Subject: SMML VOL 2424 Date: Wed, 04 Feb 2004 23:31:23 +1100 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 Re 1/600 HMS Invincible 2 Re Airfix 1/600 Falklands Set - Just got 3 3 Re Kormoran vs. Sydney 4 Help with resin kit painting please 5 Re australians at war 6 Re USS Missouri's Decks 7 Re Naming of turrets on warships 8 Re Colors for RN post-WW2 PE fittings 9 Sydney 10 Re Kormoran 11 Model Ship Journal subscription demise 12 1/72 U-Boat in US 13 Re Revell 1/72 U-Boat 14 Re The naming of turrets on warships 15 Marine railroad 16 Airfix's 1/600 Exocets are the correct size for the Falklands ships 17 Pearl Harbor Narrow Guage RR 18 Falkland ships kits 19 KM 5.9" Guns in WWII 20 KM 5.9" Guns in WWII ERRATUM 21 Photo quality in Squadron/Signals Pub Warships Number 20 “US Destroyers in Action Part 2." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1 Resin Kit Production Has Started! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Anthony GREENFIELD" Subject Re 1/600 HMS Invincible For those with an interest in the Airfix 1/600 Falklands set, this is in stock at Hannants price £9.99. As far as I can see, it contains only the Leander, Amazon and Devonshire. No Fearless. Also no Canberra or QE2 (OK the last two are not warships but they were in theatre in an operational capacity). My memory is poor on this but I don't recall the Devonshire or any of its sisters being active during the Falklands..... As for a 1/600 Invincible, Airfix Magazine ran an article some 10 years ago with full scratchbuilding details, plans and sketches. I had a go at this but (frankly) my scratchbuilding skills at the time sucked. I abandoned the project and - since I focus on 1/700 - was rewarded by Revell releasing kits of all three in the class. Tony ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "Geoff Baker" Subject Re Airfix 1/600 Falklands Set - Just got 3 Hi Just receivedthreesets of this Series 5 kit. Nice new 2004 box style as per Forrestal and the 1/72 MTB released last month. The kit has the three warshipkits Devonshire, Amazon & Leander with the exocet sprues added in 1990. The Decals are all on one sheet and like the Tiger and the Destoyer sets no effort has been made to update them to make them accurate!!!, They are still different sizes & fonts and bare little resamblance to the actual ships markings even though additional options for Falklands task force ships has been included. http//www.hannants.co.uk/cgi-bin/search.pl?Mode=view&Database=new&R=AX05205 No Fearless (as this has been in production untill recently) and no additional parts or upgrades. As for the Invincible suggestion, i would gladly support it, but i am currently involved with pushing the 1/72 TSR-2 kit. Not sure if Airfix would go for it with the Dragon/Revell kits out but a Hermes may go down as an Alternative. Failing that re-release Victorious but include a sprue of later 60's Aircraft as well as updatedaccurate markings !!!!. Cheers Geoff Baker ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From "enrico_villa\@libero\.it" Subject Re Kormoran vs. Sydney >> KMS Kormoran - Auxiliary cruiser converted from merchant ship Steiermark Displacement 19,900 tons Gun armament 6 WWI vintage hand-served 5.9², 3 37mm, 5 20mm Fire control None - mounts fired in local control only Torpedo armament 6 tubes - 2 fixed single underwater and 2 fixed twin above water Weight of broadside 3 5.9², 2 37mm, 3 torpedoes Machinery Diesel-electric, 1 shaft 18 knots Armor None Aircraft 2 Arado Complement 401 << The displacement seems to me way too high, none of the German raiders of WW2 that I know of was so large here's another source that indicates the displacement as 8,700 tons - I don't know about the reliability of the source, but the number seems coherent with the picture of the ship. http//www.bismarck-class.dk/miscellaneous/hilfskreuzer/kormoran.html BTW, very interesting discussion. Ciao Enrico ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From "Allen Stevens" Subject Help with resin kit painting please I am taking, after many a years happy plastic and wooden modelling, a foray into the wonderfull world of resin kits (and all I can say is why has it taken me so long?). I have made some small resin kits (white ensign narrow seas, truly excellent little kits) but I have found that using my usual acrylic based paints causes problems, you are ok if you put one coat on quickly but if you brush too much the previous coat lifts off. I have tried a light sanding to provide a key for the paint but this does not seem to work I am left with the only conclusion that I should perhaps undercoat with enamel. Could the resin experts amongst you give me some guidance please? Ps I have just recieved the Combrig resin kits HMS Royal Sovereign and HMS King Edward VII from white ensign the detail is superb, the quality of the casting is quite amazing and whilst the kits do not come with photo etch (White ensign models hint hint) the qualiy for the price asked is incredible. Regards to all Allen Stevens ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From "Allen Stevens" Subject Re australians at war I think a debate on who was actually the best fighters in the war is rather insulting to all combatants. In the north african campain it is remarkable that such a diverse Commonwealth army gelled together and defeated a determined and very skilled foe. My grandfather was one of the original desert rats and I remember him telling me that the different peoples around him had mutual respect. All nationalities in the Commonwealth contributed their own particular gifts to the whole the Aussies and Kiwis tough fighters, the British tough fighters and in Monty a great general, the indians also tough fighters and, according to my grandfather, unendingly cheerfull the list goes on so lets stop trying to identify the best and just acknowledge that the best side won but let us not forget that the other side (despite thier flawed and evil politics ) were also capable of bravery my grandfather always spoke with admiration of Rommel and his Afrika Corps worthy foes he called them. Regards to all Allen Stevens ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From John Snyder Subject Re USS Missouri's Decks Hi Rick, >> what is your source for this? In Stillwell's book on the Missouri there are several wartime photos, including some taken in Tokyo Bay, clearly showing Mo with the two-tone hull typical of that measure. Later in the fall, or possibly into 1946, it does appear that her entire hull was painted a single dark color (one caption purportedly from her 1946 Med cruise states that it is dark grey, rather than the dark blue it was painted for Navy Days in New York the year before - but I will leave it to the photo interpreters to argue that one!) Perhaps her hull was painted a solid 5-N for Navy Days, then overpainted with a dark grey later in the year? << My source? A fallible memory not backed up by checking my reference photos on hand. You're absolutely correct, of course, and I got back directly to the person who asked the original question and let him know I'd fouled up. Mea culpa. Best, John Snyder The (fallible) 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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From URUDOFSKY@aol.com Subject Re Naming of turrets on warships Actually, the German ships were generally named by the designations of the flag alphabet like alpha, bravo, charlie, delta, it was Anton, Berta (later Bruno), Cäsar, Dora. Some of the names of the German flag codes changed between the wars. Most prominently, all Hebrew names were replaced. Also, there are exceptions "Prinz Eugen", being named after the Prince of Savoy who saved Austria from the Turks, had the turrets identified as A-D, but they were given names of Austrian cities, on large plaques between the twin barrels Graz, Innsbruck, Braunau (Hitler's birth place), Wien. http//www.tu-berlin.de/~gebrauchsanleitung/Buchstab.ht Ulrich H. Rudofsky ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From "John Durham" Subject Re Colors for RN post-WW2 PE fittings Steps, ladders and weather deck "stepping stones" Self coloured originally mild steel,then an alilminium alloy, to save weight, but after Falklands and fire in a US Warship replaced with mild steel (to delay melt in fire). Treads,from early 60s anti skid patches were provided.colour approx green malachite (think Southern railways green,which can be checked out on net). These patches were/are self adhesive with a protective paper backing,very useful as an abrasive and still available,but in black as RN dropped green on weather decks after falklands. USN uses a black rubbery anti slip. Hope above helps John ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From "Chris and Kayo Amano-Langtree" Subject Sydney Hi Stephen Misplaced patriotism is never very intelligent and this is what I was criticising you for. Up until your contribution the debate on Burnett's performance was interesting and well informed. You are not expressing any opinion at all. To comment on the Sydney - she was faster and her guns out-ranged Kormoran. She could have stayed out of range and dictated the engagement. For an example of this look at Devonshire's engagement with Atlantis. If she had to approach then she could have done so end on. Sydney was also more manouverable. This should have made it very difficult for Kormoran to inflict the damage that she did. Burnett did neither but allowed his ship to get within range of Kormoran almost certainly broadside on. The ship was not at full readiness as otherwise she would not have been caught out so badly. This is certainly slackness among the officers and probably the crew as well. The evidence does not indicate a ship at action stations or with particularly good damage control. "However, when this involves making unfounded allegations about our glorious war dead, it's gone too far." I quoted this because it is a historians job to evaluate and learn from the past. Read what Thomas Cutler has to say about critisizing your nation Christopher Amano-Langtree ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From Friedrich Kappes Subject Re Kormoran only two things 1. the Kormoran had single mount 15cm guns 2. where ever ther´s war, there´s disguise, too. The Kormoran was disguised as a neutral merchant, and as such it was treated by Sydney. Maybe it was a little carelessly, but was sydney to do instead? First sink the ship and then ask whom she sunk?? She controlled her and for that necessarily Kormoran came quite near. And underwater torpedo tubes were aboard... what more do I have to say? In all wars there are examples of the "weak" beating the "strong"... remember Cochranes Speedy vs. the El Gamo, Salamis, ... 3. Even IF Sydney made mistakes, what´s the point in blaming deads??? Friedrich The FriedrichFiles http//www.geocities.com/friedkappes/flagship.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From ELLshipmodeler@aol.com Subject Model Ship Journal subscription demise In a message dated 2/3/2004 Victor Baca wrote >> Thanks for all your patience while we set Model Ship Journal on its new course. We have positioned MSJ with mainstream book sellers --- << What a shame to drop the subscription option. Perhaps I have missed similar comments on SMML due to other commitments, but I believe that when my current subscription expires I will no longer be seeing the magazine. I seldom go to hobby shops, and much less to book stores. I don't understand offering single issues via orders to Victor Baca, but not providing the convenience of a subscription. A pity, it is a good magazine, and I would like to continue receiving it. I wonder when my subscription runs out? BTW the issue I just received is labeled Volume 4, Number 4, Winter 2003-2004. The web site says Volume 5, Number 1 is Winter 2003-2004. Gene Larson Alexandria, VA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From David L Miller Subject 1/72 U-Boat in US My sources at Squadron tell me that the U-boat will be in around mid-March. Similar indications from Tower Hobby. This was the claim when I advanced ordered back in October. I knew there would be a wait. Be patient (yup). Dave Miller Macomb IL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From SteveWiper@aol.com Subject Re Revell 1/72 U-Boat >> So what is the golden word on that Revell 172 U boat? Are we getting it in the USA sometime soon while I can still see good enough to build it or what? I'm ready to throw in the towel and let em keep one more for their stock. I don't need one that bad. Just thought I'd express my 2 cents if anyone really cares. << Keith, Quit your whining! I talked to the guys at MMD, the parent company to Squadron Mail Order and they were told by Revell Germany to expect the kits to arrive in late February, or early March. Steve Wiper ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From Brooks Rowlett Subject Re The naming of turrets on warships >> I recently found this information out about the French cruiser Montcalm, << Note that while the turrets may have borne these names, we have no evidence at all that when using the interphone system the turret captain would be listening for that name. To save time and avoid errors it is entirely likely that the turret was referred to by a letter or number, in action, rather than whatever honorific might be applied to the turret. Brooks A. Rowlett ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From JRKutina@webtv.net (John Kutina) Subject Marine railroad Congratulations on your Pearl Harbor railroad concept! It should make an interesting layout. My "N" layout is a mythical railroad of an American seaport during WW II. It has many docks and finger piers - the railroad serves this port. I have duplicated N scale tanks, trucks,etc and they wait to be loaded from long strings of flatcars. Using this theme I can combine my two interests,ship as well as train modeling. You will find this fascinating. Wargame dealers have 10 mm tanks, etc. These are very close to N scale. If I can be helpful please contact me. Regards, John Kutina ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From Mike Potter Subject Airfix's 1/600 Exocets are the correct size for the Falklands ships The three ships in Airfix's reissued kit of Falklands ships need 4 Exocets each (except for particular non-Exocet Type 21s). A web site and at least one SMML correspondent suggest that the Exocet MM38 missile launchers in the Airfix kits are too small for 1/600. In fact Airfix's MM38 Exocet launchers that came with later production of its Leander-class frigate are reasonably accurately scaled. Exocet MM38 launcher dimensions from Warship volume VI (Warship 24) Length Height Width 5440mm 1176mm 1136mm actual Scale to 1/600 and convert to inches .357 .077 .075 true 1/600 Airfix MM38 canister size compared to true 1/600 105% 106% 117% Thus Airfix's MM38 Exocet launchers are in fact slightly too large but the absolute difference is microscopic. I'm interested to hear from anyone who builds a Leander-class frigate model. I'm building one in the Batch 2 configuration. It takes a lot of scratch-building. Actual Leanders comprised two versions by beam 41 feet in the earlier ships and 43 feet in the remainder. Airfix supplies decals for various 41-foot beam RN Leanders but the kit is of the 43-foot beam version. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From SMAtouche@aol.com Subject Pearl Harbor Narrow Guage RR Les Pickstock Not sure if this will help with the Narrow Gauge RR, but the following company indicates in their catalog mailer a map of the Pearl Harbor area circa, 1941, don't know if the map shows the RR system. www.HistoricAviation.com I. 800.225.5575 Pearl Harbor and Military Environs Oahu, Territory of Hawaii December 7, 1941 28"x18" Folded Color Map Item # 6611C $14.95 US. Great catalog mostly aircraft some ships. Books, Videos, Art, Models and More. I also do N scale and some HO. Paul ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From "GRAHAM WALKER" Subject Falkland ships kits Hi The ships are 1 Leander, 2 Amazon, 3 Devonshire. http//cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3173710794&category=4248 all the best graham BTW little quiz here what other 3 ships can you get in 1/600 scale which saw service in the Falklands war? ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From Joel Labow Subject KM 5.9" Guns in WWII >> Also, are those 5.9 inch guns twin mounts? That makes a total of 12 guns if I read it right. That's a lot of firepower by the standards of 1940. << William, To the best of my knowledge the KM never used a twin 5.9" mounting. All the 5.9" guns used on raiders were single mounts taken from the pre-dreadnaughts Schlesien and Schleswig-Holstein. Joel Labow ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From Joel Labow Subject KM 5.9" Guns in WWII ERRATUM >> To the best of my knowledge the KM never used a twin 5.9" mounting << William, Oops! Obviously both the Bismarck and Scharnhorst classes used a twin 5.9" enclosed in a gunhouse. As I previously stated the raiders employed an earlier single open mounting. Sorry for the confusion. Joel ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From Douglas Simpkin Subject Photo quality in Squadron/Signals Pub Warships Number 20 “US Destroyers in Action Part 2." To whom do I complain?!!! Since you guys & gals are out there, I guess you will serve as my sounding board, and this message will serve as a warning. Do not waste your money on the new Squadron/Signals Publications Warships Number 20 "US Destroyers in Action Part 2." I just received my copy (copyright 2004). Hot dog!, photos and info on the little-covered 1930s US DDs! Oh, NO! Those bums at Squadron used digital photography on every photo in the book! Every image is a digitized mess, with that poor resolution "pixelated" look you get when you magnify/minify a digital image by an odd size. Unsharp edges, NO resolution in any rigging, the ghosting off high contrast edges you get from highly compressed jpg files. The same poor contrast definition you get when the pixel depth is insufficient. This is a travesty. SQUADRON/SIGNALS PUBLICATIONS SHOULD BE ASHAMED. Am I upset? You bet. What is the publishing world coming to? Doug Simpkin p.s. Looking through last year's Warships Number 17 "WWII US Landing Craft in Action" (which I also just received) I see they pulled the same crap on about a quarter of its photos... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From SteveWiper@aol.com Subject Resin Kit Production Has Started! Classic Warships is just beginning to start casting resin again! My shop is finished and all the pressure casting equipment is working great. This will be a slow process, as I must relearn how to cast again to ensure a high quality. I am also training a new caster who will make this his full time job in a couple of months when we are both satisfied with the production quality. For those who need replacement parts, please go to my web site @ www.classicwarships.com and follow the replacement part ordering procedures. I am filling those orders now. A small amount of production is starting now, with a limited amount of kits available. Full production of all kits will be about May or June. All products will only be available thru Pacific Front Hobbies @ www.pacificfront.com. Please watch his web site for available kits. What he posts on the site is what is available. If a kit is not posted, it is not available yet. Do not worry about availability, as we can make more! So far the castings look fantastic! I am switching to a light gray resin and the result is really good. Quality is also very good, with little to no air bubbles on any of the parts. Our goal is to produce bubble free castings. We are just there! Also, I will be at the IPMS National Convention this year in Phoenix, AZ, August 4th.-7th., with my resin kits and books along with Corsair Armada Products and Yankee Modelworks. Thanks, Steve Wiper Classic Warships www.classicwarships.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