The Ship Model Forum

If yoy are reffering to the ships flg hoist/radio sign (which is also usually painted at bridge level rifg aft the bridge doors) then this should help:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/01017.htm
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/helpers/sfpa.htm

If you want to raise a particular signal, for example fire aboard, then tell us which is it and I will tell you the flag sequence...

Keep up the wonderful work and more pictures please!!!

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NIKOS (NICK)
ΜΕΓΑ ΤΟ ΤΗΣ ΘΑΛΑΣΣΗΣ ΚΡΑΤΟΣ
(GREAT IS THE NATION THAT MASTERS THE SEAS)

Thanks so much guys! This info is helpful!!!

She got her forward hull numbers applied today.
I was able to track down a decent pic of the Cony's forward waterline. So, I set to work.

Hi All,

Tweets has it just about right.

The four signal flags you see flying from the fore mast yard arms represent the ships international call sign. They are flown when entering and leaving harbour so that other authorities can contact the ship if required; so viktor (V) mike (M) kilo (K) oscar (O) would be the ships call sign.

Sometimes these flags are painted on the forward screens in the vicinity of the bridge, visible form outboard. I have a picture of Vincennes in this configuration. I think this was only done for special operations or deployments. I don't remember seeing it done on Aussie ships during my time in the RAN.

When the ship is at sea operating with other warships the signal flags are hoisted in specific combinations to send specific messages. These messages are coded in tactical publications and they are kept quite "confidential".

The third use of the flags are the "international codes" which are known by all mariners and are used in day to day operations, for example romeo (R) yankee (Y) is , I think (its been a loong time ) "reduce speed in my vicinity due to special works" , bravo (B) is flown during dangerous ops like fuelling (bunkering). So ships in harbour, conducting fuelling ops from a barge or lighter alongside would typically hoist RY - B

Andrew

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Ex RAN. Anzac, Duchess, Vampire, Yarra, Betano, Bombard, Brisbane, Swan, Melbourne (Carrier), HMS Leander

Very nice work!

I do not recall seeing US Navy ships flying the four letter ship's code flags in port. Maybe this is a new "tradition."

There are signal flags other than the alphabet. Things like Interrogative for asking a question, etc. Some of the flags are also used in port to signal whether the Captain, Chief of Staff or Admiral are on board. See:

http://www.quadibloc.com/other/flaint.htm

The Navy has a code book for signal flag messages - two or three letter codes for the standard fleet maneuvers, etc. It has been a long time and I really don't remember any of the official codes. I do remember two unofficial codes:

Interogative Whisky Tango Foxtrot - you figure it out. Signaled to another ship when it screwed up a maneuver.

Splice The Main Brace - Alpha Delta Two Eight in the Royal Navy. I think the US Navy used just a single flag, Victor or Zulu or something like that. In the Royal Navy it meant issue an extra helping of grog. In the US Navy it meant for the off duty officers to meet at the nearest bar or Officer's Club.

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A collision at sea will ruin your entire day. Aristotle

See?! This is exactly why I subscribe to this forum! You guys are awesome!

Thank you so much!!!

OK gang... Not too much progress (I've had automotive issues) but here's what's new.

Painted more of the deck


Attached boats to davits and rigged them.

Wow she is looking NICE!

As far as ships flying their International Call Letters, they only do it while entering or leaving port. When they actually raise or lower them (x number of miles from shore/territorial waters?) I don't know. Other than that they don't fly them as far as I know, save for maybe special occasions.

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Drawing Board:
1/700 Whiff USS Leyte and escorts 1984
1/700 Whiff USN Modernized CAs 1984
1/700 Whiff ASW Showdown - FFs vs SSGN 1984

Slipway:
1/700 Whiff USN ASW Hunter Killer Group Dio 1984

looking sharp chris......

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http://www.48thfleet.com

Got the railings done this afternoon and the decks painted this evening.

Hi Chris A great job you've done looking forward to the on the water photos. Is there much more to add?
Dave Wooley

G'day Mate, I was wondering if you made up your railings or purchased them from somewhere?? As you know I need over 6m of 3 rail for main deck on USS Long Beach and I don't wish 2 be soldering 6m of brass wire!!

Cheers Bruce

P.s She looks really sweet with all the railings on!

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building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

Hi Dave,

Thank you.
Well, I have about a 100 little flood lights, assorted reels and the refueling at sea pipes and connections. Well, that and electronics and batteries. I'm itching to get her out for sea trials. But, I'm staying the course and finishing her up. I've been known to get a little to anxious in the past with projects and skip things. I don't want that to happen with this one.
I still can't believe I talked the wife into letting me display this thing in the living room when she's not on the water.



Thanks Bruce.

I had to make all the railings. I cheated. I went to the hardware store and bought a roll of 1/2 inch (13mm) wire screen from which I cut one 1/2 inch strip at a time.



I had a decent piece of hardwood laying around my shop, so I made a Jig.





If you look close at the Jig, you'll see that I used brass nails. One set to hold the unsoldered wire screen and one set to attach the wire(s) that make up the other runners on the railing.
One nail was put in place on either side to make the single (center) bar of the upper railings. When I was ready to move on to making the main deck railings, I simply removed the single brass nails, made some measurements and hammered in two brass nails on either side.



This worked as my second pair of arms while soldering the railings. It worked out pretty good. Not perfect at first. It took me a few tries to get them decent enough to put on the deck.

Good luck with the Long Beach... I enjoy watching the progress on your build! That is one awesome ship model!

Hey Dave... After further review, I have a ton of "little" things to make. Lights, life rings, external intercom speakers and horns, reels, fueling hardware... The list goes on. Surely enough to keep me out of the wife's hair for a while.

Here's today's update. Painted in some more details and non-skids.







Here she is as of today... She's starting to look like a proper ship.

Hi Chris It's all the small detail that makes the difference and it's no small accomplishment to have pursuaded your wife to agree to displaying a large scale model in the living room. .
Dave Wooley

Thx Chris!! That will be a great help to me when I get round 2 doing the longer stretches of rail.

The non-skid deck paint and white deck markings really adds character to the ship.

Cheers Bruce

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building:
1/72 RC USS LONG BEACH CGN9
1/72 RC USS CALIFORNIA CGN36
1/72 RC USS SAIPAN LHA2
1/72 RC USS JOHN PAUL JONES DDG53
1/72 RC USS SHARK SSN591
1/72 RC USS SEAWOLF SSN21
1/72 RC USS ALBANY CG10

Well... I'm not sure if I totally like what I've done today. I added the Desron 2 logo and the Efficiency ratings.
They're a mish mash of media with some of them hand painted. With my poor eyesight they look decent at a distance but up close they're... meh.

I may end up trying to find some decent water slide decals and replacing these.

I rethought the "Desron 2" logo. Using an old Art School trick, I simply printed out the logo the size I need. I then sprayed the page (heavily until the paper was translucent) on both sides effectively saturating the paper in lacquer. Once dried, I cut them out and applied them with water proof PVA (dries clear) and Bob's your Uncle...

Looks a lot better than my first attempt.

Hi Chris that's a good tip .
Dave Wooley

Thanks Dave.

I used the same process to make flags. Although, I made two sides of each flag, PVA'd them together, cut them out and while the PVA was still a bit wet I made the flags look wavy. I then CA glued them to the cables on the mast.

Superb work Chris Now how about that water!