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Revell 1:72 HMS Snowberry built as HMS La Malouine

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  • Member since
    May 2020
  • From: North East of England
Posted by Hutch6390 on Thursday, December 31, 2020 9:35 AM

Still sitting here quietly, Steve - speechless, in fact!  The whole model is terrific, especially the hull plating & the wooden decks, can't wait to see it finished.

Best wishes for 2021,

                                Hutch.

Vell, Zaphod's just zis guy, you know?

   

TakkaTakkaTakkaTakkaTakkaTakka

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, December 31, 2020 8:58 AM

Boy, you are sure getting me enthused about putting mine on the bench.  I started several years ago by working on scratch main gun.  Didn't get far.

 

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Thursday, December 31, 2020 6:38 AM

So, 2020 is almost at an end so thought I would quickly post to show where I'm at at the end of the year.

Nothing on the top side is fixed in place yet (except the 4 pounder (4"?) and a few of the cabinets), it's all just placed/posed.............but it's pretty much all built etc and ready to place. Thinking of fixing all this in place before fitting the railings round the edges.........I find I'm pretty clumsy and prone to knocking stuff off..........what order do you guys do it in?

 

Anyways, here she sits just now...........hope you enjoy.......and comments welcome before I fix it all in place!

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Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 4:46 AM

GM, thanks for your input and comments. I am indded going to model the ship as close as is possible, given my limited scratch skills, to the photos I have available which does indeed mean that there will be no gun shield on the forward gun.

Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 8:15 PM

The corvettes in this discussion were considered coastal assets as originally designed. 

Ocean navigation and fortitude became a necessity as they were tested in 1940.

My model, well that's another day; but the first ones had a magnetic binnacle and it was in a house, on the second level of the bridge. This was a ship design based on coastal whalers that only narrowly escaped being given coal fired boilers. Said houses being of teak construction on steel decks with wood decking.

Voice pipes down to the wheelhouse on the deck below.

I'm not one for regurgitating available info, so I'd just say the ship bridge design went throught at least A through G.

I'll just opine one last time on a thing I notice about this Malouine boat. Then shut up.

Most photos I have seen of her show the deck gun as an open mount, i.e. the gun shield is missing. I don't know why, maybe Channel duty didn't need protection from strafing aircraft.

But here's my deal.

Say your wife has long fair brown hair, full lips, and one blue eye and one green eye.

You want to paint a picture of her. Make both eyes the same color? 

Or make a simple move to show her for what unique beauty she has.

Every one of the Flower corvette models I have ever seen has the gun shield.

Make yours special.

 

Bill

 

 

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 5:37 PM

"Compass platform" began life as a specific platform upon which a "natural" magnetic compass was placed, so as to get it out of the magnetic influence of the ship.

After the adoption of gyrocompasses, the "natural" compas was used to calibrate the gyros.

That 'master' compass, later on was set up to have a number of electrical contacts which would translate the compase reading into an electrical signal which would inform "repeating" compasses elsewhere aboard.

There was a Royal Navy habit of "conn-ing" the ship from that level due to its elevation.  This was above weather decks and without an overhead, giving rise to it being "in the weather."  Hence that deck was the Weather Deck, and, later, the Weather Bridge (USN habit from the time was "flying" bridge, as it was above the protected Bridge).

The Brits were slow to "repeat" bridge controls to the weather bridge, which necessitated a number of voice tubes to call orders down to where the helm and "lee helm" (engine telegraph) were located.  Also a voice tube from where the Quartermaster  was manning the charts.

Charts, being paper and fragile (and precious) were always kept under a roof, often in the structure described as the Charthouse.  This was often at the Bridge (Control) level, but could be at the rear of the Weatehr Bridge.

This split-level thing also split how commands work.  The officer at the Controlls, was at the "Conn" (traditionally spelt with two 'n'), the commanding Officer, to need would be a deck above.

Forecastle (foc's'l) is the forward quarter of the ship.  It can has a reaised deck for handling Ground Tackle.  It has been a traditional place where crew were housed ahead of cargo holds. 

The term comes from very early ships which had raised battements, tyically a forecastle and an aftercastle from which archers, and later, gonners and cannoniers, "fought" the ship.

In modern use, a ship with a raised forward deck, the entire deck is called the foc's'l.  Otherwise, it's the forward potion of the deck to any installed breakwater.

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 5:22 PM

On Page 46 of the instructions it shows the below, the flag sheet is what I'm after..........................can anyone help out with a scan or similar?

 

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Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Sunday, December 20, 2020 3:23 PM

That's better :) Not 'perfect' but I feel a reasonable attempt at my first ever bit of scratch building.

 

 

Not a bad days modelling today, got a good 4/5 hours in before I had to stop and cook tea for the missus. Just popped out for half an hour to spray them and a few other bits up ie a few more cupboards, ordinance boxes and the depth charge racks. Should be able to get a few more hours tomorrow as well so should get close to getting all the deck furniture/wheelhouse etc on.

Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Sunday, December 20, 2020 11:49 AM

The photo you layed those out on also shows the 4" open mount gun

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Sunday, December 20, 2020 7:32 AM

Hi;

     That's a very good explanation of what the areas are. The compass Platform usually can also be called the wheelhouse. Why? Well, in most vessels since W.W.2 the Compass and Binnacle and Steering plus Engine telegraph wound up in the same place, The "Wheelhouse"

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Sunday, December 20, 2020 7:28 AM

Hey Looking Good:

 Oh by the way,You need to get the crew over the side to clean up that rust that's starting to show! great weathering job, that!

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Sunday, December 20, 2020 6:28 AM

So, little update. Missus at work, she's a nurse, so got the house to myself today. The 'honey-do' list is done so rest of the day is mine to play!

Noticed the other day that the sides of the bridge walkway as supplied are different for La Malouine (LM). The supplied Snowberry ones have 3 panels but the LM one has 4. Ordered some sheet from internet which arrived yesterday, so this morning have started modifying the originals as shown below............and have only just now noticed that the 'panels' are not equi-sized, looks like 3rd from left is slightly larger.....doh! Maybe I'll change it.....or maybe not!

Oh well, quick lunch then back out to the shed to make the most of my afternoon :)

 

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Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: 37deg 40.13' N 95deg 29.10'W
Posted by scottrc on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 8:30 AM

Very nice work all around, but esecially on the weathering of the hull.

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 4:59 AM

It's been a while since my last post, lost a bit of enthusiasm and 'normal' life stuff got in the way. Things weren't helped by the fact that the Klear Kote Flat I ordered showed up and turned out to be 'mislabeled' and was in fact gloss. Luckily, a quick email to Alclad along with a couple of photos had them sending me FOC replacement Flats which, due to the Xmas post, took over a week to get here (good old first class post eh!).

Tinkered around a bit whilst waiting for it, got all the hull weathered (and now sealed under flat coat), most of the 'deck furniture' is mostly assembled and painted. Needs weathering and 'flatting' still. None of it is glued down yet, still a bunch of separate assemblies, has lust been placed for the photos.

The rear aft area is still bare............that's coming up soon. As you will see, also darkened the deck/walkway colours and now (to my eye) looks better.

 

Comments and critique always welcome.

 











Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 8:21 AM

Surface_Line

Well, turbosteve, I hope you are proud of yourself...........

.............And it's all your fault, turbosteve.

Best regards,
Rick

 

Hahahahaha......Rick, I consider myself blameless of your situation Angel, your resolve must have been already at that 'tipping point' WinkStick out tongue

Enjoy yourself.....enjoy your 'relapse', it will be worth it!

Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Seattle, WA
Posted by Surface_Line on Tuesday, November 24, 2020 5:44 AM

Well, turbosteve, I hope you are proud of yourself.  I had been rolling along with a resolution not to start any new builds until i finished some of the inhabitants of my Shelf of Doom that has been accumulating over several years.  But your photos of the parts of the Matchbox kit, the discussions of colors and the mention of PQ-17 have broken my resolve.  However, I will stand fast to my rule never to build a ship whose name I can't pronounce, so your La Malouine won't be it.  Looks like Poppy has the second best amount of reference available.

I have just spent four or five hours comparing the details of most of the 1/700 Flowers in my stash and poring over the reference books, so it looks like I'm going to start the HP kit of HMS Jonquil as HMS Poppy in January of 1943.

And it's all your fault, turbosteve.

Best regards,
Rick

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Monday, November 23, 2020 3:47 PM

Cheers Rick, I'm new to ships (this is my first ever attempt) so I have keep Googling the terms to find out what they mean!  I'm slowely learning Wink

Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Seattle, WA
Posted by Surface_Line on Monday, November 23, 2020 3:37 PM

Tubosteve
GM.......No idea where a compass platform and focsle are (Google is my friend!)....lol, but a photo sure would help a bunch!

 

Steve,

The fo'c'sle (forecastle) is the area of the bow where the anchor-handling gear - capstan and chain - and the forward gun live, as far back as the forward edge of the superstructure. 

The compass platform is the area the US navy calls "the bridge", or wheelhouse - the upper area where watchanders work and theship is driven, although the actual helm may be one deck lower, with the Officer of the Deck working at the top level and passing orders to the helm below.  Over the years, and between different nations, there are lots of terms for the same thing.

Rick

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Monday, November 23, 2020 3:15 PM

After more thought..... and trolling t'internet for ages I think I'm gonna darken the decking to be more in line with the below images and to be closer to NARN23. Given that I have full stock in Tamiya colors I think I'm going to plump for XF24 Dark Grey as it seems the closest to NARN23. Going to just spray/paint it all XF24, decks/walkways.....the lot and just leave the compass deck (that's the top bit right?) as the woody brown as they were supposedly wooden decking. 

 

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Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Monday, November 23, 2020 2:50 PM

GMorrison

A good photo from the compass platform down onto the focsle would be helpful.....

I'll suggest the wood decks were painted the same color as the steel decks. I'm going to paint my Compass Rose that way.

Bill

Thanks for the comment(s) Bill, Capn and Dodgy.

GM.......No idea where a compass platform and focsle are (Google is my friend!)....lol, but a photo sure would help a bunch!

So....I'm thinking that maybe I should darken the color of my decking as that seems to be consensus, maybe more of a XF24 dark grey, which appears closest to narn23 (WW2 dark grey non-slip deck paint which I have been told is right ?!?!

https://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk/products/narn23-ww2-dark-grey-non-slip-deck-paint

 

Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Sunday, November 22, 2020 9:31 PM

So one thinks about it. All of the photos I have seen of Flowers during WW2 are black and white. And most follow the thought of "why would you take a photo of the top of your car."

Horizontal and either dockside or deck side.

A good photo from the compass platform down onto the focsle would be helpful.

As I pointed out before; the deck over crew spaces immediately below was wood.

The depth charge tossers at the rear quarters were mounted on the deck directly above the Petty Officer and Engineers cabins. The few photos I can find of those; i.e. on Dianthus- show a dark smooth deck surface there, the tossers painted samely.

I don't pretend to guess where Matchbox got the info they used to design the model, might have been memory of those who served and/or survivors that existed in the 1970's.

On another topic; return to decks in a minute.

The original crew was maybe 50. It seems the watches were only two, and the officers were a small handful who stood up as well as they could. Then the ships acquired things that took more crew. Oerlikons, minesweep gear, then radar.

The complement was doubled in the first three years. But they were thin and didn't do anything to keep these shipshape except chip ice up by Rekj or Murmansk.

All this according to Monserrat who i consider the expert on the subject.

No cosmetics on the wood decks.

My only clew, vis the depth charge tosser area. Sources refer to their bases as painted the same color as the deck they sat on. Makes sense in every way as you could only see them from above, it made maintenance straightforward. And the ones I've seen photos of are grey.

I'll suggest the wood decks were painted the same color as the steel decks. I'm going to paint my Compass Rose that way.

 

Bill

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Sunday, November 22, 2020 3:57 PM

Tubosteve
I can't get my head round the fact that your trying for a light scheme

Well, they identified two possible obersation vectors early on (as in WWI).  One is horizontal, as in from a surface vessel or submarine.

That places the ship against a pale, overcast, background, so, the lighter the better, and to countershade anthing casting shadows.

The other vectore is vertical, as in from a plane or dirigible.  Barring operations in ice fields (not common), the background there is the basaltic gray-blue of the North Atlantic.  Which wants a very dark gray so as to not stand out from above, and to help confuse the sight picture from 'quartering' angles above (the light superstructures tend to blur with the sea wake and the like, which only redoubles if there are any reflections from the Sun.

The larger percieved threat was U-Boote, but any protection from Stuka or Condors was not to be sneezed at, either.

USN pressed that really hard in several of their Measures.  Utlimately to the all-over sea and  navy blue schemes in the pacific.  And requiring upper sufaces of many things to have deck paint shading.

Wood decks were often more about traction than appearance, and were painted like their metal counterparts.

While the RN and RCN corvettes had hard lives and long cruises, they seldom were out of port for more than six months.  And would be in port at either end for about a month.  More than enough time to paint and repaint.  Naval vessels always have excess crew, and excess crew are often put to tasks like painting.  Which remains a very necessary thing when operating metal in rust-inducing salt water.  Even running 6 or 8 half hour Action Stations drills leaves 6-8 hours to be painting in between.

  • Member since
    August 2020
  • From: Lakes Entrance, Victoria, Australia.
Posted by Dodgy on Sunday, November 22, 2020 1:09 AM

Hi Tubosteve. I am also watching and learning. I have the Matchbox kit in the stash and intend to pick up some PE if any is still available. However like you, I find the task somewhat daunting and want to build my skills up some more before taking the plunge. Looks like yours is comming along very well.

I long to live in a world where chickens can cross the road without having their motives questioned

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Saturday, November 21, 2020 4:47 PM

Tubosteve
Probably not factually correct as Snowberry had wooden decks (according to paint instructions).....so maybe La Malouine did as well

The Flowers had wood decks on the several bridge decks, and over the lower decks crew accomodations. That would be the focsle crew compartment (as your model has it), and over the Petty Officers and Engineers cabins.Those were located on the lower deck behind the engine room. The model has those molded into the main deck, at each rear corner of the big engine room casing. The model also has wood decks on the wings under the boats; those were open wood affairs. I assume that was to keep from frying the crews in the summer.

It's an interesting question about the main deck colors, the as-builts early on were Dark Grey.

 

Bill

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Saturday, November 21, 2020 10:38 AM

After a few more hours 'tinkering' this is where I stand. This 'ship-building lark' sure is fiddly and time consuming!

 

The hull has been painted and sealed with a gloss coat to keep it safe.

 



 

Decks have been (for better or worse) sprayed in Tamiya XF80, British Navy Grey and the walkways in XF63, German Grey. Probably not factually correct as Snowberry had wooden decks (according to paint instructions).....so maybe La Malouine did as well. Cannot find any pics to confirm this, but to my eye, didn't like the very dark grey Narn23 previously suggested. I can't get my head round the fact that your trying for a light scheme  (As per Western Approaches scheme: "the aim is to achieve a light general tone so "countershading is advisable") and having a dark grey deck that surely would show with the pitch and roll of a ship...........so went with a lighter grey.



 

Anything 'sticking up' from the deck will remain white...........as you will see in below pics

 

And this is where I'm at with the 'deck furniture'. Slowely coming along with just an hour or two a day to mess with it. Hopefully get quite a few more hours tomorrow 

 

Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, November 16, 2020 8:56 PM

 From left to right:

Gun platform with shelter- "bandstand".

2 pounder gun- "Pom Pom"

Ventilators.

Stack and flue housing.

All referred to as "deck furniture".

 

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Monday, November 16, 2020 4:10 PM

 

As per Western Approaches scheme:

"the aim is to achieve a light general tone so "countershading is advisable"

To achieve this, the following should be painted white to eliminate shadow.....

1) Undersides of blast shields, flag decks, boats, torpedo tubes, pom-pom decks and other platforms.

2) After side of the bridge.

3) All lockers, vents,davits and other fittings in and around which shadows occur.

4) All darken ship screens, canvas covers for hawser reels, etc.

5) Lower third of gun barrels, searchlights etc.

6) Masts and crows nests.

7) Any horizontal surfaces that may throw light up into dense shadows.

8) All stanchions and other small fittings on the upper deck.

 

Question to the hive mind regarding what you would expect the deck colour to be?

 

As someone pointed out to me on another forum  "As for the main decks, I've seen little evidence to be honest of people getting too excited about Line 7. They wouldn't have been painted darker, but equally I don't recall many (any?) examples of decks painted white."

 

So if not white nor dark grey.........would a light grey (eg XF19 Sky Grey) or mid grey (eg XF20 Medium grey) be more appropriate/correct?

 

I would be interested in any info any has in relation to this...............thanks.

Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    February 2017
  • From: Hampshire, England, UK
Posted by Tubosteve on Friday, November 13, 2020 12:15 PM

Well, it's been an interesting week. Spent the first couple of days just working out what had been done prior to the kit coming into my hands........took a while but finally figured out where I was!  Next was getting some white primer down over most of it..........as you will see, a can of Tamiya white primer didn't finish the job (now waiting on more to be delivered as my local model shop is closed due to Covid so have had to go online. Had to go white because the Colourcoats paints I got just didn't/doesn't cover up the original paint scheme.

Yesterday saw a coat of white go over the hull and today saw the light blue over the top of that...........the weekend will see the black go below the waterline.

 

 





 

Dammed if the masking tape didn't pull up some of the paint (right back to bare plastic.......so top coat enamel, primer and original enamel all came up!)  Will have to touch that up!

 

Also stated on some of the superstructure/topside stuff..........I guess that is what it's called, please correct me if I'm wrong! (Still very naïve with all this nautical terminology  )

 

More to come as and when it happens.................stay safe!

Stay safe........Steve

Currently on the bench: On the bench: Airfix 1:24 Spitfire Mk IXc (17001) as Silver Spitfire G-IRTY, Revell 1:48 Bristol Beaufighter TF.X (03943)

Finished 2024: Tamiya 1:24 Ford Mustang GT4 (24354)

  • Member since
    October 2019
  • From: New Braunfels, Texas
Posted by Tanker-Builder on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 11:29 AM

For Sure:

     Now get her built! Right, Bill?

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Monday, November 9, 2020 6:01 PM

Har!

And imagine, here is my corvette in 1/144 scale.

The La Malo.. is EIGHT times larger, by the Law of cubes!

 

Bill

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

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