Subject: SMML08/03/98VOL112 shipmodels@wr.com.au --------------------------------- INDEX 1: Re: Hood Reconstruction 2: Making sea scapes 3: New Jersey detail points 4: Re: Aquitania 5: HMS Hood 6: HP MODELS 7: Random thoughts 8: Re: Random thoughts - masking 9: Re: HOOD Reconstruction 10: Re: Aquitania ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Sanartjam Subject: Re: Hood Reconstruction Hi Colin, I've long been fascinated by the "what if" of the planned reconstruction of the Hood, but I understand there are no official plans of what she would have looked like. I think that's because a number of options were being considered for her secondary armament (5.25" like the KGV's or 4.5" like the Renown, QE and Valiant) and I don't know that a decision was ever made; thus no plans. There is, however, a really interesting plan of the Hood as she might have been reconstructed in R.A. Burt's book "British Battleships 1919-1939"; although the plan is conjectural, you might still want to go by that. Good luck! Art Nicholson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Michael Brewin" Subject: Making sea scapes >> I have seen photos on the web of models that are in wooden boxes and appear to be at sea, (in water) how is this done? what materials are used? << Hi Guys, Mike Brewin here. It is probably some of my models which Ronnie Hiatt has seen. My method for a sea scape is to use polly filla. A thin coat sculpted with tools and fingers is all that is required. Polly Filla has a number of advantages over resin or acrylic in that it can be washed off your model very easily with water and a paint brush even after its dried. To seal it I give a generous coat of PVA. Which paint you use afterwards is down to personal preference, mine is acrylic as it is water based,user friendly and dries quickly. The wooden base is simply ply wood offcuts cut to size and once painted the edges are trued up with sand paper and then I apply iron on wood veneer finnished with acrylic wood stain. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: LAX ET Subject: New Jersey detail points For all of you building the New Jersey, here is a small detail to consider. The 16" barrels just in front of the rubber boot were covered with high temp grease that was dark clear red in color. It should go to, but not cover the taper on the barrel. Also, the washtub antennae on the after stack & upper superstructure just below the gun director are satcom antennas (I personally installed them on this ship & the Missouri). They are gyro controlled to track the satellite, & should both be pointing the same direction. Depending on which satellite they are looking at & where in the world the ship is, they will vary altitude & azimuth. They NEVER point straight up, though, as the model depicts. Dale G Elhardt Lakewood CA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: "Joseph W. Divar" <110055.3477@compuserve.com> Subject: Re: Aquitania Chris Drage wrote: >> I have been rather disappointed with all the modelling interest recently shown in the Titanic. The Titanic for all her majesty was essentially only an 'event' - a disaster. Apart from the drama and mystery of her sinking (worthy true, of any disaster movie) as a modeller's subject she's a bit of a damp squib. She simply did not have a sailing record. So what about modlling a subject which is not only bigger, better and faster than the Titanic ever was, but had a magnificent and proud service record to boot! << Be thankful that the movie has at least spurned the reruns of all those A&E documentaries that do chronicle the majestic liners of yesteryear. I think public awareness of this history has been taken to a height never before seen. As far as disproportionate press. Hey, isn't it always that way. The employee that plugs away at a firm and modestly promotes throughout his/her twenty to thirty years there is hardly, if ever, remembered. But the one that lands the Johnson account or squanders off a small fortune has the joy of never having their name forgotten. As my wife likes to say about my continual bitterness towards my adolescent years, "...life's unfair, move on." . Regards, Joe & Mary Divar ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "Jeff Herne" Subject: HMS Hood Colin, NOTE: The following is paraphrased from Maurice Northcott's Ensign book on the HOOD and conversations with Alan Raven this morning: The Hood was earmarked for a refit in March of 1942. Had she survived the Bismarck action, the work would have involved the following: - The addition of (12) 5.25in or (16) 4.5in. dual purpose mounts. - The removal of all existing armaments excluding the 15-in. guns. - The addition of (6) Mk IV Pom-poms for AA purposes. - The removal of all torpedo tubes and related equipment. - The addition of a DIIIH catapult, hangars, and and aircraft similar to that of the KGV Class. - Removal of the conning tower and reconstruction of the bridges. - Modifications to underwater protection, including the removal of crushing tubes around the bulges. - Modifications to the upper portion of the bulges to provide additional stability. - The extension of the after section of the foc's'le deck. It is safe to say that the start of the war most likely cancelled her refit anyway. Had she survived the Bismarck action and been refitted, the refit may have been based on the extent of damage she had recieved up to that time. You must remember that the refite was thought up in late 1938, before the war started, and it was extensive. Chances are she would have only received in increased AA fit. No plans for the Hood's refit exist, as far as I know it was never laid down to paper in an offical capacity, therefore, artistic license is the rule of thumb. She may very have carried (12)5.25in. guns, (16)4.5in. , or even (16) 5.25in. guns, since considerable weight was going to removed with the removal of the torpedo tubes and the addition of newer, more efficient machinery. She probably would have carried types 273, 281, and 285 radars, and would have had considerable additions to the light AA fit, most likely 20mm Oerlikon in either single or twin mounts. Her armor would have been increased, but even the proposed increases were inadequate by 1941. The bridge structure would probably have resembled that of Renown as you stated, but may have been of KGV or Valiant style as well. Funnels would most likely have resembled Renown's, as would the after superstructure. The biggest question lies in the arrangement of the secondary and AA weapons. With the removal of all original weapons save the 15-in. guns, the possibilities are endless as to their placement. This is definitely the type of project you can have fun with, since nothing was ever officially done. I hope this helps. Jeff Herne WR Press ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Lester Abbey" Subject: HP MODELS Art Nicholson writes >> I saw the White Ensign post that included a very interesting listing of new 1/700 kits from HP Models, but I was wondering who does HP Models and where are they from. I can't remember hearing anything about them before. Thanks, << HP Models kits were reviewed in the Plastic Ship Modeler Issues 1994/1 and 1994/2. The articles stated that HP Models were based in Germany, did not answer letters from PSM. At that time (according to the articles) there were ten models in release - including the De Ruyter but that the quality and accuracy were not good. This was in 1994 and there may have been improvements since. PSM is an excellent magazine - I just wish I would get my next issue (1997/4) soon. Lester Abbey Wellington, New Zealand. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Michelle Roth" Subject: Random thoughts Hello Everyone, I'm a first time contributor to SMML and have a few thoughts at large about this great hobby of ship modeling. 1. I recently read a letter in Paolo's NAVIS PAGE by a fellow who was commenting on the gray colour measures on the USS Arizona and other American naval colours. Although I think it is noble and wonderful to try and get the EXACT colour match on your models, when you take all the variables that affect the appearance of colours in natural light, (be it bright, sunny weather; bright overcast; dull overcast; twilight; dawn; and throw into this mix the wear and tear of the sea, salt, rust, the constant painting and repainting that goes on in naval vessels, [at least, it did years ago] it would seem to me that if the colours are "close enough", to fret and worry about colour perfection is sort of an exercise in futility. Also, I am 48 years old (GOING ON 25!!!) but I can assure you that your colour perception will change the older those rods and cones in your eyeball get!!! Not to mention people (modelers) who could be colour blind!!! There is a picture of the HMS Prince of Wales in the book "BATTLESHIP: The Loss of the Prince of Wales and Repulse" by Martin Middlebrook and Patrick Mahoney after she had just arrived in Singapore from England and hull looks like she had been running through ice fields, instead of sailing to the south seas. You can hardly make out that wild looking camouflage she was sporting at the time. Granted, these are black and white pictures, but you can be relatively certain that those hull and deck colours would look different with various shades of light. 2. Just an idea for masking deck and superstructure joints where 2 different paint colours meet. I have had success with painting the gray superstructure first, then mask off the gray vertical walls, turret barbettes etc. and airbrush the deck secondly. Try not to overspray the vertical colour to much on the deck area, but I have found that the acrylics of today do a terrific job of covering any gray overspray. Deck colours I have used sprayed over with no problems. It is also much easier to mask the vertical walls to the deck as opposed to the deck to the walls, ESPECIALLY around the base of those turret barbettes!! 3. To avoid the possibility of "feathering" that can occur at the edge of a masked line, ESPECIALLY water lines and plimsol lines, if you press the tape to a piece of clean glass first, and using your Xacto knife and a metal straight edge, cut a "new edge" to the tape, it will greatly reduce the chances of that feathered edge. Peel the tape from the glass and use the new edge against the model. 4. On the subject of paints and colour matches etc. I have had good success using some of the "craft paints" that are available at any craft shop and in some hobby shops. They are safe (acrylic), CHEAP, they cover very, very well, especially when brushing, and their surface tension is low so the brush marks virtually disappear. They have more flippin' colours to choose from than you can imagine!! They also airbrush very nicely. 5. I enjoy this page greatly and now for a favour!! Does anyone now where I can find an old model of the K.M. Graf Spee made originally by Ideal Toy Corporation in the late 1950's. It was motorized, about 18" long and it was the first model ship I ever built. (A gift from my Dad.) Ringo also makes the same model but I don't know wether their's was motorized or not. I am willing to pay top $$, within reason!!!! Thanks to Joe Reyna for steering me on to this. Also, thank you Bob Santos for your sharing Dennis Bowman's name with us "out of production" hounds. Thank you, Greg. Keep up the great work!! Eric Roth, Email - satori@cancom.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Greg Lee (Listmaster - SMML) Subject: Re: Random thoughts - masking Hi Eric, Thanks for your words, I am glad you are enjoying SMML! I have a question for you on your advice on Masking and feathering of 2 different colours technique. I am currently trying to figure out my attack strategy on Tamiya's Prince of Wales, There is so much stuff moulded on to the decks, hatches and stuff are so small in 1/350, and I personally have found it impossible to mask, Freehand brushing is not leaving me with the crisp sharp edges I desire. How do you mask the really small stuff? Greg (Listmaster - SMML) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: John Snyder Subject: Re: HOOD Reconstruction Somewhere I have an article that was published some years ago on just this subject in Airfix Magazine (maybe?). Anyway, let me know your snail mail address and I'll dig it up and send you a copy. John Snyder ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "the LePine's" Subject: Re: Aquitania AGREED!!!! considering that I have been studying TITANIC since 1980. But there is anothere ship as well that seems to have been missed in all the hype. "NORMANDIE" Now I've asked before for information on this lovely ship, that I consider to be WAY!!!!!! ahead of her time....but never seem to get info back. On the Aquatainia....do you have a possible cost in mind??? Robert CTV Nostromo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume