The Ship Model Forum

[quote="navydavesof"]...you made me consider the possibilities of not the Tpe 55 but instead the Daring-class DDG...[/quote]
Do not forget that BAE 4.5" to 155mm conversion - just saying... :twisted:

[quote="MAJOR-B"]Very nice. Suggested you look at the bronco type 55 destroyer. I saw one the other day at the mall. It looks like the design they r thinking about ..[/quote]
Funny you say that, because you made me consider the possibilities of not the Tpe 55 but instead the Daring-class DDG
[url]
http://www.seaforces.org/marint/Royal-Navy/Destroyer/Daring-Type-45-class.htm[/url]

and fit it with 64 VLS instead of 48 and perhaps the AESR radar they�re looking at for new static and rotating radars. The bow gun could likely support upgrades and helo/small craft facilities are pretty good looking. :cool_2:

If they insisted on the hull dimensions, a DDG-51 propulsion plant could drive it to fleet speed.

Very nice. Suggested you look at the bronco type 55 destroyer. I saw one the other day at the mall. It looks like the design they r thinking about ..

I look forward to inspirations!

[quote="DavidP"]& they are hollow too. I use a modified bread & butter method to do them. I look forward to guidance lol[/quote]
Fascinating!

[quote="DavidP"]navydavesof, Bill might be talking about my kit bash for all kit-bashes. http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=165105[/quote]
Lol, I like your kit bashes. The buldges are something I�ve always been afraid to attempt!

[quote="Bill Liebold"]Oh, very nice.[/quote]
Thanks, Bill! I always enjoy your work! I appreciate your encouragement!

Work is finally slowing back down to where I can get back to the FFG!!! :woo_hoo: I have worked with a couple shapeways creators who customized a few pieces for this project. I will link them as I get to their pieces in the project!

Also, I recently got my VeryFire [i]Montana[/i]. Holy goodness. i cannot express how impressed I am with this kit. I look forward to making a 1990s modernized Montana!

Stay tuned!

Oh, very nice.

[quote="SumGui"]Now you can add Vulcano to a Mk45....

Euronaval 2018: BAE Systems Vulcano Precision Guided Munition & Mk 45 Naval Gun

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/2018/euronaval-2018/6651-euronaval-2018-bae-systems-vulcano-precision-guided-munition-mk-45-naval-gun.html[/quote]
Indeed. I wonder if it compares with the Excalibur round.

I am also a huge fan of re-introducing the 5"/38caliber round fitted with the CCF propelled with either the reduced, full, or ERGM charge throwing the projectile well beyond 30nm with precision guidance. I am interested in adapting the new Lockheed FFG(X) to the original concept for LCS. That would be a kit bash for the kit-bashes!

Now you can add Vulcano to a Mk45....

Euronaval 2018: BAE Systems Vulcano Precision Guided Munition & Mk 45 Naval Gun

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/2018/euronaval-2018/6651-euronaval-2018-bae-systems-vulcano-precision-guided-munition-mk-45-naval-gun.html

After a lot of work, the shaping is done, and here is the bow cladding. Next here will be bitts, weld lines, capstains, etc...
[attachment=2]bowclad1IMG_4795.jpg[/attachment]

Wow, this one took some effort :doh_1: The boat deck is now cleaned out. Thank goodness...
[attachment=1]boatdeck1IMG_4799.jpg[/attachment]

The stack cap was re-done. Good to go.
[attachment=0]stackcap1IMG_4800.jpg[/attachment]

Moooore this weekend! :big_grin:

Here is a real quick mock up of the parts and pieces. Work on the stern boat deck is a little slow.
[attachment=3]FFGmockup1.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=2]ffgmockup2.jpg[/attachment]
Again, the material the hull is printed from is rather tough. Once I get it cleaned out, however, I will begin construction of the stern ramp and boat bay.
[attachment=1]BERTHOLF-Stern-Launch-Boat-Ramp.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=0]1280px-USCG_long_range_interceptor_aboard_Bertholfsmall.jpg[/attachment]
The work continues!
:woo_hoo:

Here I have cleaned up the bow as much as I really need to. Like I said before, the plastic this 3D printed model is made out if is very tough stuff, and it does not sand well.
[attachment=2]bow1.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=1]bow2.jpg[/attachment]
I will be cladding the bow in the .001" sheet plastic and adding the surface detail like bits, capstans, VLS, deck gun placement, and possibly bulkwark ribs later.

Here is the current state of the stern boat deck. As you can see, I will be cleaning out the printed boat frames, making it deeper into the hull, and lengthening the stern by about 1/2".
[attachment=0]boat deck1.jpg[/attachment]
The stern (transom) will feature NIXIE on the starboard side and TACTAS brass-asshole towed sonar port on the portside.
:thumbs_up_1:

Here is a picture of the National Security Cutter after it has been cleaned of most of the unneeded surface details and features.
[attachment=0]stripped Berthoff small.jpg[/attachment]
I subsequently removed the 57mm gun as well, and I plan on stripping the bow of the bits, capstans, and waterbreak. I am not positive yet, but I may remove the mast for easier detailing. The next significant scratch building mini-project will be rebuilding the stern boat hangar. I will extend the stern by 3/4" and build the interior up.
:big_grin:

[quote="DavidP"]is that new flight deck sitting on the original flight deck or ontop the 2 hull sides?[/quote]It is on top of the original. One of the reasons I am using such thin plastic card is to not add out-of-scale thickness to the deck/surfaces while providing a surface to work with/on.

I have had a number of cutom pieces made over the years that I am finally getting to use, but my favorites are the 1/350 small boats. My buddy made an 11m RHIB and a CB90 Riverine Command Boat. These things are awesome. You willbe seeing these in this project and in my upcoming modernized USS [i]Iowa [/i]build.

[attachment=2]boatscustom1.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=1]boatscustom3.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=0]boatscustom5.jpg[/attachment]

:woo_hoo:

[quote="SumGui"]Very Nice. Looking forward to this, especially since we have not seen much on the FFGX version of this platform.

I have an idea to modify the LCS-2 class, but that would be on the other end of my Master's program being done.[/quote] Thanks! Indeed, we have not seen a lot from Huntington Ingalls on this proposal, but of what they have shown us, the official offering is almost as underwhelming as the LCS versions ie 1x SeaRAM, either a 57mm or a 76mm, and only 16 Mk41 VLS. What I think is unique and fun about this build is how effectively additional weapon systems can be added to really augment its combat effectiveness.

I will also be enlarging the SLQ-32 deck to fit SRBOC Chaff launchers and Nulka in a believable launching arrangement.

Before I get too far off the hull and onto the super structure, I am going to clad the hull, clean up the bow (and possibly rework the bulwark on the forecastle) and work the stern boat deck to accommodate CB-90 boats and/or 11m RHIBs).

Boats from the top down: 9m RHIB, 11m RHIB, CB90/RCB
[attachment=5]hangaboats2.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=4]hangaboats3.jpg[/attachment]

[attachment=2]boats1.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=0]boats2.jpg[/attachment]
[attachment=1]boats3.jpg[/attachment]

The breakwater will also be moved forward to accommodate an A-sized weapons module fitted longitudinally to support any one of 4 different bow guns (57mm (yuck) 76mmSR, Mk45Mod4 5"/62, or the BAE Mk8ModX 155mm/52 FNG) in the same manner as the 5" A-sized module on the DDG-51s.

In the below picture, you will note 2 A-sized weapons modules, the 5" and the 32-cell VLS. The 32-cell VLS placed abeam, and the 5" is forward to aft. The bow gun, 57/76/5"/155, will be mounted on each's own 2-3 deck deep A-sized module that will be interchangeable with the A-sized bow weapons pit.
[attachment=3]DDG51bowAsizeWeaponModule arrangement.jpg[/attachment]
Back to it!

:heh: [quote="DavidP"]what scale is the model?[/quote]This s 1/350.

The AN/SPG-60 STIR are now on order as well! More photos soon!

Very Nice. Looking forward to this, especially since we have not seen much on the FFGX version of this platform.

I have an idea to modify the LCS-2 class, but that would be on the other end of my Master's program being done.

As with other surfaces of the model, I am cladding the interior surface of the helo hangar and landing pad with .005" Evergreen plastic sheet. I mapped out the majority of the tie-down pattern with pencil based upon the below pattern.
[attachment=1]Berthoff tiedown pattern.jpg[/attachment]
The next step was to make depressions into the plastic with a tiny philip's head screwdriver to represent the pad-eye tie-downs.
[attachment=0]helopadsmallIMG_4713.jpg[/attachment]
Here is placement of the RAST system on top of the helo deck and hangar replacement. Included is the strip plastic I use for RAST tracks.
[attachment=2]helodeckRASTsmall.jpg[/attachment]
As is done on the real flight decks fitted with RAST, once I get the RAST tracks positioned and glued down, I will add a few extra tie-downs around each of the tracks.

Progress proceeds well! :thumbs_up_1: