Subject: SMML VOL 1764 Date: Sat, 22 Jun 2002 00:40:49 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: MO & saipan 2: Windtalkers and the MO 3: KM torpedo nets 4: RN Video 5: Re: "Models" on the History Channel 6: Monitor Recovery Project 7: History Channel " Models" 8: DDG-LPD Swap 9: Re: USS Inchon LPH 12 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: MO & saipan well looks like another "pearl harbour" doesn't it.. well at least they used footage of the ship & not say another BB like the Nevada or something like that & called it the MO! Im sure they could have used proper footage of the BB's actually doing bombardments of the islands & not use 1990 footage..who ever is in charge of historical accuracy may have to be shot or hope he/her doesn't try to give lectures about his or her involvement in the film especially in front of naval buffs!!!! who knows maybe it was cheaper to use Gulf war footage than WW2 stuff at least they didn't show her firing Tomahawks lol -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "George Frey" Subject: Windtalkers and the MO So what, Does it really mater where they got the footage, I thought it was a very good Movie, and had you not pointed it out I (and every other person who saw this movie) would never have known it. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Robert Lockie" Subject: KM torpedo nets After my last post on this subject, I watched another documentary the other day which referred to the X-craft attack on Tirpitz. It too showed the rusting net made from interlocking rings of wire rope and added the commentary that they are the nets from around Tirpitz which are today lying on the shore of the fjord where it was bombed in 1944. Still no measurements but perhaps there is a SMMLie who can run a tape over one? Robert Lockie Swindon UK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: PXGOLLIN@ctrl.co.uk Subject: RN Video I got a copy of the Imperial War Collection video "Royal Navy at War" (I got it from W H Smiths, but it is also available from Maritime Books of Plymouth and presumably elsewhere). Whilst not full of action and all in black and white it's a great source of those stock shots of Royal Navy ships you always see on TV. In addition, there are very good topside shots of HMS Howe at her commissioning and HMS London (about 1943 ?) and reasonable views on board a corvette. Very nostalgic. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Re: "Models" on the History Channel If any SMML member saw the "Models" show on the History Channel Thursday you saw Gordon Walker, he of the Naval Academy Museum, demonstrating the use of an endoscope to examine the interior of a dockyard model, as I mentioned in a recent issue of SMML. At our local modelers club meetings we feature "Show-and Tell" sessions at which members demonstrate models they have made, or are making. Unfortunately the audience cannot really see details being discussed at the time. Having one of these endoscopes connected to a large-screen TV would be a great audio-visual aid. There is one small deterrent, however. The endoscope costs about $75,000, and the large-screen TV also costs megabucks. But I plan to donate both an endoscope and a TV to the club, right after I win the record high multi -state lottery. As a matter of fact, I feel so strongly about this that I just might even buy a lottery ticket the next time it gets to a record high payoff. Gotta go now, here comes my keeper to let me out for my daily exercise. Franklyn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: MIKE.LEONARD@customs.treas.gov Subject: Monitor Recovery Project USS Monitor Recovery Project to Begin This Month by Chief Journalist David Nagle, Naval Sea Systems Command Public Affairs WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Navy divers are en route to Cape Hatteras, N.C., to continue salvage operations to recover the gun turret from the Civil War ironclad USS Monitor. One hundred twenty divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two in Little Creek, Va., and other Navy diving commands, including the Naval Sea Systems Command's Supervisor of Diving and Salvage, will participate in this year's Monitor Expedition. For the fifth consecutive year, the Navy, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Va., are working together at the dive site to recover Monitor artifacts. The mission will begin later this month and run until early August. This year, the expedition's goal is to recover the 120-ton gun turret that detached from the vessel when it sank to the bottom of the ocean in 1862 and came to rest under the ship's stern. The salvage effort will involve clearing 100 tons of the ship's armor belt and stern section to expose the turret, and then removing approximately 100 tons of silt from the turret before lifting it to the surface. In addition, divers will search the turret area for additional artifacts. A small pierside ceremony at Newport News is being considered when the turret is brought in. The turret and any other artifacts will go to the Mariner's Museum for display. To date, dive teams have recovered the ship's cast-iron propeller shaft and engine. For more information on the Monitor recovery project, go to www.monitorcenter.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Katz, Gene S" Subject: History Channel " Models" I was sort of let down by the "Models" show last night. They really gave plastic/resin modeling the short straw. While an interesting program, they really sped by our hobby. Wish I had the chance to edit their script!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: MIKE.LEONARD@customs.treas.gov Subject: DDG-LPD Swap NNS020619-17. Navy Approves DDG 51, LPD 17 Swap >From Department of Defense Public Affairs WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy signed a Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) on June 17, 2002, with General Dynamics (GD) and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems (NGSS) to transfer ship construction between the two corporations' shipyards. The MOU outlines the terms and conditions for transferring the construction of four LPD 17-class amphibious transport dock ships from Bath Iron Works (BIW), a GD shipyard, to NGSS owned-Ingalls and Avondale shipyards in exchange for construction of four additional DDG 51-class destroyers at Bath Iron Works. Under this plan, DDG 102, which was to have been built at Ingalls, will be transferred to Bath Iron Works. LPD 19, in the initial stages of construction at Bath Iron Works, will be transferred to Northrop Grumman. As a result of this agreement, the Navy is expected to realize significant net cost savings on these programs. The arrangement is anticipated to provide for increased LPD 17 program stability and cost savings by centralizing production at one shipbuilder, NGSS, and improved workload stability at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, which will build additional DDG's in its new, more efficient, land-level facility. For more information on the LPD 17 program, go to www.lpd17.navsea.navy.mil -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: NAVYDAZE@aol.com Subject: Re: USS Inchon LPH 12 What is with sinking all of these LPHs. To me they do not represent an actual viable targets, there aren't that many countries with carriers that would be targets. (can only think of one) If anything take the old DDGs or even the auxiliaries and use them for more realism. I am not understanding this. Someone please explain it to me . . . or is it too costly to scrap them??? OK here goes another thread! . . and bash me if you want . . . I had a thought, in that we keep putting ships in reserve fleets, why?? They will never be used again. Have you seen some of the pictures of the conditions of these ships, many of them are just junk, totally stripped and rusting away BOTH inside and out. So what is the point. Here at Susuin I think there is about 70 or 80 of them with no future what so ever - no matter what they want us to believe. It looks like there are even still some Victory ships, old Oilers even an early LSD or two - I mean really old stuff! So why the expense of keeping these ships. And yes Keith I agree with you, sinking them is better than seeing them gutted in the scrap yards. OK I am ready, commence firing!! Mike NAVYDAZE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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