Subject: SMML VOL 2302 Date: Thu, 18 Sep 2003 14:26:03 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Oriskany 2: flight deck structure 3: Re: Aussie FFG upgrade 4: Re: USS Oriskney CVA 34 info 5: Re: John Snyder, old uniforms 6: Re: Corfam shoes 7: Villefranche 8: Paper Models 9: Bell Bottom Trousers and hat of Navy blue... 10: Plank - owners and holders ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: David Wells Subject: Oriskany "DUCKMAN" (AKA David in Dixie) wrote: >> herz an e-bay link to a carrier that kurt may be able to use. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3145798968&category=4248 << Indeed, the old Revell 1/535 Essex-class SCB-125 kit would be a good starting place for an Oriskany. This Wasp kit would probably work quite nicely, since it probably has a better aircraft set than the more recently issued Lexington kits. Now, how about some details on how to make this kit look a bit more like the Oriskany? Is Jodie Peeler listening? "There seems to be something wrong | David R. Wells with our bloody ships today" | Adm. D. Beatty, May 31, 1916 | http://home.att.net/~WellsBrothers/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Nancy Morris" Subject: flight deck structure Roger: I have copies of the plans from the National Archives for the supporting structure. Basically there are 12" I beams running longitudinally about 42" apart. These are over 8' deep transverse bents. I'll have to hunt up the box with the plans to be more specific. I moved this summer and still haven't got things organized. I should be able to answer most questions. Robert Morris Berlin Center, Ohio USA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: Re: Aussie FFG upgrade >> Some time i remember that the RAN was going to put a VLS system to replace the single launching arm..i seem to recall that this was scrapped... i see on World Navies today web site, that the plan was an 8 cell VLS for 32 ESSM missiles .. so that would mean 32 individual launch tubes? was this correct as im thinking of maybe..just maybe doing something a little different next year << The VLS tubes to be used can contain 4 ESSM per tube. Or one SM-1/2 or one Tomahawk or one VLASROC. I understood that the VLS was to go forward of the single arm launcher, to allow the firing of Harpoons. SM-1s, also, still have some use as SSMs, though there isn't much call for that today. ESSM is supposed to be similar in range and superior in capability to the SM-1, but the current US administration seems to be letting ESSM go by the wayside. Joe Poutre ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: Re: USS Oriskney CVA 34 info >> Was the Oriskney CVA 34 the same class of ship as the Coral Sea CVA43? I built a 1/350 model of the Coral Sea for a fellow who served on her in the early 1980's. His father saw the Coral Sea under construction and he served on it! The entire model was made out of wood and a bit of brass for railings, etc. Since the hull of the Coral Sea was originally laid to be an Iowa class battleship, I used the 1/350 Tamaya Missouri hull for a pattern. The rest I did through photo interpretation from the fellow's cruise book and photos off the internet. Half my modeling time was spent making drawings and plans! Anyway, the model turned out to my satisfaction and the fellow who commissioned it is very proud of it and put it on display in his store. << Oriskany was a late-model Essex class, a completely different ship to the Midway class, of which Coral Sea was. Coral Sea was designed and built as a carrier. She was neither planned nor laid down as a battleship. This is a naval legend of unknown origin. Six Iowas were planned and started, and four were finished, while Indiana and Kentucky eventually were scrapped incomplete. The Midways and Iowas were contemporaneous, but designed and built by different teams. They are similar in length, but the Midways were broader, being the first US warships built too large to transit the Panama Canal. The only carriers in the USN to be converted from battleships/battlecruisers were Lexington and Saratoga. If you want to model CVA 34, Trumpeter will be releasing models in 1/350 of various Essex class. You'll need to do some research and pick the model that best matches the appearance of the ship at the time you wish to model her. Joe Poutre ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: GKingzett Subject: Re: John Snyder, old uniforms >> ............... Yep, mine are the same, except of course that on 13 show when they're buttoned up, so they're still known as 13-button trousers. BTW, I can still wear my dress blues and dress whites........... << Yeah, John, I have heard that boiled beef or chicken, washed down with warm beer will do that to you. Gary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: CapnAgee Subject: Re: Corfam shoes >> They are all of the opinion that Corfams are for very junior officers and suckups. << Actually, when Corfam shoes were allowed by the Air Force powers that be, I believe I made my first "politically incorrect" statement at a Wing Staff Meeting when I said they looked like "Pimp Shoes"; several senior officers were wearing them. Now they have super polished-chrome "brass." One of the reasons I never progressed beyond E-6. Ray Agee TSgt., USAF-Ret ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: Villefranche I have a Xerox of a photo of six American subchasers in Villefranche, France, dressed to celebrate the Armistice of World War One. I do not have any maps showing the location of this port. It may not even exist as such now, or it might have been a district of a better known port, such as Devonport was to Plymouth, England. I would appreciate it if someone would please tell me where the port of Villefranche is (or was in 1918). Thank you. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Kerry L. Jang" Subject: Paper Models David Hathaway's comments are spot on. I've seen David's work for example, and the amount of work and research put into these kits is amazing. Many use the lines directly off original copies of plans and tons of photographs to make sure the models are accurate. I have purchased the odd paper model and had a bit of a go. Its been fun and it nice to be able to build something on the dining room table to mind the kids instead of being hidden away in the workshop! Scale Models magazine years ago published a few free paper models. I built those and was quite pleased with the way they looked. For me, the toughest part of these models when you buy them on CD to print off youself is getting the colours as the designer had intended (all printers print differently) and getting the correct weight card/paper with the right finish. The models look quite realistic when done, epecially if you weather them a bit, touch up the white paper edges after cutting out the parts, and give them a coat of clear matt varnish when done. David has a few free downloads on his site if you wish to have a whirl. They are excellent and build up well. I wonder what shape it is in.... many toy soliders have sailed it over Lake Hardwood Floor and the Carpet Ocean. Last I saw of it was when he took it to school to show off. Cheers, Kerry Jang ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: mmaynard3 Subject: Bell Bottom Trousers and hat of Navy blue... Bell bottom trousers and something, something else, I forget how that WWII ditty went, my mom used to sing those words when she ironed cloths... perhaps some of the folks(of mature age) can fill in the blanks, it was before my time..(the song "NAVY BLUE" from the early 60's was more my era.) As to my experience in recruit training we were issued(in 1969) two pair of dress "pants", one with 13 buttons and one with a FLY AND ZIPPER! We referred to these articles of clothing as "Stove Pipes" as they had no "Bell" to them, had to pay a visit to the tailor shop to correct this obvious oversight. It was explained to us boots the fly and zipper trousers were an experiment (but no one worth his salt wore them on combat liberty in Boston.) For you Navy types being mistaken for a bus driver was not the worst thing in the world. While standing on a New York city subway platform in 1970, in my tailor made dress blues, a young couple asked me if I spoke English and if I was visiting the city. You see, I was wearing a "Donald Duck" flat hat, and that people often mistook us "Coasties" for visiting German sailors, even though the hat band spelled "U S Coast Guard' in gold lettering. Starting in 1974 the Coast Guard decided it was tired of Americans mis- identifying other Americans as German sailors. We were issued the ultimate bus driver uniform the "Bender blues" named after Admiral Bender, then commandant of the Coast Guard. No longer did our fellow Americans ask us how we were enjoying our visit to the good old US of A, now they questioned us about "how were things in the Air Force" or "Are there really UFO's in hanger 27 at area 51?" or "You fly boys really have it cushy, home every night and all". My favorite uniform story was on a train trip to Baltimore. I was in my dress "Bravos", reading a magazine and enjoying a couple of cold brews when a woman asked me, quote; "My goodness, does the railroad allow their conductors to drink on the job, you should be ashamed", unquote. I wonder if she filed a complaint with the Interstate Commerce Commission or AMTRAK. Still have my "Tailor mades, my "13 button" boot issue and THE FLY AND ZIPPER, going to donate that pair to the Smithsonian institute. Semper Paratus Mike M(USCG RET) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "Tony Mattson" Subject: Plank - owners and holders I've recently come across several references to PLANKOWNERS and PLANKHOLDERS but not having any experience of US naval customs have no idea what these terms refer to. Can anyone please explain the origins and meaning of these terms? Many thanks Tony Mattson Editor- Mailship Scale Marine Modellers Inc. Auckland ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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