Subject: SMML VOL 2549 Date: Fri, 02 Jul 2004 00:45:12 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 Re American Naval Uniforms - Cracker Jacks 2 Re Cracker Jack 3 Revell Clones 4 Re Cracker Jack 5 USN uniforms, a little more... 6 Re Leanders 7 crackerjack uniforms -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1 NEW How To modeling CD from Flagship Models ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Ouellette, Lawrence M" Subject Re American Naval Uniforms - Cracker Jacks David asked >> OK, so I'm an ignorant Brit, but why is the traditonal style of American Naval uniform called "Cracker Jack"? << David, You will probably get lots of replies to this question, but I'll just point you to the original source http//www.crackerjack.com/ The answer should be obvious from the home page, but you can click on the "About Cracker Jack" then "History" links to learn more. Larry Ouellette Volunteer, USS Salem (CA 139) United States Naval Shipbuilding Museum Quincy, Massachusetts, USA http//www.uss-salem.org/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "Paul R. Mitchell" Subject Re Cracker Jack TV show? I think not! "Cracker Jack" refers to the uniform worn by Sailor Jack on the Cracker Jack snack box. See http//www.crackerjack.com/home.htm . Cheers, Paul ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From "Sue & Clive Chapman" Subject Revell Clones Hi, Has anyone had any experience with the 1/96 Revell "pairs" Alabama/Kearsage and Cutty Sark/Thermopylae. I recently bought an old Thermopylae kit only to find that it appears to be a re-badged Cutty Sark. I have plenty of detail on the 'real' Cutty Sark (in order to beef up the Revell kit), but nothing on the Thermopylae. So, my query is just how different were the CS and the Th in real life (I know they're pretty similar in dimensions) and has anyone successfully scratch-built on the Revell Th kit to produce a decently accurate Thermopylae. Or is the attempt not worth it? And if anyone knows of sources of detailed drawings of the Thermopylae, I've be glad to hear about them. The same goes for the Alabama/Kearsage - Revell are re-issuing the 1/96 Kearsage in September. But, did Revell do the right thing all those years ago and produce two separate and reasonably accurate kits, or are the two kits basically from the same mould? I saw a comment somewhere that different moulds existed, but not whether they both survived. And last but not least - I have an old Airfix E boat on the way, but I've seen comments that the kit has some obvious deficiencies - wrongly-shaped bow, oversized (not-to-scale) fittings - ring a bell? And thanks very much to those who have given me advice in the past - this is a really useful site! Clive Queanbeyan ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject Re Cracker Jack To David Griffith There is a confection in the U.S. called "Cracker Jack", consisting of pop corn and peanuts bonded with a caramel adhesive. It also contains a "prize" in every package. Originally the logo was a young boy carrying a package of the product, and tangled in the leash of his dog. The boy was wearing a Sailor Suit, bell bottom flap-front trousers, pull-over Middie style blouse, I don't recall the hat style, but I think it was the small white one still used by today's Navy. As I remember, he was trying to salute. The product has been around for a long time, I used to get it back in the mid 1920s. Some of the prizes were treasures (to this six-year old). The recipe seems to be the same today, but the packaging and marketing have changed over the years, and the prizes have become cheap plastic and/or paper items, practically worthless, but hope springs eternally in the human breast, and I still have eager anticipation when I open a package, even now. Back then there were always rumors of an occasional really valuable "super prize" ( a wrist watch, a Boy Scout camping knife, ladies' nylon stockings during WW 2, etc.) in a few randomly chosen packages. Guess who promulgated the rumors. One doesn't hear them any more, today's kids are too sophisticated to fall for that one. The logo is still the same as it was in the Good Old Days, the same drawing of the perennial Sailor Suit so admired by the girls, then and now. I have no idea where the name "Cracker Jack" originated, however. Having said the above, I must look for Cracker Jack the next time I go to the grocery store, as I haven't had one for years. I hope they are still around (I think I might be able to find a use for the nylons). Thanks, David. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From Von_Zipper@webtv.net (Bull) Subject USN uniforms, a little more... Greetings to All, A little more info on the "Cracker Jacks" Dress Blue Jumper and Broadfall Trousers I wore during the 90"s were, according to the label and the Uniform Reg's "100% dark blue wool serge". What it calls dark blue, is realistically black. I see someone else is also unfortunately familiar with "Certified Navy Twill", that 100% polyester nightmare used in most white and khaki uniforms. Personally, I liked wearing the Cracker Jacks. It set you apart from all the other services, and made you look like the traditional sailor. Never met the girl that didn't like the way a man looked in 'em either... To Al's Liberty Cuff question Liberty cuffs are still around, and just as unauthorized as ever. There is/was a tailor at Fleet Landing in Hong Kong who sewed a set of Dragons in my "non-inspection" Blues. It's normal custom to wear "civies" on shore leave now, so the cuffs don't get the exposure I suppose they once did. Cracker Jack Uniform Trivia Question How many buttons on the front of the Broadfall Trousers and what, if any significance is there? Off-topic, but have fun! BULL ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From Terry Wiltshire Subject Re Leanders >> Arrising from that, I can only think of the Airfix 1/600 kit that is available, does anyone know of other kits that are on the market?, and if not what about WEM or someone making one in 1/350...surely there must be substantial interest in this class and the evolutions they went through during their operational lives. << Andy Skytrex www.skytrex.com has announced a Leander in 1/700 scale. This will be in solid metal and whilst their kits are not up to WEM standard (they are after all aimed at a different market) they are a good place to start. WEM used to do a 1/350 Leander but apparently it did not sell very well. Perhaps if we started a campaign and promised between us to order 50 or so they could be persuaded to do another. There are after all a hugh number of variations. You could spend youe whole life just building Leanders! A Dutch firm (sorry forgoten their name) also did a 1/350 Leander. Terry Sarajevo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From Roviburns@aol.com Subject crackerjack uniforms Don't ANY of you remember the sailor on the old Crackerjack box? Middie, Bellbottoms, & Donald Duck hat. Looking for plans for Uss Firm , MSO 444 or the class. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From Rusty White Subject NEW How To modeling CD from Flagship Models Flagship Models new "how to" CD is ahead of schedule and ready to ship! The name of the CD is "Building Realistic Ship Dioramas" and includes not one, but two full blown articles by Mr. Ray Bean. Both these articles "Keepers of the Sea" and "The Fighting 58th" are IMHO, two of the best "how to" ship diorama articles ever. They are "re-prints" of Ray's articles from the old PSM magazine. The CD is 12 pages long and has MANY illustrations and COLOR photos of Ray's wonderful work. Some have never been in print before. The price is $9.95 which includes shipping worldwide. As a special pre-on-the-web-site-deal, I am offering the complete "how to" library (all six titles) for $45.95 plus free shipping worldwide. That's $1.00 off each title and FREE shipping worldwide! See our web site for the other titles. Contact me direct because none of this is on the web site yet. I take credit cards via Pay Pal and checks are always welcome. Rusty White Flagship Models Inc. Home of the "how to" modeling CDs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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