Subject: SMML VOL 2725 Date: Sat, 15 Jan 2005 00:42:23 +1100 The Ship Modelling Mailing List (SMML) is proudly sponsored by SANDLE http//sandlehobbies.com For infomation on how to Post to SMML and Unsubscribe from SMML http//smmlonline.com/aboutsmml/rules.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1 U-boat Question 2 Re HMCS Labrador 3 Re British Cruisers?? 4 Plastic - not again! but--- 5 ReTico class instructions needed -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1 New 1/350 PE Coming From WEM ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Roy Knight" Subject U-boat Question Hi all, between work and setting up the model club here in Abu Grhaid Iraq, I have had a little time to start work on the Revel type VII kit. My first question deals with the torpedo tube doors in the bow. When they were opened to fire, did all of them open or could they open them individualy? I want to show it, if possible, with the top two doors open and the bottom two closed. Tim Reynaga sent me two excelent books on the type VII U-boat (Thanks a million Tim) but the only photo's show either all of the doors open or all closed. My second question is are there any after market kits to acurize the torpedo tubes if they are shown in the open position? If there is, who sells it? My third question is who makes German Naval flags with the swastika in the middle, if I am going to make this I want it to be as accurate as possible. I want to fly the flag and the small tonnage flags from the masts. Well that is enough questions to start with, I will have more later. Thanks for everything. Roy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "George Peat" Subject Re HMCS Labrador I have a set of drawings here for the US Coast Guard Wind Class Icebreaker plus photographs which have been downloaded from the web. The drawings came from Floating Drydock George ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From Subject Re British Cruisers?? Ed asked in SMML 2724 for confirmation of a cruiser in which the upperworks could part from a mortally damaged hull. Indeed there was. The ship was HMS "Polyphemus", completed 1882 (I don't have a laid-down date to hand, or a scrap date so I don't know if she survived into the 20th c.). "Polyphemus" may have been one of the most controversial ships ever. She arose from the theories on the potential of ramming as an effective weapon. In particular, it was advocated by the proponents that such attack by a number of fast small vessels, in combination with the use of locomotive torpedos, would defeat the battleship. Arguments pro and con appear to have been heated. "P" was eventually built as an armored torpedo ram, displacing 2640 tons and having a top speed of nearly 18 kt. The hull was designed with a turtle deck designed to shed water in a seaway, and she had a low freeboard one photo of her underway at speed shows her awash much of her length. "P"'s superstructure was designed to separate from the hull should the latter sink. It was not intended to 'sail away' as Ed suggests. This concept may have been a recognition of the vulnerability of the whole attack concept in battle. There is a photo of "P" in the tropical paint scheme of white hull and a presumably buff/yellow funnel and mast; she could therefore have been in the Far East. She was also elsewhere, for her most noted exploit was a succesful experiment in breaking the protective harbor boom at Berehaven by ramming. "P" was unique, and the concept was not repeated; nevertheless, she was a novel and most interestng ship. Brian Taylor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From ELLshipmodeler@aol.com Subject Plastic - not again! but--- There have been many comments lately on the web ship modeling discussion groups about the comparison between wood and plastic model building. Over my too many years to want to count of model building I have constructed model planes, cars, trains and ships from plastic, resin and wood, kit and scratch, and have enjoyed them all. I have no aversion to any material. In fact, a recent model incorporates fiberglass, wood, plastic, brass, resin, and Corian to replace the entire set of 800 "white metal", poor, lead based fittings. See the shop note on Corian. However, I have posted on my shop notes web site an exchange I have had over the last two days with Dana Wegner, Curator of Models for the U.S. Navy. See the item "Plastic Materials for Ship Models". (3rd from the top) Please do not start another tirade on the list over this. This is just "ONE DATA POINT" in the overall considerations. However, I would appreciate any positively written critical comments, some of which may possibly be added to the shop note, with appropriate attribution. Gene Larson Alexandria, VA Shop notes Web Site http//members.cox.net/elarson5/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From beyondsun@mindspring.com Subject ReTico class instructions needed Rusty, This is something I've always wondered about; can you actually design a PE set (for I presume that's what's included in your "detail set" below) without having the actual kit to work from? Seems to me you'd need the Dragon kit - or failing that, diagrams of their tooling - to ensure a proper fit. Otherwise you'd have to assume they were faithful enough (wherever relevant) to some other set of plans which you do have. Is that the case? Any enlightenment greatly appreciated! Cheers, Matty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "John Snyder" Subject New 1/350 PE Coming From WEM Now that Peter Hall is wrapping up our 1/350 Nimitz set (PE 3538), he'll be moving on to a couple of other high-priority projects PE 3537, 1/350 Admiral Kuznetsov for the Trumpeter kit. Peter has LOTS of Russian/Soviet resources available, so look for a really stunning set around late April; and, PE 3567, 1/350 Borodino for the Eastern Express kit. Again, we've got expert help on this one. Look for it around late May. You can pre-order these now. Just don't ask me what all they'll include! Best regards, John Snyder White Ensign Models http//WhiteEnsignModels.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume