Subject: SMML1/6/98VOL197 shipmodels@wr.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: 1-200 Nichimo Yamato 2: Hobbylink Japan 3: GQ on a DD 4: Big E hangar photos? 5: Tamiya FLETCHER depth charges 6: Nichimo 1/200 Yamato & Hobbylink Japan 7: 1:2400 carriers 8: ship plans 9: Re:Tamiya Fletcher D/Cs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: gordonwilliamson@cableinet.co.uk Subject: Re: 1-200 Nichimo Yamato Re the Nichimo Yamato. It can be made into a fine model but requires one helluva lot of work. The fit of parts isn't all that good in places and I feel that in places the kit betrays its roots as an almost "toy-like" working model. The hull inserts near the rear deck overhang are a real pig to fit properly and the varying types of plastic used (ABS and polystyrene) require different adhesives, Bearing in mind the age of the kit however its not that bad but will definitely need the GMM set which is excellent. Items such as the crane, launch catapults etc in the kit are crude in the extreme whereas GMMs are a joy to behold ! The UK cost is about $400 and with the extra cost of the GMM set added it's an expensive project. Is it all worth it? I'm no expert and can't comment on the actual dimensional accuracy of the model but with care a LOT of time and money spent you can end up with a very impressive display piece. I substituted real brass and wood for the display base and with masses of time spent on rigging etc I ended up with something that I personally am happy with and I suppose thats all that really counts but in retrospect I don't know if I'd tackle it again. The only other hugely expensive kit in this sort of price range I bought was Accurate Armour's 1/35 scale U-Boat - now that WAS worth every penny and I'm now looking forward to doing the new 1/35 S-Boot kit from PSP ! Gordon Williamson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- From: "Lester Abbey" To: Date: Sun, 31 May 1998 22:15:26 +1200 Re: Hobbylink Japan I have ordered several times from them and they have always supplied the goods within a reasonable length of time. They don't answer questions though. Lester Abbey Wellington New Zealand ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "Lester Abbey" Subject: Re: GQ on a DD Hello for a third time There was correspondence on the positioning of crewman on a USN DD at General Quarters. Destroyer Operations in WWII by Theodore Roscoe my be helpful. The first chapters have illustrations of where the various crewman were positioned (and their function) for 20 mm, 40 mm (twin & Quad), 5" 38, Torpedo and Depth charge K Guns. For the record there are 4 per 20mm (Gunner, Talker, Loader and Trunnion operator), 7 for the 40 mm Twins (Trainer, Mount Captain, Pointer and 4 loaders/Ammunition Passers), 11 for 40 mm Quad (as per twin except 8 loaders) 11 above decks for the 5", 3 for the TT (Mount captain, Gyro Setter and Trainer) and 4 for each K gun. This reference seem fairly accurate althoug the text differs from the illustration with regard to the number of loaders. I'm sure that this will be a good guideline however. Lester Abbey Wellington New Zealand ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: "Terry Sumner" Subject: Big E hangar photos? Hi all, Posted this quite a while ago and got no responses. (sigh!) Hoping that maybe there is someone new to the list who has some photos of the Enterprise's hangar decks which could be emailed to me. I have some nice shots of the island but only a couple of the hangar deck. Also am still looking for a copy of the Detail and Scale book on the Enterprise. Thanks much in advance, Terry Sumner ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Tim Perry Subject: Tamiya FLETCHER depth charges Thanks John for the suggestion, but I don't think that is the case. Having another look right now, I suspect it is more to do with the draught angle the mould makers have to put on the cavities to allow the plastic parts to pop out cleanly. This makes the K gun charges tapered to the flat ends, rather than a proper cylindrical shape. Trouble is they seem to be too small to start with, even before the taper comes into effect! I will replace them anyway, but your comments about the teardrop shaped charges is interesting. Would the two types have been mixed on a ship at one time? I am using the GM etched rails and storage racks in place of the plastic items, so I am going to have to make a lot of DCs anyway. I will admit making a couple of dozen of the older Mk 6 version will be a lot easier! Going back to the kit, there seem to be several other items missing, for example the loading practice 5" mounting between the deck houses. Has anyone done a complete review of this kit yet? I have seen several 'build' reports in the modelling press, but nothing in any great depth. Any comments or pointers appreciated! Regarding Bridge windows, (Greg Lee) I have drilled out my FLETCHER bridge windows and will fill them with a drop of clear varnish when all the painting is done. White glue (Elmers?) might do as well, provided it forms a skin and dries clear. I am sure Microscale did something for this purpose, as do Humbrol, although their product is a bit thick for such fine work. I realise this isn't so simple if the windows are rectangular, and you have to put something inside the bridge to busy it up a bit! Regards to all, Tim Perry Bristol, UK ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: SHIPMDLR@aol.com Subject : Nichimo 1/200 Yamato & Hobbylink Japan >> Has any here ever built Nichimo's 1/200 Yamato? I have wanted to build this one for years, I feel the time has come:-) Is it worth the $$ though? And the GMM P/E Kit? One of my options is to get it through hobbylink in Japan - has anybody purchased from them? How is their service? It works out to roughly half as much as it would cost me if I got it in from the U.S, so thats my motivation. << Greg, I have purchased several kits from Hobbylink Japan and thier service is pretty good. Using a credit card definately speeds up the process. I sent a check (after converting the price to Yen by using thier conversion program) and still had my kit in about three weeks. Rusty White Flagship Models ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: "Björn Bäcklund" Subject: 1:2400 carriers Hello. Do anyone knows if there is any 1:2400 models of USS. Enterprise CV6 and CVN65 Björn (Sweden) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: Michael Kear Subject: ship plans >> I've been interested in trying to build russin naval warships but the best I can find are small waterline drawings,,months of work would be involved in constructing working plans,,do you know of anyone who carries a selection of russian warships? << Nat and Michel Elst make wonderful Russian plans. They produce not just drawings of the ships, but complete books of information about the ships they work on. While their information is hard to come by, the result they produce is a whole order of magnitude above any other model plans I've seen, including I have to admit, our own. My advice is to take a look at their site at http://www.dot.net.au/~melst/ Fair winds and following seas, Mike Kear, Windsor, NSW, Australia Webmaster, Task Force 72 Australia 1/72 Scale warship modellers, Australia Check out our web site at http://www.healey.com.au/~mkear/taskforce72.html AFP Models - Warship fittings, semi-kits, hulls, accessories. http://www.afp.zip.com.au/models.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: Les Pickstock (Les Pickstock) Subject: Re: Tamiya Fletcher D/Cs From what I could see the D/Cs moulded in the kit are either too long and narrow ('K' gun and ready use racks) or oversized (stern racks). If you are building an early Fletcher you would have to replace the charges on the ready use stand as they are way too long. Using the "quick" loading racks from the photoetch set you can get away with short lengths of an appropriatly sized rod as you can with the stern racks. For the 'K' guns a fine tube of the same diameter with the ends filled with thick paint will give a nice dished end. As for the "teardrop" shaped depth charge the outside dimensions of the framework were about the same as a normal "ashcan" but you'd have to be insane or a card-carrying masochist to attempt to model these in 1/350th scale. Les Pickstock ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume