WWI Digest 4881 Topics covered in this issue include: 1) Best Wishes for the New Year! by xtv16@dial.pipex.com 2) Re: Forced perspective by pfalzdvii@att.net 3) Looking For Welding Wire? by "Wire Links" 4) Re: The Importance Of Being Ed by Ken Schmitt 5) Support vehicles in kits by "Steven Perry" 6) Re: Support vehicles in kits by "John & Allison Cyganowski" 7) Re: W29s by knuterha@eunet.no 8) Looking For Wire Hangers? by "Wire Links" 9) Re: W29s by John Huggins 10) Re: The Marx Brothers by "Bob Pearson" 11) speak of Noops by Ken Schmitt 12) RE: The Marx Brothers by "Paul Schwartzkopf" 13) Re: Support vehicles in kits by "Robert Langham" 14) Re: Nieuport Questions by Sean Brian Kirby 15) Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question by Sean Brian Kirby 16) Re: Nieuport questions by Sean Brian Kirby 17) Re: 1/28 Fokker D.VII by Sean Brian Kirby 18) Best Wishes for the New Year! by "D_Fernetti" 19) Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question by Sean Brian Kirby 20) Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question by Sean Brian Kirby 21) Re: Nieuport Questions by Sean Brian Kirby 22) Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question by "Steven Perry" 23) Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question by Sean Brian Kirby 24) Re: Best Wishes for the New Year! by Sean Brian Kirby 25) Re: Best Wishes for the New Year! by Sean Brian Kirby 26) Re: Question To All! by Sean Brian Kirby 27) Re: DWC - photos by Sean Brian Kirby 28) Re: Get 'em young! by Sean Brian Kirby 29) Re: the more pleasing aircraft WAS: Nieuport q's by Sean Brian Kirby 30) Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question by Sean Brian Kirby 31) Re: speak of Noops by "John & Allison Cyganowski" 32) Re: Get 'em young! by Sean Brian Kirby ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 16:23:42 +0000 From: xtv16@dial.pipex.com To: Subject: Best Wishes for the New Year! Message-ID: <1041351822.3e11c48e52c05@netmail.pipex.net> HI Folks, Secon go - appartently the list didn't like 'signing' in the first line! Logging off to spend the rest of the year with the family (all 8 hours of it, well they are due some time!!) Best wishes for all listees for the coming 12 months. may all you paint flkow smoothly and your filler set! Dave the FleMing ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 16:38:25 +0000 From: pfalzdvii@att.net To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Forced perspective Message-ID: <20021231163827.PIEY12483.mtiwmhc12.worldnet.att.net@mtiwebc18> I've seen several over the years, some amazing, some not so, but the trick is using a 'shadow box' to restrict the viewing angle, the rest is arrangement, basically you use painters perspective technique with three dimensional bits, (lighting is important) Shep Paine's book on dioramas has all the basic information, FWIW Merrill > Have any of y'all out there done or read about using forced perspective in a > diorama? By this I mean using objects of different scales to make the > distance between them appear larger than it acually is. > > Can this be done effectively? I can imagine if not done right, it could look > pretty hokey.Are there any rules of thumb or general tips? > sp > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:55:19 -0500 From: "Wire Links" To: Subject: Looking For Welding Wire? Message-ID: <032c01c2b0ed$6656d6a0$6601a8c0@ulf> Dear Sir/Madame We are Wire Links Internet see http://www.wirelinks.com Your e-mail address appears on a procurement list for welding wire. If this information is incorrect or if you have a new address please let us know as we are in the process of up dating our database of vendors. Please take a look at our web page and let us know if we can be of some use to you. Wire links has been designed to provide an accurate list of suppliers, distributors or manufactures of wire and cable. Thanks for your cooperation Best regards Wire Links Paul Douwes ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 10:53:10 -0600 From: Ken Schmitt To: Subject: Re: The Importance Of Being Ed Message-ID: Michael says: > That way, if you were clever > about what "extra" piece you selected to manufacture, you could pop it into > a number of different kits. E.g. an RFC/German maintainance van, trolly > etc. (Was there such a thing?). What a clever idea, Michael (besides rescuing me from myself)! Ed is already doing this bundling two Noops in one box (48) as well as including pilot figs in newer runs. Sure, it's been done. Kit makers have been putting something or other extra in boxes since we wuz sprouts. Glencoe comes to mind with a prop spinner, a base & chocks. Never tho't much of it...but, aside from that, amortizing one or three items across a scale's offering is damn smart. Justin does this a la carte as that suits resin; taking page from his book is a good idea, Mr. Kendix. Another I'd fancy is putting versions within the kit such as Gannon (BM/Pegasus), Roden and lately, Eduard have been doing. When relevant, it's very useful. = ) In any event, I sure wish Eduard well, cos all gripes aside, they make lovely stuff. And I think they are in earnest about their Humpie... ...hate to be Colin... ; ) Ken S ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:05:05 -0500 From: "Steven Perry" To: Subject: Support vehicles in kits Message-ID: <00da01c2b0ee$c4812c20$20244918@tampabay.rr.com> We ought to sic Roden on the Crowsley Tender. So many different variations on the same frame & drive train. Right up Roden's alley. sp ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:34:06 -0500 From: "John & Allison Cyganowski" To: Subject: Re: Support vehicles in kits Message-ID: <001801c2b0f2$d28486b0$273f5b0c@millipore.com> http://www.ajpmaquettes.com/Collection%20Vehicules%201-48%20e.htm These are awsome! Unfortunately probably beyond my skill. Cyg. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steven Perry" To: "Multiple recipients of list" Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 12:06 PM Subject: [WWI] Support vehicles in kits > We ought to sic Roden on the Crowsley Tender. So many different variations > on the same frame & drive train. Right up Roden's alley. > sp > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 18:52:55 +0100 (CET) From: knuterha@eunet.no To: Subject: Re: W29s Message-ID: <1033.193.214.111.226.1041357175.squirrel@webmail.kpnqwest.no> Hei, I built the Meikraft W.29 some years ago, it is a good kit which looks like the real thing. It resembles the Czechmaster resin kit, but moulded in plastic with thick sprues and some flash. It isn`t far behind the MPM and Pegasus kits. Eders Knut Erik Matt wrote: > Meikraft did one as well, which was probably a copy of the Czechmaster. > I've built it, but oh so many years ago I can't recall anything about > it. :-) > > > Matt > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:58:14 -0500 From: "Wire Links" To: Subject: Looking For Wire Hangers? Message-ID: <044601c2b0f6$30f4fb00$6601a8c0@ulf> Dear Sir/Madame We are Wire Links Internet see http://www.wirelinks.com Your e-mail address appears on a procurement list for wire hangers. If this information is incorrect or if you have a new address please let us know as we are in the process of up dating our database of vendors. Please take a look at our web page and let us know if we can be of some use to you. Wire links has been designed to provide an accurate list of suppliers, distributors or manufactures of wire and cable. Thanks for your cooperation Best regards Wire Links Paul Douwes ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:55:11 -0600 From: John Huggins To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: W29s Message-ID: <019C7DBA-1CE9-11D7-9B79-0003934C8626@huggins-leahey.com> Somewhere I have the last W-29 John cast. It was the one where his mold split and it is a solid sheet of 1/32 in plastic flash with a W-29 sticking out in various placed. The bigger parts are salvageable, but the struts and other small parts are a part of the flash. It looked like a buildable kit, but I think the other four would be a better place to start and do some kit bashing. JP ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 09:57:17 -0800 From: "Bob Pearson" To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: The Marx Brothers Message-ID: <104135787002@smtp-1.vancouver.ipapp.com> That was how Meikraft presold some of his kits .. I'm still waiting for my prepaid Gotha. .. which ain't gonna happen Bob ---------- >> "We could, possibly, do a "pre-payment" system where you get 500 or a 1000 >> guys who want the same kit (maybe a 1/72nd truck!) and you prepay, lets say >> $75 each, and then we would produce the kit (all the figures are just guesses >> and in reality would be higher or lower depending on quantities). That would >> put the ball in your court and we save us the worries on how a model would >> sell. >> >> What do you think?" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:08:47 -0600 From: Ken Schmitt To: Subject: speak of Noops Message-ID: apologies to those who already haveseen this, but here's some beautiful Nieuport reference: http://www.fineartmodels.com/nieuport_thumbs.htm ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:13:57 -0600 From: "Paul Schwartzkopf" To: Subject: RE: The Marx Brothers Message-ID: Same here, but with a magazine a few years ago called In Scale Illustrated. I figured it was okay, as even Bill Devins from IPMS/USA was connected with it in some way. I never received a single copy, or a single penny of refund, as the lawyers stole all the money after they filed for bankruptcy. Pre-pay for a promise in this economy? Fool me once, shame on you--fool me twice, shame on me. Paul -----Original Message----- From: wwi@wwi-models.org [mailto:wwi@wwi-models.org]On Behalf Of Bob Pearson Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 12:05 PM To: Multiple recipients of list Subject: [WWI] Re: The Marx Brothers That was how Meikraft presold some of his kits .. I'm still waiting for my prepaid Gotha. .. which ain't gonna happen Bob ---------- >> "We could, possibly, do a "pre-payment" system where you get 500 or a 1000 >> guys who want the same kit (maybe a 1/72nd truck!) and you prepay, lets say >> $75 each, and then we would produce the kit (all the figures are just guesses >> and in reality would be higher or lower depending on quantities). That would >> put the ball in your court and we save us the worries on how a model would >> sell. >> >> What do you think?" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 18:14:02 +0000 From: "Robert Langham" To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Support vehicles in kits Message-ID: Hi, in my guestbook entry on the Roden site I asked taht they should do some support vehicles, i.e. the Crossley. The Crossley is without a doubt my favourite pre-ww2 vehicle. I have two photo's of the excellent example at the RAF Museum, Hendon if anyone wants to see them Best wishes, Robert Langham The British Army 1939-1945 http://www.geocities.com/britsatwar/ >From: "Steven Perry" >Reply-To: wwi@wwi-models.org >To: Multiple recipients of list >Subject: [WWI] Support vehicles in kits >Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:06:32 -0500 (EST) > >We ought to sic Roden on the Crowsley Tender. So many different variations >on the same frame & drive train. Right up Roden's alley. >sp _________________________________________________________________ Protect your PC - get McAfee.com VirusScan Online http://clinic.mcafee.com/clinic/ibuy/campaign.asp?cid=3963 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:44:55 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: Ray , wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Nieuport Questions Message-ID: <20021231194455.54521.qmail@web14807.mail.yahoo.com> --- Ray wrote: > Therefore all the Sesquiplanes had weaker lower > wings. Whilst this didn't > affect Nieuports that much it did affect Albatros > who basically used the > Nieuport sesquiplane wing attachment design in the > DIII and DV/Va. > > Just as a matter of interest Austrian redesigned > DIII's had a twin spar and > suffered no lower wing weakness. > > btw the Nieuport 29 was probably the most elegant of > the Nieuports imho. Of > the Sopwiths the Pup and Rainbow/Schneider were > pretty aircraft. But the > Scooter was probably the best looking imho. Well, we all know about the later Albatros problems. But the earlier Niuports were designed for that wing, and managed to keep them attached. The Dolphin was NOT a good-looking airplane. The Camel was their sexiest, followed by the Pup and the Snipe. I like the Snipe; I love the Camel. Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:50:26 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question Message-ID: <20021231195026.46823.qmail@web14808.mail.yahoo.com> --- Diego Fernetti wrote: > I like Webber just because he flies airplanes. At > least Schiumi looks like a > Manfred VRichthofen relative! :-) > D. Ya' know, I've always thought Michael looked more like that first man to 200 'Luftsieg,' Hermann Graf. Though Schumey's actually halfway-handsome. Ralf, though, does have this Lothar von Richthofen thing going on. The renderings of Mozart I've seen look like Werner Mölders with a powdered wig. Webber actually flies them? He looks like a back-seater, in that photo, but there's absolutely no excuse for an F1 pilot to not get his pilot's license - unless he hates flying... above the ground. Y'all know Niki Lauda would often fly his own airliners, right? The Kid ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:51:42 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Nieuport questions Message-ID: <20021231195142.46992.qmail@web14808.mail.yahoo.com> --- Matt Bittner wrote: > > > There is nothing bad with Nie obsession, isn´t it, > Matt? > > No, not at all! > > > Matt Yeah! Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:52:54 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: Ray , wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: 1/28 Fokker D.VII Message-ID: <20021231195254.40958.qmail@web14801.mail.yahoo.com> --- Ray wrote: > Members of this list can get a discount from Eric > Hight who is Copper State > Models by emailing our orders with the Dicta Ira > words to his online site. That makes sense - thanks for the tip! Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 16:54:16 -0300 From: "D_Fernetti" To: Subject: Best Wishes for the New Year! Message-ID: Dear friends May all the sad and ugly things end with this year and may 2003 bring the best part of our lives! (and an injection molded Naglo Quadruplane) Best regards from the deep end of the American continent Diego and Wanda ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:54:58 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question Message-ID: <20021231195458.11427.qmail@web14809.mail.yahoo.com> --- Bob Pearson wrote: > CARS !?!??!?!?! Gads. ..the only thing more boring > is Nieuports . . .. :-) > > Bob "Cars - yeck!" "Wrong scale for me." "I only build Soviet WWII." All I can say is - Dicta Ira! :p ;) Sean (Of course, this is a scale-slut speaking...) ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 11:57:03 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question Message-ID: <20021231195703.42426.qmail@web14802.mail.yahoo.com> > > Well little French ones anyway, you can't say that > RCW Nieuport with the hot > mermaid is boring :-) > sp Hot mermaid? Did she get caught in Old Faithful? Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:00:54 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Nieuport Questions Message-ID: <20021231200054.43100.qmail@web14802.mail.yahoo.com> --- Bob Pearson wrote: > What I really meant to say was MODERN race cars are > boring. .. Nieuports > Now football on the other hand ........ Nothing boring about the old Millers, eh? :) Do you speak of gridiron football, or real football? ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 15:02:17 -0500 From: "Steven Perry" To: Subject: Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question Message-ID: <011301c2b107$851309a0$20244918@tampabay.rr.com> > > Well little French ones anyway, you can't say that > > RCW Nieuport with the hot > > mermaid is boring :-) > > sp > > > Hot mermaid? Did she get caught in Old Faithful? Nope. Low cut scales. sp ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:04:48 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question Message-ID: <20021231200448.43164.qmail@web14801.mail.yahoo.com> --- Steven Perry wrote: > > Hot mermaid? Did she get caught in Old Faithful? > > Nope. Low cut scales. > sp Ah. Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:07:01 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Best Wishes for the New Year! Message-ID: <20021231200701.44808.qmail@web14802.mail.yahoo.com> --- D_Fernetti wrote: > Dear friends > May all the sad and ugly things end with this year > and may 2003 bring the > best part of our lives! The coming year... well, I at least think the racing's going to be good! And it will treat us modellers exceedingly well. :) Dicta Ira, Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:07:59 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Best Wishes for the New Year! Message-ID: <20021231200759.44568.qmail@web14801.mail.yahoo.com> Oh, and Happy New Year - from las Estados Unidos! The Kid ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:22:57 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Question To All! Message-ID: <20021231202257.27607.qmail@web14803.mail.yahoo.com> --- Nigel Cheffers-Heard wrote: > Moral here is that if you expect ANYONE to reply, it > is unwise to > conclude "Don't care what anyone says..." > > Semantics are alive and well. > N Semantics, schmemantics. (Who didn't see that coming?) As I noted, yeah, it was the wrong way to put it - but I put it that way 'cause Ira'd just told me he didn't like decal wood. And one has to see these decals to understand, I think. Point taken. :) Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:28:05 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: DWC - photos Message-ID: <20021231202805.48410.qmail@web14801.mail.yahoo.com> --- Bob Pearson wrote: > I just took a little break from the next IM and > posted some shots of the DWC > as of a week ago. It can be seen at > http://www.cbrnp.com/RNP/DWC.htm Wow, looks great! Have fun with that. Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:33:10 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Get 'em young! Message-ID: <20021231203310.29860.qmail@web14803.mail.yahoo.com> --- Eric GALLAUD wrote: > Strange language ???? > It's a pity that almost all other countries have > some strange languages ;-) Well, could you pretty-please give us a phonetical Anglicised pronunciation of the word? Or is "New-por" about right? (I keep thinking something like "Nyoo-por.") (And yes, I know how to pronounce the last name of Alain Prost. As well as "Guynemer." You don't want to know how I pronounced it, when I was seven...) Hey, while we've got a French guy here - what's up with all those superfluous letters? I thought English was bad, this way, but you folks throw around letters like there's a limitless supply of 'em! :) Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:34:19 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: the more pleasing aircraft WAS: Nieuport q's Message-ID: <20021231203419.38264.qmail@web14804.mail.yahoo.com> --- Diego Fernetti wrote: > Bob wrote: > >Pfalz > > Pffffft! > D. Pshaw! The Pfalz was a doll! Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:37:03 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: BE2e question/ was: OT dog question Message-ID: <20021231203703.50899.qmail@web14801.mail.yahoo.com> --- Diego Fernetti wrote: > Sean! > >Me Mum actually named me after him. :) > > Don't tell me that your sis is named Ursula! > D. As in "Andres?" (Spelling?) Naw, she's named Tiffiny, but we call her The Tiffster. (And such.) As you can see, I have about the ultimate Irish name - but I am mostly... well, any guesses? Redish-blond hair, blue eyes... Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 15:41:40 -0500 From: "John & Allison Cyganowski" To: Subject: Re: speak of Noops Message-ID: <002c01c2b10d$064ce8b0$ab395b0c@millipore.com> Yours for a mere $5,000 (US). I'll pass. Cyg. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ken Schmitt" To: "Multiple recipients of list" Sent: Tuesday, December 31, 2002 1:09 PM Subject: [WWI] speak of Noops > apologies to those who already haveseen this, > but here's some beautiful Nieuport reference: > > http://www.fineartmodels.com/nieuport_thumbs.htm > > ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 31 Dec 2002 12:45:38 -0800 (PST) From: Sean Brian Kirby To: wwi@wwi-models.org Subject: Re: Get 'em young! Message-ID: <20021231204539.32594.qmail@web14803.mail.yahoo.com> --- Dave@dial.pipex.com, UNEXPECTED_DATA_AFTER_ADDRESS@.SYNTAX-ERROR wrote: > I was always better at Latin than French, but French > at least had a structure, > once (as a native English speaker) you get used to > inanimate objects having a > gender. English must be a hellish language to learn > as a non-native speaker. > Now, how did the French say 'Spad' I've heard it both ways; some say English is cake, while English has also been reputed to be the most difficult. In my experience, being a lover of other languages, Chinese (Mandarin, in this instance) must be among the most difficult languages to learn. Having pinyin keys helps, seeing as they don't have an alphabet to speak of. (The Chinese I can write is minimal. I'd have to move there, I think, to learn to speak and read it.) But they've got all those tones... it has virtually no connection to Western tongues... There can be few languages harder to learn for non-native speakers than Chinese, if you ask me. (A Korean friend told me Korean has been called the most sensibly laid-out language - and that it is very difficult to learn. Seems contradictory, but he's an honest guy.) Sean ===== www.pitpass.com __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of WWI Digest 4881 **********************