Subject: SMML VOL 2385 Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2003 01:50:42 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 Re USNA Grads 2 Inter-Service Commissions 3 Re Revell 1/72 PT Boat Detail 4 Re Annapolis curriculum and Arizona 5 Re Battleship Texas 6 Re Naval Officers & White Paint 7 Ships Paint 8 Re Battleship Texas 9 Re Texas 10 USS Panay and others 11 Calling all RN cruiser freaks! 12 Response 13 USS Arizona Structure AND USS Texas Model 14 Re Battleship Texas 15 Battleship Texas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1 Re 1/400 Detail Set ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Devin J. Poore" Subject Re USNA Grads >> I know that's what they are SUPPOSED to build, but I can tell you from personal experience that most of the junior ring-knockers I was around during my Navy days knew lots and LOTS about authority, and precious little about leadership-- << John, I can't agree more. I have always thought, and always will, that the quality of the officers in ANY branch of the service would greatly improve if they were all required to serve time as enlisted. No, that "two weeks a summer as a junior midshipman" crap doesn't count, either. The difference between prior enlisted who went regular commission or warrant, and those who just went ROTC or Academy, was amazing. Devin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "Katz, Gene S" Subject Inter-Service Commissions While I was at SUNY Maritime College, Fort Schuyler, in the early 60s, our Commandant was a USCG Vice-Admiral. He arranged for those interested to be commissioned Ensigns in the Coast Guard instead of the Navy. I don't recall if they had to go to the USCG OCS at Yorktown or not, but I don't think so. Also, we had at least one guy take a 2nd LT commission in the US Army Corps of Engineers, and possibly one in the Transportaion Corps. One graduate took an Army commisssion and ended up decorated a la John Wayne-Green Beret style in Nam. I don't think he got a direct commission, and prob had to go to Army OCS. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From John Snyder Subject Re Revell 1/72 PT Boat Detail Hi Nathan, >> Can you give us a ballpark figure so I can tell how long I'm going to have to sleep in the garage for buying some of these? << Well, I would expect it will be less than our S-100 set, since it won't include those long runs of railings. My personal guess--and that's all it is so don't anyone hold me to it--is about £15.00. Best, John Snyder The Token Yank White Ensign Models http//WhiteEnsignModels.com for secure online ordering. For the latest news from WEM, Click Here http//www.whiteensignmodels.com/brochure/whats_new1.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From SeaWoodies@aol.com Subject Re Annapolis curriculum and Arizona I am glad the Navy is keeping up with technology, however since all nuclear ships are in reality steam vessels, that technology is still a valid curriculum The only thing that has changed is the method of heating the water to make the steam. The Greeks supposedly invented the steam turbine principle some 3000 years ago so nothing new there. Also as an interesting aside, Franklin Van Valkenburgh, last commander of the Arizona who was killed at Pearl, had a degree in steam engineering. Mike ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From "andy-vu" Subject Re Battleship Texas >> One of these days I'll start paying attention...A few weeks back I noticed mention of of a 1/350th resin Battleship Texas mentioned and try as I might, I've been unable to find it. Thought it would have been done by Blue Water Navy but a search this morning in their catalogue showed nothing. Could one of the good members here lead me to the manufacturer? Promise I'll bookmark it this time! << Hi Bob I bought a Texas, 1350 scale, resine kit from the Commander's series half a year ago. It is still unassembled, but it seems to be a very high-quality kit. Andy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From William Weckel Subject Re Naval Officers & White Paint From John Snyder >> I know that's what they are SUPPOSED to build, but I can tell you from personal experience that most of the junior ring-knockers I was around during my Navy days knew lots and LOTS about authority, and precious little about leadership--the main reason I wouldn't have stayed for 20. Most of the senior officers were much better (I'd have gone anywhere, done anything for our Captain and XO), but we had at least one LCDR who should probably never have gone beyond Ensign, and another who wasn't much better--a "user", not a "leader" of subordinates. << This is just my opinion and your mileage may have varied, ~but~ I was an NCO in both the US Navy and the US Army. It's been my experience that junior officers are no worse (and generally much better) than a recent civilian college grad in a junior management position. The armed forces certainly don't have the market cornered on assholes. Some people learn leadership more quickly than others, some are born leaders and some never learn at all. I attended the USNA 2003 graduation and the associated parties, and hung out with my nephew and his friends, all new butter bars. I was surprised and impressed by their character and maturity. It was a drastic contrast to my neice's graduation and classmates from Kent State University the same month. As someone in the position of hiring new college grads in the private sector, I would trade five civilian grads for one midshipmen. My nephew is now the acting gunnery officer aboard an Aegis cruiser deployed to the Med - an enormous amount of responsibility for a 22 year old. I will say, however, that there was a great deal of difference between the officers I served with in the Navy and those in the Army. I think that, at least in the cavalry, the fact that our officers wore the same clothes, slept in the same mud, carried the same weapons, ate the same food, etc.. that their soldiers wore, carried, slept in, etc... made the officers far more likeable than those in the Navy. It's much easier to like, admire, respect someone who's ordering you to endure a hardship when they themselves are enduring it right alongside you. Many of the naval officers I served with tended to lead from the rear. I'm sure that's just the nature of the service and the mission though. BTW, some of the very best times I had in the navy were when we worked with the Marines, and my favorite instructors in the A and C schools were the Gunnys. >> I have the approriate WEM colours, however white paint is a bugger to apply any suggestions about getting a solid coat? << I've been using Tamiya's Surface Primer (Fine) in the spraycan to do anything white. It has silky smooth white matte finish, covers in one coat, and sprays perfectly every time. A little more expensive than regular spraypaint but worth it's weight in gold. Bill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From Joe Hinds Subject Ships Paint The most important item in painting any model is in the prep time spent. I spray two coats of enamel primer letting each coat dry for two days. Then I rub the hull down with Brass Wool. Not steel wool. Steel Wool leaves 'tracks' that show up later. Then I spray a coat of White enamel. If there are any imperfections they will show up in the White and not the Primer. I repair any low spots, high spots, whatever with putty, a knife, and ultra fine sand paper and Brass Wool then spray one more coat of White. Then I just go from there. If I'm going to weather the hull, this is where I start, with light touches of 'Rust' and 'Grime' colors. Then paint the official colors with extremely light coat over this. Sometimes it takes three or four coats in some spots to get it just right. I actually spend about triple the time painting as I do in building. I also do a lot of practice stuff on scrape plastic to see what effects works. Good Luck All! Joe Hinds ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From Melvinsmith29@aol.com Subject Re Battleship Texas BWN did a West Virginia and not the Texas. Ironshipwrights does the Texas. All the BWN stuff is supposed to have been bought by Yankee Modelworks, check on where they are suppose to be announcing there line today. Not sure what this new company will be like as there is such a wide varience in quality of resin kits. BWN did some of the best ones around but that's no assurance that the Yankee Modelworks stuff will be any good, it'll all depend on who the caster is. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From "Dave Judy" Subject Re Texas Bob, Check .............Commanderseries.com for the Texas 1/350 In Christ Dave Judy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From "Arthur Taylor" Subject USS Panay and others In SMML 2383, Art Herrick reminds us of the heroic resistance by the crew of the "Panay", a ship of a neutral country, to Japanese attack 66 years ago. The Japanese commander concerned, Col. Hashimoto, was involved a few days earlier in another attack on neutral ships. On Dec. 11, British ships near Nanking, including the "Wantung" which had 600 passengers aboard, were shelled from the shore and then attacked from the air. The gunboats HMS "Cricket" and "Scarab" fired back at the aircraft, which retreated. The next day, another gunboat, "Ladybird" was shelled and suffered damage and casualties. An officer stormed ashore and forced the Japanese commander to cease firing. HMS "Bee" then arrived on the scene, with ADM Holt on board. Holt got Hashimoto to make a formal apology for the attacks. The fact that the attacks on "Panay" were then organized a few days later says little for the sincerity of that apology. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From Ron Subject Calling all RN cruiser freaks! Hi folks, I'm getting stuff together to improve the Airfix 1/600 HMS Ajax and kitbash the Belfast and Tiger kits into a colony class, specifically the Kenya. Other than the main batteries, what guns did these two ships carry in 1940? TIA, Ron ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From "R Sidford" Subject Response As a Naval Academy graduate (1963), I would like to reply to Vess Irvine, SMML Vol. 2382. Athletics have been an important part of the education for a long time but, to my knowledge, not to the exclusion of academic work. From my transcript, the fewest credit hours in any semester was 17 3/4 (in Second Class Year it was over 20), and that doesn’t include any credit for varsity athletics. About half the course at that time was engineering-related. I won three letters in track, but that did not affect the academic requirements. That said, I think the Academy is now much tougher academically than in my day. There are many majors available, and there is more emphasis on study, but as part of an overall education intended primarily to develop leadership. I can understand how we “Ring Knockers” are sometimes seen as self-assured, arrogant, and tactless. (But, university professors can be the same.) That may apply more to people of our era, as graduates of today are better-rounded individuals. I know I have said things at times that were offensive to others, not because I meant to be offensive, but because competition is ingrained in us from the first day. I guess war is the ultimate competition, and, as you said, maybe that is the attitude we need in our military people. Unfortunately, sometimes it makes us a little hard to relate to. Finally, with regard to the NYPD Police Captain, we Academy people certainly don’t have a monopoly on talent. All it takes is the initiative and belief that “you can do it.” That, of course, is one of the things the Academy tries to inculcate. Richard Sidford ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From "Ralph Batykefer" Subject USS Arizona Structure AND USS Texas Model A friend of mine who pastored at Miliani Baptist Church said there were parts of the Arizona superstructure located in a jungle area near his home but that it was very rusted out and almost indistinguishable. Then they developed the area and the scrape metal was disposed of somewhere. He did not know where. The USS Texas model is a resin model from Iron Shipwright and their address is http//www.commanderseries.com/ships.htm It is a really nice kit! IHS, Ralph B ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From David Wells Subject Re Battleship Texas RPayne8452@aol.com wrote >> One of these days I'll start paying attention...A few weeks back I noticed mention of of a 1/350th resin Battleship Texas mentioned and try as I might, I've been unable to find it. Thought it would have been done by Blue Water Navy but a search this morning in their catalogue showed nothing. Could one of the good members here lead me to the manufacturer? Promise I'll bookmark it this time! << I think that Iron Shipwrights has one, kit 4-118. http//www.commanderseries.com/ships.htm There's also one by a company called Viking, but I don't have a web site for them. "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/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From "Kurt Van Dahm" Subject Battleship Texas The guys at Commander Models (Iron Shipwright) have a great Texas kit. Check them out at www.commanderseries.com Take care, Kurt ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From Loren Perry Subject Re 1/400 Detail Set >> Does anyone make generic 1/400 detail sets (pe, resin whatever)? I'm scratch building a series of 1930's warships and anything would be helpful. (I've found pe railings and ladders). << Gold Medal Models has a 1/400 Naval Ship PE set (GMM No. 400-1) that includes all kinds of fittings that will be useful on lots of ship types. Besides a wide selection of rails and ladder, there are a multitude of radar types, crane booms, bridge window frames, yardarm footropes, cable reels, watertight doors, safety netting, simulated rigging, 20mm Oerlikon guns, boat details, and much more. Also available are separate sets of 1/400 scale Watertight Doors (400-2), 1/400 Extra Ladders (400-5), and various decals that apply to both 1/350 and 1/400 models. See the GMM webpage for more information www.goldmm.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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