything of the vist as I had only been born a couple of months earlier. In 1947 or 1948 (memories tend to faid) my wife (Esther) and I attended a lecture given by the count at Compton Jr. College, Compton, Calif. Before the lecture we had a few moments to tak to him and found him to as charming as he was allways descriped. There are two books writtenabout him by Lowell Thomas in the late 1920`s and early 1930`s (can`t rember the titles, but a must read if they can be found of a fabulous individual Watch that older guy stuff Far from sea Karl H. Schulz Roseville, Calif.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: this may not be exactly naval stuff but something for the Sydney people in the Telegraph this morning Defence Reserves 2002 showcase Military Skills comp 9a m weekend june 22,23 Holsworthy barracks Liverpool try before you buy day 1st/15th Royal NSW Lancers 8am Sunday June 30 people interested in joing the army reserves are invited try before you buy day 23rd field regiment (artillery) 8 am Saturday july 6 Holsworthy baracks 7th field regiment gun troop demonstration 10am Saturday june 29 kings school parramatta Bring a boss night 7pm Wednesday july 3 kgarah multi-user depot chandler st kogarah -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28) From: "maeisen@erols.com" Subject: Washington DC Area Model Shops Folks: When visiting DC, be sure to visit "Nostalgic Plastic," a model shop located in Silver Spring, Maryland, not far (by car or metro) from downtown DC, and just inside the beltway. They have an extensive collection of new and previously owned plastic and resin kits (though a little thin on ships), PE, decals, modeling supplies, and books and magazines. Most importantly, they have hosted the two or three SMMLcons that we have had in the DC area thus far; reason enough to patronize them. Their phone number is, if I recall correctly, (301) 565-0565, and they are open during weekdays only in the evening, and on the weekends from noon to five. Call them for directions from wherever you are coming from; they are but a 15 minute walk from (if I remember correctly) the Forest Glen Metro stop. Warmest regards, Mike E. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29) From: "Robert Healy" Subject: Re: Washington Area Hobby Shops Greetings All, If you are willing to make the trip, Nostalgic Plastic is a must do. It is located in Silver Spring MD., just off the beltway. The fellow that owns it (Chris Mikesh) runs it as a labor of love...it grew out his love for the hobby. It will take you a while to get through the store...lots of stuff. And he will give you a break if you are an IPMS member...(The prices on most stuff are more than reasonable anyway). http://www.nostalgicplastic.com/index.cfm?RequestTimeout=500 Check the website for hours/directions before you go, since it is a hobby/second job for him the hours are odd. He has a room full of OOP kits....cheap. Haggling is allowed! And the roundel/wing of the Oscar on the wall in the paint room is worth the trip in itself! Regards, Bob Healy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: ALROSS2@aol.com Subject: 1/192 SAMUEL B. ROBERTS The 1/192 scale kit of the SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE 413) I developed for BlueJacket Shipcrafters is just about ready for packing. I finished drafting the instructions last week and am keying the plans this week. It's a standard (but upgraded) "traditional" wood kit - machine-carved basswood hull, basswood superstructure, britannia fittings, PE details, etc. If you like larger scales and working with wood, check out BJ's line of civilian and naval vessels at www.bluejacketinc.com. Al Ross -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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