Subject: SMML VOL 2987 Date: Tue, 08 Nov 2005 02:17:52 +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 Re MAC Ships 2 Re Repulse to Renown 3 Brett Soden 4 Heller 1/400 Scale HMS Vanguard (1946) kit? 5 Habbakuk Project 6 SMML Drop-out Problems 7 Re U-Boat Questions -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1 Re Swordfish decals 2 Orizzonte Mare books ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Nuno Rubim" Subject Re MAC Ships >> There is a photo in Ray Sturtivant's The Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm, published by Air Britain. It shows Swordfish II HS380, with "MERCHANT NAVY" in place of the "ROYAL NAVY" centred above the serial, same size/shape of letters. The individual aircraft letter is a black A, on the lower half of the fuselage, partway between the roundel and the serial. I suspect it, or others, will be found in specialist Swordfish books. Look for 836 Squadron, which supplied all the MAC aircraft and crews. << Thanks. I will try to find Ray Sturtivant's book. It seems that some Sea Hurricanes also used that inscription. As you said 836 Squadron supplied MAC's aircraft and also to CAM ships. Nuno Rubim ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "Allan and Crystal Plumb" Subject Re Repulse to Renown John Sweetman typed >> Does any one have any advice/ notes/ info about how to convert Frog (Ex Airfix) HMS Repulse into HMS Renown, about Mid WWII, say 1943? << Gakk! And I thought converting Repulse to Courageous/Glorious would be fun! At first level, maybe grab a Repulse (hull and turrets) and an early war KGV (superstructure) and I suspect a UK CV could be a source for the 4.5" turrets. Haven't looked at my Ark Royal enough to have an opinion. Other than the hull and main guns, Repulse and Renown were no longer very similar. (And even the main armour was different, since the 1920's.) The best advice is get a copy of Raven and Roberts British Battleships of WWII, and stare at it for a long long time. (And the Cruisers book should be useful for Suffolk to Dorsetshire. Always my favorite Country-class, only because I built one in 1/1200 40-odd years ago when that's all there was and I knew absolutely nothing.) Allan "battleships, more particularly battlecruisers" Plumb ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From "roger pearson" Subject Brett Soden Could Brett Soden of Townsville please send me an e-mail as I too wish to work out paint colour matches? I tried sending him an e-mail and it bounced back. Roger Pearson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From "Joy and Nick Rogers" Subject Heller 1/400 Scale HMS Vanguard (1946) kit? Greetings from NZ, Is there such a thing as a Heller 1/400 scale kit of HMS Vanguard,the Royal Navy's last battleship? As mentioned by John Sweetman in SMML Vol 2986 of yesterday. I have heard of Heller's Dunkerque and Strasbourg 1/400 scale battlecruiser kits which I hope will one day be re-released but not of any HMS Vanguard kit? Can John or anyone else on SMML advise? I note that no mention of HMS Vanguard is made on the fabulous Ship Kits List Website, as in http//www.quuxuum.org/rajens_list/rajen.html#Heller Inquiring minds would like to know.........? Nick Rogers Auckland,New Zealand ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From Reynold.Oh@defence.gov.au Subject Habbakuk Project G'Day All, I've just finished reading "Beyond Top Secret U" written by LTCOMD Ewen Montagu. He was to RN Officer involved in "The Man Who Never Was". He discussed a (one of?) pet plan on Winston Churchill's - the Habbakuk Project. Anyone heard of it? The project was apparently nearly feisable. It involved the production of aircraft carriers in Canada (or Alaska). The hulls were to be made OF ICE. The hull(s) was to be fitted with engines and refrigeration plants to maintain the ice. It sounds too far-fetched to me - and to LTCOMD Montagu, according to his book. But it would make a REALLY unusual 'What if" project. George, out................ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From Subject SMML Drop-out Problems Has any other SMMLie had the problems I have had, with SMML Volumes not appearing on their computer? I seem to receive only every other one, those being even-numbered, but occasionally an odd-numbered Volume appears. For example, I've just had 2968, before that 2984, 2981, and sporadic ones before that. Earlier drop-outs I had reported by e-mail, and these resulted in temporary improvements. On 11 October, I took the drasic step to "re-subscribe" to SMML, hoping that this might wipe out the gremlins and start a continuous flow. Alas, no such luck! Of course, my question may be a risky one, because if the present pattern continues, I may only have about a 50% chance that I will see a fellow SMMLie's reply! Brian Taylor ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From Ned Barnett Subject Re U-Boat Questions There's a book out on U-Boat bunkers, then and now, that might answer some of them (torpedo loading from overhead cranes, for instance), and lots of books on Wehrmacht soft-skin camo colors (for the trucks - and yes, the Germans used everything they captured), but the colors changed based on paint stocks, date, etc. It was not static, and it was not uniform. As for the best scale, 1/72 or 1/700 are likely the best, just because of the availability of accessories. If you can find one in 1/144 - 1/150th scale, you can adapt N-Gauge model railroad stuff for the dockside equipment. If it was me, I'd go 1/72, because of the availability of trucks, bowsers, etc. For other questions, see below >> I am planning to model a U-Boat under going a load out prior to going to sea and I have several questions. What scale would be the best? I have a feeling that 1/72 would be too damn big? << See above - I'd choose 1/72 or something close to N-Gauge, based on the accessories available on the market >> What color were German navy vehicles? Which type, ie Opel Blitz or did they use captured French vehicles of a combination of both? Were the markings any different the army vehicles. << see above - the colors varied from a number of factors - best bet use photos and interpret, based on available color schemes found in armor modeling books. >> What sort of shore crane did they use for torpedos and other heavy loads. Does anyone make one in any scale or can I get plans or photos from somewere or someone. << What I've seen is an overhead crane in a bunker (they had a fair-to-middlin' representation of the kind of crane I'm talking about in Raiders of the Lost Ark) - that's what the photos I've seen show. >> For instance how did they get replacement batteries on board. Speaking of which did they cut a hull patch or lower thru a hatch when replacing batteries. << Almost certainly did a soft patch to get at the batteries, but I also suspect that an overhaul that major would be done in a dockyard in metropolitan Germany (Kiel, Hamburg, etc.). However, after about 1942, I doubt that any U-Boats lived long enough to need a battery change. >> What about shore connections such as water and electricity. Where there hull connections for these or were they connected in the boat thru a hatch. << You'll need to check photos for that - or plans of the specific sub you're modeling. All the photos I've seen showed hull connections, but that's hardly definitive. >> What about fuel connections, external or internal. Did they use fuel bowsers or a pumping system from central tanks. << Ditto - probably hull connections, but check photos and plans of the specific U-Boat. As for fuel, I suspect a pumping system - a U-Boat would drain too many bowsers to make that approach economical. But that's a guess, not a fact. >> What about sanitary connections, if any. I am assuming that since there was no EPA then that the tanks were just pumped to sea while in port. << My understanding of U-Boats (and USN subs until fairly late-war) didn't have sanitary tanks - they pumped overboard each flush - or if they did have sanitary tanks, they were small and pumped overboard each watch, or each day. Again, that's a guess, not a fact, but it's based on reading flushing instructions (which don't need to be complicated if going into a holding tank). Even in the US Navy until the late seventies sanitary tanks were just pumped overboard while in oversea ports that did not forbid it. >> What flag did they use for no smoking, the all red bravo like the US and GB use. << I have no idea, and I've never seen a photo that mentions it. If you find out, let me know, please. Good luck Ned ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "Tim Perry" Subject Re Swordfish decals Talking of decals for Swordfish, I had some printed on the end of another sheet in 1350 scale, to match the White Ensign models. There are 4 Swordfish, LS326, another white/camo one L2, a fully camo'd one and an all black one, NF410, with invasion stripes. There are also a bunch of allied military vehicle markings, and some codes and draught marks for the LCT4 I never bothered to put to market. I've got about 20 sets, you can view one here http//www.kipperboxes.co.uk/assets/swordfish_decal_35th.jpg .Anyone interested, drop me a line on tim@tjpgraphics.com and we can sort out a price and postage. A little warning, the registration is a smidge amiss on some sheets, but not by much! On another note, I have some Sovremenny name decals just about to go on sale, 1200th scale, for the Trumpeter kit. Gold, white or yellow/red, in the proper style; not the 'Arial' font Trumpeter used. Give me a couple of days to finalise things, and I'll make a proper announcement then. Tim Perry wunwinglow www.tjpgraphics.com for digital aviation modelling www.kipperboxes.co.uk for 1200 Warship models www.cardmodels.net for the best paper and card website on the net www.bammo.org.uk for IAM motorcycle training in the Bristol area ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From SAMI ARIM Subject Orizzonte Mare books Hello, 3 Orizzonte Mare books are ending soon on Ebay. Thanks http//my.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?MyeBay&ssPageName=STRK%3AME%3ALNLK&CurrentPage=MyeBaySelling&LogUID=shaship ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume