Subject: SMML VOL 2564 Date: Sat, 17 Jul 2004 00:50:02 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 A modeller's tribute to his mother 2 VCR Alert - WWI in Color 3 Funnel Bands(once more) 4 queen mary 2 model 5 LCM (3) 6 Re Type 12 Plans/Kits ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Randy O'Malley" Subject A modeller's tribute to his mother On July 16, 2002, my mother, Patricia O'Malley, aged 66, ended her brave battle with cancer to go be with her Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. With your gracious indulgence I would like to offer the following tribute which I am sure will strike a chord in most of you. Yes, she did get to read a slightly edited version which was printed in Tamiya Model Magazine. "I have been building (ship) models for over thirty years, first as any boy of my generation then later as a serious student of history. I can't remember who gave me my first kit, but I do know who gave me the best kits - my mother. She taught me to read when I was only three years old and made sure there were plenty of educational books and toys on hand. My parents always encouraged my older brothers and me to have worthwhile hobbies. My mother let me build on the dining room table, provided I cleared out in time for Sunday dinner; she rarely complained about the smell of paint or glue. On top of Christmas and birthdays Mom sometimes brought home a kit for no special reason - like the Aurora Prehistoric Scene she bought at Woolworth's (I still have it). Mine was a troubled childhood and building models fuelled my imagination and gave me a sense of accomplishment so that I never felt sad or lonely when I probably should have. In that vein, one kit sticks in my memory more than any other It was a very difficult time in my mother's life when she went out of her way to take her ten year-old to the hobby shop for a kit to build over Spring Break. I tore into it as soon as I got home. Sad, lonely, and tired as she was, my contagious excitement lifted her spirits. As if the kit wasn't enough she drove even further the next day to make sure I had the right colours of Humbrol paint to finish the model. Now and then during construction she would check on me, praising my progress and urging me to slow down and enjoy myself. A few days later, as I slipped on the last decal, I was overcome with pride for this was the first model I had completed entirely on my own! My mother extolled my work as 'a beautiful little model'. I decided to put this model into my first diorama and Mom graciously entrusted me with her laundry sink to mix plaster and house paint; she even brewed coffee just so I could have coffee grounds for scale gravel. I am so glad my mother encouraged me as a modeller. Few can imagine the joy and peace I felt while hunched over my workbench. Nor did she fully realize the many life skills being imparted as I developed patience, learned to follow instructions, and gained manual skills and appreciation of history. Of course, there were some aspects of the hobby my mother never embraced or understood She nearly fainted when I appeared asking for a Band-Aid with a X-Acto knife sticking out of my thigh. And, not grasping the concept of weathering, she vowed never to buy me another kit after I 'ruined my beautiful little models by slopping dirt all over them'. She must have forgotten her oath because she kept buying me kits and books and tools; I’d get all excited when she’d call to say, 'Randy, I bought you a model today at a garage sale. I don't know if it's any good but I thought you'd like it.' It was always plenty good. My mother is gone now. She died of cancer two years ago when she was only sixty-six years young. She won’t get to buy my son James his first model kit. I will never forget her. Every time I walk into a hobby store, catch a whiff of Humbrol paint, or sit down to build a model I will be reminded of my dear mother and how much she loved 'her beautiful little boy with his beautiful little models'. God Bless You, Mom. I love you." Randy O'Malley July 16, 2004 Mississauga, Ontario, CANADA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From Bill Weckel Subject VCR Alert - WWI in Color Just got the semi-monthly History Channel email and was pleasantly surprised to find this Bill The History Channel - Saturday, July 31, 2004 7-8pm -- Time Machine - World War I in Color Blood in the Air Between 1914 and 1918, a revolutionary new theater of war emerged--the air. It brought sights never before seen or imagined. There were massive dogfights, terrible crashes, and a casualty rate that at times meant pilots were almost certain to be killed. This episode is best summed up by lines from the "Mess Song of the Lafayette Escadrille" "So stand by your glasses steady, the world is a web of lies. Here's a toast to the dead already. Hurrah for the next man who dies." Kenneth Branagh narrates. 8-9pm -- Time Machine - World War I in Color Killer of the Sea In 1914, German and British sailors believed WWI would be a confrontation of huge battleships. But only once was there a full clash of fleets. The rest of the naval war was very different from what had been expected. It was a war dominated by a new weapon--the submarine. It was a war of blockades and sinkings on a massive scale. Above all, the sea war was about innovation and dazzling advances in technology. Now for the first time it can be seen as it happened--in color! Kenneth Branagh narrates. 9-10pm -- Time Machine - World War I in Color Mayhem on the Eastern Front WWI on the Eastern Front was dramatically different than the trench warfare on the Western Front. It was a war of movement, of dramatic gains and losses, of huge armies on the march, of terrain that required everything from camels to skis! One empire, Austria-Hungary was destroyed. A second, Russia, was captured by revolution and its royal family murdered. War on the Eastern Front would reshape the map of Europe forever--and now you can see it as it really happened, in color. Kenneth Branagh narrates. 10-11pm -- Time Machine - World War I in Color Victory and Despair Four years of bitter fighting climax in a thunderous German attack--defeat stares Britain and France in the face. 1918 would be the costliest year--in human lives. But on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fall silent. After the slaughter, an armistice brings hope that millions did not die in vain. As distance fades the sharpness of memory, the final voices belong to the moment itself--and we bring that to you as it was seen, in full color. Kenneth Branagh narrates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From 520086475121-0001@t-online.de (F. Pletscher) Subject Funnel Bands(once more) According to my records, the use of funnel bands was discontinued with the Imperial German Navy after WW I broke out. Only one cruiser - can't remeber which one at the moment - is reported to have them still painted on in 1915. Falk Pletscher ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From EBENCARL89@aol.com Subject queen mary 2 model Hi, does anyone know when the new QUEEN MARY 2 model from airfix -heller is coming out. I saw on the site was June. Its almost the end of July and haven't heard anything. Thanks, if you could help. Ed Wilde, Ohio ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From Burl Burlingame Subject LCM (3) Trumpeter's 1/35 LCM (3) ain't bad at all, but there are a paucity of resources out there. Any camouflage schemes other than overall blue? Is the interior of the pilot house the same color as the exterior? How about making a plug for the middle to turn it into a (6)? Burl ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From "Terry Wiltshire" Subject Re Type 12 Plans/Kits Tony Cammett Ltd are threatening to bring out a Type 12 Hull/Kit in 1/96 you may want to contact them for the latest. (www.cammett.co.uk). Frog did a Type 12 in 1/500 scale which has been re-released by various Russian companies and can still be found if you look hard enough. I don't know of any commercial plans. John Lambert Plans finish with Type 15 Frigates and Jecobin Plans start with Leanders leaving a bit of a gap. If you find any let me know as I'd like a set as well. Terry Budapest ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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