Subject: SMML VOL 2338 Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2003 03:39:29 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http://sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Roll call 2: Roll Call.... 3: Roll Call 4: Smml Roll Call 5: Kriegsmarine weapons 6: Re: Roll Call 7: Re: Belknap 8: Roll Call 9: Re: USS Belknap collision in the Med 10: roll call 11: Re: Roll call 12: Re: Roll Call 13: Battleship speeds 14: Re: USS Belknap collision in the Med 15: Re: USS Belknap collision in the Med 16: roll call 17: Wireless Telegrah 18: Re: USS Belknap collision in the Med 19: Roll Call 20: Roll calling 21: Roll Call 22: Roll Call 23: roll call 24: HMAS Australia: Plans? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Harry Ohanian Subject: Roll call Hi, I'm Harry Ohanian and live in Maryland. I have been building models practically my whole life and ship models for approx 15 years. My interests are in sailing ships of the Revolutionary War period and WWII American and Japanese Navy. Most of the steel ship models are 1/700 and 1/350. I like to super-detail the models in the time periods from 1941 to 1945. I am currently working on Nichimo's 1/200 Yamato and have been working on it for approx 1000 hours and still not finished. Probably have another 500 hours to go. The kit model is modified as it was on its fateful steaming to Okinawa in 1945. I enjoy reading the comments on the SMML and look forward to reading more and learning about you folks out there. Take care all and have fun ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Ray Bean Subject: Roll Call.... Hi all....Ray Bean checking in from the Canadian prairie city of Winnipeg Canada. Hit 50 this year, time for the rubber glove. Single, not really looking either, no woman could put up with the naval museum in my condo home. Professional Photographer by trade, self supporting in that role for 12 years or so. I have travelled extensively to harbor cities in the US, and photographed ships and aircraft of the US Fleet, been priveleged to board and photograph on board active USN surface and air capable ships of the USN--up until 9/11. I have amassed collection of 30,000 color slides of aircraft from naval air stations all over, and warship slide collections all over. I have shot at least 25 SEA CLASSICS covers, 10 SCALE SHIP MODELLER covers, and WARSHIPS IFR covers recently, out of the UK. Many of you may recall I was contributing editor to PLASTIC SHIP MODELLER magsine for most of its existance. And so on and so on....I love naval aircraft, but dont build models of them, unless they are 350th or 700 scale placed on a carrier deck. I build a mix of 350th and 700 scale warships, with no particular scale preference....however, I have noticed that the old peepers are not as good as they used to be and 350th looks mighty fine these days. CURRENTLY on the work bench after a long hiatus: USS DIXIE configured to Vietnam era is done, and am doing a nest of FRAM I and II DDs to go alongside, a mix of old Jim Shirley kits and the newer JAG kits...and will try to sneak in a sub on the starboard side of the DIX. Should look akay at a viewing distance of 3 feet I would say. Yours aye, RD Bean ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Procladius Subject: Roll Call Charles Watson Fort Wright, KY Just catching up on 10 days or so of back issues and saw the roll call thread - figure I better sound off. I am 50 years old. I am an aquatic biologist and work for an environmental consulting firm. We are onsite contractors for an EPA research lab in Cincinnati. I spend my days identifying insects, worms, snails, clams and other miscellaneous invertebrates in the multitude of samples EPA takes from streams and lakes in the course of their diverse projects. My 25 years of experience looking at tiny things may explain my preference for 1/700 scale. I have been known to use a dissecting microscope to assemble photoetch parts. I have been a scale modeler off and on since childhood, and have always had a soft spot for ships (I remember the Aurora Yamato with the triple 6" turret on one side only - even as a child I was suspicious of that arrangement). My interest in ships was rekindled with the introduction of photoetch. I like the 1910 - 1950 period, with emphasis on the IJN. I have more kits in my closet than I will ever be able to build, and I am still buying (picked up the Samek Dunkerque at a show in Cincinnati last month). Living in an apartment reinforces my preference for 1/700, but I have a fair number of Heller 1/400 kits in the walk - in closet (sort of my own private hobby shop). I am pretty comfortable with photoetch now. Ever since seeing some of Jim Baumanns work, I have wanted to do realistic rigging in 1/700 - also realistic flags. After much frustration I think I am getting the hang of it. Currently on the bench are the Aoshima Chitose, with GMM photoetch and Skywave accessories; the old Matchbox Indianapolis; and the Heller S- boats. I am retrofitting several previously finished IJN ships with rigging and flags. I also enjoy collecting ship references. My teenage friends thought I was weird for buying the little "Navies of the Second World War" books in the late 60's. I got most of the Ensign and Man O' War monographs when Squadron had them remaindered for $2.95 or so many years ago. Seeing what they sell for now on the used market, I wish I had invested in multiple copies to help fund my retirement! I enjoy browsing at hobby shows for the occasional naval gem among the aircraft and armor titles. A recent find was the Alan Raven mongraph on Essex Class carriers for $12 - a bittersweet find, since I had paid considerably more for a copy from ABE Books within the past year! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: cam Subject: Smml Roll Call Greetings from Edinburgh / Scotland Semi-retired, working part time-time as Consultant for a Marine Services group. Spent working life Navy / Marine industry. Many years spent working mid east & far east. Main model interest modern naval types 1/700, 1/400, 1/350. Recent builds L'Areseal's resin 'Aviso' and 'Floreal' French frigates. Next on list an updated 'Tourville' Collector of 1/1200 & 1/1250 scales and naval / marine books. Other interests Maritime Photography [some published] Cheers Alastair McIntosh ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Millen, Alan R." Subject: Kriegsmarine weapons Hi, gang! Me again! I'm considering doing a German Flower, as per Bob Pearson. Statistics call for an armament of one 10.5 cm (submarine weapon?), two 3.7 cm Flak guns, and ten 2 cm Flak weapons. What versions would these be? I see available in 1:72nd scale a single 2 cm Flak 30 from MAC, the quad 2 cm Flakvierling from Hasegawa, a 3.7 cm Flak (?) from Hasegawa, a 3.7 cm Flak (?) from Revell, and a 3.7 Flak 43 from Planet Models. Betcha the MAC and Planet kits are the best, but are they the right mark? What about the 10.5 cm? Possibly from the Andrea or future Revell U-Boat? Love the ROLL CALL! Alan Roy Millen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Leonard, Michael W" Subject: Re: Roll Call Hi~ Age 49. Software engineer. Married, no kids, 2 cats. Wife actually approves of my many eccentric hobbies (well, most of the time, and I hide the bills). Captain USNR; after 23 years in the reserves, been downsized out of a paycheck but I just signed up to work weekends at the Pentagon, 10 minutes from the house. Newest acquisitions include White Ensign HMS Janus, Iron Shipwright USS Forrest Sherman, and Delphis WW2 Italian torpedo boat Ciclone. Those are 1:350th, but I care more about subject matter (all nationalities, from late 19th century to modern) than scale and build them all. Enough kits in the basement to keep me busy for 20 years... Mike Leonard Alexandria, VA USA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Bruce Ross" Subject: Re: Belknap The collision at sea between the USS Belknap and the USS John Kennedy happened on the night of 22 November 1975 off the southern coast of Italy. Belknap at the time was assigned to the plane guard but wasn't on station. In preparation to recover aircraft Kennedy signaled the new course that she was going to turn to, the OOD of the Belknap acknowledged. His plan was to assume the plane guard station by passing port side to port side with the carrier and then swing into station astern of the carrier. The captain of the cruiser was not on the bridge at the time. Upon execution of the manuver the carrier started her swing onto her new heading, the cruiser actually started the swing a little earlier than planned. Mid-way through the course change the Kennedy switched on her deck edge lights and started the recovery preparation process. The sudden infusion of lights caused confusion for the OOD and bridge crew of the Belknap, even after the CO was called to the bridge he couldn't figure out the carrier's bow aspect. Why they didn't ask CIC or if that information just caused more confusion is a point of speculation. Anyway, when the CO and OOD finally recognised the bow anchor of the carrier the OOD gave rudder orders in one direction, the CO in the opposite direction. In the confusion of the moment nothing got done and so even though the hulls cleared the Belknap passed under the Kennedy's portside overhand. Everything from the pilothouse to the hangar above the 04 level were carried away. The mack itself collapsed into the wreckage. The fires really got started when an aircraft refueling station on Kennedy was damaged and dumped huge amounts of avgas into the damaged and destroyed superstructure. Fuel vapor entered the fire room where it ignited causing an explosion that destroyed sickbay and most of the officer's staterooms, in addition, a number of ready 3" service lockers exploded and spread live ammunition around the fires that would cook off for the next 2 hours. The cruiser was decommissioned in Naples, Italy and then towed to Philadelphia where she arrived in Februray 1976. It would be 4 years before she sould be re-commissioned. I remember seeing pictures of CIC after the fire was put out and since our CIC was in about the same position as Belknap, we were told to make sure we knew several routes out on deck. Story is paraphrased from a longer story published in the The Tin Can Sailors quarterly newspaper. Bruce ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Ron Hillsden Subject: Roll Call I am Ron Hillsden, 57, from Victoria BC Canada. I am a retired accountant, but I am becoming tired of being retired, so I am about to start looking for a new career. It will be the opposite of the last one - my new career will pay a lot for very little effort. My model building has taken a back seat for the last couple of years as I have been re-learning outdoor recreation, such as fishing and cycling. I am ready to start modelling again now that it's started raining. My preference has been 1/96 radio control models of West Coast Canadian Ships, but my next model is a R/C 1/24 sticks and string topsail schooner. But don't despair, I'll be back to steel ships when I get this one out of my system! Ron ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: "William H. Shuey" Subject: Re: USS Belknap collision in the Med Bob Bartolacci was asking about information on the U.S.S. Alaska. Give me an e-mail at whshuey@erols.com Bill Shuey ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: Guy Chamberlain Subject: roll call Guy Chamberlain. Retired naval officer (Naval Academy ' 73). Surface Warfare for five years, Civil Engineer Corps (Seabees) for fifteen. Currently Assistant Superintendent for the Charlotte school system in charge of facilities and construction. Returned to modeling a year ago after a forty year hiatus (hey, this PE stuff is really neat). As a kid built WW I airplanes and cars. As an old kid I am interested in any steel ship built before 1945. Under construction and almost finished, Revell USS North Carolina (I had to; I live in NC and took of tour of the original). On deck, Revell USS Aaron Ward. Waiting in line, Viking USS New York (first resin effort), Pyro USS Olympia, BWN USS Louisville, Glencoe USS Oregon, Revell USS Lionfish, Banner USS Arizona, Russian manufactured Potemkin and Aurora, and what everybody wants, a Titanic too big to fit in my house. Some of these, as well as some that I have not yet acquired, will outlive me and end up on eBay. I signed up for SMML just a few weeks ago and enjoy the chat and advice tremendously. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "Poutre, Joseph A" Subject: Re: Roll call I've enjoyed learning about my fellow SMMLies. Shane and Lorna - will you consider keeping these in a place on the SMML site? (yes we are looking at ways at doing this apart from the archives: Shane) Finally getting around to myself. 38 years on this planet, married for 12 of them, no kids, four cats, one house, one car, presently residing in Fanwood, Nu Joisey, USofA. Systems programmer at Lehman Bros. Leader of Sung Prayer at St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church As Dave Wells previously mentioned, co-webmaster for the Battleship New Jersey Historical Museum Society: http://www.bb62museum.org/ Also, I maintain three websites listing aviation museums worldwide, and maritime museums in the US and worldwide: http://www.bb62museum.org/airmus.html http://www.bb62museum.org/usnavmus.html http://www.bb62museum.org/wrldnmus.html Primarily irresponsible for the Ship Model Review List Previously known as Rajen's List: http://www.quuxuum.org/rajens_list/shiprevs.html Candidate-at-large for New Jersey, US National Official Monster Raving Loony Party My modeling interests, primarily, are two-fold. 1. "The Jersey Project" - models of ships named after the state of New Jersey, locales therein and people therefrom, plus those named after the Isle of Jersey. Also aircraft based on the battleship NJ, and perhaps someday aircraft operated by the NJ National Guard. These models I do as best I can, and some I've donated to the BBNJ Society for display in our section of the ship-board museum. Right now I'm scratch-building a Wichita class AOR, the last vessel for a ten-model diorama of a BB surface action group. Then I'm going to bravely tackle two WEM kits to create the WW2 DD HMS Jersey in 1/700 and 1/350. 2. What-ifs. I build ships that weren't but might have been, could have been, probably wouldn't have been, and definitely shouldn't have been. These I use for practice, using old kits and leftover bits, in-between building the "serious" models. They make a wonderful break from the concentration, effort, and research needed to build models that will be on public display for educational and historical purposes. It's also very addictive, and once you try it, you'll start looking at your kit stash in a whole new way. On my table I'm melding a Monogram 1/500 Chicago and a Revell 1/535 Iowa to make a BBG (might have been!). I'm also turning a Revell 1/600 New Jersey into a coast-defence battleship (alternate USN history), and an Airfix Rotodyne into a Royal Navy COD aircraft for the Invincible class (would have worked). OK, I've blabbed about me. If you find yourself compelled to know more, I can go on and on. :-) Joe Poutre ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "KOSTAS ORNERAKIS" Subject: Re: Roll Call Hello everyone, My name is Kostas Ornerakis, I am 43 years old and I am maths teacher. I live in Creta island in Greece. I mainly built 1/72 ships. On the bench : 1/72 scrachbuilt Nasty class torpedoboat about 90% complete. Future projects: 1/72 Jaguar class torpedoboat 1/72 Shershen class torpedoboat 1/350 cruiser Averof. All my best Kostas ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: URUDOFSKY Subject: Battleship speeds Does anyone have a rough idea of battleship acceleration/deceleration? Say for example: How much time would it take a Bismarck or Iowa to go from 0-30 kn, from 10-20-30-20-10. Or come to a full stop after hitting 30. Ulrich Rudofsky ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: "Keith Bender" Subject: Re: USS Belknap collision in the Med Hi SMMLies, The Belknap was repaired at the Phily Naval Yard and left there in 1980. So bassicly it took four years to fix her. I seen her in drydock one the day before they flooded it. She has huge six bladed screws, very fast looking indeed. For the man looking for Alaska and Guam inf. give me a yell at propmeup@att.net, Keith ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Ken LeClair Subject: Re: USS Belknap collision in the Med Hello Again, also of interest is since that collision there is a mast on the starboard side of carriers with port/starboard indicating lights so other ships will know the direction of the carrier. This is what I have been led to believe since the collision was due to confusion during close manouvers. Cheers Ken LeClair ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Mr Joseph L Hopwood Subject: roll call Hi all, My name is Joe Hopwood and I live in beautiful Melbourne, Australia. I am 57 years old and have been modelling on and off since the age of about eight. I was born in Scarborough UK and moved to Australia with my parents in 1961. In the very early years I would build anything I could get hold of, mainly Airfix plastic kits but also some balsawood aircraft from Frog and KeilKraft. In 1967 I was drafted for National Service in the Australian Army and at about the same time my modelling interests became concentrated on the Wars of Napoleon. I bought, built and painted just about every 1/72 and 54mm Waterloo figure available (all plastic since I couldn't afford the white metal kits which were just starting to come onto the market). Having enjoyed my two years of National Service I subsequently joined the Regular Army where I served for 20 years. It was through the Army that I met my wife in 1972 and it was she who started me into ship modelling with the gift of a "unknown brand" wooden kit of an early 19th century sailing ship. I decided to build the model as Hornblower's first command - the Atropos. The model is now displayed in the dining room of our home where I proudly explain its history to anyone prepared to listen. I seem to be rambling on a bit, so to keep it short, my favourite scale is 1/700, my favourite media is injection moulded plastic, and my favourite subject is Royal Navy ships post 1920. Projects currently underway are - Airfix Mauretania, Tamiya Prince of Wales and Verlinden X-craft. Cheers. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: GKingzett Subject: Wireless Telegrah I have some questions about wireless on ships, specifically ships of the Great White Fleet. Was wireless installed on all battleships in the GWF when they sailed? Some pictures I have seen of the multiwire horizontal antennae show them very slack, hanging in a loose curve, the center of the sag being as low as 10-15% of the overall length. Is this right, is there an electrical reason for this? How many parallel wires make up an antenna? Are more wires a better receiver, or does it have something to do with frequency? I don't know how accurate I can be modeling this in 1:144, but for sure I don't want to make any glaring errors. Any help or references would be appreciated. Gary ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: Candy Forster & Rob Robinson Subject: Re: USS Belknap collision in the Med I worked on the U.S.S. Belknap's reconstruction during 1979-1980. At the time I worked for Sperry Gyroscope, who built the AN/SPG-55B fire control radar that guided the ship's Terrier AAW missiles. The reconstruction was done at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, & I was aboard for the certification shakedown cruise at the end of the reconstruction. Although I didn't see the ship until the superstucture had been rebuilt, I can vouch for the fact that it burned right down to the main deck. Apparently the Belknap's superstructure momentarily wedged under the Kennedy's flight deck overhang during the collision, severing a lot of aviation fuel lines normally protected by the overhang, & the resulting shower of sparks set the flood of fuel ablaze. The fire was so intense that the aluminum superstructure itself ignited, burning down to the main deck (the hull & main deck were steel). The collision occurred in the late 70's (don't recall the date). We were impressed because the radar antennas on the forward superstructure had been completely destroyed - nothing to repair. When the Worden was hit by a fratricidal Shrike missile during the Viet Nam war, the antenna looked like it had been shotgunned, but we were still able to salvage part of it, but there was nothing left on the Belknap. Rob Robinson Parsippany, NJ, U.S.A. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: Peter Subject: Roll Call Hello to all, I'm Peter Van Buren. I'm 43 and currently live in Tokyo with my wife and two school age children. No cats, but we do have a hamster and some fish. None build models, but rumor has it that once or twice a ship model has been floated in the fish tank. I especially enjoy modern amphibious ships, and have built just about everything JAG has made. I build mostly in 1/700 scale due to time and money and space constraints, but have recently enjoyed a few 1/350 projects. Since I live in Japan, I have also gotten into JMSDF and some IJN projects, but prefer modern USN vessels overall. Like almost all of you it seems, I started building models as a boy in the 1960's (an Aurora Bainbridge was my first remembered kit), stopped during high school, college and early career days, and then picked up again as an adult. Modeling in Japan is a serious, adult hobby, and living here allows me to indulge in the pleasant experience of visiting well-stocked, local hobby stores. I always enjoyed doing this as a boy and still enjoy it today. One of the best things that ever happened to modeling has been the Internet. The web as a resource for photos, advice, images of others' work, shopping and of course things like SMML has really made this into a much richer hobby. Best wishes to all on SMML, Peter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: mmaynard3 Subject: Roll calling Hello Mr.. and Mrs.. North America and all the ships at sea, let's go to press.... Wow, what talent can be found on the SMML!!! It's great that there are so many intelligent and accomplished people building ship models(and other model projects), wonderful company to be in.... As for me ....Mike Maynard, dyed- in- the- wool New Englander, fifty- something, married to an understanding "craft orientated" woman, one daughter, three grandchildren, one old yella' Labrador whose hair gets into everything on the work bench. Oh, and the required gray cat that ship model builders tolerate. Served 28 years in the US Coast Guard, enjoyed every minute of it.(except for the dreaded NANTUCKET LIGHTSHIP) Minor partner in East Bay Hobbies of Seekonk Mass. where I spend most days running O gauge trains on store layout, telling sea stories,( to those too polite to run away) and opening new Trumpeter ship kit boxes to see what's inside. On the shipway at Cole Street Heavy Industries; Matchbox Flower class corvette, Revell Titanic, Sterling USS Missouri, Russian T-34 tank, and Lindberg SNARK missile. Also a' building a scratch 6 foot long Warren truss bridge for a Garden railway, (as Cole Street Heavy Industries believes in diversification to remain solvent.) Kudos to Lorna and Shane for a great service to us modelers... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: "Robert Hernandez" Subject: Roll Call Hello, My name is Robert Hernandez and I am a Sales Manager for a Security Company in El Paso, Texas, USA. My biggest passion is WW II battleship models in 1/600, 1/570, 1/450, 1/400 and 1/350-scale. I have been making plastic models for over 30 years. I last finished a long discontinued 1/450-scale UPC Tirpitz by converting it into a battleship Bismarck. I am currently finishing up an old 1/600-scale Airfix Bismarck (it requires a lot of work to make it decent). The next ship will be a 1/350-scale Tamiya USS Missouri or IJN Musashi. Robert A. Hernandez ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: Maurice Northcott Subject: Roll Call Howdy everybody, maurice northcott. Interests (with regard to ships) the Royal Navy generally, particularly HMS Hood (1920-1941), the IJN generally. Research, a bit of modelling and of course, reading your posts. Contracting Quantity Surveying for the Mechanical & Electrical Industry provides a source of income. Best Regards, maurice ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: GORDONBUT Subject: roll call Gordon Buttress I am now retired from the hurly burly of business having run my own for 27 years and now reached the young age of 70. I am chairman of Surface Warships Association and Secretary of HMS SHeffield Association which keep me busy. I build in mostly in 1/48 scale as I tend to build mostly destroyers and below Ships so far are; HMS Cowdrey Hunt class destroyer HMS Starling modified Black Swan sloop HMS Espiegle Algerine class minesweeper in both 1/96 and 1/48 scales HMS Apollo Latonia class minelayer HMS Vanguard Battleship 1/128 scale HMS Hood Battle cruiser I/400 scale HMS Sheffield Town class Cruiser I/128 scale LCT 4 tank landing craft all except Hood have been mostly scratch built except for the hull as I cast my own resin castings The landing craft is completely scratch built. I tend to build in wood all the superstructure and decks make masters of fittings then cast them. Plenty of projects in hand if I live long to complete them all but coming down in size due tio finding that big ships are for the young Gordon Buttress ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: "maeisen" Subject: HMAS Australia: Plans? All: I just got the Combrig HMAS Australia kit, which is very nice and depicts her in her early war (WWII) fit, and was wondering if anyone out there knows where one might obtain good quality plans or line drawings for Australia as she appeared after her 1938-39 refit or early in the war (1941-42), with her modernized bridge? As for reference photos, the Australian War Memorial web site is helpful, but most of the shots there of HMAS Australia are perspective shots taken at a distance. Close-ups of the bridge and superstructure during this timeframe are conspicuous by their absence. Would appreciate any and all help. Thanks! Yours truly, Mike E. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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