Subject: SMML VOL 914 Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 23:08:27 +1000 shipmodels@tac.com.au -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS INDEX 1: Re: John Lambert 2: Re: Fixing warped resin 3: resin hull bend 4: Re: PT-109 5: Re: Various 6: Re: Swedish Naval Models 7: Microwaving 8: USCGC East Breeze ex-Externsteine 9: Re: Vacation in Hawaii 10: Re: Silliest Battlecruiser 11: WWII German Sea Platform 12: Re: Silliest Battlecruiser 13: Vacation in Hawaii 14: USS Valley Forge 15: hazegray.org 16: From the Aloha State 17: Re: WEM photo-etch for Italeri HMS Hood 18: Vacation on Hawaii 19: Silliest Battlecruiser 20: Re: 1:350 Tennessee models 21: Re: Newport News 22: Re: Vacation in Hawaii - suggestions 23: Longevity of Ship Models 24: WEM Photoetch for Italeri Hood 25: Re: 1:350 Tennessee models 26: Wachboot Typ M 27: Re: Treaty Ships 28: Re: Silliest Battlecruiser 29: Axis Order of Battle 30: Quick Question 31: Re: WW1 Italian Warships 32: USS SARATOGA (SCVN-2812) 33: HMVS Cerberus -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts 1: Re: SMML CONVENTION 2: SMMLCon 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Growlrr@aol.com Subject: Re: John Lambert Hi T Garth I'd be happy to give you any help you need on layout (and give the folks a break in the process) if you decide to do a third book - I can't seem to get your email to accept a message from me on AOL...drop me a note if you can offllist and I'll see if that works better. BTW - I am now hip deep (and sinking) in WWII RN camoflage for the ubiquitous Mr. Ravens first book in some years....This is the first on TWO planned volumes (it's nice when you own the company - you get as many volumes as you want!!) Look for it mid-summerish - It will be almost completely comprised of camoflage pattern and a healthy sprinkling of photos covering RN camoflage during the early war years....Volume two will cover the latter years.... Glenn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: BECJPARKER@aol.com Subject: Re: Fixing warped resin GOD HELP US!! Don't put resin in the micro wave, some of the stuff is metal based and you'll be lucky if you don't burns your house down. Here is part of an artical I sent to NAVIS about fixing warped or broke resin parts it's not a definitave solution but what I tell you will work and is easy to do. Some general things about building resin: How to fix warped and bent parts: Heat affects resin. Resin parts can be heated and will become soft and pliable so they can be bent and shaped. The size of the part determines the amount of heat required. Small hulls, 10 inches and less, can be heated in a oven for 2 -5 minutes at 350-400 degrees F and will become very flexible. Larger pieces take longer 5-10 minutes. They will discolor (no problem) and/or burn (problem). It is also better to use a electric oven versus gas. (DO NOT USE A MICROWAVE SOME RESINS ARE METAL BASED) Also, remember you will need gloves to handle hot parts. To straighten hulls you need to heat them on a flat surface and build a mold to hold them in the shape you want them to cool in. They will significantly expand when heated and you must take this into consideration when building a mold.. Another method to fix bent or warped hulls is the cut and fill method. You may have to cut a hull into several parts to fix bends and warps and you may also have to use screws to hold the hull when joining it to the upper part of the ship. Hulls can also be split to fix fit problems in berth. Some small parts can be fixed in a similar manner. As an example, a bent gun tub can be heated and then bent back into the proper shape. Thin pieces of resin such as gun tubs or shielding that have broken off can be reattached with super glue. Parts such as masts, gun tubes and the like generally are not easy to fix by the heating and bending method and usually require rebuilding in another medium (brass, wood, or plastic). This a good start for fixing warped resin parts the main thing is you have to be very bold about heating the part, especially if it is a key part to a very expensive kit. Also, resin manufactures use several different types of resins. I know Ted and I know he tries different type so don't assume that they are all the same even if it looks the same. To you guys that used the microwave, if you did it once in the microwave and got away with it your luck, but don't count on doing it again. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Kurt Van Dahm Subject: resin hull bend Thanks for the many replies to my experience with the exploding hull! The microwave has been replaced as the smell became a permanent part of the oven and I didn't think it was doing us any good to continue to use it. Believe me I would not have thought up the idea of putting the hull in the microwave if I hadn't read about it here first and if I remember correctly one of the mfg's of resin hulls was the one who posted the first reference to microwaving a hull. And as I said, many have reported succecss with this method. I will contact the mfg to see if there is an explanation that might head off another mishap in the future by somebody else as I am never putting another hull in the new microwave! There does not appear to be any metal reinforcement and the resin not affected by the mishap appears to be ordinary resin w/o filler that matches several other hulls from the same mfg (and all are perfect - I am sure this one was a one of a kind). Oh, and Ed P. - the POP was loud but no complaints from the neighbors. Take care, Kurt Van Dahm Westmont, IL NRG member -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: PT191@aol.com Subject: Re: PT-109 To John F- PT-109's 37mm gun WAS lashed down with ropes. I have four handwritten letters from the four late crewmembers of the 109, one of whom is still alive. Each letter says "lashed down with ropes." Apparently - they planned on bolting it down the following day. T. Garth Connelly -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: "John Snyder" Subject: Re: Various Subject: painting in scale Chris, Even at that scale you'll want to lighten the colors, if anything, not darken. The choce of lightening for scale is a matter of personal taste. As I've mentioned before, my partner, Randy Short, paints his 1/2400 models with full-strength colors and they look right visually. I do the same with my 1/700 scale ships, except for 5-N Navy Blue which looks too dark for my personal taste. However, whether you paint with full-strength colors or choose to lighten them for "scale effect", just remember to start with accurate colors to begin with. Our paint chip sets will allow you to do that... Subject: concrete ships Derek, I've visited the PALO ALTO a number of times when I was working on an article on the early development of reinforced concrete technology. There are usually small chunks of her washed up on the beach, and the aggregate mix of her concrete is pretty interesting: compared with modern concrete it uses quite small aggregate, and includes quite a lot of broken brick! There was a lot of experimentation in those early years... Subject: Vacation in Hawaii Yohan, Congratulations on your marriage and honeymoon. So far as I know, you've covered the historic ships and maritime-related museums on Oahu. As far as hobby shops go, there is one (one of our S&S dealers) called Pacific Hobbyist, but at the moment I can't tell you which island they're on. I've only got about half my computer system up and running at the moment, being in the middle of a divorce-related move. I'll get back to you on this question as soon as I can, probably in the next day or so. John Snyder Snyder & Short Enterprises The Paint Guys http://www.shipcamouflage.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Sanartjam@aol.com Subject: Re: Swedish Naval Models Hi, I'm not aware of any 1/700 scale or larger kits of any 20th Century Swedish warships, but there have been some models of Swedish warships in 1/1250 scale by Argonaut and Rhenania, if not others. I think Rhenania is planning a model of the Fylgia at some point, but I do not know when. My favorite Swedish warship is the destroyer Visby, but I've never seen a model of one except for a photograph in P.C. Coker's Building Model Warships. Maybe someday someone will make a model of the cruiser Gotland so you could build a diorama of her sighting the Bismarck! Art Nicholson -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7) From: "Foeth" Subject: Microwaving Though I never tried it myself, an armour modeler once told me that the resin can stay flaming hot for days. Foeth -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8) From: "Victor M. Baca" Subject: USCGC East Breeze ex-Externsteine The USCGC East Breeze (ex-Externsteine) was built as the by P. Smit Jr. Shipyards in Rotterdam, Holland and commissioned into the German Navy on 24 January 1944. She was assigned to weather station support in East Greenland where she was captured by the USCGC Eastwind and USCGC Southwind on 15 October 1944. Her crew of 17 was taken into custody at that time (along with 12 prisoners from the captured weather station on Little Koldewey Island). The Externsteine was damaged in a collision on 30 November 1944 with the USCGC Travis (WSC-153) while being towed. She was under the control of a USCG "Prize Crew" at the time and was enroute to Boston, MA after capture. Robert Scheina's book "U.S. Coast Guard Cutters And Craft of WWII" shows an excellent 3/4 starboard bow portrait shot of the captured Externsteine on Page 199. Externsteine appears to be a member of the German Naval trawler patrol boats known as Vorpostenboots. Her general arrangement is very close to that shown in Christian Schmidt's latest plan catalog (Page 22). The main difference between the layout of the Externsteine and that shown for the plans of Vorpostenboot V-1102 are that Externsteine had a small mast located forward of the funnel. Her aft gun arrangement is also different; the raised aft gun platform aft was not mounted and ditto for the gun at the forward well deck level. The photo of the Externsteine shows the bridge obscured by camouflage canvas and it is difficult to tell exactly how much her forward arrangement differs from the plans in Schmidt's catalog; but it appears to be more in-line with that plan than some of the VP boot photos appearing in Paul Beaver's excellent book "E-Boats And Coastal craft." You can check out Christian Schmidt's offerings at WWW.christian-schmidt.com. Steve Wiper of Classic Warships turned me on to this resource and Schmidt's offerings certainly have whetted my appetite for obtaining his plans. "The Dictionary Of American Naval Fighting Ships" provides info on the disposition of Externsteine. On 24 January 1945, the Externsteine was commissioned as the USS Callao (IX-205), the third U.S. Naval ship to bear that name. Lieutenant D.O. Newton, USNR commanded her. She was used for experimental work after being refitted at Philadelphia Navy Yard and assigned to the Bureau of Ships as she carried out "tests" in the Cape May, NJ and Cape Henlopen, DE areas. USS Callao was decommissioned on 10 May 1950 and sold on 30 September 1950. I also came across an interesting piece of Externsteine history while visiting the USCG Museum in Seattle several years ago. They had the engraved wardroom silverware from the captured ship in their closed collection. It was not on display at the time and I do not know if they've retained custody of this historical material. Victor Baca -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) From: Tom Detweiler Subject: Re: Vacation in Hawaii Jeez, will one of you guys who lives close by him go over and explain to poor Yohan F. what he is supposed to do on his honeymoon? Somehow I think ship modeling might be at the bottom of my personal list, at least for a while! I get this mental picture of his new wife crying in the bedroom while he sits at a desk with glue all over his fingers or something! ;-)) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) From: "chenyangzhang" Subject: Re: Silliest Battlecruiser Most people seem to refer to them as 'large light cruisers'. Fisher himself called them 'Big Light Battle Cruisers' but he wasn't the most consistent of individuals. I would say they're big enough, fast enough and have the requisite lack of protection to be classified as battle cruisers. Chris Langtree -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) From: "FCR" Subject: WWII German Sea Platform Hello list This subject doesn't quite involves our kind of warships but certainly that it was a sea project. I am talking about the project that the germans had in World War II of building one huge sea platform of the size of one airfield to put in the Atlantic to bomb the United States. I don't know much more details of this but it was much interesting if there was some kind of other information about this. I am talking about dimensions, possible plans, etc. I know that they were never built and probably they never passed of the project paper. If all of you would like to have this for a possible subject of discussion I was much appreciate. Let me see, one of this platforms at 1/700, 1/1200 or at 1/2400... Compliments to all. Filipe C. Ramires Lisboa, PORTUGAL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) From: "FCR" Subject: Re: Silliest Battlecruiser Hello again As far as I know the Courageous/Glorious and Furious were designed to support minelaying operations and to operate against land targets (like the situation in the Dardanelles). They were supposed to be integrated in the Admiral Fisher's Baltic plan to support with the previous functions against a major operation against Germany islands. You also can see that they were also designed to operate in shallow waters (small draught). Meanwhile they once have the opportunity to show there skills at battle on November of 1917, unfortunately of the more then 400 rounds fired at enemy ships not even one struck home. By the way this class were know as the "Outrageous". About Furious it was only a situation of transforming the ship in one monitor with 2 18'' guns. They proved to be very destructive (they almost sank one target ship with a single shot) but they were also very inaccurate. Furious was to be integrated in the Dover Patrol to bomb french targets in the hands of the germans. For all of you the Furious projectiles were of 1.507 kg or 3.320 pounds and could get the total range of 40.000 yards (20 miles) with 45 angles. Happy Modeling Filipe C. Ramires Lisboa, PORTUGAL -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13) From: Burl Burlingame / Pacific Monograph Subject: Vacation in Hawaii Yohan Also go to the Hawaii Maritime Center (ship museum) and the the only good hobby shop is Pacific Hobbyist in the McCully area. Burl Pacific Monograph, 1124 Kahili Street, Kailua HI 96734 808-263-6087 buzz@aloha.net A historical interpretation company. Visit our web site at http://www.PacificHistory.com/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: USS Valley Forge The US Navy Historical Center site has a good number of pics of the Valley Forge spanning her career from being a post WWII & Korea CV, as well as when she served as both a CVS and LPH. Go to... http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usn-name.htm This will take you to their image gallery list of ships by name page. Click on "V" and the link to the Valley Forge pics should come up on the next page. Hope this helps... Go Navy! _|_o_|_ Derek "Tiger" (/\)akefield /---(.](o)[.)---\ iscandar@chatter.com o oo O oo o http://www.iscandar-66.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15) From: Derek Wakefield Subject: hazegray.org FYI...this was formally the www.uss-salem.org/navhist/ and /danfs site. All of those areas have recently been relocated over to the new www.hazegray.org site. Go Navy! _|_o_|_ Derek "Tiger" (/\)akefield /---(.](o)[.)---\ iscandar@chatter.com o oo O oo o http://www.iscandar-66.org -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16) From: Mike Connelley Subject: From the Aloha State Howdy: It just so happens that I just got back from the islands yesterday. I went there for my brother's graduation, but I didn't miss the chance to visit the Missouri. Since I've been there last (about 5 months ago), they opened the mess hall, elevated the main guns and added the blast bags! The guns and the ship overall looks much MUCH better now. In Pearl Harbor there is the Missouri, the Arizona, and the USS Bowfin. The Arizona is free since it's run by the National Parks, and the Missouri and Bowfin are both about $10, depending on if you want a tour or not and things like that. Aside from the Bowfin herself, there is a 40mm quad mount and a Kaiten submarine over on the side, plus a really smashing model in the museum that's a must see. They have a couple SLBMs there too, and a snark guided missile I think. At the Arizona museum (ashore), they have some really great models like a 1/96 Arizona and a 1/96 Akagi (very nice). They don't have models aboard the Mo yet (we're working on it though...ought to be there by mid-August or so), but she's mighty impressive. She's bow-to-bow with the Arizona, so you can get great photos of the Arizona Memorial off the Mo's bow. I also got a nice shot of the dent on the Mo's starboard quarter made by the kamakaze...it's still there and easily seen. I heard that the Carl Vison is supposed to be in Pearl soon, but I don't recall when exactly and I don't think they'll open her up to the public, but she's still a sight to see if you're there when she is. I also recall hearing years ago radio ads for a Maritime Museum that I think is on the east side of the island...don't know if it's still there and I think it focused on the whaling industry in Hawaii's history. In Hawaii, we have two good model shops. The easiest to find is The Pacific Hobbyist. I go there regularly as my "home" hobby shop. I think it's at the intersecton of King and McCully streets in the McCully part of town. If you're in Waikiki, then the easiest way to get there (I think) is to take Kalakaua Ave towards the mountains (more or less west, out of Waikiki away from the zoo) until you hit King St, then turn right (King is a one-way street, there will be a Jack-In-The-Box on the corner). Head down King for a few miles...it's in two to three story grey-blue building on the right side...just after a Jack-In-The-Box on the left side. Parking can be tricky to find in the area. The guys who run the shop are ship modelers and are well stocked with ship related things considering the size of the place. I'm sorry I can't give directions...I live there and just sort of know where I am. I'm sure if you give them a call they can give you better directions. The other place is Weller's Hobby, and it's in Kailua on the east side of the mountains. I think you take the Likelike (pronounced lee-keh-lee-keh) highway through the mountians into Kailua Town. I think it's past the McKenna Ford dealership on the right side of the highway. I usually don't go there since it's kinda far and doesn't have as much ship stuff. There is also the HobbyCompany...they are mall type hobbyshops with two locations. One is in Pearl Ridge Mall near Pearl Harbor and the other is in the Windward Mall in Kailua. I hope you enjoy the islands as much as we kama'ainas do! Cheers Mike Connelley -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 17) From: "Caroline Carter" Subject: Re: WEM photo-etch for Italeri HMS Hood Hi Filipe, Thanks for the question... this is one question that I frequently answer in fact.... >> The WEM photo-etch set for HMS Hood - 1/700 serves for what model, Tamiya or Italeri? << It is designed entirely around the Tamiya 1/700 Hood.. which, of course, portrays the ship as sunk. However... I know of a load of folks who have bought it for the Italeri kit, and, with less than a 3% discrepancy in scale, it fits VERY well. There ARE parts on the fret, obviously, that need to be ignored for the earlier fit. The Italeri 1/720 Hood is, IMHO, the best ship kit they ever did. In most respects, it is better than the Tamiya kit and almost 1/2 the price. Look at the boats for example.. bloody beautiful! There is more surface detail on the mouldings than on the Tamiya kit, and the masts and funnels, for example, are much nicer, although on some points, such as the 8-Barrelled Pom-Poms, it scores pretty abysmally. Easily solved with a few "WEM PRO 700" items! The kit portrays HMS Hood from June 1932 to March 1933, and, unless you have extensive references, infinite patience and good scratch-building skills, don't even think about building this into the "as-sunk" configuration! The instructions provided in the WEM brass are designed for the Tamiya Hood, and I would suggest using either the Conway's "Anatomy of the Ship HMS Hood" by John Roberts for reference, if you can find it, or, failing that, an inexpensive sheet of Sambrook 1/192 HMS Hood Sheet C, Plan and Profile of the ship as in 1931, available from us for accurate super-detailing/rigging. >> modelism class wanted to know of one photo-etch set for the Italeri HMS Hood (that they are building) and I remembered of the WEM set (the only one available I believe). << I believe Eduard may have one but I have never seen it. However, based on what I DO know is available, and the enormous amount of research acquired on said subject, .... to Filipe and other potential Hood modellers.. IF you want to build the Italeri kit, this what you need to improve and super-detail the kit? Obviously, first off, WEM PE 722 1/700 HMS HOOD. Some items you will not need include the external degaussing coil, the radars, wireless house aerial spreaders .. nor will you need the photoetched 1/2 inch machine guns. You CAN use 2 of the the supplied PE 8-Barrelled Pom-Poms, but, if you prefer the resin variant, go for WEM PRO 7001 1/700 8-Barrelled Pom-Poms. Four in a pack and you will need two for the model of course. Some folks use a combination of PE and resin parts in fact for the most realistic effect! Re the Single 4", these are pretty dire on the kit, and I would suggest replacing these with PRO 7034 1/700 4 inch single QF MkV HA gun (on a Mk IV mount) (4 in a pack.. you will need all four). Although in 1933 she had Mk III mountings, in 1/700 or 1/720 Scale, the diference is undetectable. She SHOULD have an aircraft platform atop B Turret, so this will have to be scratchbuilt as it is not provided in the kit (we have, of course, provided this item in WEM PE 616, the 1/600 HMS HOOD set for the Airfix kit!). Hope the above has been of assistance. Any further queries, anyone, then please feel free to E-Mail me off-list. Regards to sunny Portugal and Happy Modelling! Caroline Carter http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/white.ensign.models White Ensign Models -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 18) From: "John Rule" Subject: Vacation on Hawaii From Yohan Fernando >> For the first two weeks in June, I will be on my honeymoon in Hawaii and would like to make sure I get a chance to visit all the interesting sites pertaining to shipmodelling. I know that at Pearl Harbor, there is the USS Missouri and the Arizona monument as well as a WWII vintage sub(?). Can anyone fill me in on details about other ships, museums, and of course, hobby stores on Oahu? I will have almost a full week on Oahu, so should have plenty of time to see everything.<< This is surely taking a hobby too far. If I remember correctly, the last thing on my mind during my honeymoon was visiting hobby stores and ships. Changed days I guess. Have fun anyway, Yohan and congratulations. John Rule -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19) From: "John Rule" Subject: Silliest Battlecruiser If the "battlecruisers" had been completed to their original design and been put into action as such, I'm sure their crews would have been hoping for some GLORIOUS encounters, but would have to have been very COURAGEOUS to so do and would most likely have been FURIOUS at the outcome. One thing they could have done well would be to speedily bring some heavy artillery into play in hotspots around the world, where the threat of surface action was not a factor. Did not the guns of Courageous and Glorious end their days on the post WWII HMS Vanguard. Now there was a fine looking ship. Beat those Iowas hands down in the aesthetics department. (Did I hear the sound of distant indignant gunfire). To Action Stations!!!!!! John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20) From: "John Sheridan" Subject: Re: 1:350 Tennessee models >> I'm very interested in the 1:350 Tennessee models- I live in the state, and I prefer 1/2 generation dreadnoughts.<< >> Any further info on kits of such ships in 1:350 to 1:600 scale? Not interested in smaller scale kits. << Classic Warship is releasing the 1:350th Resin Tennessee in her 1941 fit. Iron Shipwrights makes the 1:350th Resin Tennessee in her 1944 fit. Check both websites (http://www.classicwarships.simplenet.com and http://www.commanderseries.com for more info. John Sheridan www.shipcamouflage.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 21) From: Wirguy@aol.com Subject: Re: Newport News In reply to the request for things to do in Newport News:NAS Oceana offers narrated tours of the airstation daily from Virginia Beach.There is a kiosk across the street from the US Post Office where you can take a city bus onto the base. The bus picks up a narrator at the gate and cruises the base including a trip along the hangers and flightline,and a stop at the static aircraft display park on the base.The price is under five dollars. Also consult the Norfolk Naval Station web page at: naval-station.norfolk.va.us they are now posting the open houise ships for that weekend.Naval Amphibious Base Littlecreek also has open house on weekends. Larry Lewicki -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 22) From: "Judy Graham" Subject: Re: Vacation in Hawaii - suggestions Hi, fellow members of SMML, In response to Yohan Fernando's query about interesting sites to visit in Hawaii on your honeymoon, here are some that I've found, on my four visits there (so far). The most significant one (and the most moving one) is the USS ARIZONA Memorial Museum at Pearl Harbor. Ford Island is now accessible to the public via a new bridge, and is now home to the USS MISSOURI, she's tied up at "Battleship Row" just forward of the ARIZONA Memorial, on the east side of Ford Island. On the west side of Ford Island is the USS UTAH, and her Memorial. Next to the USS ARIZONA Memorial Museum, is the USS BOWFIN Submarine Museum, with the center-piece being the USS BOWFIN, herself - a restored Balao Class submarine, as she appeared in the Second World War. In downtown Honolulu, at the west end of Waikiki Beach, is Fort DeRussy - now a museum, and worth visiting. If you are going to be renting a vehicle, then a visit to the north shore of Oahu is well worth an afternoon's exploration - there's a museum of sorts at WHEELER Field, with a replica P-40E Gate Guardian, from "Tora Tora Tora". In past visits, I've gone looking for Haleiwa Field, and Opana Point, but apart from the nice drive, had no luck. I found one hobby shop in downtown Honolulu - but you'll have to look it up in the phone book. Other non-modeling places to visit are the Polynesian Cultural Center, and Hanauma Bay (for snorkeling). If you go to the Polynesian Cultural Center, DON'T stick your hand up when asked by the tour guides "Who's a newly-wed here?", because they'll want to know embarrassing things like why you don't have a tan, and will have you show everyone how poorly you Hula Dance. If you visit the ARIZONA Memorial Museum on a Friday, one of the Volunteers there is a Mr.. Dick Fiske, USMC (Ret'd), former Marine Bugler on the USS WEST VIRGINIA, and survivor of the attack. He's a really interesting gentleman to talk to about his military service, and usually has a large scrap book with him at the museum, and loves to talk to people there. If you want more info before you go, give me a call at (250) 744-2386. Have a good trip. Cheers, Chris Preston, Victoria, B.C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 23) From: "Summers,David, Col" Subject: Longevity of Ship Models Reference was recently made to an article on the Nautical Research Guild website concerning model ship construction techniques and materials. It's dangerous to comment on the observations of someone as august as The Navy Curator of Ship Models, but the implication is that our injection polystyrene models and resin will be small piles of dust in a year or two--which is not quite accurate. Tree-huggers everywhere are bemoaning landfill polystyrene products that are predicted to last in to the next millenium in spite of extremely harsh environments (burial, bottom of sea, etc) Who's right? The Navy Curator seems to say, "Wood is Good; Plastic is Bad". His article refers to polystyrene aging, becoming yellowed, brittle, and forming small cracks in the surface. This process, however, is primarily due to UV light exposure--poor storage conditions. Wood is even more susceptible than plastic to poor storage conditions, due to its tendency to expand and contract dependent upon relative humidity [hard on joints and overlying paint]: museums are very careful to maintain constant temperature and humidity (AND avoid UV exposure). Almost all paints, even oils and other petroleum/solvent based products, also deteriorate under UV light. If you want your models to last, it's more important to focus on storage conditions than building materials (within reason). UV light is an absolute no-no. Anything exposed to light from a window or something will die a quick death, both paint, decals and materials. Constant temperature and humidity (for wood) are also helpful. The curator's article also stresses display case ventilation. My experience is that the weakest link in current model building practices is the CA glue. CA glue is very susceptible to temperature fluctuation. I think we've all had experience with spars and guns falling off after the furnace goes on the fritz for three days during the winter. (The plastic/resin itself stays quite intact, thank you!) Styrene glues chemically melt the edges, welding the pieces together--no problem here with deterioration. But are there any alternatives to CA glue for resin products? David Summers -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 24) From: "James Kloek" Subject: WEM Photoetch for Italeri Hood I believe the WEM phototetch in 1/700 for HMS Hood was designed primarily for the Tamiya Hood. But, it works quite well for the Italeri kit too. I used it on my rendition of the Italeri kit. It was at SMMLCon, and photographs are posted on the Warship site. You can seen what it looks like pretty well there. Jim Kloek -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25) From: SteveWiper@aol.com Subject: Re: 1:350 Tennessee models >> I'm very interested in the 1:350 Tennessee models- I live in the state, and I prefer 1/2 generation dreadnoughts. Any further info on kits of such ships in 1:350 to 1:600 scale? Not interested in smaller scale kits. << Ted, I will be releasing a 1941 USS Tennessee in 1/350 in July at the IPMS(USA) Nat. Convention, and kits will be available thru Pacific Front Hobbies starting in August. You can reach PFH online @ www.pacificfront.com or (541)464-8579. The kit will sell for $230 waterline, or $260 full hull. I will have pics up on my web site soon, @ www.classicwarships.simplenet.com Thanks, Steve Wiper - Classic Warships -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 26) From: Mark Sloan Subject: Wachboot Typ M I hope that someone can help me identify some small ships I received from HP Models. The set includes 4 small British coastal vessels, called "Wachboot Typ M". They look to be about the size of a Fairmile D MTB/MGB but are not. Can anyone help me identify these? The literal translation from German doesn't help much. Thanks, Mark Sloan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 27) From: Allan and Crystal Plumb Subject: Re: Treaty Ships >> Finally, Allan, do you consider the Iowas as treaty ships? I don't, myself. << Yes, I do. From Dulin and Garzke: "Late in 1937, the U.S. Navy began investigating battleship designs with a standard displacement of 45,000 tons. This interest was triggered by the possibility that Japan would fail to ratify the 1936 London Naval Treaty, which would automatically increase the displacement limitation from 35,000 to 45,000 tons." So the Iowa (and the British "Lion", drool) were both initially designed on the assumption that the vestiges of treaty limitations were still in effect. The war intervened and voided treaty restrictions so their as-built displacements were higher, but this did not affect the basic design. For a non-treaty US battleship, see the "Montana". If the Iowas had not been treaty-impacted, they would have been bigger than they were. My opinion. Allan Plumb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 28) From: Allan and Crystal Plumb Subject: Re: Silliest Battlecruiser >> I hate to bring this up, but the three ships of the class were not designed, or built, or operated as Battlecruisers. The documents are quite clear on this matter, and so regardless of what has just been written in the previous notes, Battlecruisers they were NOT! << No, they were battlecruisers, IMNSHO. 1) Breyer, in "Battleships and Battlecruisers" (hmm) says they weren't really battlecruisers but were intended for Fisher's Baltic Project. 2) Roberts, in "Battlecruisers", says "the evidence in the case of the three large light cruisers is far from clear". After describing Fisher's ramblings on the subject, he concludes "In Fisher's comments can be found most of the functions expected of the battlecruiser, including trade protection and scouting for the battlefleet, together with shore support. The major exception is their use as a 'fast wing'..." 3) No two navies had precisely the same definition of "battlecruiser", but a key feature was an excess of speed over battleships and comparable gun caliber. Their ridiculous armour notwithstanding (Fisher was incorrect in his emphasis on speed over armour), Courageous and Glorious meet this definition. (Furious was definitely the linkische vogel here, with insufficient guns for salvo fire.) The words "battleship" and "battlecruiser" covered a wide and sometimes overlapping range, viz. the arguments about Scharnhorst and Dunkerque (and at the lower end, was Alaska a battlecruiser?). Given that, on the margins it becomes a matter of opinion, and I think I have supported my opinion. Whether this is sufficient support - is a matter of opinion. >> As for configerations in respect of model making, the Courageous as a minelayer with what must be over two hundred mines arranged along the quarterdeck in 1917 would make a very interesting model. To my knowledge nobody in the past fifty years has even attempted to make a model with this appearence. << No matter what they were, I'd love to have a model of a C/G class ship. Allan Plumb -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29) From: Donald P Morgan Subject: Axis Order of Battle Can anyone please tell me where I can get a listing which will show the order of battle for the Italian and German fleets at the start of WW2? Don Morgan .. my e-mail address is donaldpmorgan@juno.com -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 30) From: "Bruce D. Wright" Subject: Quick Question Hi Guy's: Sorry I can't stay on line a little longer, but I have a quick question for Keith Butterley. He gave a "Bravo Zulu" to some people who'd helped him. I spent over 10 years in the Navy, and never got an answer to what that particular call sign ment other than "well done" or "thanks". Can anyone out there tell me the origin of this call sign, or what it means beyond that? Thanks and all be well; Bruce Wright -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 31) From: RhinoBones@aol.com Subject: Re: WW1 Italian Warships From: SAMI ARIM >> There are several kits of the Italian warships of this period in 1/700 scale. The Battleship Dante Alighieri is i believe from this period. The cruiser San Giorgio and some escort vessels (Spica class) are also available. Although these are with ww2 rig, they can easly be modeled as ww1. << Appreciate the information. If you could also provide the manufacturer's name (and web page) I would like to add these units to a list of WW I, and earlier, ships that I am compiling. The updated listing will be provided to SMML for posting on their Tips & Hints page. Regards, RhinoBones -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 32) From: Matthew Prager Subject: USS SARATOGA (SCVN-2812) Okay, I know this isn't exactly a historical ship modeling topic, but we have ventured into the realm of scifi before. If you are interested, drawings of the USS SARATOGA (SCVN-2812) from the TV series SPACE: ABOVE & BEYOND are available at the following website: www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/2760/exhibit.htm A couple of the drawings show the starship in scale with USS SARATOGA (CV-60). Matt Prager -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 33) From: Alan Scheckenbach Subject: HMVS Cerberus The other day I remember some one asking about photos of the Cerberus showing the breastwork. I hope it wasn't Roger Marsh (as in teaching your mother to suck eggs) There are a number of sites around but here is one that has the most common pics. http://users.netwit.net.au/~ianmac/cerberus.html Cheers Alan -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SMMLcon Infomation & posts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: HGYL@aol.com Subject: Re: SMML CONVENTION Hullo All, I have just got back from a business trip to Belize Central America (and on which I departed with the sparrows at first light the Monday after the Convention). I would like to echo everyone else's comments about the convention, it was great. Thanks to John Frohock for having the idea in the first place and carrying the brunt of organising and to my fellow conspirators John Sheridan, Larry Oullette, Fritz Koopman and Mark; thanks to Al, John L, John S and Duane for some excellent and very informative presentations and thanks to all my new friends for coming to Quincy, some of you from a very long way away, and giving me the opportunity of meeting you. And finally, for what it's worth, I have been looking for an excuse to visit Nova Scotia but I go along with John F's "I'll go anywhere for the next convention". Best wishes to all, Harold Lincoln -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: "John Clements" Subject: SMMLCon 2002 Could I support Les Pickstock's suggestion of SMMLCon 2002 being held in the UK (and in vacation time). There are not as many of us here as over the pond, but I'm sure we could put on a good show if we had long enough to think about it. I guess it might be attractive to our fellow ship modellers and suppliers in Europe as well, which would increase the potential. Liverpool would be good, but how about Portsmouth, for example, where there is much more to see. John Clements -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thanks for having SMML at your home, why not stop by our home at: http://www.smml.org.uk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume