Subject: SMML VOL 2551 Date: Sat, 03 Jul 2004 23:47:45 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 Bell-bottom trousers 2 Flat hat 3 Re USN Uniforms 4 Re Instructions for the Aurora USS SARATOGA 5 Re Cracker Jacks 6 Re Cracker Jack Pants 7 Re US Navy hats 8 Interesting items on eBay 9 Re Cracker Jacks -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1 New Revell redo's INSTOCK USS Montrose & T-2 Tanker ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Doug Bauer" Subject Bell-bottom trousers Wow! I've been watching this thread for several days now, and those who've indicated that there were 13 buttons on the dress blue trousers can maybe explain to me why mine had 14! The dress blues and the "gabs" I had made in Hong Kong had 14 buttons there was a sash-like thing that had two buttons on it (one fastened the sash and the other was for the top flap button. I hope someone remembers this and comfirms that I'm not crazy.....I served from 1966-1970. Doug Bauer Poway, CA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From AFisherJr@aol.com Subject Flat hat You said >> 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. << These were the so called 'flat hats', worn with winter blues ... the white (dixie cup) hat was worn with summer whites. During peacetime, the band had the ship's name; during wartime 'USN'. Had one from the USS Wyoming when Dad spent a summer reserve cruise in '38 or '39 ... wish I had it now! It was not worn when I served in the mid-50's, so I presume it that use was discontinued either during the latter part of WWII or shortly thereafter. Al ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From "Kevin W. Woodruff" Subject Re USN Uniforms Tom The flat "Donald Duck" hat as you describe was first authorized in 1852. The flat hat was eliminated on 1 April 1963 due to non-available materials. The original hats had unit (ship) names on the front, however, unit names were taken off in January 1941. Since 1963 only the "Dixie Cup" has been issued to US enlisted sailors. Prof. Kevin W. Woodruff, M. Div., M. S. I. S. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From Graham Preston Subject Re Instructions for the Aurora USS SARATOGA Bill - I have a set of the instructions for this kit - Aurora Kit No. 701-2. I'll try the "scan" process first. If that's not successful, I'll photo-copy them and mail them to you. Could you contact me off-line? Cheers, Chris Preston, Victoria, B.C. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From "keith" Subject Re Cracker Jacks Hi SMMLies, Cracker Jacks, the candy popcorn, I remember a few years ago it was mentioned that they were 100 years old so I think it may have been four or five years since I heard that. Yes they been around awhile. Keith ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From Von_Zipper@webtv.net (Bull) Subject Re Cracker Jack Pants Greetings, Hey Al, the smart guys(?) now don't give her 13 chances, the tailor at the uniform shop will sew in a velcro strip that'll get you at battle stations before she can say n... Yeah, I knew the button question would be easy for this crew, but you'd be surprised how many guys wearing them don't have any idea what the significance is. Bull ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From Fkbrown90@aol.com Subject Re US Navy hats To Tom Dean Some time before WW 1 the enlisted man's Dress Blues (for winter use) had a very large and soft "overhang" created by a very large internal semi-stiff ring or grommet. It was known as the "flat hat". I'm not sure if it had a horizontal ribbon exterior hatband with the wearer's ship's name printed in faux gold. But sometime in the 30s the hat style was changed by removing the grommet (which made it floppy)and reducing the amount of material (to make it look less like a beret). This gave rise to the sobriquet "Donald Duck Hat". It definitely had a ribbon bearing the ships name. When WW 2 broke out, the Navy didn't want to advertise the locations of ships in port, therefore the name ribbon was replaced with one that merely said "U. S. Navy". Some time after V-J Day even these disappeared, and only the small white hat is worn, summer or winter. The US Coast Guard uniforms were identical to the Navy uniforms, except a small wite shield was worn just above the wrist. Perhaps an old "Semper Paratus" can tell us when, but a few years after WW 2 the Coast Guard began introducing changes to make its uniforms (including officers) more distinguishable from Navy. How about it, Coasties ? Franklyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From paulship37@aol.com Subject Interesting items on eBay I saw these items for sale at eBay, IOSINO japanese ship plan http//cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?RedirectEnter&partner=777701&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi%2Eebay%2Ecom%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI%2Edll%3FViewItem%26item%3D5907486953%26category%3D4248%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AB%3AEF%3AUS%3A1 FUJI japanese ship plan http//cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?RedirectEnter&partner=777701&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi%2Eebay%2Ecom%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI%2Edll%3FViewItem%26item%3D5907486440%26category%3D4248%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AB%3AEF%3AUS%3A1 MIKAZA japanese ship plan http//cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?RedirectEnter&partner=777701&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi%2Eebay%2Ecom%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI%2Edll%3FViewItem%26item%3D5907486172%26category%3D4248%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AB%3AEF%3AUS%3A1 light cruiser NANIVA plan http//cgi3.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?RedirectEnter&partner=777701&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fcgi%2Eebay%2Ecom%2Fws%2FeBayISAPI%2Edll%3FViewItem%26item%3D5907485820%26category%3D4248%26ssPageName%3DADME%3AB%3AEF%3AUS%3A1 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From "keith" Subject Re Cracker Jacks Hi SMMLies, After being out for 21 I still enjoy putting my cracker jacks on once a year, well I suck it in and squezzzzzzz into them but I still feel like the man on the bow with the salt air hitting my face then doing an about-face looking down the flightdeck of the almost 1/4 quarter mile length of steel under my feet. Wearing them makes me feel haze gray and underway. At church us vets are asked to wear your uniform on the Vet Day service and like someone else here said the navy always stands out from the rest due to the uniform. As said before we usually didn't button all 13 just two or three when we were out on liberty. Keith ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From shaya novak Subject New Revell redo's INSTOCK USS Montrose & T-2 Tanker T-2 Tanker http//www.totalnavy.com/400oiler1.htm Attack Transport http//www.totalnavy.com/400transport.htm The Captain Naval Base Hobbies www.totalnavy.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