The Ship Model Forum

Wichita is the only 1/700 US cruiser class that served in WWII that I don't have a kit for. For a few years I looked for an old Midship kit but I'm not sure I'd be all that happy with it should I find one.

With all the 3D printing going on has anyone heard of a CA-45 project? I recently saw a Pensacola kit so it got me wondering.

My other alternative would be to start with something like a Niko Brooklyn/Helena kit for the hull and attempt to scratch build from the main deck up. Most weaponry and sensors I can source easily. I've done a bunch of google searches looking for plans but I'm not finding much. The Warship Pictorial 14 seems the most promising so far. Not sure my scratch building skills are up to it but even a wonky CA-45 would be a nice place holder.

On a more general scratch building note is there a reference that gives basics for naval shipbuilding for a country? Do standards exist for things like the height of a gun tub, deck level, etc.? I've got a few projects where that type of info would be a real help but I have no idea if it exists.

[quote="scratchshipbuilder"]The Classic Warships book has drawings and deck levels for '39 and '45. The turrets sure look Baltimore[/quote]
The original draft of Wichita's design repeated the turrets of the Vincennes. However, dispersion issues caused the turrets to be redesigned for individual elevation. The barbettes were conical to accommodate the larger turret at the top but coned in at the bottom to try to keep the weight down. But Wichita always had stability problems. The Baltimore design began as an attempt to fix the stability issues. The hull grew and the stability was significantly better, but the turrets and conical barbettes of the Wichita were retained.

The Classic Warships book has drawings and deck levels for '39 and '45. The turrets sure look Baltimore

Did Wichita lose her stern smoke generators in her Nov. 1943 refit? I can't tell from the photos available to me. Thanks.

Blue Ridge Models (owned by the guys at Freetime) are in the business of re-releasing the old Midship kits with improvements - the Wichita is on their list: http://www.blueridgemodel.com/#!BRM-70032/zoom/caoq/image4yv

So just wait some time and you can get an even better kit.

Does anyone here know a good source (preferably within North America) for a Midship models kit for a 1/700 USS [i]Wichita[/i]?

I've done a search for it on Ebay with no luck, while Freetime Hobbies/Pacific Front doesn't seem to offer it either.

Here is more on the item I am referring to, and the link below also says [b]it has been discontinued[/b].

[url=http://www.hlj.com/product/mdmmpk303/Nav]Hobby Link Japan[/url]

I am particularly interested in a kit that portrays her in October 1944, when she was attached to Admiral Davison's Task Group 38.4 during the liberation of the Philippines and the subsequent Battle off Cape Engaño (part of the bigger Battle of Leyte Gulf), when she helped sink a few of the ships from Admiral Ozawa's retreating decoy force.

In the event I am unable to find one, I was considering modifying a resin kit of the USS [i]Helena[/i] (or any [i]Brookyln[/i] class) to include 8-inch turrets. However, like other conversions, I suspect changing any [i]Brooklyn[/i] kit (such as those from Corsair Armada) might actually be more difficult than just changing the turrets.

I have a question in regards to a photo on page 49 of CA-45's Warship Pictorial volume. The photo on the left hand side shows a very nice overhead shot of the entire ship (November 1943) with the hangar hatch fully open. Inside there are 2 curious shapes on the forward edge of the opening that are casting shadows down onto the hangar deck; what are they?! I've never seen them in any other photo of any cruiser with their hangar's open (granted there's oh so many....) and I'm at a loss.

Blowing up the photo doesn't do too much due to the printing process (all you get is a bunch of dots). Best I can tell they are 2 concentric circles with a L-shaped metal "frame" around them holding to the deck. Any idea guys? Ventilation fans maybe?

I can post a scan of said photo if that's alright with the mods.

-Mike

Some photos from the LIFE magazine archives, found by Charles Landrum and orginally posted over at SN.

CA-45 never wore a dazzle pattern but there was one drawn up for her; Ms. 32/14D. She wore the pre-war gray scheme, then Ms 12 mod, 21, and 22 during the war.

See here:
[url]http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g100000/g174773c.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/g100000/g174774c.htm[/url]

As to camouflage, it does not appear that she was ever in a pattern scheme.

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/usn_ca.htm

Thanks very much for the links.

Last night a friend in the model boat club gave me the Warship Pictorial book about the Wichita.

Can I ask a couple of questions?

Am I correct is saying, despite a scheme being available, that Wichita never carried an MS31/32/33 camouflage scheme? Instead having an MS21 scheme in 1944 and an MS22 scheme in 1945?

Also, that during her 1945 refit (amongst other things which was to fix the broken shaft, and broken A-frame) was when she lost the starboard catapult, replaced the fantail 20mms with twin 40mms, changed to Sea Hawk SOCs and, if my somewhat geeky eyes don't deceive me, moved the Mk51 directors for the forward twin 40mms from tubs on the deck alongside the fwd 5inch mount to taller tubs on the main deck just aft of the mounts.

There are a couple of great sets of photos of the Wichita in the book. Does anyone have electronic copies of the ones from the 1943 refit they could email me?

Thanks.

All the best
Sandy

Classic Warships also published a book with numerous photos. I don't know if it's still available from the publisher; but, I'm sure it's available on-line someplace.

A quick search on Yahoo. I did not include duplicates of Navsource photos.

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/books-plans/warship-pictorial/wp-14/wp-14.html

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/ca/ca-45/350-rs/rs-index.html

http://sd2cx1.webring.org/l/rd?ring=nr;id=149;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwebspace.webring.com%2Fpeople%2Fru%2Fusstuscaloosa%2F

http://www.greatnavalimages.com/servlet/the-3480/USS-Wichita-CA-45/Detail

http://www.the-blueprints.com/blueprints/ships/cruisers-us/page/2/

Hi,

Is there much information or photos (besides the navsource ones) of the Wichita?

Are there any close up photos specifically.

Or any books/websites about her?

A unique ship.

All the best
Sandy