Subject: SMML VOL 1972 Date: Sat, 12 Oct 2002 10:02:11 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: New Kits, DUKW and Kursk 2: Re: Soveit F-14s? 3: Re: CITY CLASS IRONCLADS Painting Info 4: Re: Skysails on CONSTITUTION 5: Re: Trysails 6: Bonhomme Richard 7: Re: Mistaken identity alert 8: Re: Soveit F-14s? 9: Colombo 10: Thornycroft in Service of Ceylon Customs & Excise ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Michiel Woort" Subject: New Kits, DUKW and Kursk Perhaps somebody already mentioned it but the new Italeri DUKW in 1:35 has just arrived in the stores, the price around the 24 euro. Also in the stores but for a couple of weeks now is the zveda Kursk 1:350, the price is around the 26 euro. The Dukw is looking real nice, don't know the fit I have only seen the inside. The zveda Kursk is a real nice thing, for what I can check he is into the dimensions and looks good, there are open sides for the launchers and a window in the bridge. Greetings Michiel Woort The Netherlands ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Robert Mosher" Subject: Re: Soveit F-14s? RE: From: "Pwesty1": Soviet F-14s? >> Does anybody know if there are any good web site and/or picture on the subject of the two or more F-14 that were captured and/or defected to the USSR in the early 80's I believe? << There were no defections or captures of F-14s. The United States sold F-14s to the Shah of Iran before the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Since then, the Iranian Air Force was the only force other than the U.S. Navy that operated this aircraft. While I cannot confirm or deny that any of these aircraft go to the USSR, this is the likeliest and easiest source since after 1979 the revolutionary regime in Iran had to turn to the USSR as an arms supplier. Robert A. Mosher www.CombatIC.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Devin" Subject: Re: CITY CLASS IRONCLADS Painting Info Ken, I believe the Taubman plans set I have on these ships mentions the "accepted" painting schemes for each of the ships (Different colored bands on the stacks, if my memory serves me). I'll try dig them up this weekend and post along the info. Devin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: Re: Skysails on CONSTITUTION To Dafuelmann Thanks for your input to the masting of CONSTITUTION. In response to your comments in SMML Volume 1907, I checked page 484 of Chapelle again. First off, Chapelle didn't organize this "Spar Dimensions" section of his appendix quite alphabetically. It seems to have started out that way, but later it drifts off course. Be that as it may, page 484 lists two configurations. The first is for 1803 and seems to list 4 sections (or submasts) on each complete mast, including a "pole" as the uppermost section of each. Other authors do not use this term. The second listing is for 1815 and seems to list 5 sections (or submasts) on each complete mast, including a "skysail pole" as the uppermost section of each. If Chapelle's listing is correct, then some third or fourth form of doubling would be required for these uppermost masts. I am disappointed that Chapelle didn't address the fact that somewhere along the line the present configuration took place (3 sections, 2 doublings). In any event, I doubt if the poles were fitted with spars and sails while on deck, for two reasons. First; they would be very heavy. Second; looking at the density of both the running and the standing rigging as it converges near the uppermost regions, I don't think it would be practicable or even possible to hoist and fit such an arrangement in place at sea, especially if it had to be sent down again whenever the wind increased. Your contribution has raised some interesting questions, however. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: Re: Trysails I have been erroneously referring to a spanker sail as a trysail. A trysail is indeed quite similar to a spanker, except a trysail has a gaff only, no boom. CONSTITUTION, having a boom on the mizzen spanker mast, is rigged for a spanker sail, not a trysail. My apologies for the incorrect terminology, and thanks to SMML for not lowering the boom on me. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Kerry L. Jang" Subject: Bonhomme Richard >> Boudriot gives the dimensions as 145' 0" (length from stem to stern post), 126' 0" (length on the keel) and 36' 8" (breath). << Will, I do not have this particular Boudriot monograph, but I think its best to warn people that the dimensions are often given are in the units of the period - in this case, the French foot. In some of the other Boudriot monographs (e.g., the 74 gun ship and others), the dimensions are given in French feet of the time, and these are noted in the book with metric equivalents for us modern readers. English, Dutch etc "feet" differed quite widely at the time, and Boudriot likes to use period measurements as appropriate. The monograph on the BHR shows just about every one of the ship's timbers drawn out. Among the stick and string crowd, there have been several framed models of the ship made. Its intersting to note that the French had three "standard" classes of Indiamen. The BHR was converted from the largest class and the French deliberately built their Indiamen with extra gun ports built into the frames, but planked over. This was in case they needed to convert them to warships and all they had to do was pierce the planking! The BHR sailed with several French ships. One of which, the cutter Le Cerf and I believe Le Coureur, a lugger, is featured in the Boudriot range of books. I have built Le Cerf as a minaiture at: http://www.nutsnbits.com/nutsnbits_00000f.htm and this ship left the Franco-American flotilla to search for deserters from J.P. Jones' crew. Fantastic models of French sailing vessels from the Boudriot monographs can be found at: http://perso.wanadoo.fr/gerard.delacroix/ Dr. Kerry Jang Vancouver, Canada ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: MrkLeonard@aol.com Subject: Re: Mistaken identity alert >> Now, what is your entry in the quantity of sails question? << How many sails does Constitution fly under full sail? Ummmm.....All of them? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Gary Subject: Re: Soveit F-14s? I believe they were "transferred" from the Iranian Air Force along with Phoenox missles. I would think they retained they're original IIAF desert camo, though I've never seen a picture in Russian stars. Gary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Reynaga, Tim@EDD" Subject: Colombo >> When I was aboard CONSTITUTION researching ...there were several groups ... One of the kids seriously volunteered that Columbo discovered the United States on that date!!!!!! << What a hoot! It occurs to me, though, that the kid might have been right, at least in part. Although known to us Americans as Christopher Columbus, the explorer in fact went by many names during his lifetime. In Spanish records he is referred to by the hispanicized version of the name, "Cristobál Colón". He also used this handle himself in letters wrote to the Spanish court (I've actually seen one of these on display at the Museo Naval in Madrid.) During his years in Portugal, and in in the four Papal Bulls issued by Pope Alexander VI concerning the Discovery, he was "Cristoföm Colon", which is Portuguese. He also used the Latinized version of his name by which he is familiarly known, Christopher Columbus. However, he was originally a native of Genoa, Italy, and his given name would have naturally been Italian. The airport in Genoa today is named in his honor: "Christoforo Colombo". Still and all, unless the kid was Italian I'll bet he hadn't a clue about any of this. Blundered uncontrollably into the truth, as they say! Tim ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Lloyd M. Fuke" Subject: Thornycroft in Service of Ceylon Customs & Excise I have been trying to get data on a 58 ft hull Thornycroft which was supposedly purchased by Ceylon shortly after World War II for their Customs & Excise responsibilities. The only information I have comes from a color picture in a Japanese magazine, published in 1956. Captioning had the following: Thornycroft twin 8-cylinder diesels rated at 275 brake hp; Royal blue and maroon coloration. Name of ship: "Sungha Marutam" (sic) I had a friend at the US State Department contact the Sri Lankan government for additonal info. Months later came the response: due to political instability over the past three decades, pertinent government records have been misplaced or destroyed. There is no record of old Ceylon ever purchasing Thornycrofts. Reference to plans services and available reference books do not reveal a 58-ft Thornycroft even existing. Can anyone provide information? Thank you for your consideration. Lloyd M. Fuke ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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