Subject: SMML VOL 2129 Date: Mon, 24 Feb 2003 11:48:25 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Publishers (Bless them) 2: Re: RDchesnau/Chatham Shipcraft series 3: Re: USCG Plans sources 4: Re: Squadron putty 5: Re: World's worst ships 6: Re: Fleetscale enquiry 7: Re: Fleetscale models 8: Re: Revell and Renwal USN kits 9: Re: U-60 10: Re: Raven and Roberts Book! 11: Re: Armada Argentina Question 12: UN Anti Piracy operation 13: Re: Semi Kits/scratchbuilding 14: Royal Navy WW2 "H" & "I" class Destroyers 15: cameras ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information 1: APMA Site update -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Attn. AMMERSAVIN Re: CVL kits.... 2: Sweepers in the 60's ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: brya1716 Subject: Re: Publishers (Bless them) John Lambert wrote that Allied Coastal Forces Vols. I & II are now in re-print. John can you please tell us where to look to purchase? I'd be interested if your re-print publisher isn't asking an arm & a leg for what I understand are classic references. Thanks, Bill Bryant ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: RDChesneau Subject: Re: RDchesnau/Chatham Shipcraft series >> As you may have guessed, I am extremly interested in the CVS class book from Chatham. Can you provide who the US distributor or an online UK distributor might be and let us know when it will be out? << Doug: If all goes well (!), it will be published in the second half of 2003, around September or October I imagine. I THINK there is a US co-publisher for the series (I'm not involved in the promotion/distribution of the series), but, if not, it will be available direct from the publishers via their website, or from the usual specialist outlets. Best wishes Roger ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Clive Lawford" Subject: Re: USCG Plans sources The web page for Coast Guard Museum Northwest USCG plans is http://www.fcgh.org/museum/plans.htm Details of plans for the 44' Motor Lifeboat can be found on the "Model 44ft Lifeboats" page at http://home.online.no/~lawford/xrl/xrl.htm. Clive. Please visit my homepages: (note new addresses) Ramsgate Lifeboat http://home.online.no/~lawford/rl/rl.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Keith Bender" Subject: Re: Squadron putty Hi SMMLies, I stopped using Squadron Putty due to it was cracking after a few years sometimes even less. I now been using "Bondo Spot Filler". It comes in a white and orange tub. The color of the Bondo is orange / red. I find it at most auto stores and I haven't had any cracks show up yet and I been using it for over ten years. It sells for about $3. Try it. KTB ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Stephen Varhegyi" Subject: Re: World's worst ships I reckon the world's worst ship was the Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne. Not so much for design but for her career highlights. She had the distinction of sinking two destroyers without a shot fired, both friendlies. First of all she sliced the HMAS Voyager (a Daring class destroyer) in half off Jervis Bay. With her captain "Drunken Duncan" at the helm. Then she managed to do the same to the USS Frank E Evans. Someone may care to correct me, but I think this is probably the most number of ships ever sunk by an Australian vessel. The yanks couldn't believe it when they saw our pilots actually landing their skyhawks and trackers on the tiny flightdeck of the Melbourne. My uncle did his national service on both the HMAS Sydney and Melbourne. Steve Varhegyi ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: GAZWE Subject: Re: Fleetscale enquiry I myself have just received HMS Sussex a county class heavy criuser which i intend to build circa 1937 when she served on China station white and buff nice there is quite a bit of material out there but not a lot if you know what i mean plans are a pain they all seem to be in 1/196 scale. All you get is the hull which in this sort of modeling is a dream there is nothing to do to it and some fabulous resin and white metal fittings. Lets get together you are not a million miles away. Gary R UK Slough ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Stephen Bolton" Subject: Re: Fleetscale models Hi Roger I know a guy who's building a R/C Q E and Warspite. The quality is excellent and could quite easily be a showcase model. He specialises in 1/128 scale unfortunately he's not on line but if you have any specific questions I could pry some info for you and pass it on. He doesn't tend to keep a photo history of a build just the finished models. In fact just as an after thought, if you are going to the model show at Child Beale the early may bank hol he'll be there with a Hood and Manchester. Hope this helps Steve ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Richard Sweeney Subject: Re: Revell and Renwal USN kits >> I strongly doubt this. Never attribute to government malevolence what is adequately explained by private industry's stupidity, or the viewpoint that models are toys, or the similar viewpoint that modelers don't care about accuracy, or even when models are considered to be important, nontheless the plastic ship modeler is distinctly a second-class citizen and is expected to be content with inaccuracies that would result in howls of protest and boycotts of kits if they were perpetrated on aircraft or tank models. << Brooks, Although I agree with you on the government malevolence statement, I build a variety of Kits and I can assure you at the time under discussion, The ship kits were no more toy like than the planes and Tanks were. I have a Japanese Type O float plane by Hasagawa in 1/76th scale, that doesn't even have a cockpit, just the shape of the opening in solid plastic. And most aircraft kits of the period had one piece wings with the landing gear cast in place and the markings in raised lines. Tanks were in many cases mostly lumps of plastic. There were some companies that strived for better, In Armor, Peerless/Schrieber-Max/Peerless Max were unusually high quality for the time as were Bandai 1/48th scale Armor. But even today companies release aircraft and Armor kits with Glaring errors and say, "So what We're XYZ, they'll buy it anyway." and frequently, they are correct. About three years ago Hasagawa released a P-51B with a wing that is completely wrong for the airplane, they have yet to say anything except, "Who Cares? We're Hasagawa, they will buy it" and Italeri released the same model P-51 a couple of months later with the same incorrect wing, and they have not corrected their mistakes either. Tamiya is still getting pretty good prices for Tank kits that are 20 to 30 years old, and still have holes in the hulls for the wind up motors they originally put into them. On top of which, every time they release them they still call them "New". Many of the older Italari armor kits are the Peerless Max kits of the 50's. And their "new" 1/72nd scale armor kits are the old Esci 1/72nd scale kits of the 1970's and 80's. Most of the aircraft kits released by Eastern Express are either the OLD Frog kits or newer Toko kits. No kit is perfect, but in all honesty, there has been an increase in injection molded Naval kits in the last few years and some of those kits have been quite exciting to some, the Revell S-boat, and although not perfect, the Sorevemeny's and the new USS Hornet are great kits, as well as the Trumpeter/Pitroad Iowa class battleships. Many companies such as Hasagawa and Tamiya have put money into re-cutting and correcting their molds for their older 1/700 scale ships, something they have not done for their tanks and Aircraft. As for aftermarket corrections for kits, The companies such as White Ensign, Tom's Model Works,And our friend Jim at AAA Hobbies, and Gold Medal Models Have lead the way in making older kits presentable in the modern modeling arena. But the Aftermarket parts arena for tanks and Aircraft dwarfs what we have, If the Aircraft and Tank modellers would not stand for the "Problems" we face, there would be no need for aftermarket parts. I remember one review of a 1/48th scale Grumman Avenger kit by Accurate Miniatures, which bemoaned the fact that for the first time the Aftermarket companies could produce nothing which would improve the kit. By the way, Accurate Miniatures, who were known for their incredibly accurate kits, went out of business, the aircraft modeling community got tired of waiting for them to complete their research, and bought cheaper kits and made due. Brooks, all phases/disciplines of the hobby suffer from the major companies lethargy as regards accuracy. We are a smaller segment of the Modeling hobby, therefor our spending doesn't carry the weight that other parts of the hobby do, but I've seen the lists of kits coming out from Trumpeter, who in their defense, have made big improvements with every new kit they have released, and they are ambitious, and their catalog includes a 1/350th scale "USS Nimitz" and other companies are responding and putting out comparable kits, the subject matter has widened significantly, ie: Seal models Russo Japanese period Japanese ships. Not to mention releases from the resin Companies, like White Ensign, Commander's Models, Blue Water Navy and JAG Collective to name a very few. Frankly the most disheartening part of the hobby is how "If you put a Swastika on it IT WILL SELL!" Respectfully, Richard J. Sweeney ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "Daniel Bauer" Subject: Re: U-60 Hello, The U-60 being a very early boat, was more likely to be painted in the scheme: Hellgrau 50 uppersurfaces, hull surfaces Dunkelgrau 2. The deck was also Dunkelrau 2.The decks of U-Booten were painted to hide the figure of the boot while it was at periscope depth. You can get the exact colours from WEM. These colours are as close as you can get to the real thing. Yes, the wood parts of the deck were teak, but a light colour was easy to spot even supmerged. Hope that helps. Regards, Dan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Denis" Subject: Re: Raven and Roberts Book! Copies are available on the'web" book sellers. Usually start at US$200 and go uppppp! Hav seen a copy as low as US$26, ironically just after I commited to a US$200 one. I ordered as soon as I saw it, I mean if I got one at US$26 and another at US$200 the price drops to US$113 doesn't it (!) and thats pretty cheap especially when my better half gets sus and asks HM$? Of course the cheap one wasn't there when my order was processed. The point is, the book in small numbers, is about if you search for it (Amazon for starters) and with patience can be found at affordable prices. rgds denis james ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: annobon4 Subject: Re: Armada Argentina Question Hi About the Argentine type 42 destroyers.According to the book Modern Combat Ships 3 -Type 42. The Argentine ships Hercules(1976) and Santisima Trinidad (1981) were built with different layout for the Exocet missiles. The Hercules was built in England and recieved 2 exocet launchers on top of the hangar slightly angled on both port and starboard sides. However it's noted that launchers may have created stability problems and they were moved off the hangar roof dowwn to the deck along side the smoke stack. this book states that the Santisima Trinidad was built with a modified deck for 4 launchers. 2 on each side of the deck. Afet the war had ended. I have a Skywave SP-2 SHEFFIELD KIT and the kit has a drawing showing the difference of those ships. This drawing shows 4 exocet launchers on top of the hangar .2 per side. Also there is some deck modification Drop me a message off line and I'll be happy to photo copy you a copy and mail it to you. Craig ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: annobon4 Subject: UN Anti Piracy operation Hi Does any one know anything about a anti piracy operation in 1976 by the UN. In the South China Sea area. I remember reading about it during High School in a newspaper. I think several nations from India to the Philippines sent ships and troops to end it as they grew large and had slave markets in operation as well. If did happen how many ships were used and what were they. Has any one ever heard of this.? Craig Bennett ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Steve Sobieralski Subject: Re: Semi Kits/scratchbuilding Roger, I built a static display model of HMS Hood using Fleetscale's hull about ten years ago. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of the build. Building a static model is less complex than building a working model, particularly in the initial phases, so you're fortunate there. You will need to decide which ship you want to build and for which time period, then get the best plans and as many reference photos as you can find. You might consider Warspite over QE, simply because she was the subject of one of the Anatomy of the Ship book series, which are a great resource. Assuming that you utilize the available Fleetscale bits (which I believe include armament, funnels, boats, fittings, etc.) you will find yourself constructing mainly decks and superstructures and masts, most of which are basically simple shapes which can be built up using sheet plastic, wood or brass. Its a big project, but definitely doable, and very impressive when completed. Steve Sobieralski ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: NAS4853 Subject: Royal Navy WW2 "H" & "I" class Destroyers Reference the enquiry relating to the H & I class Royal navy destroyers of WW2 an excellent reference work relating to all standard British destroyers of the 1930's has been published in the form of: "AMAZON to IVANHOE - British Standard Destroyers of the 1930's" by John English. Published by the World Ship Society, 28 Natland Road, Kendal, LA9 7LT England. ISBN 0 905617 64 9 in 1993. This book contains full details of each ships history, including dates of deployment, actions, etc. right up to details of disposal, scrapping or even the exact location where respective ships lay after being sunk, wrecked, etc. A veritable mine of information supported by many photographs. I have found this a "must" when doing any research intro this type of ship, and very good value for money even though this book is a large paperback of 144 pages. Well recommended. Suggest that the site to look at is http://worldshipsociety.org/ for further information regarding the world ship society and their publications, etc. Good Luck Norman SELLS Tenterden Kent (U.K) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "Jim Mcneil @ Slackers" Subject: cameras A couple of months ago there was a thread on cameras for looking inside models. At the time they were talking about trying to get hands on old medical equipment. I wasn't very interested in it but today I saw a catalogue with a camera that seemed to be what they were talking about. There is a company that sells surveillance eqpt including a lot of miniature cameras. in any case the site is www.supercircuit.com and it is located in Texas USA( which stands for Unknown Southern Area). The particular piece of eqpt to look for is "colour remote head video security camera" price $249.95. Once you get into the site use the search program and search for "snake". Jim McNeil, Slackers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Shane Subject: APMA Site update Hi all, The APMA site has been updated with photos from the Febuary meeting. All the best, Shane APMA Webmaster Having FUN making models http://apma.org.au Now with Secure On-Line Ordering ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: stillmo Subject: Attn. AMMERSAVIN Re: CVL kits.... I have two kits by Skywave in stock....They are INTACT in the bags, but were shipped to me from japan without the encasing boxes.....we have the instructions for each though and as I say they are untouched in the bags......email me at stillmo@mb.sympatico.ca for USD pricing. I have shipped kits to many folks on this and other boards but your name does not sound familiar hence I will have to be cautious in this transaction. Ray Bean, Winnipeg, Canada ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Mac Dale Subject: Sweepers in the 60's Hi Group, Just to announce a new page posted, a series on Bay Class Minesweepers exercising in the late 50's, early 60's. Please drop by and have a look! http://gwardnet.d2g.com/mac/mm.html Cheers, Ian http://gwardnet.d2g.com/mac/ Mac's Naval Photography Editor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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