Subject: SMML VOL 1959 Date: Sat, 05 Oct 2002 01:10:15 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Ballast 2: Takasago 3: Re: Japansese PT 1 Class 4: Re: Ballast 5: French resourcefulness 6: ballast ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "John Rule" Subject: Ballast An amazing material for ballast would be serrobend (sp) which is a metal alloy which has a melting point lower than water. The major advantage of this material is that it is easy to mold to fit small odd shaped spaces. The metal is surprisingly not very malleable. Where to get it.? Don't know. Mine fell off a lorry. Try a metal dealer. Sincerely, John Rule ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "John Rule" Subject: Takasago Darius, I'm sorry but I beg to differ. The photograph I have of Takasago which is a full page 8.5" x 11" high resolution image possibly from a plate camera does indeed show that the bridge, masts lookouts are in a shade anything but white. The funnels are also in a shade darker than white but maybe lighter than the masts etc. It is interesting to note that the photo you cite in Jentschura was taken at the same time as the photo I am citing. There is however no comparison in the two when it comes to interpretation colour. The Jentschura image is a small, poor quality reproduction on flat paper in newspaper print. Look at it with a magnifying glass. The photo in the Kajinsha book World Warships in Review is exceptionally high in quality. I will stand by my opinion. With regard to the hull stripe. As I previously said I don't know. If someone can categorically state that yellow and red were never used for hull or superstructure stripes, that is fine by me. But remember they have to know for sure or it will still remain conjectural. Sincerely, John Rule P.S. The Kajinsha book I mention above is gorgeous. It contains approx 100 full page high quality photos of warships from all over the world. It can be ordered on line from Kajinsha. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: David Gregory Subject: Re: Japansese PT 1 Class Dain, Not much out there on the Japanese boats. Fock's "Fast Fighting Boats 1870-1945" has some information. Dave The P.T Dockyard http://ptdockyard.tripod.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: David Miller Subject: Re: Ballast A local tire shop gave me all the used lead wheel weights I wanted. I got about 10 lbs worth. I melted the weights in an old steel cooking pot over a charcoal fire on my Weber grill sans the cooking grate and lid. Interestingly, the steel clips on the weights floated to top when the weights melted, and I skimmed them off! I had cut some wooden blocks to the size I wanted and stuck the blocks into moist sand and made sand molds. I poured the lead into these indentions, and when the lead cooled, I had some nice ballast blocks. The surfaces of the blocks were bumpy so, for looks, I wrapped the blocks in paper. The ballast was for a Clyde Puffer, 32 inches long, and it took allot of ballast! I kept adding blocks until she rode near her waterline. The radio gear rides atop the ballast. Dave Miller Macomb, IL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: French resourcefulness During W W 1 the United States supplied 100 wooden hulled 110 Ft. submarine chasers to France. They crossed the Atlantic in groups under their own power, refueling at sea from a Mother Ship when necessary. One of the chasers became separated from its group and ran out of fuel, becoming lost in mid-ocean in 1917 or 1918. The all-French crew rigged a make-shift sail of blankets, tarpaulins, etc. and actually sailed the rest of the way to France. They arrived about a month or so late. I would appreciate it if any of our French SMML colleagues could furnish more information (especially a picture) on this unusual incident, as I would like to add it to the provenence attached to the model I have made of the SC 1 class of W W 1 U.S. Navy vessel. Compensation is assured. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Bud Link" Subject: ballast Several posters have suggested epoxy to fix shot [or what have you] in place. I use it myself. IMHO, though, it's certainly more expensive, and sometimes messier, than auto-body filler, or Bondo. Any other Bondo users? Bondo has another advantage: it can be a finished surface. It forms the decks on some of my models. With the right form material [slick, not sanded, styrene], or a little release agent, it can form beautiful, integral, flat surfaces from the pouring alone. Bud ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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