Subject: SMML VOL 2993 Date: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 00:18:39 +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 Radar Course 2 Re 1/72 Ship News and Questions 3 Re MAC ships 4 Re 1/72 Ship News and Questions 5 Re Repulse radar fit 6 Re 1/72 scale Gato 7 1/72 Kreigsmarine and USN (1/72 and 1/48) crew figures 8 Re Force Z, Radars etc 9 Re U-boats -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1 You heard it first here! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From Subject Radar Course >> Thankyou for the excellent articles on Force Z etc radars & armaments, takes me back to college where the elements of Radar & it's history were rammed into mine & others thick skulls!!! Happy Days! << I attended a course on a weapon radar with a "Heavy Electrician" responsible for the associated launcher and for some reason added onto the electronics course. After two weeks of total confusion for him he brightened up during the practical fault finding section, peering up the waveguide he triumphantly announced. "I know why we are not transmitting! Someone has nicked all the wire out of this trunking!" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "Allen Stevens" Subject Re 1/72 Ship News and Questions Reply to R Demeyere There is indeed a 172 scale RNLI Severn class Lifeboat coming. I work in the RNLI Engineering office as a Design Engineer and am responsible for the RNLI side of this kit, we are currently waiting for the prototype models to come through for build and checking from China (a week at home on full pay making models it doesnt get much better than this !) I am not sure when it will be in the shops but I would imagine not before 2006. I have been pushing Lifeboat kits since I started work in the RNLI in 1987 so I am delighted that interest seems to be taking off in this subject hopefully we will see many more kits of this genre. If you want any more info on this project drop me a line. Regards to all Allen ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From paulship57@hotmail.com Subject Re MAC ships Merchant aircraft carriers I've been following the discussion on the British MAC ships.There is a book on Ebay at the moment which has a photo that shows the relative size of the Fairey Swordfish aircraft compared to the decks they flew from. Good God Almighty, how did they ever do it? If you go to the ebay page, click on the smaller photo to the right and it will enlarge. BEN LINE STEAMERS 1939 MERCHANT FLEET MAC SHIPS 1ST ED Item number 8351960115 Paul Giltz, Toledo,Ohio ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From Bill Michaels Subject Re 1/72 Ship News and Questions >> Revell-Monogram is releasing an injection molded 1/72 Gato-class U.S. submarine. Here a link to the pre-order page at Squadron http//www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=rm0384 I've not seen anything on the ship modeling pages I usually visit (SMML, Hyperscale, Modeling Madness, Model Warships, and Steel Navy) and the Revell-Monogram website has nothing on the Gato. So the only information I can provide is from the Squadron posting which says it will be 52" long. << Russ, Too bad you missed the announcement-- it was all over the forums at FInescale, hyperscale, and steelnavy about 3-4 weeks ago. Good thing you posted it here- I'll bet others missed it too..... The release date for the Revell 1/72 Gato is fall of 2006. That's still a good ways off...... On the FInscale forum, someone posted a picture taken at the Revell booth at the Nurenburg show-- it was a 1/72 scale profile drawing. (That's all they have, so far.) It is not clear yet which boat/timeframe we'll be getting- whether it will be an early, mid, or late war conning tower and armament. Thanks for the news about the Airfix RNLI boat- I can't wait ot see that ne as well. Bill Check out my list of USCG subjects in model kit form home.earthlink.net\~billkaja\kitlist.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From WRPRESSINC@aol.com Subject Re Repulse radar fit Re Mr Stockton's posting, I am confused.. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From ives100@aol.com Subject Re 1/72 scale Gato Much discussion on the SubCommittee website, and several SubCommittee members (including at least one DBF experienced submariner) have been contacted by Revell. They are using the Floating Drydock plan set, and word is they will use a specific Gato submarine as the prototype. This will probably be the USS Cobia, a museum ship in Manitowoc, WI. but built by Electric Boat in Groton, CT. in their Victory Yard (about 800 feet east of where I am writing these words). The decision was to use a specific boat for the model kit rather than the generic Lionfish approach. Model is due out in almost exactly one year, and will have a MSRP of $98.96. I'm sure there will be a shower of aftermarket products for the kit. One issue though, is the size of this model (52 inches long). It is much large than the Type VII-C kit in 1/72. Go get a steel tape measure, stretch it to 52 inches and walk around your house trying to find an appropriate display space big enough to hold the model.... for that matter, imagine going through doorways without bashing your masterpiece. Tom Dougherty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From "Harold Stockton" Subject 1/72 Kreigsmarine and USN (1/72 and 1/48) crew figures On Mister Kits' website, they list the following sets to help "man" your 1/72 U-boats, S-boats, and the upcoming Revell/Monogram USS Gato class submarines. On HECKER & GOROS website at http//translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http//www.hecker-goros.de/&prev=/search%3Fq%3DHECKER%2B%2526%2BGOROS%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D , they photograps of the listed sets below. It must be added that these metal figures have very distinct facial expressions and are stand-alone works of art in themselves. HECKER & GOROS 1/72 FIGURES KSHG201 - Deutschland U-BOOT Crew, there are three crewmen associated in different poses. KSHG202 - Deutschland U-BOOT Crew, there are four crewmen associated in different poses. KSHG203 - 8,8 cm. U-BOOT Crew, there are four crewmen associated in different poses. KSHG204 - American Navy personal 1944, there are three crewmen associated in different poses. These would look quite good on any of the various LCVP and other landing craft kits that are out there. KSHG205 - Deutschland S-BOOT Crew, there are three crewmen associated in different poses. KSHG206 - 1/72nd British Royal Navy Artillery Crew for Flower Class Corvette (North Atlanic), there are three crewmen associated in different poses. These could also work quite well on any RN MTB, Rescue Launch or the various LCVP and other landing craft kits that are out there. KSHG207 - Deutsche Kriegsmarine 1939 - 45 for Schnellboot, there are three gun crewmen associated in different poses for the twin light AAA mount. KSHG208 - Deutsche Kriegsmarine 1939 - 45 for Schnellboot, there are three gun crewmen associated in different poses for the 3.7 cm gun. KSHG209 - Royal Navy Crew Home Waters, These could also work quite well on any RN MTB, Rescue Launch or the various LCVP and other landing craft kits that are out there. KSHG210 - U.S. Navy 1941 Crew for PT-Boot, there are three crewmen associated in different poses; one manning a 20mm mount (not included), another carrying a 20mm magazine for replenishing the gun, and another pointing skyward. A nice set that could be used on a USN PT or Flower. KSHG211 - US.Navy Aircraft Carrier Crew 1943, there are three crewmen associated in different poses. KSHG212 - Deutsche Kriegsmarine 1940 Nord Atlantic U-BOOT Crew, there are three crewmen associated in different poses; three on the tower platform and one "up" the periscope. KSHG213 - Deutsche Kriegsmarine 1939 - 45 Crew for Schnellboot KSHG218 - Deutsche Kriegsmarine crew for Type XXIII submarine, there are three crewmen associated in different poses; one officer and two crewmen. This set can be seen with the Type XXIII submarine at http//www.hsgalleries.com/gallery04/uboattypexxiiimh_1.htm . And one should see the S-100 diorama on this company's site at http//translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http//www.hecker-goros.de/&prev=/search%3Fq%3DHECKER%2B%2526%2BGOROS%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D . And for those who model in 1/48 scale, this company produces a very nice sets at http//translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http//www.hecker-goros.de/&prev=/search%3Fq%3DHECKER%2B%2526%2BGOROS%2B%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D , for An "American carrier deck", with figures with Order No. KSHG 9 (Navy fighter Pilot & Mechanic), KSHG 21 (US Aircraft Carrier Staff 1941-1945) and KSHG 84 (US Navy flight crew). A Japanese "PACIFIC" a/c maintenance and servicing figures from sets KSHG 62 (Japanese ground crew 1939-45) and 38 (Zero Pilot and Mechanic 1941-45). They also do in this same scale two sets of U-boat crew sets. And if you are looking additional U Boat crew, one might look at the Warrior figure sets WA72006, which consists of four figures to go into the conning tower. WA72007, three figures manning the main gun on the deck. WA72008, three figures manning the 20mm on the conning tower deck. All of these sets are of very high standard, easy to clean and easy to assemble, and are well animated. Harold Stockton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From "Harold Stockton" Subject Re Force Z, Radars etc From Messers Tim Stoneman's article contributions and personal messaging, and, John Sweetman and John Clements both waxed eloquent about the "excellent articles on Force Z etc radars & armaments." Mr. Clements wrote "There are four sets of quadruple mg's, one either side of the funnel fitted during the 1936 refit, and two fitted in 1939 on the piece of superstructure attached to the mainmast but below the starfish which also held two searchlights at a lower level. "As to the radar fit, Raven and Roberts only mention the Type 284 gunnery set, which is also mentioned in the caption to the centre photograph in the Ensign book on page 37, but it is mounted on the conning tower director, not on the HACS." After much rereading of ENSIGN 8 on Repulse's radar, there is an interesting passage on page 31. "From September 13, 1940 to the time of her loss in 1941, a number of modifications were carried out. Type 284 gunnery radar was added to the main 15-inch director and anti-aircraft armament was increased by the addition of one eight-barrelled pom-pom taking the place on the after flying deck. The positioning of the director for the control of the pom-pom is not immediately apaprent from photographs but, if fitted, it should be relatively high in the after superstructure, perhaps on the searchlight platform." This last statement cannot be true because the photographs of Repulse's refit in 1936 clearly show that the triple 4-inch HACT director would have completely obstructed the view of a "director for the control of the pom-pom", and there is some form of shielded director on the platform immediately above the searchlight level. This could be the so-called "director for the control of the pom-pom". That being said, the prominate and wind-dodger protected position atop the starfish is still in question. Continuing with the above quotation "A number of single 20mm Oerlikon cannon mounts were also added - again it is difficult to know exactly how many but photographs do confirm two on the roof of Y turret and one each side of the after superstructure, aft of the single 4-inch mounts at fo'c's'le (sic) deck level in tubs reminiscent of American warships. It is possible that two further mounts were added higher up in either the forward or after superstructures." Mr. Tim Stoneman has covered these and the quad .5-inch mount positions in his contributions to this thread. From Mr. Sweetman's statement about "Even had the vessels had 'All Singing All Dancing' defence systems & had the RAF been able to mount an effective air defence, these ships were doomed given the japanese propensity to kamikaze!" I must state some facts of that time period. Early in the war the USS Yorktown had LA 5-inch/38 guns for close-in work against torpedo and destroyer attack, the completely useless quad 1.1-inch/75 AAA mounts, and single .30-inch "pop-guns", for the really close-in work. Even in the USN, AAA development did not keep pace with the threat from conventional aerial assaults, much less the unconventional ones like the kamikaze. Though, it was not unknown for the occasional USN aviator to take the unconventional attack upon himself early in the war. And Mr. Sweetman's statement about "A monument to British Incompetence and Unpreparedness in South East Asia, paid for in the blood of Brave Men." This applied to many nations during that war period and later. Harold Stockton ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From ives100@aol.com Subject Re U-boats >>U-552 (Type VIIc) Erich Topp . 7.U-Flottille, St.Nazaire, France. Any specific additional infoprmation about the above boats, other than what is already on the Net at the two U-boat sites would be most welcome. << Last time I checked, Erich Topp was still alive, and was a member of the SubCommittee. I'll go check my membership list when I get home, as it has names & addresses. Tom ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From "John Lambert" Subject You heard it first here! For sale to the highest bidder! "HMS DOLPHIN - SUBMARINE TRAINING - MARINE ENGINEERING PART I" 181 pages of text and drawings of the Royal Navy's Porpoise Class - Introduction, Basic Construction and Miscellaneous Fittings. This official spiral bound volume with semi-stiff covers is in good condition apart from slight fading from sun bleach on the covers. The manual was provided to engineering ratings whilst undertaking their rigorous training at the Submarine School HMS Dolphin at Gosport. A brief introduction of our wartime designs, and the history and development of the post war Porpoise Class and the later Oberon classes. Regarded as the finest conventional "boats" in the world, during the 1950-60's. All the equipment, fittings and general arrangement are drawn and all the internal systems are explained in detail. eg - Buoyancy and Main Ballast Tanks. Compensating, Trimming and "O" Tanks. Sea Water Systems. Air Services.Fresh Water, Distilled Water and Slop Drain. The Telemotor (Hydraulic) System. For'd and After Hydroplanes. Steering Gear. Fuel Oil System. Main Batteries, Battery Compartments and Systems. Propulsion. Electrics (Auxiliary Power). Snorting and Snort Induction System. Snort and Surface Exhaust Systems. Orders for Snorting. Air Purification, Ships Ventilation and B.I.B.S. The Reduction of Noise. The Organisation, Routines, Duties of Key Ratings and Firefighting. Torpedo Tubes and Tanks, S.S.E and Pyrotechnics. (Including Porpoise Class System Handwheels and Pipe Marking in RN Submarines). My last "gem" U-570 - HMS Graph, found a new home in the U.S.A. Other items will be offered on this site first. Yours "Aye" John Lambert ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume