Subject: SMML VOL 2624 Date: Thu, 23 Sep 2004 04:11:02 +1000 SMML is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 Model Shops in Shanghai 2 Re Renwal Kits 3 Modelkrak 1/700 Spanish American War series 4 Re Renwal & Aurora kits 5 Re HMAS AUSTRALIA 6 Re LINERS 7 HMAS Australia II 8 Re Aurora & Renwal ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Kerry L. Jang" Subject Model Shops in Shanghai Duane, When I was in Shanghai a few years ago, the map of Nanjing Lu (Nanjing Road), the main shopping street had a hobby shop listed. In your hotel, you should be able to get a map of the shops on the street and that will tell you if it is still there, or maybe if others had shown up. I recall it being at the other end of Nanjing Lu, that is, not at the end by the waterfront but the other end, a long walk away. Best, Kerry ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "Leonard, Michael W" Subject Re Renwal Kits Bob Healy asked - >> I was wondering who wound up with the molds and rights to the Renwal military kits. << Revell got several of the ship and armor molds but only reissued a few, including the CLG (as USS Springfield, in 1982) and SSBN (as USS Ethan Allen, in 2002, by Revell-Germany). They also did the strange 1/32nd scale USMC "Ontos" in the early 1980s -- I got one at the hobby shop in Brunswick, Maine, while my ship was in the yards at BIW -- and possibly the M-47 Patton tank and M-42 "Duster" with Bofors gun. Mike Reston, VA USA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From "Harold Stockton" Subject Modelkrak 1/700 Spanish American War series Modelkrak has released their new 1/700 Spanish American War and WW-I series with the following releases; Mks-A001 USS Chester - American Light Cruiser type CS-1 (Cruiser Scout), which was reclassified as the CL-1 class, along with her sisters Uss Birmingham (CS-2) and the USS Salem (CS-3) of the WW-I period, This company's Mks-A002 - USS Brooklyn ACR-3 - American armoured cruiser, the flagship of "Flying Squadron" under the command of Commodore Winfield Scott Schley. The USS BROOKLYN took a very active role in the Battle of Santiago. The Flying Squadron arrived at Cienfuegos, Cuba, 21 May 1898 and established the blockade of that port. On 26 May the Squadron arrived at Santiago, Cuba, where the Spanish Fleet was being held behind the protection of the forts. BROOKLYN was a key vessel in the Battle of Santiago (3 July 1898) in which the Spanish Fleet was destroyed. Although she was struck 20 times by whole shot, BROOKLYN suffered only one man wounded and one man killed. The Mks-A004 - USS Columbia, the fourth Columbia (C-12), later CA-16, was a cruiser in service from 1894 to 1921. Recommissioned 15 March 1898 for service in the Spanish-American war, COLUMBIA patrolled along the Atlantic coast and in the West Indies until 26 August. She convoyed troops to Puerto Rico and aided in its occupation between July and 14 August. COLUMBIA was decommissioned and placed in reserve at Philadelphia Navy Yard 31 March 1899. And, this same company has released their two ship set of the Mks-A003 - Monitor vs. Merrimack, and their Mks-AK 01 - Ship's boats also in 1/700 scale. Harold Stockton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From David Wells Subject Re Renwal & Aurora kits "Robert Healy" wrote >> As I was perusing E-Bay and considering bidding on another outrageously priced Renwal kit....simple but good kits ( perhaps a bit of nostalgia too...) I had a question. I was wondering who wound up with the molds and rights to the Renwal military kits. << Revell certainly ended up with most of Renwal's ship molds, but only a few have been re-issued. Revell has famously re-issued the Renwal Ethan Allen class sub, (mis-labeled as the Andrew Jackson), but not the George Washington class. They re-issued the Cleveland-CLG as Springfield once in the early 1980s, but it hasn't been seen since. The Renwal Essex SCB-125 was re-issued by Advent (apparently a Revell relative) once, but I haven't seen it issued under the Revell label. I've heard some stories Revell issued it once, but I haven't seen it. No sign of the Farragut-class DLG or the North Carolina BB, though. Also, no sign of the 1/1200 Renwal kits. You might think that Revell would issue those as part of their "Miniships" line. (assuming they haven't scrapped the molds) At the risk of discussing "Tready Thingies" on a model ship list, I don't recall seeing any of Renwal's army kits anywhere. You might try trawling through e-bay, and seeing if you see a 1/32 M-50 Ontos, or and atomic cannon in a box that doesn't say Renwal. >> Similarly, I know that some Aurora stuff is being produced under the Polar Lights label. They seem to make mostly re-pops of the monster and off the wall kits. I have never seen a repro Aurora military kit though, so I guesst he same questions applies. I remember reading somewhere that Revell picked up the rights and molds to some of their stuff. << Actually, Monogram bought out the Aurora molds in the mid 1970s, but some of them may have been destroyed for scrap metal value. The survivors are of course now part of the Revell-Monogram collection, and I've seen a couple of Auroras issued in Revell boxes. (Skipjack SSN, e.g.) I've seen the Polar Lights "Seaview", but I don't know if it's from the original mold, or a pantograph. For many years, net.legend had it that the Seaview mold was one of those destroyed in the infamous "train wreck". Hard to know what the reality is. From what little data I've been able to gather on the Aurora Train Wreck, only a few molds were destroyed. This link has some further information http//www.culttvman.com/aurorafaq.html >> I am curious about this since I like to buy a kit now and then for one of the kids to build. I cannot see buying one of the DML or newer Revell kits due to their complexity and fragility.. It seems those older (and yes, less accurate) kits were simpler and more robust. Perhaps a repop of some of these older Renwal and Aurora kits would find a market with folks like me for that reason. << Some old Auroras still appear from time to time. I'd like to see a few more Renwals, though, if only because the Renwal 1/500 kits were such great sources of useful parts. (love those Renwal Terriers!) If I were Revell, I'd think about re-issuing the Farragut-class DLG with an extra 5 incher so that it could be built as a fairly accurate Mitscher class DL. "There seems to be something wrong | David R. Wells with our bloody ships today" | Adm. D. Beatty, May 31, 1916 | http//home.att.net/~WellsBrothers/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From Tim Stoneman Subject Re HMAS AUSTRALIA I'm not Australian and suspect Antipodean SMMLies may have better information. However, I believe she was in disruptive camouflage until at least May 42 (AP507A/AP507C), and later repainted into an overall medium tone, possibly 'Chicago Blue'. Note the review of the kit at http//www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/hmas/australia/700-com/australia.html, although it doesn't mention a significant omission; the Combrig kit only contains one aircraft crane but the ship carried two. There are several picture of the ship on the Australian War memorial website accessible from http//www.awm.gov.au/database/index.asp. Tim Stoneman Hi all, You can also try the Naval Historical Society of Australia at http//www.navyhistory.org.au/ There are some very nice shots of HMAS Australia II there among other nice photos. Shane ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From MPMenache@aol.com Subject Re LINERS I agree that a disney magic model in 1/600 would be a great kit. Maritime Replicas built several 1/350 scale for purchase but the disney people were upset with copyright issues. So I think that it would be some time before that ship comes to market! cheers michael ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From "RUSS SMITH" Subject HMAS Australia II Try this site http//www.history.navy.mil/branches/org11-2.htm or the Australian War Memorial site. Theres some pictures showing the placement of the 20mm gun tubs and what appears to be to me and the captionist to be some form of MS1 paint scheme in August of 42. Wheather, it's a gray or blue I don't know but I decided use a Sea Blue to make it my version of Chicago Blue. Look down the page and you'll find quite a few photos of her pre war and the time period your looking for. This will be listed under foreign navies as it is a US site. Good Luck on your model! Regards; Russ Smith ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From Ives100@aol.com Subject Re Aurora & Renwal Revell got the old Renwal Polaris submarine line, the ones with the full interior. Not real accurate, but fun. Revell just re-released the Polaris kit as the Andrew Jackson, at a very reasonable price of around $20. This is not the clear sided version of teh kit (Renwal's Thomas Jefferson SSBN). These are rather inaacurate, but fun kits. I'm not sure what happened to the rest of the Renwal molds, such as the Atomic Cannon and others. The only naval "military" (qualifiers here) kit that Polar Lights has released from the old Aurora line that I'm aware of is the Seaview submarine kit. There is a line of aftermarket resin parts to "accurize" this fictional sub. The large Seaview models used to shoot the movie and TV series went through several modifications along the way. One major change was from an eight window to a four window version. Tom Dougherty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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