Subject: SMML VOL 1873 Date: Fri, 16 Aug 2002 00:14:39 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Ted Treadwell's and Richard Sweeney's unsolicited remarks 2: Re: Model Paint Jobs 3: Flexible pipe 4: USS DIXIE 5: GI Joe and a 40mm 6: US Corvette Weapons 7: Judging vs. Criticism 8: The P in IPMS 9: Re: Weathering, rust, and other effects/JB's shrinking rigging 10: Re: Model Paint Jobs 11: VCR Alert for Australian subscribers .... 12: ATTN RICHA50**!!!!!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information 1: Model Show Reminder -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Revell Yorktown decals needed 2: Trumpeter New Kits ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Re: Ted Treadwell's and Richard Sweeney's unsolicited remarks About Ted Treadwell's and Richard Sweeney's unsolicited remarks, I can only sort of hang my head a little and mumble "Aw, shucks" as I draw imaginary circles on the floor with the toe of my shoe. But thanks, fellas. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: NAVYDAZE@aol.com Subject: Re: Model Paint Jobs I must admit you guys did an outstanding job of explaining that to me which seems to all make sense now, even from the point of view of the judges and I never thought of having a photo with it - that is great. And Rusty you cannot pull the "I am just an Okie" thing on me - I am an ex resident of Oologah and Talala - I am sure only Rusty will know where those two towns are :-) Michael Donegan NAVYDAZE Naval & Aviation Artist http://www.navydaze.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Flexible pipe Although I am not into dioramas, I had a flash of an idea that might be of interest to diorama people of SMML. Whilst preparing a straw for inserting into the top of a soft drink can, I noticed that the straw had some accordion-like convolutions about 1 1/2 inches from one end, for bending the straw for easier use without crimping it. This reminded me of similar elbows I have seen on industrial piping where open loops were included to compensate for expansion and/or vibration. Take a look at one, and you will see what mean. Incidentally, that reference to a flash of an idea describes how my brain works. Like lightening (one bright flash followed by a long period of darkness). Franklyn P.S. Yeah the following is not modeling, but as an aside, if you swivel the can-opening pull-up tab so that the small hole in the tab is over the large hole you just created to give you access to the liquid inside, you can insert the bent straw down through both holes and swivel the tab back until the straw is gently clamped between the edges of the two holes. Thus secured, the straw will not tend to float around in the liquid. Try it. If it works for you, you now have an excuse to go have another can of soft drink, namely, to get yourself some flexible pipe elbows for your diorama. Now, if I can only think up a modeling use for empty pizza boxes!!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: NAVYDAZE@aol.com Subject: USS DIXIE Has anyone built or seen the resin kit from Loose Cannon of the 1/700th USS DIXIE. I really like ships that are not from the mainstream but have a lot of history to them as she, at the end of her career, flew the "Don't Tread On Me" flag (now on my old ship the KITTY HAWK). Just getting the feel for some of the resin kits, now that I am going to make the big plunge into resin I am already looking ahead at possible future kits. Of course I am dead meat if my better half finds out how much they cost compared to plastic. Michael Donegan NAVYDAZE Naval & Aviation Artist http://www.navydaze.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: NAVYDAZE@aol.com Subject: GI Joe and a 40mm Has anyone seen the new version of GI Joe on a Navy 40mm. Now why in the heck didn't they have toys like that when I was a kid. Well, heck I am going to get me one - I bet you could really detail the 40mm, mount it on a simulated wooden deck and use if for a nice display for your desk or whatever - nice conversation piece anyway! It says it is 20 inches tall!!. So you can always discard the doll. Anyway if you want to see it go to: http://www.navalbasehobbies.com/gijoe40mm.htm Cheers, Michael Donegan NAVYDAZE Naval & Aviation Artist http://www.navydaze.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Edd Pflum Subject: US Corvette Weapons A while back, someone asked about weapons for a conversion of the Matchbox Flower to the USS Courage. Most of the refits I've seen involve replacing the 2-pounder Pom-Pom with a 3"/50 at the aft end of the deckhouse (casing?) with a splinter shield (gun tub) surrounding the mount. The 4" forward was replaced by another 3"/50 or a 4"/50 (a surface action only weapon), with or without a splinter shield. At least one Flower had a 4"/50 with a destroyer-style shield mounted on the gun. Many had additional 20mm mounts in the P&S midships positions (2 or 4.) In the case of my favorite, USS Surprise (because I have the most pictures of her) the 20mm were late pattern (Mk.13?...anyway, NOT Mk.4) lightweight tripod mounts The British DC throwers were replaced by US "K" guns. All of these are available in 1:48, 1:72 and 1:96 from HR Products in white metal. They're on the Web, but I can't find my bookmark. Edd ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Edd Pflum Subject: Judging vs. Criticism I totally agree with Bob's 10 rules on Competitions. However: Judging: Most contests I've been in require an entry fee, often with an additional amount for each model. This DEMANDS fairness in judging. I'm not talking about reasonable disagreements among reasonable men, or even the short-sightedness of some individual judges. But the rigging of contests (awarding extra points to a friend's model, or giving the top prize to the President son, as has been mentioned previously) is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! 'Nuff said. Criticism: Although I agree with Bob's comments on criticizing other's work, I believe he will agree that pointed, or even harsh (though compassionate), criticism from a friend or person you admire, can help you to improve your skills. Many years ago, I showed a newly completed model I was proud of to a hobby shop owner / friend. (It was an Aurora 1:48 Panther tank converted to a late war version with King Tiger running gear, if anyone cares.) He looked at the model and pointed out the (as molded) seam in the gun barrel. "There's a seam there," he said. I admitted there was. "Was there a seam on the real thing?" he asked. No, I protested, but filing off the seam would have made the barrel out of round. I don't recall his exact reply, but it was something like: "That's not my problem...that's YOUR problem. You need to find a way to remove the seam AND keep the barrel round." It impressed me a lot. It wasn't OK to say that's too hard, this is as far as I can go, "good enough" is acceptable. Every model doesn't have to be perfect, but the next should be better. Sometime you need someone who is honest and not emotionally involved with the result to point out the flaws so you can improve next time. Edd ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Edd Pflum Subject: The P in IPMS In the beginning, models were carved from wood (OK, maybe bone in the real beginning, but I'm talkin' '40s and '50s here!) Airplane kits came with a few hunks of balsa, a set of plans, and (if you were really lucky) a few markings printed on white paper you could cut out and glue to the finished product. These were 5 and 10 cents when I was growing up ('50s.) Just achieving a result that resembled the prototype was an accomplishment. I recall building USS New Orleans from a set of instructions in a '30s crafts book (when the New Orleans was hot stuff!) Made of balsa, with finishing nail guns, it compared pretty well to the early plastic kits, if you ignored the unfilled wood grain. When plastic kits came out, anyone could glue one together and get a result that resembled the real thing. REAL MODELERS looked down their noses at these "toys." In the '60s, a plastic modeling column in "Flying Models" magazine introduced me to IPMS. The goals were to promote plastic modeling as a valid art (craft?, modeling?) form, and produce results that not only "resembled" the prototypes, but were accurate representations. In other words, take what was available, and raise the bar. Today, the basic kit state of the art is much higher, and PE and resin allow the bar to be raised higher still. Modelers don't have to work exclusively in plastic to prove plastic is as good as other media. It makes more sense to build a "Victory" in wood than plastic, and a "Nimitz" in plastic than wood. A model shouldn't be judged by its material, but by the result. Horses for courses. Edd ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: Weathering, rust, and other effects/JB's shrinking rigging >> As a judge, I do not think would count splotches of red lead or fresh paint on the side of a ship as a flaw against the model as long as it was executed well. << Mmmm, gotta watch that red lead, Ed. USN ships in WW2 were primed above the red lead with a green primer (can't remember the name/number offhand, but have a bit of it somewhere off the RED OAK VICTORY). That would show through worn paint well before the red lead would. >> Have you tried a hair dryer? << Darren, Jim's rigging is so delicate that he's had it break loose in a breeze when he and Caroline took an uncased model outside to take photos. He doesn't do that any more, and I seriously doubt he'd let a switched-on hair dryer into the same room as one of his models. ;^) Best, John Snyder White Ensign Models http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: ironship@vic.com (Jon Warneke) Subject: Re: Model Paint Jobs Hi Mike, All things considered, every year ship models win without a perfect paint job, and here's why. Most ship models are painted with a single, uniform color, or a multiplicity of uniform colors. In reality, a ship should have about 30-35 colors on it, all subtle variations of the same base color or colors. However, in the scales we're talking about, this wouldn't be very noticible, and would be extremely difficult to replicate. When judges look at a model's paint job, they're looking at masking lines, muddling in the base color(s), oversprays, and basic modeling techniques like that. A "perfect" paint job is one where the base is uniformly applied, the masking lines are crisp, and there are no oversprays. Color doesn't come into the equation, unless it's obviously incorrect (a DE with a gloss, hot pink finish). Is it correct? No, but neither are those really pretty tanks with a light dusting of dirt. The AMPS guys don't like my judging, since I like to judge them the way I rode them in the field, and the last thing a tank is is subtle. Jon Warneke ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Michael Kear" Subject: VCR Alert for Australian subscribers .... Sunday night's 60 Minutes on Channel Nine will feature a story on the RAN in the Persian Gulf, what they're doing with the frigates there - interdiction of contraband ships etc. Cheers, Mike Kear Windsor, NSW, Australia www.modelwarship.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Dafuelmann@aol.com Subject: ATTN RICHA50**!!!!!!!! Hi Rich, I need your address for the price list, or a complete email address (The above is all I got with your message anr the reply button was x'd out) Thanks, David ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Jeff Herne, NJAHOF" Subject: Model Show Reminder Top Gun '02 will be held Saturday the 17th from 9am to whenever we decide to leave. Modelers may also arrive on Friday the 16th anytime after noon if they choose, but judging will commence at 1:30-ish on Saturday. All ship categories are covered, and thanks to Chris Decker and Nauticus Models, we have a Tamiya 1/350 King George V and Musashi to raffle off as door prizes. For more information, visit www.njipms.org or www.njahof.org for directions, or please email directly. You may also contact my office for additional information, 201-288-6344. I will not be able to address any inquiries posted here, as from this moment on, I am officially in 'crazed-host' mode and seriously doubt I will be checking the boards or reading SMML until after the show. Hope to see you there! Jeff Herne Director, NJAHOF ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Stephen Allen" Subject: Revell Yorktown decals needed Hi all Is there anybody out there who has a decal sheet they're willing to part with from the Revell 1:480 scale kit of Yorktown? I'm in the market for one to finish off my airgroup. Happy to pay postage or trade etc - you don't REALLY want to build this kit anyway, you'd much rather wait for the Trumpeter Hornet (wouldn't you?) regards Steve ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "shaya" Subject: Trumpeter New Kits The new Iowa & NJ Modern BB's are in stock. I have opened the kit it seem to be the same size as the Fujimi kits. The first thing you will notice is the 223 parts on 8 sprues. It can be built as a waterline or full hull. The parts are much more detailed than any 1/700 scale kit I have seen. The "built in detail" on the parts and bulkheads is far superior than anything out there. The decals are crisp and so are the parts. This kit was made in conjunction with Pit-Road so now you know where the parts come from. http://www.navalbasehobbies.com/american_battleships.html Shaya Novak Naval Base Hobbies www.modelshipbuilding.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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