Subject: SMML VOL 2832 Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 01:18:37 +1000 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 Hornet Museum In Financial Trouble 2 Re Tamiya Rodney parts 3 Aircraft manouvering ships 4 USN "Spring Styles book", 1939-1945 5 C1 vs C2 hulls 6 Ben Read 1923 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From Richa5011@aol.com Subject Hornet Museum In Financial Trouble This is from Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle Hornet looking for money to stay afloat Power could be shut off Monday, eviction may follow Sunday, May 8, 2005 The historic aircraft carrier Hornet, docked in Alameda, is in danger of having its electricity cut off Monday and could face eviction from its 10-year home at the former Alameda Naval Air Station. While the nonprofit organization that has operated a museum on the craft for six years has struggled financially from the start, it is now facing "a perfect storm" of events that could doom the attraction, Scott Armanini, CEO of Friends of the Hornet, said Saturday. On Thursday, Armanini said, he received a notice from Alameda Power and Telecom, the city-owned utility, saying power would be cut Monday if he didn't pay $26,000 in past and current charges. Then, he said, acting City Manager Bill Norton told him the Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, composed of City Council members, would be meeting May 17 to discuss the $500,000 in rent -- four years' worth -- that the Hornet owes the city. Given the nonprofit's shaky financial situation, Norton said Saturday he thought it was unlikely it would be able to pay up. In that case, he said, "I think eventually we would ask them to leave. It may come within a few months, or it may come within six months or a year." In addition, Norton said, the federal Maritime Administration wants the Hornet moved for homeland security reasons because it is too close to its ready-reserve fleet. Preparing a new pier for the Hornet could cost $1 million. "It's very hard to justify putting $1 million into another pier to move somebody who's not paying you any money and can't pay their electricity bills, " Norton said. Armanini said the organization had fallen behind on its payments during the winter months, which see few tourists paying the $14 adult admission. He managed to pay the power company much of the tab but still owes $9,000, one month's bill. That's money the Hornet has owed for years but has been allowed to carry over every month, and it is money Armanini said he didn't have. He said he hoped the Hornet would be given a grace period, during which a benefactor could emerge. If he can't keep the lights on Monday, he will have to shutter the 900- foot-long carrier known as the "Gray Ghost," which was instrumental in World War II's Pacific theater and recovered the first men to walk on the moon. "If there's any chance of any type of payment on past due bills, I've got to be allowed to operate a business and turn it around," said Armanini, who was hired five months ago to right the failing enterprise. Armanini said he was seeking corporate sponsorships. Last week, he posted sponsorship rights for the carrier on eBay, seeking $1 million for 10 years. "It would be an absolute tragedy if this thing closes," he said. Alameda city officials said they didn't believe they had the power to get the utility to delay the Hornet's bill. "I'd hate to see them lose their power, but I don't know what's going to happen Monday," said Mayor Beverly Johnson. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From Pieter Cornelissen Subject Re Tamiya Rodney parts >> My question is what guns are represented by the 4 cast lumps just below the Bridge structure, (if guns are what they are). Can any RN Buffs help. << Hi Jeff, the cast on lumps on the bridge structure are 3pdr saluting guns. I replaced them on my G3 build (which uses Rodney bridge structure parts) with shortened Skywave 20mm guns. Cheers, Pieter ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From Reynold.Oh@defence.gov.au Subject Aircraft manouvering ships G'Day SMML. George Oh from Sydney, Australia here. 1. I seek info on occasions when aircraft carriers have used their embarked aircraft to assist in manouvering the ship. I believe that the method is to secure the aircraft (pointing them inwards, towad the centre-line of the ship) to the flightdeck at the bow, then instruct the pilot (on cue) to run the aircraft's engine(s) at a high-power setting, then to shut-off (again on cue). 2. I believe that HMS Bulwark did this with Armstrong Witworth Seahawks. Obviously, this is detrimental to the aircraft's engine (if used often or for long periods of time), and the ships Air Commander will object (that would be part of his job). But the ship is obviously more important than one (or six?) aircraft engines. George, out ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From Brooks Rowlett Subject USN "Spring Styles book", 1939-1945 I just discovered this interesting new area (dated 30 March 2005) at the Naval Historical Center's website http//www.history.navy.mil/photos/albums/s511.htm "This album contains 75 individual sheets of U.S. Navy ship "preliminary design" plans, dating from October 1939 through November 1944. These drawings, prepared by the Preliminary Design Section of the Bureau of Ships (known as the Bureau of Construction and Repair prior to June 1940), were used to illustrate potential ship designs for the Navy's General Board, generally in response to characteristics proposed by that body. "Termed 'Spring Styles' by the Preliminary Design staff (after ladies' fashion catalogs), the drawings were an important part of the development of the design of a particular ship class. The "Spring Styles" plans usually represent only some of the options presented to the General Board, with the others existing only in tabular form. They also do not often represent final designs, which were developed in detail following approval of basic characteristics and were frequently changed in the process. However, the drawings in this album provide insight into the designs of many of the major (and some of the minor) warship types constructed during the Second World War, and others which were considered but not built. "This album, labeled 'Spring Styles' Volume # 3, was loaned (less drawing numbers 64 & 65) to the Naval Historical Center by the Naval Sea Systems Command (NavSea 501), successor to the Bureau of Ships, in 1986 for photographic copy work. It was permanently transferred in 1990, with its contents having been declassified in November 1985. The album is loose-leaf in type, with grey fabric covers measuring 16.9 inches high by 22.35 inches long. Its individual plans are of a variety of sizes, though most are drawn to a scale of 1/32 inch to one foot. Plans are drawn in ink and/or pencil on pale grey drafting paper or fabric, with many of them also containing informal pencilled notations. "Other volumes in the 'Spring Styles' series are presumably held by the U.S. National Archives. Among the background documents for the volume presented here is a content listing for 'Spring Styles' Volume 4, giving its location as National Archives' Record Group 19, Entry 1026P. Its contents are dated from 1946 to 1954, with other drawings in the same Entry (mainly Contract Plans Books) bearing dates from 1939 to 1951. Persons interested in this material, as well as 'Spring Styles' volumes predating Book # 3, should contact the National Archives for information." Brooks A. Rowlett ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From Kdg345@aol.com Subject C1 vs C2 hulls I have been reading a book, Sailing Into The Abyss" by William R. Benedetto. He mentions that the ship, which is the subject of his book, Badger State was a 441 foot hull and he calls it a C2 hull. I served on an AKA that was a C2 hull, but its length was 459 foot. I have built a model of my ship whose scale is based on the C2. I also bought a partially built model of the same scale, but it is based on a 441 merchant ship. I think the author of the book was mistaken in that the Badger State must have been a C1hull. I know that reviewing the web sites on AKAs an all of them state C2 hulls that are 459 feet long. Can anyone confirm my beliefs? Ken in Kent - WA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From jeff simpson Subject Ben Read 1923 If you want a "Figurehead" 1/1200 scale model kit of Ben Read (CBM3) I suggest contacting www.nobleminis.com/uk.htm or www.1250ships.com. The kit is actually more like 1/1070 scale, it looks quite nice although I have no way of assessing accuracy. If you are trying to get the plans used by the manufacturer things are a bit more complex the Figurehead series were made by Hallmark in or around York UK 4 or 5 years ago but in 2002 the moulds and presumably all documentation were sold to Regal Miniatures USA. Regal do still make the models, available from the dealers noted above and no doubt some others. Regal did have a website. The miniature ships seem to be a minor sideline for Regal who have an enormous line of figures (soldiers). I might add that Hallmark were never particularly easy to contact even when they were in operation. Good Luck Jeff Simpson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume