Subject: SMML VOL 2083 Date: Mon, 06 Jan 2003 17:59:10 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Any Britannic fans out there? 2: Re: Flying boats 3: Navigation Radar: Decca 1226 4: Re: 'Warspite' Hull Sections 5: Izumo 6: Re: KGV Paint Question 7: Re: PE for Vosper and ASR launch 8: PE for vosper MTB & RAF rescue launch 9: Re: BB-62 Model Article 10: Thanks 11: New thread 12: Re: 1/350 cockpits 13: Benjamin Stoddart kit one of the best EVER 14: Minicraft 1/350 USCGC Eagle review 15: SITE UPDATE: L'Ambitieux - 80 gun ship miniature 16: Re: PE for Vosper MTB & RAF Rescue Launch 17: HMS Warspite hull profile 18: Re: Hornet Armor Belt? 19: Model builder -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: New Schnellboot book for 2003 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Daniel" Subject: Re: Any Britannic fans out there? >> While I did not tape the show I wanted to make sure you were aware of two previous Britannic shows; one many years ago when Jacques Cousteau explored her (I have it on VHS - pre-recorded, found it in sale tapes at a Meijer's) and a PBS, I think, show (I have it too, but off the air). However, all my tapes are packed as I am planning to move residence in the near future and I can't get to them right now. << A few years ago there was a PBS show... Nova, I think... with Ballard, exploring Britannic. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: billkaja Subject: Re: Flying boats >> I have two "Duck" model kits. If one looks for them there are quite a few other flying boat kits available, including the Gruman Goose and Widgeon. I recently completed a 1/72 Martin PBM-3 Mariner for a client, and a 1/144 model of the same for myself. Glencoe reissued the Martin and Boeing Clipper boats and the Republic Seabee a few years ago. The Seabee is currently available from an Eastern European company. I have two 1/48 Monogram Catalinas and a a 1/24 frame and tissue Cat in waiting. Hasagawa has (had) a series of flying boats available, including the Martin Marlin. Revel-Germany is releasing the Blohm and Voss BV 222 a six engine monster! I am now completing an interesting Latecoere FB from the pre-WWII era. I have sort of specialized in FB's and have about a dozen different models waiting. (Hmmmm, inventory time??) I have obtained all of these kits through Model Expo and Squadron during the past five years. They are out there, you just have to monitor the catalogs closely. I like flying boats because of their interesting history, aerodynamic configurations, and their connection to the sea. << I've got entries for several of the Flying Boats Dave mentions, that is the ones flown by the USCG, in my kitlist..... Bill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "KOSTAS ORNERAKIS" Subject: Navigation Radar: Decca 1226 Happy 2003 to all, I'd appreciate any help with plans or photos of Decca 1226, radar antenna. Thanks in advance Kostas Ornerakis GREECE ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: SolidStump Subject: Re: 'Warspite' Hull Sections >> H.M.S. 'Warspite.' The paint scheme in the instructions call for either 1915 or 1940, so I assume the hull design has not changed significantly enough to warrant endless research. << Very large torpedo bulges were added. AOTS Warspite has hull sections that show the original hull and the added bulges. Problem with AOTS "plans" is determining what scale they actually are. I have not checked this plan personnaly but many say the plans are not at the scale stated in the book. WEM also has plans with hull sections for QE 1918. No bulges. S. Scheuer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Gernot Hassenpflug Subject: Izumo Darius, I used the SoW special edition on IJN battlships which has some photos of Izumo and her sister Iwate. So I do not have the probably more detailed book you mention (more on that later). When I wrote a small deck between the bridge and mast, I meant the foremast, not the mainmast as I mistakenly wrote. The foremast appears to go through the bridge deck, which maybe has a half-round appearance as it curves around the mast. It is not represented on the kit, which has a straight-off deck without interaction with the mast. Perhaps your photos show more detail. Regarding the book, could you let me have a scan of the front page, or else the name of the author and publisher (maybe only in Japanese characters?). I can hardly ever imagine which Japanese books/series are which when referred to by their english names, since the english names are so alike. Not to mention that some series have been reissued in condensed volumes or different formats. Have fun with the kit, I look forward to seeing photos of the completed kit. For Masashi Ito: do you know if Seals models has a webpage? The site you mention is focussed on Trumpeter and appears to be very new still. Even Trumpeter ship kits are hard to find unless you read kanji. On the Chinese webpages of Trumpeter there is a catalogue of current Trumpeter ship kits. The english pages are still under construction. http://www.trumpeter-china.com/CH/cncatalogue.htm Regards, Gernot ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "bert" Subject: Re: KGV Paint Question The scheme you refer to was painted out late in 1940 and the ship was then painted in an overall light/mid grey with all the horizontals i.e decks etc in a darker shade of grey as was the P.O.W.at that time. Alan Raven's Ensign No1, K.G.V. BATTLESHIPS is a good guide even though the pictures are in black and white. (TaT) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Stephen Allen" Subject: Re: PE for Vosper and ASR launch The answer at the moment appears to be no, although Great Little Ships (DJ Parkins) have advertised their intention for well over a year of providing update sets for the ASR launch and for the Airfix (and useable on the Revell) Vosper MTB. The 20mm and machine guns on these boats can be adapted from the GLS sets designed for the Revell Corvette, or from aeroclub white metal. regards steve ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Ray Cockram Subject: PE for vosper MTB & RAF rescue launch Tim, According to David Parkins web site they are planning to issue these add ons, under the Great Little Ships (GLS) label. I would suggest you contact them, their website is: http://www.djparkins.clara.net/gls/glsmain.htm Cheers mate Ray ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Silas Wellington" Subject: Re: BB-62 Model Article Bob I think I have ship in scale jan 1985 up in the attic I'll check today and scan Mr Perry's article for you contact me off line so I can e-mail it at para59@msn.com Si Wellington ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: Thanks Thanks to the SMML people who responded to my request for help in finding information about an article in a back issue of Sea Classics. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: New thread As President Reagan used to say, "Well, here we go again.". Recently I came across some references to the fact that in addition to other better known unromantic conditions aboard some of the smaller U.S. Navy vessels, there have been infestations of vermin such as cockroaches (gasp), bedbugs (gulp), rats (groan), etc. And it seems that these creatures seem to successfully defy all attempts at extermination. Can any SMML people confirm, correct, or contradict these allegations? Go for it, guys. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: SantMin Subject: Re: 1/350 cockpits >> With all the talk about the aircraft on the new hornet kit, the future release of the Essex class carrier and it's aircraft, I was wondering what color are you all using to paint the canopies. I will be getting ready to paint the Kingfisher aircraft on my latest cruiser project and I haven't been too happy with the results of other float planes canopies that I have painted. The more advice/recommendations the better. << I like to use a mid blue/gray with a gloss coat but you don't have to worry about that with the new Hornet, the canopies are CLEAR. Bob ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: SHIPMDLR Subject: Benjamin Stoddart kit one of the best EVER >> On my flight from Vegas to SFO to visit a client, I was reading the latest FSM - and was (as always) blown away by the quality of Rusty's work and the cottage folks at WEM for the moulding and PE and all that they produce. What a team-up. To the folks at WEM, and to Rusty, a big-league tip of the hat from the envious and admiring Ned Barnett ... << Ned, I was suprised to see a two page spread of the photo I took in FSM. That enlarged photo made me notice the bow railing had buckled in a few areas from the lighting I used to photograph the model. The only (minor) complaint I have ever had about the WEM Benjamin Stoddart kit was the SUPER, SUPER fine etched railing. It was so finely etched that working with it was difficult because it was so delicate. Look at the two page spread in FSM and look closely at the bow rails. The photo is about 50% larger than the actual model and you can still barely see the rails between the stanchions. They are so fine they actually bucked under the heat from the photo lights! I now realize that I may have gotten a (very) slightly over etched photo etch sheet in my kit. I am currently working on a WEM KNOX class frigate and the photo etch is much more forgiving and easy to work with because it's ever so slightly heavier. I'll say it again. The WEM Benjamin Stoddart kit is one the finest model kits EVER produced anywhere, by anyone. It's a pleasure to build and is a credit to Peter Hall who built the master patterns and designed the PE for the kit. I'll join you and tip my hat as well to the folks at WEM for such a great kit. Thanks so much for the kind words. I'm blushing as I write this. Rusty White IPMS/USA #20181 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: billkaja Subject: Minicraft 1/350 USCGC Eagle review Hello all, Below is the text of a review that I submitted to Modeling Madness and to SMMLonline. I thought I'd share it here..... Kit: Minicraft USCG Barque Eagle (“USS Eagle”) 1/350 Scale Kit Number: 11303 Price: $10 Decals: USCG, (post-1976) Comments: Decent representation of the Eagle as she appears today, kit name is wrong. USCGC EAGLE History First off, let me correct the kit’s most glaring error: Labeling the kit as “USS Eagle”. This is, of course, a model of the US Coast Guard Cutter Eagle—the box should say “USCGC EAGLE”. (To Coast Guardsmen, this is a gaffe as bad as calling a US Marine fighter an “Army plane”. The Eagle was one of five sister ships, built by Nazi Germany in the mid 1930s. The Horst Wessel served as a training ship for the German Navy before the war, and then was used as a transport in the Baltic during the war. Seized as a war prize at the end of the war, the US Coast Guard christened her “Eagle”, and with a mixed crew of USCG and German personnel, sailed her to the US in 1946. Since 1946, Eagle has served as the training ship for the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT. (The USCG Academy is similar in many ways to the US Naval Academy, but with a student body about one fourth the size.) Every Academy cadet will spend at least 6 weeks at sea during summer training cruises aboard Eagle. (I was lucky enough to spend a total of 15 weeks aboard Eagle during my 4 years at the Academy.) The Eagle has a riveted steel hull, with welded steel masts and yards. The steel decks are covered with a layer of teak planking. The standing rigging is wire rope, while the running rigging is the traditional rope. Eagle is rigged as a bark (or barque), which means she has square sails on the fore and main masts, but only fore-and-aft sails on the mizzen. (A “ship rigged” vessel would have square sails on all masts.) In the following 55 years, some changes have taken place. The original boat stowage amidships has been replaced with stowage for modern inflatable liferafts. An enclosed pilothouse was added at the front of the bridge, to protect the radar, radios, and other electronics from the weather. In German service, the mizzen’s large spanker sail was two piece, to make it easier to handle. It was later changed to one large sail. In the last ten years or so, the sail has been changed back to the two piece sail. (The kit has the two-piece sail.) Also added in the 1970s were davits with standard USCG 26 foot motor surf boats (MSBs), replacing the oar-powered boats carried on the quarterdeck. In 1976, the Coast Guard added the “Coast Guard” and read and blue stripes to the hulls of all cutters, including Eagle. Model History: I understand that this model was originally released as an Imai kit, and was a waterline model. Imai had a series of modern tall ships in 1/350 scale, all waterline models. Minicraft later acquired the molds, and re-released a number of ships from the line. When the kit was released, Minicraft made three improvements: (1) Added a separate lower hull molding, (2) Included modern USCG decals, and (3) cut the retail price almost in half. When this kit first appeared on the shelves of my local hobby shop in 1997, you could sometimes still find the Imai waterline version of the kit for $20. The Minicraft version of the kit (in the box with the wrong name, and an optional full hull) sold for $10. The model basically represents the Eagle as she appears today, which makes it the best of the Eagle kits, IMO. Revell produced a kit in 1/253 scale of Eagle, that has been around since the mid 1950s. The Revell kit is a model of Eagle from that era, though I suspect it isn’t totally accurate for that time period either. The Revell kit does not include a pilothouse, has the infamous molded on railings. In the early 1980s, Revell released the kit with modern USCG markings (“COAST GUARD” and the USCG stripe.) Kit Parts: The kit consists of about 65 plastic molded parts, molded in various colors. Also included are two sheets of vacuum-formed sails. Portholes are a little oversize, perhaps, and are molded as shallow holes. They are round, with good edges, and in a straight line. The Eagle has a couple of pronounced raised rubrails along the hull, and these are reproduced in the model’s upper hull. The lower hull has no molded detail at all, but that is probably better than overdone plating lines as found in some kits in this scale. My copy of the kit has fairly clean moldings— no signs of mold mis-alignment, and very little flash. The model is molded in several colors, to minimize painting. The hull and decks are in white, with the masts and spars in a medium brown. The lower hull is molded in bright green. There is several feet of a fine brown thread for use in rigging. A display base with nice wood grain is molded in black, and there are a pair of chrome pedestals to go with it. Details, details: The decks have fine recessed lines engraved to simulate the planking. The inclined ladders (stairways, to you land lubbers) are molded as part of the main deck. The yards have the right overall shape, but are a little over scale. (The topmasts and upper yards would be too fragile if molded in scale, I suspect.) There are no railings molded in, which is a good move in this scale. Generic 3-bar photo-etch railings could be used to add this detail. I estimate you’d need about 16 inches of railing material. There also are no ratlines included in the kit—this is another area where photo-etched brass would be a good solution. Probably the worst detail of the model is the boats and davits. Eagle carries 26 foot long motor surfboats, the same boat used on all larger USCG Cutters. The kit’s boats look more like a ship’s longboat from the 1800s. Also, the davits are simple “J” davits, which is completely wrong as well. Nobody makes an MSB in this (or any) scale, so scratch-building is the only way to get an accurate boat. If you don’t want to scratchbuild, then I’d suggest going with a 26 foot USN motor whaleboat. Remove the canvas screens, make the ends a little more blunt with some putty, and use standard Navy destroyer-type davits, and you’ve made a big improvement. Instructions: The instructions are copyrighted 1997. There are nine major assembly steps. The instructions are primarily pictorial, with a few captions in English. There is very limited rigging instructions- only major elements of the standing rigging are included. The use of the light plastic vacuum formed sails is the optional last step, but there is no running rigging instructions at all. Simple representations of the sheets for the fore-and-aft sails and braces for the square sails are shown in the photos of the completed model. The only color information is a single statement: “Paint decks tan. See box photos for detail colors.” The box sides have four color photos of the model to show colors and decal placement. Too bad the colors used in the photos are wrong in a couple of key areas. For example, the lower hull should be anti-fouling red, not green. The masts and yards should be USCG “spar” in color, not brown. The deck fittings should be spar incolor, not red or orange. Decals: The kit provides decals for the modern version of the Eagle, as shown on the box. They consist of the hull stripes and “Coast Guard” lettering, and the ship’s name for the the stern. The decals look pretty good, but maybe a bit thick. The different colors are properly registered. The USCG Shield is part of the red stripe, and is the worst looking of the lot. Still, it isn’t bad—it is only 3/16 of an inch in size, and reminds me of the not-too-detailed squadron badges you get in many airplane kits. I’m sure that an aftermarket decal outfit could do a better job here, but what are the chances such a sheet will ever be produced? Recommendation: Recommended. Minicraft’s 1/350 scale series of tall ships are nice little models. There’s nothing more complicated than a tall ship, and these kits do a decent job of capturing the essence of them in a common scale. The fact that they are in 1/350 scale means that there are warship detail parts, such as railings and ladders, to dress them up if desired. (At 295 feet LOA, Eagle is about the size of a Destroyer Escort.) I only wish that someone would do a generic tall ship detail set, with ratlines and other rigging pieces…… This particular kit is a good representation of Eagle as she appears today, more detailed than the 1/600 scale Heller kit, and much more accurate than the old Revell molding. The kit’s main shortcoming is the poor rigging and painting instructions, which can be addressed by looking at some photos. Review courtesy of me and my wallet. If you’re interested in US Coast Guard models, check out my list of USCG Model Kits at: http://home.earthlink.net/~billkaja/kitlist.htm References: US Coast Guard website: http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/wixtrain.htm http://www.uscg.mil/datasheet/wixtrain.htm EAGLE, America’s Sailing Square Rigger, by George Putz. Globe-Pequot Press, 1986. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Kerry L. Jang" Subject: SITE UPDATE: L'Ambitieux - 80 gun ship miniature Hi everyone, Ever though of casting parts at home usng RTV moulds and resin? I just went through this ordeal making cannon for my model of L'Ambitieux - 80 gun ship miniature (1:192). My experiences are detailed on Daniel Munoz's excellent website at: http://www.nutsnbits.com/ Enter the English language section and scroll down to "Models by Kerry Jang". I'd appreciate any questions or comments! Cheers, Kerry Jang ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: "Leslie Brown" Subject: Re: PE for Vosper MTB & RAF Rescue Launch D J Parkins (djparkins@aol.com) has been advertising the forthcoming release of such PE sets for a number of years (quite a large number!) but so far has only produced PE for the 1/72 Matchbox/Revell Flower Class Corvette. These sets are very good (if rather expensive). Perhaps a few e-mails from interested parties might get things moving? Regards Les Brown ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "david harris" Subject: HMS Warspite hull profile With reference to the Airfix kit suggestion. The kit represents the Warpite in her later life & as such is one major refit (in the 1920's) & a later 1930's, practical entire rebuild of the ship different from her at the time of her entering service. From the hull profile point of view, the most major change was that in a refit which lasted from 1924 to 1926, she had torpedo bulges added which increased her beam from 90ft 6 inches to 104 feet. (Source Battleship Warspite by V E Tarrant). These bulges covered her length from forward of A turret to just aft of her Y turret. I cannot remember what period you mentioned in your original post, but just wanted to warn you that the Airfix kit may not be suitable if you are after an early Warspite hull profile. Good luck with the project. Hopefully Trunpeter of their like will get around to a 1:350th scale injection kit of her one day! Regards David ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Sanartjam Subject: Re: Hornet Armor Belt? Hi SMML, Can anyone tell me if the USS Hornet (CV-8) had an externally visible armor belt? The BWN kit has a very thick one and, from what I see in the photos, the Trumpeter kit doesn't seem to have a visible armor belt. It is very hard to discern an external armor belt in the photographs I have looked at. The Hornet was supposed to have had a 4-inch belt, but the only plans I have seen on which it appears is the one of the Hornet by Robert Sumrall in his article on the Yorktown class carriers in Warship 1990. The FDD plans of the Yorktown and Hornet don't show an externally visible belt. Help! Inquiring minds and all that.... Art Nicholson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: Sab1156 Subject: Model builder A happy new year to all the SMML fans! Does anyone know a model builder in Europe,especial eastern Europe, who can build 1/700 models from scratch for a reasonable price? Thanks in advance Detlef Hartwig ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Timothy Connelly" Subject: New Schnellboot book for 2003 Hello All I would just like to announce something. At some time in 2003, there will be a new book on Schnellboote, published by Squadron/Signal Publications, in their "In Action" series. It will follow the usual "In Action" format. T. Garth Connelly ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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