Subject: SMML VOL 1914 Date: Tue, 10 Sep 2002 00:09:47 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Inaccuracy of Iowa class guns 2: RAST Tracks 3: Re: JARGON 4: French Naval Helicopters 5: Big Midget Models - Ko-Hyoteki 1/35 6: Jargon 7: New Model Warship Book? 8: Neil McCart Books 9: Re: Battleship Gunfire 10: ss 19 1/2 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information 1: ROCON 23 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: NEVENGER@aol.com Subject: Re: Inaccuracy of Iowa class guns No matter how big or small the weapon there will always be the factor of human error. Howeven the so called smart weapons of today can still go astray without the factor of human error. Thus welcome to the real world. Richard Dixon ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Devin J. Poore" Subject: RAST Tracks >> 4) Rast Tracks ..no idea..maybe something to do with helo landings ordragging them into the hangers << RAST tracks are indeed for helo recovery. On the Ticonderoga class cruisers, they consist of these large metal sled looking devices (seems to me they were about 5 X 5 feet, 2 feet tall), which contain a winch. They roll out onto the flight deck via their tracks, the winch is played out and hooked to the helo, and then the bird is winched down to the deck, and the sled rolls back into the hangar with the helo aboard. They're only meant to be used in heavy weather, when regular landings are not feasible. I was on the USS Normandy for 3 years and never heard of them actually being used; they just sat in the hangar and took up space. The flight deck markings of a Ticonderoga class cruiser will generally have two diagonal lines that converge towards the hangar doors, these are the outlines of the RAST tracks. RAST stands for Recovery Assist... well, that's all I remember. Recovery Assist something or other. Devin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Andrew Jones" Subject: Re: JARGON Not all seasprites were sold to Australia, though there is now a big stink cuz it is now reported that some of the airframes being built for our superseasprite (g model) have been stamped 1964 on the frames The New Zealand navy has ordered the G series, as well as the Egyptian, I think Taiwan is thinking of placing an order ..will have to go thru my filing system (the floor) to find my posters & stuff I get from the airshows by the manufacturers..i think the super sea sprite poster/booklet I have lists the sales.. the reason for in the sales potential of the supersea sprite is the mine dector casing to be mounted to the side which beams something like lasers down thru the water & the "lasers" (no jokes about Dr Evil!) the receiver in the superseasprite then gives the operator a detailed picture of the object. The NZ navy super seasprites will be I think armed with Hellfire missiles (well that was the original plan) ..the RAN's will be armed with Penguin anti-ship missiles ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "John Clements" Subject: French Naval Helicopters The Heller kits of the post-war cruisers Colbert and De Grasse include a curiously domestic-looking small helicopter that I cannot identify from any of my own books, which do not go back in that amount of detail as far as the 50's and early 60's are concerned (it reminds me of a childrens TV series from that time called Whirlibirds for those of a similar age). The only picture of a helicopter on the Colbert in the Marines Editions book on the ship shows something quite different. Could anyone identify the helicopter, please, so that I can find a better resin version - hopefully. Thanks, John Clements ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Rui Francisco Matos" Subject: Big Midget Models - Ko-Hyoteki 1/35 Burl, I have good news for you!!! (I don't know if you remember me - Rui a.k.a. Skipper) You won't have to scratch one for you, since someone already have! There's an Australian Modeler that has produced one (very limited production - 20 items only) and I ordered one of those. Nice resin, exquisite brass pieces and plans in a true 1/35 scale (about 70 cm of Midget!!!!). As a Midget Sub entusiast I can only say that it's a real accurate replica of the Sidney Attack Ko-Hyoteki, easily retrofited to the Pearl Harbour attack version. Gakken nš35 book provide me with extra pictures and excellent plans, that only certified the work that was put to build that master model!!! It's a real gem, trust me!!! Contact me offline if you want for extra details. Greatings from Portugal to all SMML'ies Rui Matos (aka Skipper) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: GeraldMcKinney@webtv.net (Gerald McKinney) Subject: Jargon Hi, Norm. I see all your other questions have been answered, so I'll take a stab at the one remaining. RAST (Recovery Assisance, Securing and Traversing) is a helicopter hauldown system that involves pulling a helo down while it maintains upward strain. This is to improve stability in heavy weather landings. It is installed on at least the flight II Arleigh Burkes. I'm not sure about earlier ships. Hope this helps. Jerry McKinney ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: New Model Warship Book? Hi, The Maritime Books web site's section on just-released books has an entry for "Building Model Warships of the Iron and Steel Eras" edited by a Peter Beisheim. Has anyone seen this book yet and, if so, can they tell us what they think of it? Thanks! Art Nicholson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Neil McCart Books Hi, I understand that there will soon be a book by Neil McCart on the British light fleet carriers that were begun during WWII and served for many years afterward. Is the book actually out yet? If so, any opinions on it yet? Also, what do people think of his earlier books, such as the ones on the British armored carriers and on the battleship Vanguard? Thanks! Art Nicholson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: arthur w rohloff Subject: Re: Battleship Gunfire While I am not an expert on the speed of projectiles, one does not have to be going faster than the speed of sound to experience the effect of hearing the noise after the arrival. If you've ever been to an air show, for example, the jets flying by at 400-500 mph will clearly be visible and past your position before the sound arrives. Actually, if I remember, it's pretty basic physics. Art Rohloff Winfield, IL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Subject: ss 19 1/2 I was surprised to learn that the G-1 actually carried number 19 1/2. The reason the number was given was a simple clerical error. When hull numbers were assigned, the G-1 was omitted from the original list. She was later inserted in her proper chronological place between SS-19 and SS-20 When SS-20 (F-1) was lost in a collision, G-1 was renumbered as SS-20. Incidentally, the 4 "G" class boats were not all sister ships. G-1 and G-4 were unique, single ship classes. This was the result of an attempt at design competition. G-1 was actually a sort of "private venture" for which the USN placed a conditional contract. She passed the conditions and was purchased. (She also set a new diving depth record). I don't know of any models, and she would have a truly unique appearance, because of her raised partial structure where the torpedotubes were housed, as much as her fractional hull number. Aryeh Wetherhorn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Jim Kloek" Subject: ROCON 23 ROCON 23, the Rochester, NY IPMS chapter's annual contest and show will be held Sunday, September 22 at the 40 & 8 Club, 933 University Ave. in Rochester. First held in 1976 ROCON is one of the longest continuously running IPMS contests in Upstate New York, and draws modelers from all over New York, northern Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and southern Ontario. In addition to the contest there will be vendors and a raffle. We'd love to have any and all SMMLies come and enter models, our ship categories have been growing in recent years, and it will be a good time. Jim Kloek ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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