Subject: SMML VOL 2329 Date: Thu, 16 Oct 2003 22:00:32 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re "L'Arsenal Béarn" 2: Re: Victory at Sea DVD 3: Re: Victory at Sea 4: BEARN - Joe Kreutz 5: Re: Epaulettes 6: Re: Victory at Sea 7: Re: Victory at Sea on DVD 8: Re: US Navy Uniforms 9: Thanks to Roland Mar 10: Saving private Ryan 11: VICTORY AT SEA 12: New Hornblower Movies Coming 13: Re: Victory At Sea Available on DVD 14: Re: US NAVY UNIFORMS 15: Tamiya USS Indianapolis 16: Plans for frigate HMCS Halifax ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Bruno Gire" Subject: Re "L'Arsenal Béarn" Hi Joe, Béarn flightdeck was covered with african iroko, 70mm thick, with a more red-brownish hue than teack. It was planked longitudinally, as for contemporary USS Lexington (from bow to stern), including the elevators and retractable pilot house. From photo examination, it appears its condition was kept rather clean with some longitudinal skid marks. Bruno Gire Bordeaux, France ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Ives100 Subject: Re: Victory at Sea DVD >> I read with interest the mention of the DVD Victory at Sea >series. Are they available somewhere other than overstock.com? << Amazon.com has the DVD for about the same price. Tom Dougherty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Douglas Simpkin Subject: Re: Victory at Sea Stephen Varhegyi wrote regarding "Victory at Sea": >> ...Great footage but the music sucks. It would be more at home as the soundtrack to a corny western. << Yeah, and there ain't no car crashes, neither. For God's sakes man, to say Richard Rogers' classic score "sucks" shows astounding ignorance. Sure, taste in music is personal, but the term "suck" should be reserved for vacuums and rap. Doug ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Harwell, James R." Subject: BEARN - Joe Kreutz Joe I believe the decks were made of oak and ran stem to stern to prevent seawater from collecting. Also, the decks were "HOLY STONED" as were the battleship decks. This consisted of a pumice rock that would be rubbed across the wood to smooth and "whiten" the bite. The decks were not painted and left to their own environment. jim ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Brooks Rowlett Subject: Re: Epaulettes >> Since Patrick O'Brian made such a specific point about Royal Navy epaulettes in the Napoleonic period, I would suspect that he knew what he was talking about. He emphasizes this on page 396 of POST CAPTAIN when the Admiralty hall-porter transfers Jack Aubrey's epaulette from his left shoulder to his right upon Jack's making Post Captain. << And since the movie is actually based on THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD, rather than MASTER AND COMMANDER, and Aubrey has been a postcaptain for 10 books or so by then.... the epaulettes are correct. Brooks A Rowlett ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Albert Choy Subject: Re: Victory at Sea >> ... Quite a few years ago (probably back in the late 60's), I remember a fantastic British series which appeared on TV here in Australia entitled "the World at War". This was a great series. I haven't seen this around on video though. << The documentary is available on dvd (in the US). See: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005NOOH/qid=1066245683/sr=8-4/ref=sr_8_4/103-9313596-7159062?v=glance&s=dvd&n=507846 Price $101 inclusive of S&H If you are a member of Costo (in the US), check: http://www.costco.com/frameset.asp?trg=subcat%2Easp&catid=631&subid=4202&hierid=4226&log=&NavTop= Price $86 plus S&H 26 very informative hours -- but that's my opinion regards, Albert ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Ken" Subject: Re: Victory at Sea on DVD All I did was a Google search on 'Victory at Sea DVD' and got many hits including http://dvds.thepricesearch.com/details/B0000AQS3X. This and several other sites listed at least a dozen sources. I just took the best looking deal. Regarding Stephen Varhegyi's comments about the soundtrack, the score by Richard Rogers as orchestrated by Robert Russell Bennett is considered as some of the most evocative program music ever written. TIME magazine said "The music is often the only description the action needs." I know that having been on destroyers in the stormy North Atlantic, just listening to the music brings back some graphic (nauseating?) memories. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: GKingzett Subject: Re: US Navy Uniforms >> Probably the same sandcrab - I mean genius - who decided that Summer Whites should be 100% POLYESTER! I sure enjoyed wearing those to the CVN 76 commissioning in July, when it was about 100F in the shade. << Mike is not exaggerating. And there wasn't any shade. Those of us who sat beside him actually wondered if he was going to drown in all the sweat that was pouring out from under his hat. To his credit though, and as a leader of men, he never uttered a word of complaint. Until now. Gary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Fkbrown90 Subject: Thanks to Roland Mar To: Roland Mar Re: Epaulettes My sincere thanks to you, Sir, for your remarks about getting you to think. My entire professional career was dedicated to sharing information and getting young people to think. My greatest compliments were "Geez, your just like my father.", or "I was thinking about what you said yesterday.", etc. You have made my day/week/month/year. I am grateful to you. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: andrew jones Subject: Saving private Ryan Though i dont think P-51 were ever called tank busters by ground pounders the funny thing if i remember the movie correctly is that it was loaded up with fuel tanks , so where was the bomb? lol Also reading a few war books, they joke on some things that actually happened, that if people saw it on teh movies would think it was over dramatisation, but oh well... As for the USA single handed winning every war, thats Hollywood, there are other film studios in England & even here in OZ & there are plenty of non-american actors out there, so why cant they do something? The similar comment was written in an Australian military mag here not so long ago. So any good script writers amongst us? lol regards Andrew ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "DUCKMAN" Subject: VICTORY AT SEA HOWDY ALL, STEVE MUST HAVE A DIFFERENT COLLECTION OF THIS SERIES THAN I DO. THE MUSIC TO "VICTORY" IS SOME OF THE FINEST ever written. of course, we would expect nothing less from the great RICHARD ROGERS. no one can fault the nbc symphony orchestra for thier performance, either. one other thing, erich kunzel and the cinncy pops did a few cuts of "victory" a number of years back, also unparalled entertainment. david in dixie ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: Marvin Reichman Subject: movie "Thunder Afloat This movie was never put on tape. I believe it is buried someplace in Turner Classic Movies vault. If it is not there it has disinigrated. I am looking for it along with "Submarine Patrol" which was also never put on tape. It was a great source of information on the 110 footers. I am going to see if TCM has these movies and advise when I have some information. Infantry Queen Of Battle ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: William Weckel Subject: New Hornblower Movies Coming A&E is airing two new Hornblower movies - Dec 2nd and 3rd... they have trailers posted on their website. Bill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "David N. Lombard" Subject: Re: Victory At Sea Available on DVD From: Lawman555 >> I read with interest the mention of the DVD Victory at Sea series. Are they available somewhere other than overstock.com? << amazon.com, and probably other outlets too. I just ordered two from amazon.com -- they promised a 20 October ship date. >> Also, I had inquired last year, or so, about two other movies "Thunder Afloat" and "Submarine Command". Someone from Australia replied that it was shown down under. So far, no mention of it anywhere stateside. Is anyone aware of these two movies and how to get a copy of them? << Don't forget the Superbit, or at least director's cut, version of "Das Boot". BTW, I'd love to get the *full* version of this, i.e., as shown on German television. David N. Lombard Rossmoor, Orange County, CA N 33 deg, 48', W 118 deg, 5' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: "John Durham" Subject: Re: US NAVY UNIFORMS Ref US Navy Uniforms RN Polycotton action working dress (AWD.No 8s) After horrific burns to sailors caused by melting polyester clothing during the Falklands campain the Royal Navy reintroduced cotton twill AWD with an anti-flame treatment, Garments required care in laundry but reasonable smart. Sailors observed going about their duties in Portsmouth Naval Base wear boiler suits and hard hats....not smart, but practical. Regards and thanks for a great site John.e-durham ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: keith.vokes Subject: Tamiya USS Indianapolis One question for our knowledgable SMML's. How much did the pre-war wooden deck stain (red-brown) affect the war time Deck Blue that was used to overlay it. The Tamiya instructions indicate that I should used a mixture of 1 part Hull Red (XF-9) to 2 parts Field Blue (XF-50) on the wooden foredeck so presumably the red was darkening the blue? Regards, Keith Vokes ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "David Hathaway" Subject: Plans for frigate HMCS Halifax People I am looking for a good set of modellers plans for the Canadian navy Frigate HMCS Halifax - does anyone know of any available. Google did not turn up any useful leads. Thanks in advance. David ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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