From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol. 0080 30/06/2001 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Apologies for the delay in issuing this edition - pressure of other activities meant that I forgot about it until late in the week and then I thought I might as well wait until the weekend. Robert ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Skif 2S1 articles 2: Chilean Army Shermans 3: Wireless vehicles 4: Mr Surfacer 5: Signals trucks 6: Dremel drills -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: 2001 UK MAFVA Nationals 2: Modelpoint barrel for sale 3: Magazines for sale 4: Fingerprint Designs new releases -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Listmaster Subject: Skif 2S1 articles One of the commercial magazines in the UK recently published two articles on reworking the Skif 2S1 - I think one of them was by John Tapsell. Can anyone give me a steer to the offending publication please? I do know it wasn't Military Modelling, although Mil Mod did publish a piece by Cookie Sewell on it a couple of years ago. While we are on the subject, does anyone know of other worthwhile modelling articles on the Skif kit (i.e. not of the "it came in a stout box, I followed the instructions and then I painted it green" type)? Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: John Harris [ukmilmod@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Chilean Army Shermans There is excellent coverage of Chilean Army M50/51 Shermans in the new book by Darlington Productions "Israeli Sherman" by Thomas Gannon. It's a corker of a book, covering IDF Shermans of all ages. JH -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: George Hogg [hogg_george@hotmail.com] Subject: Wireless vehicles Hi all This is an extract from my lists. Manufacturer: Skytrex Scale: 1/76 Bedford MWR 15cwt Radio Truck Morris C4 Mk 1 Wireless (house type) Morris C4 Mk11 Wireless (house type) Morris CS8 Wireless (house type) All vehicles are white metal Hope this is of use George -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Paul Roberts [tankmodeler@home.com] Subject: Mr Surfacer I have been using Mr. Surfacer for over 10 years. It's brilliant stuff. Surfacer 1000 is generally too thin for AFV use but is good if you want to brush on a thin "skin" that you can then finely polish with 1000+ grit sandpaper etc.. The airplane guys use it a lot around here (central Canada/northeast US). Surfacer 500 is thicker and can be used many ways. I use it most applied with a pin to fill fine seams and gaps. I apply it occasionally with a brush to even out surface defects like fine bubbles in resin models or heavy scratching due to over enthusiastic file usage. I also apply it with a brush to areas where I want to simulate a cast texture. After evenly applying it to an area I go back over that area with the point of the brush stippling until the mixture dries enough to hold the "points" of the stipple. After it has dried completely I lightly rub it down with 600 grit sandpaper to take off the high spots and give a nice fine cast texture. For really coarse castings I leave off the last sanding step. HTH Paul Roberts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Paul Roberts [tankmodeler@home.com] Subject: Signals trucks The only one that immediately comes to mind that might be of use is the Plus Models conversion of the 1/35 Chev 15cwt to the C8A Heavy Utility and I know that was used as a signals vehicle by some units. White Models makes (made??) a model of the Austin K8 Signals van in 1/76, but that is post war. HTH Paul Roberts -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6) From: Listmaster Subject: Dremel drill queries I am considering investing in a Dremel drill (to supplement my old and rather clunky Expo) and understand from Steve Zaloga at AMPS this year that the rechargeable battery-powered job (called "Mini-Mite" in the States?) is a good bet for plastic and resin as it is not so highly-powered that it melts the stuff. I have looked on the Dremel website (www.dremel.com) and the only battery version there is the "Cordless Multi" code 7701. However, Micro-Mark is showing the Mini-Mite on its site and it seems to be a different device. Can any of you, across the pond or elsewhere, with experience of these devices answer the following: 1.At slow speeds, does the motor ‘jump’ (I assume between magnets) on its rotation cycle? I am plagued with such problems on my existing drill and it makes drilling plastic a risky business as the control is less than it might be. 2.How is the lack of mains power when tackling white metal? I know regular cordless power drills can struggle with drilling metal compared to a mains version but this may not be much of a problem considering that I will only be drilling/cutting brass, aluminium and white metal rather than steel. 3.Are two speeds (7,500 and 15,000 RPM for the Cordless Mult and 5,000 and 10,000 for the Mini-Mite) adequate or do you find a continuously variable speed control necessary? And if so, is there a variable-speed (battery or mains) Dremel available? 4.Can it be used on a stand etc.? 5.As I recollect, the power supply across the pond is different (110v as against 240v here). Am I likely to experience problems with this if I purchase one from the US, where the plug on the battery charger will, presumably, be for 110v operation? 6.Is it possible to buy just the drill? I have vast numbers of tools for it but the advertisements seem to indicate that they all come with a boxload of accessories. 7.I will need to go down to 0.3mm bits (always find that small bits are less likely to break in a power drill than a hand one) so will I need several collets to allow me to use my dental burrs (which have c.2mm shafts) as well? 8.Is there a UK supplier who can beat the $32.95 (plus shipping and whatever the Customs & Excise Dept. chooses to add) from Micro-Mark? Many thanks Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Listmaster Subject: 2001 UK MAFVA Nationals Trade space is now filling up for the UK MAFVA Nationals at Duxford, Cambridgeshire on 5th August. If you are interested in trading at the show, please contact me off-list at rlockie@platosoftware.com for the forms etc. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Clive Harman [cliveharman1@yahoo.com] Subject: Modelpoint barrel for sale Due to order mix-up with Modelpoint I have the following turned aluminium barrel spare, 3511 A-19S 122 mm. rifled barrel ISU-122 for "Zvezda" kit £5.00 ( Inc. UK Postage) Let me know if you are interested. Clive -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: Clive Harman [cliveharman1@yahoo.com] Subject: Magazines for sale I have been looking out some old magazines & found that I have a surplus of magazines - unfortunately my wife has also noticed this so I need to sell them quick!! They include: Wheels &Tracks, MMiR, Steelmasters, FSM, Military Modelcraft, Tamiya, Aifix plus others & some books & misc. accessories. I have a list so please email me at the above address for anyone interested. Thanks, Clive -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: fingerprintdesigns [fingerprintdesigns@supanet.com] Subject: Fingerprint Designs new releases FINGERPRINT DESIGNS has five new transfer sheets available which may be of interest to the readership. These are: Sheet FPD 35/010 - U.S. Internal Stencilling 1940s/50s Sheet FPD 35/011 or 76/011 - German Miscellaneous Markings Sheet FPD 35/012 or 76/012 - German Crosses 1939 - 45 Price of 1/35 sheets is £4.95 each; 1/76 is £3.95; P&P 60p. Full details of contents, price, ordering etc. can be found on our web-site www.fingerprintdesigns.supanet.com . Check it out! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Back issues of Think Tank can be found at: http://www.tac.com.au/~sljenkins/thinktank/thinktank.htm -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume