Subject: SMML VOL 2080 Date: Thu, 02 Jan 2003 19:57:12 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Any Britannic fans out there? 2: Re: Izumo/Iwate 3: HP-Models 4: Scanned Plans 5: Re: LSD- LANDING SHIP DOCK 6: Re: USS DIXIE model 7: Re: Sea Classics magazine 8: Dixie 9: Re: Grumman Duck 10: Re: Steel Navy 11: LSD MODEL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information 1: Small Warship SIG Website -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: 1/400 Colossus Class Carrier for Sale 2: Sea Waves Magazine Welcomes Samuel Loring Morison 3: DIXIE CLAS AD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Randy Ward Subject: Any Britannic fans out there? I was supposed to remember to set up the VCR, the other day, to catch the Discovery Channel show, "Inside the Britannic", but was off in la-la land or something. Did anyone manage to record the show? I checked with the Discovery folks, and they confirmed that this one is NOT available on video. Frustrating! If anyone has a VHS copy and would be willing to get it duped, I would be most appreciative. Obviously, reasonable costs reimbursed. Muchos thanks and stuff... Randy Ward ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "D.Przezdziecki" Subject: Re: Izumo/Iwate I have finally received Seals Models 1/700 Izumo kit. The first delivery, apparently send in September, went missing in action somewhere between Japan and UK.The model is very nice indeed. The details are plentifull and crisp, measurements are almost exactly right and the hull is beautifully molded. However, according to the drawing of this cruiser in 1st volume of "Anathomy of Japanese Battleships" and various photographs from my archive, the kit is in need of some improvements: First one is just a breeze: both bridge platforms (parts B9 and B10) sit about 0,6mm too high above the boat deck. While 0,6mm does not sound a lot IMO in 1/700 scale it does makes quite a difference and makes both bridges look too tall and very ungainly. The second problem is a bigger one: all funnels are a lot thinner than they should have been. According the the drawings from AofJB (with photographic support) funnels should be about 4,8mm in diameter (in 1/700 scale) and not 3,9mm as in the kit. Now in 1/700 almost a milimeter per stack is a lot and since funnels were the most distinctive feature of those ships so, if anybody wants their kit of Izumo/Iwate look as Izumo/Iwate should, than all the funnels need to be scratchbuild from plastic tubes of the right diameter. While replacing funnels I have also decided that I have also to replace the funnel's base (part of part B16) since, at least in my kit, it was full of sinkages and not up to the standarts with the rest of the model. I will shave off all of the nice details (with the exception of funnels base rings- they have to be replaced too) from the old base and transfer them to the new one. Not a big deal at all. Regards Darius ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Peter Sketchley" Subject: HP-Models HP-Models, of Germany, seem to be releasing a lot of very interesting resin models at the moment for the WW2 RN fan. Has anyone on the list built any of HP-Models kits and are they any good? Also, where can I purchase them in the UK? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Happy New Year Regards Peter Sketchley Cambridge UK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: Scanned Plans Hi Devin: I normally use a large format Xerox machine at the local blueprint shop or Kinko's to reduce plans to scale. Using a standard scanner bed back at the office results in a good digital file that can be worked in Photoshop. If the ship is still too large to fit the scanner bed, I cut and paste into a larger Photoshop document for a full image and enhance from there. Another alternative is to reduce the original plan on the Xerox machine to any size that fits a standard scanner bed (8-1/2" x 11" for instance), then size to scale in Photoshop. In photoshop, you can also assure that all drawings on separate sheets of a planset are in scale to each other on your final output and it's easy to adjust a body plan (usually drawn to a larger scale) to conform to the scale of the general arrangement plans. One thing to watch for is digital file size, which can get quite large when photoshopping plans. There is a way to solve this for a workable file size and faster digital enhancement working times. Of course, if you're scanning prints because the originals are not allowed offsite at a museum or archive and it's not possible to use anything other than a portable scanner, a hand-held may be your only avenue. I'd be interested in knowing how well it works for you if you go that route. I'd do that only as a last resort though as it's a real pain to get everything aligned and properly oriented in even a double split-scan as opposed to multiple cut and paste operations using a hand-held scanner's input. Everything has to be precisely lined up in both axis for a good cut-paste fit. I enjoy using Photoshop for enhancing plans, there's a lot you can do to salvage any plan image, even really dirty ones; just takes many hours of work at the computer. We do it every quarter for plans appearing in Model Ship Journal. The really cool thing is that you are preserving the plans digitally while the paper originals slowly fade and crumble as time goes on--especially if they're blueprints. And you can easily convert back to paper by just hitting "Print" or having the local reprographic shop make a large sized print from your digital files. Contact me offline if you want more details on Photoshopping plans. Regards, Victor Baca Publisher & Editor MODEL SHIP JOURNAL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: NedWriter Subject: Re: LSD- LANDING SHIP DOCK >> As far As I know there are no models available of the THOMASTON Class. Lindberg released a kit (long out of production) of the ASHLAND Class (which I believe is approximately 1/300 scale, I think, about 20") and Scale Shipyard has a hull for the WHIDBEY ISLAND Class (1/96 scale - 76" long!). << The Lindbergh LSD was on sale for Christmas just one or two years ago, in a series with their other landing craft/landing ships. It's probably on many hobby shop shelfs, or on e-bay. It's a dog of a kit, but with imagination, lots of slightly under-scale PE and some creative sweat, it could be made adequate. I do NOT know if it's anywhere near accurate, however. Just that the detail is lumpy. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: stillmo Subject: Re: USS DIXIE model You will be happy to note there IS a kit of the DIXIE/VULCAN class AD in WWII rig... in fact I am working on the kit now. However, its not plastic, it is a resin kit available from LOOSE CANNON productions. It is NOT a kit for the un initiated resin modeller---it comes with a nice photo etch fret and will be a hard build for an inexperienced modeller. The instructions leave very much to be desired also. But its the only kit of her kind around. Go to Steelnavy.com and click on Loose Cannon for more information. Ray D. Bean, Winnipeg, Canada ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject: Re: Sea Classics magazine To Edd Plufm Re: K. Schreier's article. I have a copy of K. Schreier's article on WW1 sub chasers, but didn't have the name or date of the magazine. Thank you for your response, however. It is appreciated. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Hubert Letterly Subject: Dixie Hi Mike, Loose Cannon makes a 1/700 Dixie and can be purchased direct from David Angelo at fuelmann@hotmail.com Colpar Hobbies and Pacific Front should have the model. Brass is included and the only thing you need to add is Colourcoats paint also available at the previous dealers. Hugh ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: Re: Grumman Duck To: NedWriter Yeah, this is not about regular boats, but the Grumman Duck was a boat, at least some of the time. Model Expo's Winter 2002-2003 catalog has two kits for the Grumman Duck. One is a "close-out" sale of a 1:72 scale Airfix kit for $3.99 (plus postage), on page 9. The other is a 1:48 scale Classic Airframes kit for $34.99 (plus postage), on page 13. Classic Air Frames list some other great pre-WW2 (the thirties era) Boeing and Curtiss military planes. Gawd, how I wish I were 82 again, I would split for at least one of them, you know, when airplanes looked like airplanes, not like bullets. Back then they had a big fan out in front, open cockpits, wires, wheels, and two wings. Alas. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Jeffon10 Subject: Re: Steel Navy I'm very glad to see someone else is questioning the deck colors of WW 2 warships as I have in the past. Much has been written of warship side colors, but the color of decks is almost universally ignored. (Let's not even mention the issue of underhull colors which are presumed to be various shades of red. Why not green or black? I've read US PT boat under hull colors were supposed to be copperoid or black and certainly not red lead!) Jeff ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: CARMINE PACILIO Subject: LSD MODEL Looking for a model of a LSD USS LINDENWALD #6 BUILT IN 1943 can anyone help? (1/350 scale) thank for any advice. Carmne ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Small Warship SIG Website The latest issue of ESCORT (Issue 26) has just been published. Details can be found on the IPMS(UK) Small Warship SIG website - www.brown.abelgratis.co.uk Happy New Year to you all. Regards Les Brown ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Geoff Baker" Subject: 1/400 Colossus Class Carrier for Sale Hi I have a 1/400 Heller Colossus class carrier Arromanche for sale £40 ONO plus postage. The kit is complete and would make a great version of the Colossus class as used by UK,Canada, Australia, Netherlands, Australia, Argentina and Brazil. Or the later majestic class Cheers Geoff ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Dave Shirlaw Subject: Sea Waves Magazine Welcomes Samuel Loring Morison Vancouver BC January 1, 2003: Sea Waves Magazine is pleased to announce that Samuel Loring Morison has joined our staff. Mr. Morison will be providing research services as well as a weekly newsletter on naval news from Washington DC. Morison has 35 years experience in naval affairs from both a hands on and an academic perspective. After graduation from the University of Louisville in 1967, he served onboard the USS Savage during combat operations if Vietnam. Later he was employed as a civilian analyst for US Naval Intelligence Service. In the tradition set by his esteemed grandfather, Samuel Eliot Morison, he has worked on such esteemed publications as Jane’s Fighting Ships, Ships and Aircraft of the US Fleet and Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. He has also write or have written for various publications including "Defense and Foreign Affairs: Strategic Policy" of Alexandria, VA, "Fort Wayne Journal Gazette" of Fort Wayne, IND., "Naval History" and "Proceedings" both published by the United States Naval Institute, Annapolis, MD, "Navy News and Undersea Technology" of Washington, DC, "Navy Times" of Springfield, VA and "Warship International" of Toledo, Ohio. Sea Waves Magazine (www.seawaves.com) has been the world’s leading source of naval news since 1997 and is delivered five times per week via e-mail. For more information, contact Dave Shirlaw (604-924-0200) Dave Shirlaw Editor, Sea Waves Magazine www.seawaves.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Dafuelmann@aol.com Subject: DIXIE CLAS AD I sell a 1/700 resin waterline kit of the DIXIE class AD's, BUT................. Right now it's not available. I'm still getting my act back together after an extended semi-world tour courtesy of Mr Bush & the US NAVY. I hope to have this kit (and all the others) back in production in about a month. Please contact me then at fuelmann@hotmail.com if you are still interested. I'm not aware of any plastic kit ever being made of these ships, Revell made a kit of the PINE ISLAND Av's but that is the only one I know of. HTH, David Angelo, Loose Cannon Productions ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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