Subject: SMML VOL 3039 Date: Tue, 03 Jan 2006 22:31:14 +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 Renwal Polaris kits 2 Re HELLER 1/400TH HMS COLOSSUS/ARROMANCHES 50'S CARRIER (#6026480190) 3 Re 1128 planking 4 Re Deck colours King George V in 1941 5 Heller 1/400 HMS Colossus 6 Comments on the quality of the photos in Chesneau's newest books? 7 Regulus missle discussion ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From Ives100@aol.com Subject Re Renwal Polaris kits >> OK Rick, "under-ice sonar dome" - got it! (Slowly but surely you guys are answering my question. LOL) Now what other upgrade parts could I make in resin for the Renwal Ethan Allan kit? External parts only (I don't know where Tom came up with the idea I would attempt a resin interior! LOL) << Matty External only upgrades.....OK, then to achieve improved accuracy, we will unfortunately need a new hull, too. The Renwal bow shape from the sail forward is wrong for the Polaris boats. It is too broad on the beam and tapers too abruptly. Probably this was to accomodate the interior pieces in the Renwal kit, and may also reflect the fact that the molds for these kits are early 1960's "guestimates" of the true shape of the Polaris boats. The gradual taper of the forward hull can be seen (along with what I believe may be Rick's sonar installation near the bow) in the third photo down on Don Murphy's outstanding Casimir Pulaski SSBN page http//www.usscasimirpulaski.com/anatomy2refit.htm You can also see photos of the highly accurate Ralph Ratcliffe 1/700 resin kit andthe Yankee Modelworks 1/350 resin kit of Polaris SSBN models which I supplied to Don http//www.usscasimirpulaski.com/modelingthepulaski.htm These models were unfinished at the point that I provided them to Don (note to self, update), but you can clearly see the gradual tapering of the bow on both these model kits. They also both have the forward sonar dome near the bow. Note the relative heights of the upper and lower rudders; as Rick mentioned, only the early Polaris boats based on the Skipjack hull had equal sized rudders. The overall shape of these two hulls match the exterior blueprint plan set I have for Lafayette class Polaris SSBN. BTW, Don's entire website is worth an extended visit if you plan to build one of these models, and has an excellent set of interior photos as well of these boats http//www.usscasimirpulaski.com/index.htm This was the point of my comment about the Yankee Modelworks kits of the Polaris boats. If you really want a very accurate representation, then the Renwal kits will only go so far. Beyond a certain point, it is diminishing returns in accurizing these kits, due to inherent dimensional limitations in the basic kit. My assumption on the interior resin upgrade as a possibility was based on my personal bias that if you are not going to do an interior on the Renwal kits, I see little reason to use them as a basis for attempting to build a highly accurate, exterior only kit. There are far better options. For nostalgia sake, you can build an old Renwal (or the newer Revell re-release as the Andrew Jackson) OOB, interior & all, and have fun! Or, you can attempt a slightly wacky project as I am undertaking of upgrading the interior to approximate the real thing. Tom Dougherty ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From "John Snyder" Subject Re HELLER 1/400TH HMS COLOSSUS/ARROMANCHES 50'S CARRIER (#6026480190) We've had them in stock here at WEM for some months now--still do! Best regards, John Snyder White Ensign Models http//WhiteEnsignModels.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From "keith bender" Subject Re 1128 planking On US BB's the planking was normaly 5 to 5.5" wide and the length was always different but usually 25ft. In your scale it would be about .042 wide. Keith ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From "Michael D'Silva" Subject Re Deck colours King George V in 1941 Hi Maarten, By early 1941, the KGV was in overall medium grey; wood decks (teak) were left unpainted (natural); steel decks were admiralty home fleet dark grey. Source Ensign 1, King George V Class Battleships, Alan Raven, 1972 Bivouac Books. Good luck with your KGV, Michael (Oz) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From 03136040@brookes.ac.uk Subject Heller 1/400 HMS Colossus The Heller 1/400 HMS Colossus you see with this number is indeed a reissue of the original. -With eBay, it's always best to shop around as sometimes some European internet shops sell the kits cheaper. The reissued Arromanches/HMS Colossus has both the necessary parts to build both the Royal Navy version and the French. I still have the original version released sometime ago and it only has the parts for Arromanches although with a little creativity, HMS Colossus can be built. To confirm... the HMS Colossus/Arromanches HAS been reissued Rich ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From Douglas Simpkin Subject Comments on the quality of the photos in Chesneau's newest books? Folks Has anyone seen, and have a comment on, the quality of the photos in Roger Chesneau's newest books "Yorktown Class Aircraft Carriers" and "Type VII U-Boats?" After having been very disappointed with the quality of the digitized photos in his first two Shipcraft books, I'm loathe to drop the dough for more of the same. Thanks, Doug ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From "Paul Giltz" Subject Regulus missle discussion For those who might want to build ships that carried the Regulus missle, there is one other example. An LST was modified to simulate the hanger and launcher that would be used on the submarine Halibut.It looked quite strange to say the least. I cannot recall where I saw a photo, perhaps Fahey's Ships and Aircraft of the USN or United States Naval Institute Proceedings. I seem to remember that it was used to integrate the system to shipboard use and for training.It probably did not actually launch any missles. (start out with the Lindberg LST.....) I will also have to look up the reference to an incident that took place during Regulus testing.As I read it some of the Regulus testing took place on the Atlantic missle test range. The missle would be launched, tracked, then escorting aircraft landed them at one of our air bases in the Bahamas or Virgin Islands. As with all weapons systems, at some point you have to fly the real thing just to be sure it can. As I recall, the article claimed that a Regulus with a live but not armed nuclear warhead was launched on the Atlantic Missle Range where at some point the control craft lost control of it. Supposedly the escort aircraft were not armed to shoot it down and the Regulus flew flawlessly on down to Venezuela and into the jungle. Never recovered. Paul Giltz, Toledo Ohio ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out the SMML site for the List Rules, Reviews, Articles, Backissues, Member's models & Reference Pictures at http//smmlonline.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume