Subject: SMML VOL 3003 Date: Fri, 25 Nov 2005 23:21:01 +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 Pristine/battle damage 2 RE-POSTING Hull plating of HMS Rodney / Nelson 3 Re Badsworth 4 Re Victory Ship 5 Battle Damage 6 Tokyo Express 7 HMS Victorious camouflage 8 Re Battle-damaged ships ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From Tom Ruprecht Subject Pristine/battle damage Please allow this newbie to state his inexperienced opinion I personally agree that battle damage would be good to occasionally see more of, as a matter of fact, I have several projects in mind, which you folks will undoubtedly hear about from me as I ask for help when I eventually do them (see below). The problem I have encountered is documentation, and a lack of knowledge of structures deeper in the ship which might be exposed by serious damage. I also would need to have some idea of what types of "junk" might be all over the deck at the point the subject is modelled. My favorite dream is SMS Seydlitz, on its way home from Jutland/Skaagerak, listing heavily with the turret top blown off with interior exposed, torn hole in torpedo netting, dents and holes in armor here and there, spent shell casings (?) and probably sooty fire damage. I like to see models with stories, and this is clearly one. The original designs of the German battlecruisers regarding damage resistance, lessons learned at Dogger Bank (depending on your point of view, ones not learned by the RN to their loss at Jutland), repair from near sinking and return to service. What a model that would be. There seems to be almost enough documentation available to take a shot at it, but no 1350 kit, other than the out-of-production I.S./Commander Series @ $250 USD or so... Scratchbuilt? Hmmm.... One I will definitely do is ICM's 1350 Konig post Jutland. Campbell's book on the battle describes and has drawings of much if not all of the damage, but having no experience I would need a lot of advice on what the damage might have looked like. As for weathering, the descriptions of SMS Emden before her final demise (with dummy funnel?) indicate that the ship's appearance was the last thing on the crew's mind and the Indian Ocean and sun was pretty hard on her. IMHO, this is a subject which calls out for heavy weathering (not battle damage). SMS Konigsberg in the Rufiji, before being wrecked by Severn and Mersey, et al. Muddy water, the supposed trees tied to the masts and the splotches of green paint (both mentioned in various references, but no other documentation). One wonders how much attention to appearance was given to the ship in its situation of siege. It would tell another excellent story, with connections to Leetow-Vorbeck's campaign, early use of air power, use of monitors and same general theater of war as the fictional African Queen. Many of you have advised me on my 1400 Potemkin, which is well into final assembly now. He will definitely NOT be weathered much at all. My references say that P. was fresh from a refit at the time of the mutiny. The ship was locked up in the Black Sea with plenty of sailors to keep busy (not busy enough, it seems! -) ) polishing and painting. The photos show a pretty clean ship, even after the mutiny. My understanding is that in peacetime (especially in those days) the appearance of ships was a quality highly prized by their captains and even had a palpable effect on their careers. I plan to lightly rust the hawsers and anchor chain, to soot the upperworks a bit, and do very minimal rust streaks. Any other ideas? BTW, could someone discuss coaling operations and the effect on appearance of the decks of this era's ships? Weathering, as well as battle damage, can be done too heavy-handedly. Most subjects do well to keep it subtle and suggestive. When overdone without clear documentation it can take one attention from the subject and wonder what is being covered up. Other subjects cry out to tell their story with well done depictions of damage and corrosion, despite what judges THINK they know. Weathering is very difficult to do convincingly, and is frightening after all the work you have done on a model. IMHO, it is yet another test of a modeler's skill and I am impressed to see it done well. Thanks again to the list for the advice you've given and for future advice too! Rupe ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From Maarten Schönfeld Subject RE-POSTING Hull plating of HMS Rodney / Nelson Hello all, I posted this before on SMML on November 11 (my nameday, St. Martin), but I got no reply so far. Can anybody help me with my question Is anybody on SMML in posession of a hull skin plating diagram of either battleship HMS Rodney or Nelson? Such a diagram is sometimes referred to as a 'Shell Expansion.' I am looking in particular for the area below the waterline, as the upper part is well documented, but the lower is not. Also, photographs of either of these ships in drydock seem to be extremely rare, so if anybody can help me with such pictures I would be very grateful too. Same is true for these ships still on the stocks during construction. Regards and thanks! Maarten Schönfeld Netherlands ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From WRPRESSINC@aol.com Subject Re Badsworth Completed with types 290 and 285 radar. See photos in Man 'o War by Raven and Roberts. Camouflage pattern same on the port side as completed, see photos in Man 'o War, by Raven and Roberts. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From George Colleen Hargreaves Subject Re Victory Ship Jean-Pierre, Loose Cannon makes a 1/700 Victory ship with photoetch. There is a review on the Steel Navy site. Cheers, George ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From Subject Battle Damage >> I did a diorama(it was titled"The last hours of Thor") years ago showing the Bismarck in her pummeled state right before she sank, using the Revell 400th+/- scale Bismarck. It turned out pretty good, but never won a 400th+award, I don't even recall whatever happened to the diorama. << I have just laid aside the board for a diorama I have been pondering for years. It is the destruction of Thunderchild from Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds (I don't recall the scene from the original novel but it is many years since I read it) It is on the cover of the first CD I ever bought and still treasure. Since the novel was written 1898 the cover version of the battleship seems a bit too advanced so I was thinking of HMS Thunderer, the turret Ironclad built 1859. Certainly the potential for modelling damage is better than normal with the Martian Rays slicing up the ship. Lashing ropes and smashing timbers, Flashing heat rays pierce the deck, Dashing hopes for our deliverance, As we watched the sinking wreck!, With the smoke of battle clearing, As degrading waves defiled, Slowly disappearing, Farewell Thunderchild ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From Subject Tokyo Express >> Upon his arrival home from work, the Old Man, totally failing to grasp the advanced modeling skill his eldest son had attained, promptly gave me a serious list to port & put me in dry dock for several days to contemplate the error of my way's. << My total sympathy! I attempted to my first ever diorama of a cruiser clash along the Tokyo Express (I thought the title could be worked out to something really cool along those lines) I used 1/700 Japanese waterline kits I had been collecting and hit on the brilliant idea of using my air gun to simulate shell damage and several fireworks to give me a nice explosion and fire effects. I am sure the result would have been great (once the thick smoke of burning plastic died down and the shrapnel cleared away) had not the parental guardians - returning early - burst into the bedroom and chucked the lot out of the window where it was later stomped on by the fire brigade. Totally over reacted to the situation! Parents, honestly! Glad I am not like that with my two. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From ddamian@skrzynka.pl Subject HMS Victorious camouflage Hello, I'm looking for possibly detailed camouflage scheme for british carrier HMS Victoriousin 1943 prior to first modernization. It would be appreciated if it contains both sides schemes, deck camouflage if any and deck markings. If anyone has a image, scan, photocopy to share I would be grateful. Thanks. Damian Pliszka ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From Reynold.Oh@defence.gov.au Subject Re Battle-damaged ships 1. I bought a (Heller? 1/400-scale?) model of the German WWII Battleship Tirpitz because it was going for $2 (because it was missing one part) and because I had a sudden flash of inspiration. The missing piece was the starboard half of the hull (so she will have significant appearance problems). My inspiration was to A) do her with her top-mast hitting the water as she turned turtle (after she'd caught a 12,000lb bomb) - easy to do or B) do a cut-away model - LOTS of work. So, I'm working on option A. Will that show enough damage for ya?? George, out....................... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume