Subject: SMML VOL 2011 Date: Wed, 13 Nov 2002 14:14:59 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Can anyone help! 2: Matchstick ship models 3: Re: Airfix Leander 4: Teak 5: Re: Paint stripper... 6: Scale Black 7: Re: Real wooden hulled W W 2 Sub Chaser 8: Paint Stripping 9: Roberts class Monitor Abercrombie colors? 10: Re: Can Anyone help 11: Re: Airfix kit of RN frigate LEANDER 12: Help with Jules Verne Nautilus Model 13: Re: Stripping Paint 14: Re: Stripping Paint 15: Teak Decks 16: Re: Potemkin black and white ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Mike Settle Subject: Re: Can anyone help! >> I have found the remainder of a WWII Submarine Chaser and would be interested in any opinions/etc/advise that any of you might have for a restoration project. << Jim, if you don't get any other leads, you might try going to the Beaufort, NC Maritime Museum web site and contacting their boatshop manager or curator of boatbuilding technology. Go to their website at: http://www.ah.dcr.state.nc.us/sections/maritime/default.htm Then click on the sidebar for the museum staff. Perhaps one of them could refer you to someone in your area. Mike Settle ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: URUDOFSKY Subject: Matchstick ship models I am looking for information and photos on matchstick ship models. I know there is a great model at the Naval War College Museum in Newport, RI. Ulrich Rudofsky ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Geoff Baker" Subject: Re: Airfix Leander >> I'm considering building the Airfix 1/600 kit of the RN frigate LEANDER. I see WE's PE sets for this kit. I'd like to do it as a modernized frigate of this class, with either Exocet missiles or with Ikara installed forward. Does anyone know whether Airfix updated this kit to include Exocet missile launchers, the Ikara system, a Lynx helo, triple 12.75-inch torpedo launchers, and additional Sea Cat launchers? Or has anyone a source for these weapons in 1/600 scale? << Hi Mike The 90's issue of the kit had 4 Exocets included and decals for Exocet leanders, however the launchers are nearer to 1/700 scale. WEM also do a Pro 600 series of resin parts that included accurate Exocet and SeaCat launchers (x4) and if you ask nicely you may be able to get a Lynx from the fantastic HMS Exeter resin kit. As for the rest it will have to be scratch built. The Ikara Leanders are the simplest as the hanger roof was enlarged to carry 2 x Seacats, 40mm bofors replaced the 20 mm abreast the fwd mast (use wem as the kit ones are awful) An Ikara radar dome replaced the Gun director above the bridge and the 4.5" was replaced by a deckhouse and an Ikara launcher surrounded by a weather proof shield with a canvas folded dome roof. These would need to be made from scratch. The Exocet Leanders were similar except the hanger was lengthened to accept the Lynx, the limbo well and VDS wells were plated over to create a longer flight deck for the Lynx, twin seacat launchers aft and a new structure built up over the 4.5" position to carry 4 x Exocet with blast suppressors and a third Seacat fitted fwd of this. This again would have to be scratch built. Later some of the exocet ships had TA sonar fitted on the stern, and to compensate the superstructure was trimmed down and the exocet structure removed with the launchers themselves being placed on lightweight racks fitted directly to the decks. the fwd seacat being removed. If these kits appear again perhaps WEM might get Peter Hall to create a few conversion parts to produce some of the different variants of this popular ship class!!!!. Cheers Geoff ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Bruce D. Rauss" Subject: Teak I believe that teak is highly resistant to splintering. Much more so than oak or other hard woods. That's one of the reasons it was used in WWII USN carrier flight decks. Bruce ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Chris Hughes" Subject: Re: Paint stripper... Raw garlic, onion and pepperoni sandwiches usually work for me... Heh heh! ;0) Chris ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Richard Sweeney Subject: Scale Black hi, I've always found a color called German Interior Black to be a good Gray to work as a scaled down Black. Both Testors and Floquil (now also testors.) make the color. Richard Sweeney ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: Re: Real wooden hulled W W 2 Sub Chaser To Jim Myers Is the 1:1 scale W W 2 Sub Chaser the one offered on ebay for $1.00? Now that's an offer you can't refuse!!! What a doghouse!!! Hey, that's almost worth getting married for, just so the wife could banish you to the doghouse every day. I am trying to float a loan to bid on it myself, but if it goes over $1.34 I'm done. But seriously, I don't know of any yards around Boston who can do that kind work on wooden boats. There might be some in Maine, where they still make a few (very few) boats the way God intended. I still say that if God wanted us to have fiberglass boats He would have given us fiberglass trees (uh-oh, I just remember that I saw a lot of fiberglass trees at the local shopping mall yesterday!!!). Wooden boats are just wonderful, so long as I don't have to pay for the upkeep. Would you consider fiberglassing over the hull? If you do embark on this project, let me know and I will send you some recent photographs of a W W 2 S/C that was converted into a real luxury boat, even has a helicopter pad. I also have some drawings of the Navy's suggestions for converting a war surplus W W 1 S/C into a yacht, back in 1921. You may be able to glean some ideas from this materials. Enjoy Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "John Rule" Subject: Paint Stripping For plastic kits, I have had very good success with brake fluid. I just leave the model or parts in a bath of the stuff overnight then wash away the paint with detergent and water using an old toothbrush. This has worked on plastic models a la Airfix, Matchbox, Revell etc. I have heard some horror stories relating other types of plastic such as the material used for glazing on Dinky Toys. Always test first on scrap material. Just returned from Telford, where I met many SMMLies, this being the biggest highlight of visiting a show like this. Unfortunately, I didn't get to meet everyone and was disappointed not to see my favourite ex. copper. I was sorely disappointed when I learned he had left. My belated congratulations and thanks to Shane & Lorna on the circulation of issue 2000. With regard to another recent topic on the list, I have to point that in Portsmouth last year there was a beautiful ship on display, namely the S.S. Shieldhall, which is used for excursions etc and belongs to some kind of steamship trust. This boat used to have the role of transporting "shit" from a sewage treatment plant in Glasgow, Scotland to be dumped in a deep trench in the sea bed in the Clyde estuary. John ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Michael Taylor" Subject: Roberts class Monitor Abercrombie colors? Hello all, Subject just about says it all. I've just received the 1/700 kit but there's no color information. Thanks for reading. Mike T ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Fritz Koopman Subject: Re: Can Anyone help Jim: Newport Shipbuilding is the Yard that specializes in fixing up the old Trumpy Yachts. Overpriced as hell, but superior quality. More than likely, your best bet would be (I think their name is ) Billings Diesel in Maine. Not exactly yacht quality, but In the past their work has been profesional, and appropriately priced for the quality (still not cheap tho). I'll try to see if I can dig up their number and a contact for you. Another option could be to contact the Essex Shipbuilding Museum in Essex MA, and see if one of their volunteers wants to adopt it as a project. They know how to work with wood, occasionaly still cranking out a wood schooner here and there. They might be the least expensive option. However, you get what you pay for, in this case the downfall may be that theres no telling if, or when, they would actualy complete the project. Best regards Fritz K. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "A Phillips" Subject: Re: Airfix kit of RN frigate LEANDER Mike Potter wrote: >> I'm considering building the Airfix 1/600 kit of the RN frigate LEANDER. I see WE's PE sets for this kit. I'd like to do it as a modernized frigate of this class, with either Exocet missiles or with Ikara installed forward. Does anyone know whether Airfix updated this kit to include Exocet missile launchers, the Ikara system, a Lynx helo, triple 12.75-inch torpedo launchers, and additional Sea Cat launchers? Or has anyone a source for these weapons in 1/600 scale? << Mike, Airfix did indeed release an updated kit, unfortunately it only included the Exocets, and they were under scale to say the least, more like 1/700 scale. We are lucky however that Pit Road/Skywave include a pair of Exocets in their Modern Naval Weapons set (also included in several Dragon/Revell kits i.e. Invincible class & Type 42 class) which although supposedly 1/700 are closer to 1/600 scale in appearance. Like wise this set also includes Sea Cat launchers and these too are pretty close to 1/600 scale, alternatively WEM produce Sea Cat launchers in their Pro 600 range.There is a Lynx also included, but I'm not sure how this scales out. For the Ikara you'll have to scratchbuild, Triple TT can be easily scratchbuilt using plastic rod. There have been some excellent articles in Airfix Magazine over the years on detailing this kit and the Type 21 and County class. If you are interested, I could copy the articles for you. Hope this helps, happy modelling. Ant Phillips ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "Robert P. Leonti" Subject: Help with Jules Verne Nautilus Model To All; A few weeks a fellow named Gene offered model kits of the Nautilus featured in Twenty Thousand Leagues Beneath The Sea. I tried to E-Mail him but it was returned. Gene, if you are reading this I would like to buy one model from you. Please E-Mail me at my address. Thanks, Bob Leonti r.leonti@worldnet.att.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: David Sepos Subject: Re: Stripping Paint Greetings, Someone in an earlier post commented that they used oven cleaner on Tamiya acrylic........ Remember, Gunze and Tamiya acrylics come off with denatured alcohol. The response is immediate and won't damage the plastic. Use adequate ventilation. Regards, Dave ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Robert J. Bartolacci" Subject: Re: Stripping Paint Hi I have come to rely on a product made by Westley called Bleche White, available in most auto parts stores by the gallon for a few dollars. It is intended originally for cleaning whitewall tires and rubber surfaces. Have found that if you soak a plastic model in it overnight, it softens the paint to the point it can be wiped off and any stubborn remnants can be removed with a tooth brush. It has never hurt any of the plastic surfaces, yet will remove thick, cured enamel or lacquer paint such as the coating on a model car body. That makes it easy for aircraft, armor, or ship modeler's needs. Wear gloves and have adequate ventilation, but it is much less toxic than most of the other products. Bob Bartolacci "There are no great men. There are only great challenges that ordinary men are forced by circumstances to meet." Admiral William "Bull" Halsey ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: nd.ward Subject: Teak Decks A lot of people seem to be under the impression that a teak deck means ONLY a teak deck. As far as I am aware, the teak decks under discussion are only a overlay, on a steel 'main' deck. This not only made the ship cooler (if you have felt a steel deck in the tropics, you will know what I mean), but reduced the amount of maintenance required. Serving on general cargo ships, and bulk carriers in the Merchant Navy, the amount of time keeping steel decks in good shape was 90% of crew work, and required expenditure of primers and paints on a grand scale. Nigel Ward ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Kathy/Pirie Sublett" Subject: Re: Potemkin black and white For Roger Clemens "Potemkin black and white" I have lately been using every color (that includes white) cut 50% with a very pale purple blue (one part burnt sienna and four parts Thalo blue - add six drops to one bottle of Testers acrylic white) for 1/700th scale. It's scary the first time you try it, but it really looks good. On the other hand, you might run over to the nearest model railroad shop and get a bottle of Floquil or Polyscale "Weathered Black" - it's a dark purple gray, and I think looks very good. Pirie Sublett San Diego ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume