Subject: SMML VOL 2550 Date: Sat, 03 Jul 2004 02:29:22 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 Crackerjack Pants 2 WTD Instructions for Aurora USS Saratoga 3 Looking for photos of the NMM builder's model of Minas Geraes 4 Re Leander 5 Revell Clones 6 Re origin of the "Cracker Jack" name 7 Re USN uniforms, a little more 8 Re USN uniforms, a little more 9 Re Revell Alabama and Kearsarge 10 Re Trivia quiz 11 USN Uniforms 12 Drawings for Amazon & Leander Class Frigates 13 Re RN Weatherworks Colours 1901/1902 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information 1 Small Warship Group ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From AFisherJr@aol.com Subject Crackerjack Pants 13 buttons ... one for each of the original states. We always said that it gives a gal 13 chances to say 'no'! Al ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "Wm Burns" Subject WTD Instructions for Aurora USS Saratoga Would someone who has the old Aurora USS Saratoga be so kind as to scan or photocopy the instruction sheet and send to me? It would be a bit easier to build with directions! If photocopying and snail mailing, contact me off-list for my mailing address. Thank you, Wm. (Bill) Burns London, Ont. http//www3.sympatico.ca/wmburns/ If necessity is the mother of invention, then war must be the mother of necessity ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From Daniel Kurtz Subject Looking for photos of the NMM builder's model of Minas Geraes Does anyone know if there are any pix on the web anywhere? Google doesn't find any. Was disappointed to find there was only a single photo in Lavery's book. I have an inter-library loan request pending for "The Visual History of Ships and Sailing", but I understand this book only actually has a single photo as well. rabbit ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From "Naval Models" Subject Re Leander You can still buy the 350 scale Artitec/MSF HrMs Van Speijk kit. Only MSF is selling the kits perhaps this will change in two or three months when they stop. During the Navy days we (IPMS SIG Ships) will sell there kits. The only thing is that it is the ship after there Mid life up date. Better said it is a dutch Leander. The price is between the euro 80-90 (will now for sure within two weeks). Greetings, Michiel Woort ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From Joel Labow Subject Revell Clones >>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.<< Hi, My comparative review of the Revell Kearsarge/Alabama pair is available on the SteelNavy.com site at . In a nutshell A. The Kearsarge kit hull is based on her appearance at the end of her career in the 1880s with some changes to backdate her to her 1864 configuration. It would be easy to modify the kit to portray her accurately in her later appearance but virtually impossible to show her as she looked when she fought the Alabama. B. The Alabama kit is a modification of the Kearsarge. There are more changes than in the Cutty Sark/Thermopylae (I believe the only difference between these two is the color of the plastic used in the hull castings) but the kit only resembles Alabama in the most superficial way. HTH, Joel Labow ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From Fritz Koopman Subject Re origin of the "Cracker Jack" name Some one may correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to recall being told that it was a term that reffered to the snack food here in America. Back in the teens and 20's (possibly earlier) a snack food was developed called Cracker Jack (a mix of carmelized popcorn and peanuts). Very popular at baseball games, it's brand name was even immortalized in the song "Take me out to the Ball Game" When the food began marketing in stores, the package had a picture of a young boy in naval uniform "Jack" and his dog. The snack is something of a legend here in America, as it was the first food that I know of (long before cerial) to market itself as having a "prize" included somewhere on the package, including the original and infinately famous "Decoder Ring". Nowadays, at least through my thirty odd years, the prize always seems to be one of those water transfer tatooos (bummer.. no decoder ring). So to make a short story long... The uniforms were called Cracker Jacks after the snack, that had a boy wearing the uniform on the packet. Best rgards Fritz K ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From NAVYDAZE@aol.com Subject Re USN uniforms, a little more Bull that question was too easy! 13 buttons and standing for the original 13 colonies/states. But a true salt would never button all of them, usually the ones on the side and one in the middle. Mike Donegan Naval & Coast Guard Artist http//www.navydaze.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From Kiactive Subject Re USN uniforms, a little more >> How many buttons on the front of the Broadfall Trousers and what, if any significance is there? << Answer> 13 buttons. One for each colony. OK. as long as we’re here.... What do the 2 stars on the jumper flap signify? Phil Kirchmeier | kiactive.com "What contemptible scoundrel has stolen the cork to my lunch?" -- W.C. Fields ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From Bill Michaels Subject Re Revell Alabama and Kearsarge Check out this link for a ton of excellent info on the two kits http//www.steelnavy.com/Alabama&Kearsarge.htm In a nutshell The Revell Kearsarge was an accurate kit of the ship, apparently based on her appearance after her 1888 refit. The Alabama kit was based on the Kearsarge, so it has some serious inaccuracies. Modeler Urban Legends say the Kearsarge molds were modified to produce the Alabama, whcih was supposedly why the Kearsarge was only produced in 1961, while the Alabama has been re-released a few times since then. This is why the Kearsarge kits commanded such high prices on the used kit market. Revell Germany is releasing a USS Kearsarge this fall. It will be interesting to see what you get-- will it be just the Alabama model with new flags and decals, and maybe some cosmetic changes? Or will it un-do the changes (to make a pseudo-alabama) made back in 1961? I, for one, will be disappointed if it is a rebox of the Alabama kit.... Bill Check out my list of USCG subjects in model kit form home.earthlink.net\~billkaja\kitlist.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject Re Trivia quiz To Von_zipper@webtv.net There are 13 buttons on the front of the bell-bottom trousers of the Cracker Jack uniform. Tradition has it that each button represents one of the thirteen original colonial states. It is surprisingly easy to slip the fingers of each hand into the space between the buttons and with a deft movement quickly unbutton the flap front. The top fronts of the trousers would then fall away (hence the term "broadfall") and the trousers would fall off. There are no belts or zippers to contend with. The bell-bottoms contributed to this ease of action. This was considered essential if a sailor fell overboard, as he could quickly divest himself of the heavy water-laden garment which would impede his attempts to swim. Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From "Dean, Tom" Subject USN Uniforms Hi Gang Side bar to the discussion about the attempted change to USN uniforms in the 80's. I have come across a few pictures over the years with USN enlisted men wearing a hat black in colour, very similar to that of a German sailor (or as someone said a "Donald Duck" hat) with a cap tally U.S.N. These pictures seem to be early 40's or before. Thought it might be standard issue, but pictures around the same time show men in the "Gob" hat. Have never been able to nail down an answer. Tom Dean Hamilton, Ontario Ps. For anyone in the area over the summer, HMCS HAIDA opened to the public last Friday. She is berthed at the naval jetty (Pier 9) alongside the naval reserve base HMCS STAR, foot of Catharine St. N. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From "lamkeel" Subject Drawings for Amazon & Leander Class Frigates Hi Gary and any others interested Jecobin provide scale drawings for a multitude of modern post war R.N. classes. These include G/A's in the following scales. 1.192, 1.196 and 1.48. all the modern destroyers, carriers, Assault ships, nuclear submarines, MCMV's, Patrol Ships, RFA's and much more. Full details in catalogue price £5.00. Send 16 x 23 cm SAE to- Jecobin, 31 Romans Way, Ryrford, Woking, Surrey, GU22 8TR, England I have no connection with them and a far as I am aware, they do not have a web site. But they do provide nice detailed and acceptable drawings. Yours "Aye" John Lambert ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From George Colleen Hargreaves Subject Re RN Weatherworks Colours 1901/1902 Michael , thanks for sharing the paint mixtures for the early 1900's. I'm starting on HMS King Edward VII and was wondering on the grey, your timing is perfect. When making blends by weight (or mass) I (my wife) has a very sensitive kitchen scale she uses for spices - perfect in that it measures to 0.1 grams. However, mass x density equals volume at a given temperature. The old Testors paints are sold by volume, if you look at new bottles for black and white they are filled to the same level. This would indicate that the densities are very similar in that they feel the same weight. So by mixing by volume rather than weight you should be really close. Of course, does it really matter? What with varying qualities of paint, how much the mixer had the night before and weathering effects, close is OK. You mentioned that funnels were specified as Yellow not Buff. The dye colour that makes the bright canary yellows we call Yellow today were not yet invented. So the 'Yellow' of the early 1900's is what we today call 'Bluff'. This also applies to signal flags of the period. Don't suppose you noticed in that file, the paint mixes for WW1 camouflage colours? I dream on. Thanks for the greys. George Hargreaves Calgary Alberta ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Model club & SMMLcon Information ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From brownatfareham@surefish.co.uk Subject Small Warship Group The website (www.smallwarshipgroup.org.uk) was updated earlier today with issue 42 of Escort. the main feature this month describes Destroyer Leaders of the Royal Navy. Regards Les Brown ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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