Subject: SMML VOL 1933 Date: Sat, 21 Sep 2002 13:39:03 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: DVDs 2: Calling Roy Allen 3: Re: United States 4: Rail Stanchions - Brass 5: Ruined VCR tapes 6: DVD versus VHS 7: coding in DVDs 8: Preserving old ships 9: Re: VHS or DVD 10: Vancouver BC 11: PQ17 and HMS Lotus 12: Re: DVD or VHS? 13: DVD Players and Regional Codes 14: Re: DVD or VHS???? 15: Re: Arii and CC Lee Enterprise 16: Re: Do you VHS or DVD? 17: Re: VHS vs DVD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: A.J.Fisher Unbuilt Bluenose Kit for Sale ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Donald Bridge Subject: DVDs Steve You are correct as to the VHS problem of dual format US/Japan NTSC and Europe PAL/SECAM. But as a "copy protection" or differential pricing tool, they have built zone codes into DVDs so that a US DVD will not play in a European player. I am not sure how many zones there are but I think that it is at least 4. Good luck with the project, and remember the post war fans. Don Bridge ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Calling Roy Allen Roy I tried to reply to your e-mail but it was once again returned as undelivered. Regards Les Brown IPMS(UK) Small Warships SIG ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: CapnAgee@aol.com Subject: Re: United States You know, in all this discussion of to or not to save SS United States, no one has made a point that she would be unique in that we haven't put an American passenger ship in museum status. Sure, we have Great Britain's Queen Mary in Long Beach. but nothing of ours! I am still sickened by the loss of USS Cabot and the possible loss of USS Hoga or any other naval ship for display at the Clinton Museum. We, the little people who struggle to pay or taxes, Social Security, etc., can only give petty financial support for the preservation of our maritime history, but people like Bill Gates are the ones we should be going to for support. $15-milllion + tax deductable is nothing to him and I know he is education concerned; what better cause than to educate the public about American Maritime accomplishments than with her. A further step, imagine United States and NS Savannah together - what a magnificent sight that would be! I cherish every deck I've walked during my historic ship visits over the years and in my mind, relived the actions they have taken part in. As a retired military person (Air Force) and historian, I truly feel a sense of having "been there" during those actions with each visit. Bill Gates is the man to approach ... all I can do is write letters and give sweat - how about you? Do you want to see United States being cut to death as Cabot was - with us watching on the net? Ray Agee aka CapnAgeea aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "John Harloe" Subject: Rail Stanchions - Brass Where can brass 2-ball 7/16th of an inch stanchions be found wholesale? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Kelvin Mok Subject: Ruined VCR tapes >> .so now I have all my avalon airshows & navy open days tapes from a few years ago ruined. << Try playing them on another known good VCR first. It may be your own VCR that is the problem, such as synchronization or tape transport alignment. Also passing this along. Goto http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99992815 to read the report. >> Watch out, certain makes of high speed DVD-R's WILL DESTROY certain makes of DVD-R drive This is NOT A HOAX! Read more about this at www.newscientist.com BTW I was going to buy one of these drives, but forget it! << There is a firmware update to fix the problem. For those who haven't heard, some Pioneer drives can lock up with high-speed media, and the laser could eventually burn out if it stays locked up for too long. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Bill Livingston" Subject: DVD versus VHS Hi All, Well, not surprisingly, pretty much everyone here and on Steel Navy suggests DVD as the option for all the right reasons. There is no point reiterating the argument as it is essentially a 'no-brainer'. It was interesting for me (I work in the industry), was just how high the DVD market penetration actually is. I have access to market figures and the growth in the consumer electronics market has been driven by the launch of DVD for the past three or four years anyway, but it is encouraging for me to see the number of people using DVD as their preferred format. One thing to clear up, as there appears to be a little misunderstanding regarding the various DVD regions and inter-region compatibility. DVD's are coded to suit the country of release, not origin. So if you buy a copy of, say 'Lord of the Rings' in the US it will be coded in region 1. If you buy the same film here in the UK it will be coded in region 2. There are actually seven different region codes, 0 to 6. What actually prevents you viewing the disc is not on the disc itself, but on the DVD player, as all manufacturers have to meet the conditions of the DVD licence (by the way, those who manufacture the DVD players you buy for $48 do NOT pay the DVD licence. Unfortunately the onus is on the manufacturer, not the retailer to pay the licence, so it is not a level playing field and the quality manufacturers are paying for the cheats and unfortunately consumers and resellers don't particularly care). Anyway, back to the point. Manufacturers have to ensure their DVD players are set to play the region encoded discs in the region they are sold. However, no manufacturer makes a specific DVD player for every market in the world, the player will essentially be the same and we set the region by setting a software code. By doing this, we fulfil the requirements of the DVD licence. Some manufacturers set the region code to '0', which enables it to play any DVD disc from any region (playability may go down, so if some discs cannot be read, switching to the 'correct' region for that particular disc normally cures the problem). Some manufacturers provide a disc that is inserted in the player, and then a code is read that 'enables' the player for that region (useful if the customer owns an expensive DVD player and then moves abroad to a different region). Some manufacturers allow the user to change regions from the handset. Bottom line is, I don't no anyone who has a DVD player of any quality who cannot read discs from any region in the world. They have either had their retailer 'de-regionalise' the player, or find the manufacturer has left the option accessible from the handset through the service menu (bet you didn't know that was there!) or is set at the factory at region 0 anyway. Buy a good quality DVD player from a specialist retailer and they will do this for you. Trust me, EVERYONE knows about it. If you are in the States it won't really be an issue because Steve should do it in region 1 anyway. All the rest of us are able to play them, and for the unfortunate few that can't, well, ask your friendly specialist retailer and they will show you how. Just don't expect Dixon's staff to know! Bottom line is, there is no problem. DVD will work anywhere in the world, on virtually any player but the real cheesy ones. And if you have got one of them.... well I'm tempted to say it serves you right! ...and if you get a chance, try to see/hear a proper Home Cinema system using a proper projector and a full 5.1 or 7.1 system at a specialist retailer/installer. It will blow away anything you hear at a Cinema/Theatre....trouble is, a good one will cost you $100,000 plus (that's our market). A basic Home Theatre can cost around $5000 or so (less and they don't really count :-)). DVD players are actually pretty inexpensive. Sure you can buy something for less than $50 and it will work plugged into the TV. But go to $500 or so and it gets a lot better, and in a serious system, you could pay thousands of dollars for a decent DVD player. Depends on how important quality and performance is, and where it is as a personal priority in the home. Like everything else in life... Bill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Gernot Hassenpflug Subject: coding in DVDs I was wondering when someone would bring up coding (Bob Healy in SMML Vol 1932), a very obvious and relevant topic that should be in our heads when we interact in this 'global' world divided among spheres of influence, read companies and market shares. Basically the DVDs from Japan cannot be read on US or European DVD players, and vice versa. Despite the illegality issues, a way to get over this decidedly user-unfriendly feature is to rewrite the DVD files using a ripping program (various on Linux/Unix systems, probably similar for Macintosh or Windows) in either a non-coded format or the differently coded format if you need to re-encode it. To do this you do need a writeable DVD player attached to your computer system, which is a bit expensive still but is more or less standard on desktop PCs these days, and also available on the very latest laptops here in Japan. If you have a TV capture/tuner card attached to your computer you do not need a separate DVD player, but can pass the DVD signal straight from the computer to the TV (or onto the screen if you like or maybe don't have space in your japanese room for a TV). At the moment the problem usually surfaces when importing DVDs (mail order etc), so it helps to know about it. Cheers, Gernot ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Kelvin Mok Subject: Preserving old ships There has been passionate arguments about the preservation of old ships and it usually boils down to money and of course the fact that they are rusting in the meantime to a point where preservation becomes impossible. Think outside the box. Why must an old ship be moored on some valuable waterfront space? Why not use the ship as landfill, that is backfill around the hull waterline and build a new waterfront around it for recreational and commercial development. The new waterfront will be more valuable and ecologically friendly thereby attracting local community support. Using the hull as landfill certainly saves a lot in material and construction work to make the new waterfront an attractive business proposition with the ship as the main attraction. In some distant future when it makes sense to scrap the ship, the labor to do so will also be easier to organize. Putting an old ship on "dry land" slows down the rusting process and avoids the danger of leaks. Conservation work can continue from the convenience and safety of a parking lot right next to the ship. This lot can later to be turned into a visitor's parking lot. There is no danger of the ship drifting or being endangered by a storm. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Roland Mar Subject: Re: VHS or DVD I have several VHS, mostly to use the tuners to make non-cable ready TV's work, and a DVD. I am gradually replacing my VHS movie collection with DVD's. DVD's are the way to go. I'm looking forward to seeing what you release. Roland Mar ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Boatbldr Subject: Vancouver BC Ken, Cannot speak for LA, but in Vancouver - Burnaby Hobbies in Burnaby and Fine Scale Models in North Vancouver are the most nautical. Burnaby Hobbies is the most nautical, but Fine Scale is the closest to down town (across the harbour on a ferry). Nautical interest - the model ships museum http://www.modelshipsmuseum.ca/ships/index.html on Granville Island and the Vancouver Maritime Museum (there is a water taxi that goes between these two locations.) Lots of models in both locations.... regards Malcolm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Chris Drage" Subject: PQ17 and HMS Lotus Miles, >> HMS Lotus played perhaps the only redeeming role for the Royal Navy in it's handling of PQ.17 << I think that you need to undertake more research before making statements like that. To make PQ17 scatter was a crass order in the extreme but the escorts did their very utmost to rescue an impossible situation...all of them. Read the account of HMS Poppy on Bob Pearson's Corvette website. I personally interviewed John Beardmore her navigating offiicer during WWII who retold in vivid clarity the role Poppy played in shepherding her small flock of merchentmen into the White Sea during the PQ17 debarcle. Heroic to say the least. The trawler escorts performed similarly. Lotus did her part too but she was hardly alone. Just wanted to put the record straight. Regards Chris He tao rakau e taea te karo kupu kaore e taea te karo (Te reo Maori) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Frank Allen Subject: Re: DVD or VHS? I have both, but would prefer DVD. Frank Allen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Terry Wiltshire Subject: DVD Players and Regional Codes It is true that the world has been divided into six regions and that if you are in the UK (Region 2) and have a UK (Region 2) DVD player you cannot play a DVD you bought whilst on your hols in the US of A (Region 1). This was demanded by the Movie companies so they could make more money out of us! There is also the problem of the two main TV systems PAL (Europe and Oz) and NTSC (USA and Japan). However it is common for Documentaries etc to be all region (sometimes known as Region 0) and Dual system PAL/NTSC so that they can be played almost anywhere in the world. If Steve manufactures his DVD this way we will all be happy. As you may have guessed I vote for DVD! Terry the Techie Budapest ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "D.Przezdziecki" Subject: Re: DVD or VHS???? I have both DVD and VHS and like most people here find DVD superior when quality of the picture and versatility is concerned. Those who have internal DVDs with their computers might like to know that there is a program called "DVD Genie" which can be dowloaded from Internet for free which allows user to switch "regions" to their heart content so American DVDs can be viewed on UK DVD players and vice versa. Regards D.P ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: ken.p.lemaster@exxonmobil.com Subject: Re: Arii and CC Lee Enterprise I have both. The Lee kit looks just link the Arii kit, all the parts are in the same place. By the way, Arii apparently bought the Otaki molds, on 1 of the trees, the name Otaki is still faintly visible. As far as the planes with the kit go, discard them or open the hanger deck and make sure they are in the background and not very visible, parts fit is next to impossible. Get the add on set from Arii, or get the old Otaki add on set through swap meets or Ebay. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Darren Subject: Re: DVD's and time travel >> 2) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Do you VHS or DVD? "snip" My question is, "How many of you on the SMML, world wide that is, have DVD players? Please post your answer to the SMML message board only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks, Steve Wiper ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Edward F Grune" Subject: Re: Do you VHS or DVD? I have 2 DVD players. One on the TV and the other on the confuser. (I also have a VHS, but it is old and the image quality it provides is poor). Of the two formats, I prefer DVD. Like Steve said, VHS's days are numbered. Ed Mansfield, TX << OK, I want to know how he did it!!!!! Does Ed have a time travel machine? A time vortex into email limbo?? Or is he just plain psychic??? WHAT THEN!?! If you notice above, he posted the response to Steve's question before he gets the issue of SMML. Or did Shane pull a fast one to see if anybody noticed? Enquiring minds want to know. Darren BTW, I have DVD and VHS. I prefer DVD for the better effects. Hi Darren, I pulled a fast one mate ;-) Glad to see someone noticed. Shane ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: ken.p.lemaster@exxonmobil.com Subject: Re: VHS vs DVD By all means, go with DVD. DVD players are set for regions. They also come in PAL and NTSC. My old dvd player in the living room can only play region 1 dvds and balks at trying to run anything else. I have an "all region" player in the bedroom. I like this one much better. Region 2 or 4, I can play the dvd. My copy of the Smithee DUNE is on dvd and region 2, I also had Final Countdown, region 4, months before it came out in the US. I have also been able to play PAL dvds to mu NTSC tv, as the player has the conversion circuits in it. The all region players can be bought through some dealers who specialize in the equipment, however, the modifications void the original warranty. EBAY also has an area for dvd players and a lot of the converted players are sold there. DVD is the future, and now there are DVD recorders for the tv that will record in real time just like VHS recorders, they are expensive, but the price will fall. My 1st VHS player cost about $800, the last 1 I bought went for $70. Also, the recordable dvd media is over $1 per disk, that will come down also. I still remember $10 per each vhs tape, what is a tape cost now? About a buck each for much better quality tapes than when VHS started. Yes, DVD will be replaced with something in the future just like dvd is replacing the laser disk and cds replaced vinyl. That is just the price for all the toys we like to play with in an age when new technology arrives almost daily. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: aandmblevins@att.net Subject: A.J.Fisher Unbuilt Bluenose Kit for Sale I assume that some of the listees occasionally dabble in sail as do I. That said I have an unbuilt Fisher kit of the Nova Scotia fishing/racing schooner Bluenose for sale. Kit includes the fitting set, detailed plans, a pair of brass pedestals, the carved wood hull and all of the wood to complete this 3/16 inch = 1 foot model. The finished model is 33 inches in length. Price $200.00 (US) plus shipping and insurance. Contact me off list at aandmblevins@att.net if interested. Al Blevins ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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