Subject: SMML VOL 2286 Date: Thu, 04 Sep 2003 00:16:39 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: Scratch one flat top 2: Flat Top 3: HP Models HMS Inflexible 4: Flat Iron and Flat Top 5: clear flat 6: Re: flat top 7: Re: Clear Flat problems 8: Re: 1:700 MkVII U-boat 9: Re: 1:700 sub kits 10: HP Models 11: Re: Boot topping? PCs - Yes. SCs - No 12: Re: "Flat Tops" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: HORNET HANGER DECK CONVERSION FOR TRUMPETERS 1/350 SCALE KIT ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Richa5011 Subject: Re: Scratch one flat top >> but did it start at Midway..with the words scratch one flat top..... << I think that was the Battle of the Coral Sea after the USN aircraft had hit Shoho. Nat Richards ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Chuck Evans" Subject: Flat Top When I was 12 years old in 1953 and lived in Manila, Philippines, my dad worked with the federal government and arranged tours aboard the aircraft carriers of that day that anchored in Manila bay and were assigned to the 7th fleet. I remember going aboard the Midway and Coral Sea (I believe) and one more I can't remember. The officers I toured with always referred to their carriers as "Flat Tops". I heard that term used with carriers as long as I can remember. Hope this helps. Chuck Evans Minneapolis ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Harold Stockton" Subject: HP Models HMS Inflexible Here is a review of the HP Models HMS Inflexible found on http://www.internetmodeler.com/2003/august/first-looks/HP_Inflexible.htm Harold Stockton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Reid, John (AFIT)" Subject: Flat Iron and Flat Top HMS Argus (1918) especially deserves the nickname Flat Iron when viewed from above, since the flight deck was pointed at the bow! Regarding "Flat Top", I would not be surprised to find that this term was coined to describe an aircraft carrier by some journalist rather than in any Navy - especially since there is a formerly commonly-used arrangement of radio aerials which is also known as a "flat top". Some captioned photos of this arrangement can be seen in Friedman's books on US destroyers (flushdeckers and treaty cruisers in particular, i.e. 1920s). The flat top consists of 4-6 long parallel wires slung between fore and main masts, and held apart and flat by a freely-suspended horizontal spar at each end (one a few metres behind the foremast and one ahead of the mainmast), each of which spars then has a shroud at each end to keep it stable. This antenna shape gives superior range for long-wave radio communication by providing aerial elements commensurate with the wavelength. The same antenna arrangement can be seen between the folding flight-deck edge masts of Illustrious and early Essex classes of carrier (later Essexes went for more whip aerials). When sky arcs for AA gunnery became more important, these aerials were gradually suppressed and nowadays with satellite comms they are extinct at sea. However, just check out your local ashore radio bases, e.g. at Belconnen, ACT, Australia, and you will see them a-plenty. John Reid ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Ron Subject: clear flat SMML wrote: >> I has the same experience StE had, only my problem was with PolyScale Clear Flat. I used it for the first time on the HP Models HMS Dreadnought. It left a white residue under the gun barrels and in nooks and crannies all over the model. I ended up just painting over the white stuff, then using Gunze Clear Flat to even it out. I have no idea why this happened. I would like to know because there seem to be a lot of people who think PolyScale is the best clear flat. Does it need to be thinned? If so, how much and with what? Marc Flake PS: My apologies to the list, I was responding to a posting on another list. After reading numerous messages off three lists I got a little confused. That happens on long weekends like we had here in the States. I'm not even sure if StE (alias Shane Weier) still frequents this list. By way of background, he had a similar Clear Flat problem to mine, only with Gunze Clear Flat. StY knows what I'm talking about. << Yes Polly Scale needs to be thinned. I prefer thinning it 40-50% with 45% ispropanol (take 90% ispropanol and cut it 50/50 with distilled or deionized water). Spray at high pressure with a low paint feed, make a couple mist coats. It will whiten on very dark colors if you're not careful. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: flat top >> Im sure im probably wrong on this.....but did it start at Midway..with the words scratch one flat top... << I suspect the term predated that message, which was sent, BTW, at the Battle of the Coral Sea (not Midway) to announce the sinking of SHOHO. Cheers, John Snyder White Ensign Models ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Martin Short" Subject: Re: Clear Flat problems Marc, The "white residue" is the flatting base used to make the matt paint. Usually this is an amorphous silica of some sort (we used Aerosil). Normally you can get this effect under a couple of conditions : 1) If the paint is too highly loaded, normally only an issue if you are making your own (eg: Using Tamiya flat base) and get carried away with the additive, or its the dregs in the bottle. The give away here is that the whole job looks dusty... this isn't your problem.. or 2) Over application, where you get a high film build of the matt coat:Too much finish applied per coat, too many coats too soon, paint is too thick etc. What happens is the carrier (liquid component) flows away from your "pile" of paint and the flatting base just sits there. As the paint dries this leaves the flatting base exposed... as a white residue. Problem areas are guns chases/openings and around the bases of superstructure for ship modellers, or anywhere the paint can 'pond' for that matter.. so be careful of overlaps between sections you are painting. I tend to spray a little dry with my matting coats to avoid this problem.To rectify, you would just have needed to brush a little thinned gloss over patches, then re-matt. I haven't used Polly Scale products.. never seen the brand in NZ, but this can happen with faster drying lacquer type matt finishes from Testors/Aeromaster. Never had the problem with slower drying enamels such as extracolour, or acrylics. Not a brilliant explanation... I will never make a good teacher!, but hope it helps explain your occurence! On another note, following on from the recent HP models thread, I take that these kits are basically OK?. Repulse, Renown, QE and Valiant are on my must get list. cheers, Martin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Stephen Varhegyi" Subject: Re: 1:700 MkVII U-boat Hasegawa make a 1:700 uboat I think there may be 2 in a box a Mk VIIc and IXc. I found it on Hobbylink Japan website www.hlj.com/images/hsg/hsgwl901box.gif HLJ have a great collection of stuff that's hard to get. If I can't find it locally here in Australia it's usually the next place I look. Hope this helps. Steve Varhegyi ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Ives100 Subject: Re: 1:700 sub kits Skywave makes a 1:700 set of Gato submarines. You get 2 subs per kit (along with some other items, such as Japanese destroyers and B-24 bombers). These can be finished as either waterline or full hull. These are styrene, not resin. The conning tower does need some improvement work, the forward torpedo tube numbers are incorrect and accuracy is only fair. They can be greatly improved with Tom's Modelworks photoetch set that is specifically made for the set. Tom ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Chris Drage" Subject: HP Models To Russ (Smith), I assume from the large quantity of HP models you have acquired that you are satisfied with the quality and accuracy? Any comments on those issues would be welcome (he says with hand reaching nervously for wallet). Perhaps Kid Currie would like to comment too....I know John has several HP kits. What say you P.O.Currie? Cheers. Regards Chris He tao rakau e taea te karo kupu kaore e taea te karo (Te reo Maori) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: Diodor Subject: Re: Boot topping? PCs - Yes. SCs - No No doubt about the boot topping on PC 820 as illustrated in Bill Veigeles book, but I'll stick to my guns about WWII SCs. None that I know of were launched with boot topping . If a boot topping existed during an SC's career it came from the whim of its skipper or the lonely dauber working under the hull during a drydocking. It would have been an exception, not the rule. Which raises another question. PCs and SCs, while both called "subchasers," were radically different. PC hulls were steel, SCs were wooden. PCs were 173' loa, SCs were 110'. Could topping on PCs have been because they were steel-hulled? Ted Treadwell ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: Re: "Flat Tops" Many thanks for the responses to my query about the term "Flat Top". In addition to the replies given, I have a dim recollection of a character in the old (American) "Dick Tracy" comic strips whose moniker was "Flat Top", and who sported a "Flat Top" (or "Crew Cut") hair-do. I was not sure which was called "Flat Top" first, the haircut or the carrier. Apparently it was the carrier (as if anyone really gave a [CENSORED] anyway). Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Tom's Modelworks" Subject: HORNET HANGER DECK CONVERSION FOR TRUMPETERS 1/350 SCALE KIT Tom's Modelworks is pleased to announce we have started shipping the convesion kits and want to thank those customer that have pre-ordered the conversion. The ship conversion kit, TC3511 can be viewed on our web site www.tomsmodelworks.com cost $35.00 plus shipping. the set includes 8 cast resin parts and two sheets of brass. We think you will find it to be a very good representation of the Hornets hanger deck area. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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