Subject: SMML VOL 2040 Date: Mon, 02 Dec 2002 13:42:02 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: interesting story on the Japanese Sub at Pearl Harbor 2: Re: Monitor Guns 3: Re: More Aircraft Colours 4: stolen minesweeper model 5: American Civil War Ironclad 6: USCGC 7: British Pacific Fleet Seafire Markings? 8: Help Finding Liberty Ship Model Kit 9: Seen on the Bay - American Battleships, 1886-1923 10: OFFICIAL USCG Nomenclature -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: HMS Vindex 2: December Internet Modeler ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Henry Blecha Subject: interesting story on the Japanese Sub at Pearl Harbor Smmlies I thought you might find this interesting. It's a writeup by the University of Hawaii on the Japanese Sub found off of Pearl Harbor this past summer. http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/HURL/midget.html Henry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "chisum1012" Subject: Re: Monitor Guns Just to add some info...The Monitor's gun could not be run out at the same time. This was due to the pendulum-type gun port covers. They had to swing inward from the gun and there was only enough room for one at a time. If you show any guns run out to fire, show only one. The later monitor classes had a "C" shaped cover that pivoted on the roof and on the floor, allowing both guns to fire simultaneously. R.Chisum ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Edd Pflum Subject: Re: More Aircraft Colours OK, John, you got me on this one: >> Straight from the tin, Sea Blue is Semi-Gloss Sea Blue. For Non-Specular Sea Blue, give it a coat of Matt Varnish (Colourcoats VM). For Glossy Sea Blue, give it a coat of Gloss Varnish (Colourcoats VG). The combination of Glossy Sea Blue, Semi-Gloss Sea Blue, Intermediate Blue, and Non-Specular White (still to come) will give you the three-colour scheme that followed the earlier two-colour scheme. << First, why are four colo(u)rs needed for a three-colo(u)r scheme? Second, why not Non-Specular Sea Blue? This is what I have always used to good result on my three colo(u)r, three-colo(u)r schemes. Inquiring wingie thingie modelers want to know. Edd ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "M Keel" Subject: stolen minesweeper model Hi Gents (and our fewer lady readers). Last month I mentioned that Mr Gordon Buttress, the Chairman of our Surface Warship Association had his model of the Fleet Minesweeper, HMS Espeigle of the Algerine Class, built as completed in 1942, stolen. It was taken along with his Hobbymat lathe, Buehler motors, Tomohawk sound unit and other radio contol equipment. The model at 1:48th Scale is about 54 inches long and 8.5 inches in beam and painted in a Western Approch colour scheme. It is (was) worth about £7000. I have (at last) managed to attach colour photographs. Please keep your eyes open. Also please note that I have recently updated this machine from Windows 98 to Windows XP. This was NOT without trauma. I have now lost my complete address book, built up over many many years. If anyone is anticipating a reply from me, an order, or even a social chit chat, I have lost your e-mail address. (Even the Canadian that was after some Corvette drawings (including Asdic). The drawings are awaiting your money and an address). Mr Harold Lincoln your single drawing of HMS Saltash is now airbourne 3500' over the Atlantic at a guess! Work is still ongoing with our "Allied Coastal Forces" Volume 3. Wishing everyone a stress free Christmas. Yours "Aye" John Photos uploaded to the SMML site under Misc Reference. Shane ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Edwparent Subject: American Civil War Ironclad A most attractive Civil War subject for modeling using a Robert E. Lee kit, in my opinion, would be the USS Black Hawk (1862-1865). This vessel was a huge 902 ton side wheel "Tinclad" river gunboat and was the Mississippi River Squadron Flagship. A lot of important meetings were held aboard - sort of a floating Camp David. For photos of this handsome ship see: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn-b/blk-hwk.htm I have already started a 1/240 scale model of her. Contact me off line if you would like to swap information. Ed Parent ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Robert P. Leonti" Subject: USCGC To all, In my four years in the Coast Guard (1966-1970) I never heard two Coasties, if talking about their stations, refer to their unit as a Cutter but always as a ship or number. If asked what "SHIP" you were stationed on one would reply "on the Tamaroa", "on the Campbell" etc. No one ever asked "what CUTTER", and no one ever replied "the Cutter". The conversations always referred to ships and boats, not cutters, ever. A ship was considerd to be anything bigger than an "82". Small units were refered to by their numbers, 41's, 44's, 82's etc. When answering a call on a radio one would always reply United States Coast Guard Cutter Tamaroa WMEC 166 or United StatesCoast Guard (boat or unit) 41000. I hear Coast Guard radio conversations everyday of my operations on the water still hear number designations for small boats and USCG Cutter replies for large vessels. Bouy Tenders still refer to their unit during radio conversation as USCG Bouy Tender "Red Beech", "Sassafras' etc.etc. never "Cutter". Capt. Bob Leonti ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Steve Bennell" Subject: British Pacific Fleet Seafire Markings? Dear all I'm sorry that this is an aircraft question on a ship modelling list, but I don't belong to any other list and my question does have a nautical theme, so I'm hoping you will indulge me. I'm building a Czech Master resin Supermarine Seafire FIII. The kit comes with markings for "S115" of 887 Squadron, at the time it was aboard HMS Indefatigable of the British Pacific Fleet (around August 1945). Unfortunately, the colour scheme instructions are not as complete as they might be and there is no information on what was on the underside of the aircraft. According to the instructions, the port upper wing has a blue and white roundel with US style white bars. The starboard upper wing has a blue and white roundel, but without the white bars. What on earth was on the underside? From the decals supplied, its likely that there were 2 small blue and white roundels; but I'm not sure. Oddly, for what I thought was a well documented aircraft, I can't find any underside photographs. By the way, when I'm not modelling in the "main stream", I build 1:700 waterline RN warships. Thanks very much Shane and Lorna for running such a great list. Yours hopefully Steve Bennell ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: David Garrett Subject: Help Finding Liberty Ship Model Kit I have been browsing the Internet, came upon your site and thought you might help. I am trying to locate a model kit -- preferrably plastic -- of a WWII Liberty Ship to build as a gift for my dad. I'm looking for a finished product of 12-14" inches (1:350 scale) and less than $100. I have intermediate skills but would like something worth a decent effort and resulting in a nice, realistic finished product. Trumpeter, I understand, makes a kit but I have not been able to find a store, supplier, or web site that has one. Pitroad's kit is 1:700 scale and thus too small. I'm not up to the challenge of a Bluejacket wood kit, nor want to pay $200+. Any suggestions or leads you could provide would be appreciated. Thanks. David Garrett, San Antonio, TX ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Bradford Chaucer Subject: Seen on the Bay - American Battleships, 1886-1923 Heads up guys American Battleships, 1886-1923 predreadnought design and construction by John C. Reilly, Jr. and Robert L. Scheina http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1973090336 Regards, Bradford Chaucer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Melea/Mike Maynard" Subject: OFFICIAL USCG Nomenclature I must take Mr. Baca and others to task for their so-called knowledge of what constitutes a "Cutter". According to my OFFICIAL 1969 Blue Jacket manual (Given to me by my Uncle Sam as a souvenir of 1000 push ups in boot camp) all CG vessels over 65 feet are referred to as "Cutters". The one exception to this rule of thumb is the Lightship or Light vessel. There ain't no way those floating palaces will ever be confused with a cutter...The difference between a jail and the lightship is that the jail can't sink... All REAL coasties refer to their "Cutter" as "this here rust bucket" but Tradition and service social life tell us that the following classification of CG "Vessels" are known as such: Ice Breakers--POLAR PIGS or POLAR ROLLERS, one trip south to the Antarctic and you'll see why many coasties had to wait for a port call in New Zealand or Australia to get their stomachs back 378 class-- SLEEK WHITE NEEDLE OF DEATH. OK our navy cousins took off the ASW stuff and Harpoon missiles but at 30 knots those "cutters" could move right along 270 class-- SMMAS( Slow moving missile absorbing sponges) designed with Star Wars equipment that sail at Civil War speeds, these ships were to operate with Navy task forces but we figured some Navy admiral at fleet HQ would have the 270's tag along 'way out side the task group to catch the first incoming missiles. 19 knots tops are a dead give away... 210 class-- 210 FOOT SHUDDERING S_ _ _HOUSES, worlds smallest aircraft carriers, nuff said. 82 foot patrol boats- SPIN AND PUKES, similar to an amusement park ride after eating 3 chili dogs and a DR. Pepper. 110 and 95 foot patrol boats--see 82' class for description Buoy Tenders any size--CRAP BOATS, or PISS CLAM COLLECTORS at least that's what we folk in the "White fleet" (the REAL CG) call em. And this writer will not even TALK about those "Tenders" that work the BIG MUDDY", or are home ported in, gasp, IOWA. 140 foot and 65 foot tugs-- WATERFRONT BUILDINGS, these "CUTTERS" spend a lot of time moored up at the pier, freshly scrubbed, every thing Bristol fashion, ship shape, ad nausem. And these guys get sea pay... Motor Life boats, 44', 47', and 36'-- MOTHER BOATS, take a cruise on these trim little craft( in 20 foot seas) and even old former navy salts are crying out FOR THEIR MOTHER. Definitely not for landlubbers or the faint of heart. The 36', constructed of WOOD, was my favorite. These round bottom "Cutters" roll at the pier, bring some Dramamine. 41 foot Utility boats-- WATER TAXIS, Admin types at HQ(who are hard pressed to tell the difference between a ship and an automobile) are always thinking up neat ways to mis-use these craft. Send them out in 20 foot seas and the UTB's don't "right" themselves. All the "others"--The worlds biggest COAST GUARD operates about 1500(yeah that's right 1500) craft of every description, some are bigger than others, all get the mission accomplished. GUARDING OUR NATIONS COAST SINCE 1790 MIKE "I-Sailed-on-the-Eagle-when-it-was-called-the EGG" MAYNARD USCG(Ret) ps If you need some honest to god SPAR,(BUFF) or deck grey for your next "Cutter" model contact me off line I have some cans of OFFICIAL CG paint that I share with other modelers who enjoy modeling the great white fleet. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Mac Dale Subject: HMS Vindex Just to let you all know, I have just posted a page on HMS Vindex, an escort carrier at war in 1944. Convoy shots and aircraft prangs, with some shots of the ship taken from the air. http://gwardnet.d2g.com/mac/vindex.html Cheers, Ian http://gwardnet.d2g.com/mac/ Mac's Naval Photography Editor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Bob Pearson" Subject: December Internet Modeler Hi all, As well as a truly inspiring winged thing as the cover story, the December IM has a build of the Revell-Germany S-boat and inbox reviews of the Trumpeter Hornet and Tom's Modelworks detail set for the same. Regards, Bob Pearson Managing Editor / Internet Modeler http://www.internetmodeler.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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