Subject: SMML VOL 2910 Date: Sun, 14 Aug 2005 01:14:21 +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 WW-I Royal Navy 'Dazzle Camouflage' 2 1/72 scale Special Navy (MPM) U-Boat Type XXIII (full hull) submarine kit 3 Re SS Brazil or USAT Brazil 4 Attack models 1/72 12,8cm Flakzwilling 40 (Innsbruck) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Harold Stockton" Subject WW-I Royal Navy 'Dazzle Camouflage' I have read with some interest an account of a WW-I Royal Navy 'Dazzle Camouflage' known as 'small-spotted finish'. This scheme was to have a dappled finish of a contrasting color applied over the original color in such a fashion as to throw off shapes and colors. The comment was used in this comment "Indeed, in 1917 a type of colouration like this was seen on a Royal Navy trawler (I believe this was HMS Stalwart), one of the various examples of 'Dazzle Camouflage' or known then as "Razzle Dazzle" which were famous from the First World War." HMS Stalwart was not a trawler, but one of the Rescue Tug (W 07). Its Previous Names 1939 THEODOR WOKER / 1939-41 HMS STALWART / 1942-81 E.S. STEYTLER. In 1941 the Steytler was released back to her original owners and, after some repairs which sorted out some interesting damage and removed a 12 pdr gun from above her towing gear. Convoy UR 142, but sent from Reykjavik as noted in ADM 237/1393. UR 142 did indeed consist of only 4 ships SHIRVAN (UK), BALTARA (UK), GODAFOSS (Iceland) and ULLA (Denmark). Departure form Reykjavik for Loch Ewe was delayed from 5 Nov by bad weather until 10 Nov - escort group was VASCAMA, HOMEGUARD and NORTHERN REWARD (and HMS FETLAR?). HMS STALWART and CHARLOCK also patrolling area off Reykjanes. From what I can find out; during World War I, the British and Americans faced a serious threat from German U-boats, which were sinking allied shipping at a dangerous rate. All attempts to camouflage ships at sea had failed, as the appearance of the sea and sky are always changing. Any color scheme that was concealing in one situation was conspicuous in others. A British artist and naval officer, Norman Wilkinson, while he was serving on patrol in the English Channel in May 1917, promoted a new camouflage scheme that was derived from the artistic fashions of the time, particularly cubism. Instead of trying to conceal the ship, it simply broke up its lines and made it more difficult for the U-boat captain to determine the ship's course. The British called this camouflage scheme "Dazzle Painting." The Americans called it "Razzle Dazzle." I would assume that what the above mentioned author intended was to illustrate counter-shading in order to break-up an objects outlines. Like the mottling in camouflage wear, this design makes it difficult to figure out the actual outlines of the ship and distinguish the starboard side from the port side. If submarine or ship crews don't know which way a ship is moving, it is a lot harder for them to accurately aim a torpedo. Aqautic camouflage also includes illumination and counter-illumination with photophores. While schooling fish may have bright distinct marking that, while individually poor camouflage, blend in a large school, making it difficult to distinguish a single fish. Countershading (or obliterative camouflage) - different colours on upper and lower surfaces in graduating tones from a light 'belly' to a darker back - is common in the sea and on land. This is sometimes called Thayer's law, after Abbott H. Thayer who published a paper on the form in 1896. Your thoughts. Harold Stockton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "Harold Stockton" Subject 1/72 scale Special Navy (MPM) U-Boat Type XXIII (full hull) submarine kit Special Navy's (MPM) new #SN72001 172 U-Boat Type XXIII. Injection moulded with resin and etched parts. The kit can be seen on Hannants' site at http//www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=SN72001 and http//www.hannants.co.uk/search/?FULL=SN72001&PIC_NO=1 .The parts shown in the second link shows a really nice kit. The only down side to this release is the fact that the kit's price is almost as much as Revell's excellent Type VIIC. According to Squadron Shop's website, they say "Special Navy by MPM. This is the first kit of the new series called Special Navy. This is a German submarine from the end of the Second World War. Two sprues of plastic parts with additional resin and photo-etched parts. The U boot type XXIII was one of the last submarines put into combat service by Germany´s Kriegsmarine. Its design was so progressive that it was used as a pattern for the post-War NATO Bundesmarine´s Hai and Hecht submarines produced in the 1950s." Concerning the "Elektro-boote", like the U-2336, they were of the littorals Type XXIII. The submarines of this class were ultra-modern coastal boats with a simple hull design, characterized with an elevated dived speed. They belonged to the next generation of German submarines, and unlike the oceanic "types XXI" , had been planned for actions to short range in the English Channel or for attacks in the harbors of the Great Britain. Like the Type XXI, it had an enlarged battery capacity. It was much smaller, and carried only two torpedoes. About 60 were delivered Small, hydrofoil, manageable, able to dive in less than 10 second ones, they were equiped with a main electric motor to push the boat submerged to the speed of 12,5 knots per hour. It was equiped with single two torpedo, possessing the same launch system of the "Type XXI." A new experiment was tried in late January 1945 when U-245 (Schumann-Hindenberg) operated in the Thames estuary. Schumann was equipped with "Kurier" (High speed flash transmissions) and succeeded in communicating with Control by "Kurier." Schumann returned to Helgoland on the 16th of February having claimed the sinking of one ship and the torpedoing of a second. In April, he reentered the area, this time with U-2322 (Heckel), a type XXIII U-boat. Schumann claimed two successes and Heckel one. East coast of Scotland. (Operations by type XXIII). U-2324 (Hess) operated in the Firth of Forth area during the end of January but had no success. He was followed in February by U-2322 (Heckel) who claimed the sinking of a 6,000 ton steamer. U-2321 (Barschkies) operating there in. Concerning "Kurier" (High speed flash transmissions), this was among the more significant attempts to increase the effectiveness of the U-boat was the resumption in November of "Kurier" trials. These had started in August and then had been discontinued. "Kurier" was a short signal procedure, embodying a special cipher and frequency code. It presented a problem of great difficulty to the Allied intercept net. The British succeeded in copying some transmissions. On 5 December, Command had said "Kurier testing is of the greatest military importance." (1509/5 December) But the program was interrupted before any real use of "Kurier" could be made by operating U-boats. Although trials seem to have been underway again on 5 April, the end of the war stopped further experimentation. A nice addition to anyone's 1/72 scale navy. A smaller 1/144 scale version of this Type is offered by ICM from Russia. Harold Stockton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From Randy Ward Subject Re SS Brazil or USAT Brazil >>I am trying to find information of a ship my father sailed in 1946. SS Brazil or USAT Brazil. I would like to make a model of this and if there is anything close which I could Kit Bash it would make my life easier. All help greatly appriciated. << Rick, the SS Brasil (spelled with an "s") was one of the two last liners built in the U.S. Both were built in 1958, for the NY to South America cruise market. 'Don't know if there was an SS Brazil (with a "z"), but if the '58 liner is what you need, the Revell kit comes up every once in a while on a certain auction site. The SS Brasil and the SS Argentina kits are identical, except for the decals and box cover. 'Sorry, can't help on the USAT. Good luck! Cap'n Randy ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From "Harold Stockton" Subject Attack models 1/72 12,8cm Flakzwilling 40 (Innsbruck) For those who want a little more punch for your 1/72 scale German harbor AAA emplacements, you might want to consider Attack models 1/72 12,8cm Flakzwilling 40 (12.7 cm/61 (5") KM 40 "Innsbruck" (Navalized Flakzwilling 40). The KM40 was the navalized version of the well-known 12.7 cm Flakzwilling 40 which was an AAA gun mounted on "Flakturm" (Flak Towers) in major cities. As Flakturm in each case a "Flakturmpaar" (Flak Towers - Pair) becomes, consisting of the "gefechtsturm" (g-tower) and the guidance tower (l-tower, with a "Wurzburg A" radar array). The l-towers appear necessary, since it was necessaary to set up the datum locators due to the strong smoke development of the cannons in the defense fight to at least 300 m far away, in order not to impair its effect. On the guidance towers there is Dieser tower is to receive for instance the same outside mass as the battery tower. Only the foundations can be kept easier, since the large pressures of the heavy calibers do not arise here. On this command tower are to be set up 1 control unit, 1 Flakmessgeraet, 1 Horchgeraet, 1 Flakscheinwerfer (only in case of failure of the Feuerleitgeraets.). The story of the Berlin Zoo Flakturm can be found at http//translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http//www.berliner-unterwelten.de/012/b/dat_geschichte/content.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Flakzwilling%2B40%2522%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D . These guns were always used in twin mountings and are "mirror" designs, that is, the left gun loads from the left side and the right gun loads from the right side. Late in the war the design was modified to produce a three-piece barrel so that scarce alloy steel could be saved by changing out only the most worn section. The KM40 was never mounted on a ship although design work for a twin turret with full RPC was in progress when the war ended. There were a number of naval batteries with the KM40 at major ports including one near Kiel with an armored enclosure. All guns fired fixed ammunition. All German 12.7 cm guns had an actual bore diameter of 12.8 cm (5.04 in). The weapon can be seen at http//www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNGER_5-61_flak40.htm http//www.go2war2.nl/artikel/1053 (a good selection of real action shots of this massive weapon) 12.8 cm Flak 40 (The most powerfull antiaircraft gun produced, originally as a mobile gun but the majority used in static emplacements). Attack also makes one of these kits too along with its mobile trailer. There was also a railroad car mount for this weapon. 12.8 cm Flakzwilling 40 (Two 12.8 cm Flak 40 putted together to arm the Flaktowers erected in many German cities in place of the proposed 15cm antiaircraft guns designed for them. About 34 produced) 12.8 cm Flak 45 (Redesign of the Flak 40, with larger chamber and a longer barrel and a muzzle brake.Only one prototype produced before the war end) The kit can be seen on Jadar Hobbies and Squadron websites, and a review of the kit can be seen at http//translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http//www.ipmsdeutschland.de/FirstLook/Attack_128mm_ZFlak/Attack_128mm.html&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522Flakzwilling%2B40%2522%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D , where they report that "ATTACK supplies here the 12,8-cm-Zwillingsflak 40 in outstanding quality for the advanced model construction amateur and is to that with absolutely recommended." Harold Stockton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume