May ship club meeting

 Thanks to everyone able to attend today's meeting.  Good to see Hugh back up and running after hip replacement!  

Here's the LINK to the meeting video.  Sorry about the issues with Zoom.  I think I need to walk through it the night before to make sure I understand the changes that occur.  

Here's a recap of the meeting.... 

Sam was unable to make the meeting today but shared some interesting information about a gun system used primarily on Atlantic PT Boats called the Thunderbolt.  It was a gun tub with four 20mm Oerlikons.  As it turned out they were mounted on the Colorado class battleships.  

In 1944, the Mk 15 was mounted on board the Battleship Massachusetts and Maryland for tests, followed by Washington, Colorado, and West Virginia; one mount per ship. It is shown in in action, on board the battleship West Virginia at Le Shima, 16 April, 1945.

For Tool Time this month I came back to last month's discussion about my fun with steel photo etch.  Never again!!!  Anyway, another modeler suggested that I use No. 10 surgeons blades instead of the No. 11 Xacto type blade I have been using.  He was right.  It made a big difference.  It was recommended that I use Swann-Morton blades which I got from Amazon for $25 for 100.  Different brands are available and at lower prices.  They're probably very similar in performance, if not the same.  

John Widmar said that this is what he uses and he likes them much better than straight blades.

In my case I use a tool for holding photo etch while cutting from The Small Shop as shown below.  You hold the photo etch down with the clear holder and then cut off the tabs attached to the frame.  The blade is rocked back and forth over the tab and it cuts through brass beautifully.

What we're working on...

Rob shared his work on the air wing of his USS Hornet build from Dragon Models.  He had his friend Mike from Corsair Armada make some wings so that he could model the planes with folded wings.  You can see the wings on sprue's in the back.  Very nice idea!

Rob was also able to get some paint work done on the Model Monkey island.

Next David Angelo shared his progress on the HMS Victory.  As you would expect from a Heller kit it's providing plenty of challenges.  Through some creative modeling David got the deck in place and repaired some of the bow section parts.  Nice work David!

David is also working on another oiler project.  He first built the Esso New Orleans.  Above & Below decals made the markings for David.  

I still can't believe David did this but he painted over the black and white to convert her to her wartime configuration.  David said he hated to do that but preferred it over building another model.  This is the USS Chenango (AO-31) transporting PT Boats to the South Pacific.  These were the same PT's that transported MacArthur from the Philippines.  She was later converted to an Escort Carrier ACV-28 USS Chenango.  David is making these kits available through his seller in Japan.  Check with David for more information.

Then John Widmar treated us to his builds from the last few months.  

First is the SS Models USS Albany CL-23.  This is a resin kit with very few parts.  John said most of what he did was just painting it.  John also explained that this is not endearing him towards resin models.  

Next is a Skywave Models kit of the freight IJN Mamiya.

Next, Triumph Models Castle Class Corvette.  John said this kit was quite involved with many parts which included photo etch.  

Next, Flyhawk Models HMS Iron Duke.  John said this was a nice little kit to build.  As with most Flyhawk kits no shortage of tiny parts to keep track of.  Highly recommended.

But wait!  There's more!  This is the SS Models IJN Kasuga.   

Last but not least is the Very Fire USS Salem.  John said this was also a very nice kit with lots of detail parts.

Thanks for sharing all your work with us John!

I know we're sometimes asked about custom decals.  Here's a company that I came across that will do just about anything decal.  They are purported to be of good quality.  Also don't forget Above & Below decals mentioned earlier.

New and upcoming kit announcements...

Okay, we're going to get caught up on a bunch of new kit announcements and releases.

From Flyhawk the WWI era SMS Emden with details.  John Widmar has it on order.  1/700 of course!

From Snowman the Italian Battleship Andrea Doria 1941.  This also in 1/700 scale.  Looks like Snowman has a winner in this one.  Includes a resin light house as a bonus.

Trumpeter is releasing a 1/350 HMS Colombo Light Cruiser.  Available now.

Also to be released is the same ship in 1/700 scale.  Available on pre-order.

How about a "never was" battleship.  This is the H Class German Battleship.  This is 1/350 scale.

Trumpeter is releasing a 1/700 HMS Exeter.  

But you may want to look at this one instead.  This is a current release from Aoshima of the same subject.  This looks like it might be a nicer model than the Trumpeter kit.  Lots of aftermarket available including wood decks.  Very affordable from Free Time/Squadron

Lots coming from Trumpeter.  Here are three Deep-Sea Submersibles in 1/72 scale.  Prices for these are very affordable.  We have not seen actual product shots of these kits yet.

Next from Mikro Mir is the 1/35 scale drone recently used by the Ukraine to sink ships in the Black Sea.  Mikro Mir tends to be low part count kits with not great fit.  But there's not too much to this kit.  It includes photo etch for the vertical ribs.  You can find these on eBay.  

Fujimi continues to release full hull models of their waterline kits.  Here we have the 1/700 IJN Takao and IJN Mayo.

Fine Molds is releasing two destroyers in 1/350 scale.  They previously released the IJN Amagiri which sunk PT-109.  That was an excellent model.  These are new molds according to Fine Molds.  

Could there be more?  Yes!!

Trumpeter is planning to release two Fletchers (round and square bridge) in 1/200 scale.  More work for Victor!  

Fore Models has been re-branded as Foreart and released their 3rd 1/72 Schnellboot.  This is similar to the previous release but with lighter armament.  These are excellent models.  Not much is known about Foreart but this series of Schnellboots is excellent and hopefully a sign of things to come. 

Takom has released their D & Q class Zeppelins, this time in 1/700 scale.  So they're about 10 inches long we're estimating.  As a bonus they have included 3D printed aircraft.  The D Class has a pair of Sopwith Triplanes and the Q class has a B.E.2c

Combrig has a future release of what looks to be a very nice model of the HMS Terrible in 1/700 scale.  This looks to be resin with photo etch and brass details.  

This next one caught everyone's attention.  This is a landing craft transport/oiler LSG Dewdale in 1/700 scale from AJM Models in Poland.  Details have not been released yet but there is a lot of potential with this one.  I've never heard John Widmar say "I want that one" before this.  I'm really looking forward to seeing somebody build this one... John!  

Black Cat Models has released and sold out of their 1/350 Butler Class Destroyers in both early version and later version with improved AA.  Ben sold out of these in a couple of days.  He shipped some to Brandon at Free Time/Squadron who also sold them out.  He's making more kits.  If you want one of these I would suggest reaching out to Ben at Black Cat.  

Starling Models has released a line of River Class Frigates.  One Standard Fit, another as a Mine Sweeper, and another as a Canadian ship.  These are 3D printed, including the hull and test shots look very nice.  You can purchase them directly from Starling Models in the UK.

Starling Models is also producing some 3D printed accessories in 1/700 scale.

Some big news from Black Cat Models.  They are now releasing detail parts that they previously did in 1/350 scale in 1/700.  I'm not going to post them all.  If you go to Black Cat Models web site and their Facebook page you can see all of their new products.  Ben announced that he is updating his web site to include all the new parts which I'm sure is a massive job.  

Another 3D company from South Korea is going crazy with 3D printed parts.  They are HS Models.  Again there are so many parts I can't begin to post them all.  Check their Facebook page or their web site to see all the new parts they are producing.  

My long wait for the Chibi Arleigh Burke is over.  Zucas Studios started this journey about three years ago.  He has just entered his model diorama at the Moson Model Show in Hungary and won Gold.  He does amazing work and I'm proud to be the first owner of one of his kits.  Well... maybe more than one.  This will be my Easter build for 2024... if not sooner.  Zucas improves the quality of his kits, parts, and instructions with each release.  We can only hope for peace in Taiwan so he and his family and friends can continue to enjoy their work.

Finally a new release from a Russian company.  These are 3D printed rescue subs in 1/48 scale.  

There was much more covered during the meeting and in the slides.  You can review the video from the meeting if there is something you missed.  If you have any questions let me know.