The Ship Model Forum

In the Skywave/DML kits the hull molding is incorrect as it does not extend to the stern. An easy fix along with thinning. An option would be to sand smooth and replace with strip styrene. Eduard has just released a two fret PE set that is extensive. You can view it along with the instructions on their site. Amazing! The new PaperLab 20mm and Mk 51 directors fit nicely in the kit tubs.

Is the weather deck of the Atlanta's wood or steel?

I started updating the shipcamouflage CL page tonight. I've got a couple of design sheets posted and will do the rest that are available some other night... off to the workbench with me!

You might want to change San Diego CL-53 to Ms-12 mod
for 42.

So I see. Although this photo is dated one day earlier and is an entirely different paint scheme. Hmmmm. I went ahead and made the change anyway but I'm asking around.

Any idea when she painted to MS 21?

Her refit was Dec. 43, although I can't imagine it being in ms 12 -mod that long. There is a photo inCL's in action showing the camo. Mid 42 is the date. I have some others at work.

Also she is shown at dock in Japan in her Dazzle. Though she wore Ms-21 home.

Among the official documents that I passed on to S Wiper some time ago, there was one that described this ship as using SEA BLUE as the darkest colour. It was dated about March 1942. NO NAVY BLUE.

There were 3 batches of Atlanta's, batch 1 - CL 51-54, batch 2 - CL 95-98, and batch 3 - CL 119-121. The first 2 batches were very similar. Batch 1 (Atlanta's) ALL had the stepped bridge. Some confusion arose from the B&W photos (see NH-97819 of San Juan on navsource) because the step was not always visible from some angles, even though it was always there. The open bridge on top of the pilothouse (PH) changed from a rudimentary thing that did not extend to the front of the PH, to the more extensive thing that followed the curve of the PH (San Diego and San Juan only). San Diego had splinter screens added at the step in front of the PH, as part of a "screen flagship" mod.

Batch 2 (Oakland's) actually had the same basic bridge. However, this was disguised by the fact that the PH sides were "shaved off" to narrow the structure, and simplify construction. (Flat plate is faster - fewer steps in the construction process). The PH face was still curved, as in the first 4. The curved front to the lower step was disguised by the forward extension on which 2 20MM mounts were placed. But the underlying structure remained very similar to the original batch. The open bridge, on top of the PH, was flat plate, again for simplicity of construction.

Batch 3 had the superstructure totally redesigned to lower the CG, and allow more AA guns to be mounted. On this group, the design team really did start from scratch, and incorporated all of the lessons of the war to date. 2/3 of the main battery were lowered by 1 deck level, and the bridge and fore-funnel moved aft to make room for a quad 40MM. This batch had even fewer curved plates in the superstructure.

The first 2 batches were designed for boats amidships. Only the first group carried them, though, and they were gradually removed to create space and weight compensation for added AA. Eventually, the crane went, as well. The second batch incorporated these changes from their completion. San Juan and all of the second batch carried 2 40MM twins in the former boat stowage area.

I am not sure where you are going with this. The stepped bridge is correct for San Diego. The pilothouse roof piece that goes with the kit recommended bridge face has the right concept, but is sized for the wrong bridge front. It should conform to the smaller, upper bridge of the stepped piece. San Diego later had a second splinterscreen added, on the lower step, but you could still walk around the front of the pilothouse on that same level, between the screen and the PH. Than makes the kit piece, with the uniform radius from top to bottom, wrong. Is this what you are wondering about?

Yes the bridge face on the Dragon kit for the San Diego is not stepped, but a full profile round bridge like on a FLetcher class destroyer. Possibly I don't follow what the splinter shield looks like but I'll keep researching photos... Clearly I'm not going to be content with just 1 Atlanta kit.

See the 2 bridge faces on this parts tree, part #3 is what Dragon calls for the San Siego, while part #2 is for the Juneau
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/cl/cl-53/700-dr/cl53-02b.jpg

And see the Box art, Dragon depicts the the bridge on the San Diego as being flush
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/cl/cl-53/700-dr/cl53-01.gif


Better yet, the kit instruction shows the wrong bridge face right?
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/cl/cl-53/700-dr/cl53-p-03.jpg

P.S. I swiped these pics from the reviews on this website... all rights reserved and all that .

Hi Jeff,

Go to the main page and find "Navsource" (at the bottom of the sponsors). Check out the pictures of the San Diego, CL-53. If you look at the next to last photo, you can see that it was possible to walk around the front of the pilothouse. That walk-around is the step. The metal "railing" around the front is a splinter shield. The Dragon kit is wrong and their boxart is too. The bridge WAS stepped from the day she was completed until she was scrapped. Part #2 is the only one close to accurate. Part #3 is not accurate for any of the class.