The Ship Model Forum

I am about to start on a what-if modernization of the South Dakota in 1/700. I got ahold of an old Hasegawa kit a couple years ago for free that was started and is missing a few pieces. I have a ton of stuff of all sorts in my spares drawers so I decided to get weird lol.

I am going to use the idea that she was reactivated for use during the Korean War. She was in her battleship configuration at the time. Later, after Korea, she was put back into mothballs/reserve.

During the early years of Vietnam, it was realized the helicopters were the wave of the future and the need came about for Command and Control vessels that could also perform additional support roles.

South Dakota was selected for a modernization that included removal of her aft main turret to make room for a flight deck capable of operating several helicopters. The aft superstructure was modified to make space for a hanger area. The number two forward turret was also removed to make room for additional superstructure to be put in place. (similar to the mods done to Little Rock or other cruisers) This additional space made room for senior command staff to assemble, work, and berth.

She was further upgraded by reducing her twin 5 inch mounts to four mounts total and adding CIWS mounts for self defense.

She would serve in this role until the mid-80's when other vessels had been put into place making her completely obsolete.

I will be modeling her in what I envision as her final appearance before being decommissioned.

I should be getting the ball rolling this weekend so I hope to have some initial pics to post by early next week.

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

Very interesting! Btw check that if you remove the heavy stuff like turreta then there might be a need to make her boot toppig wider or other way show that she would sit higher on the water (like the modeler who converted an iowa or montana hull into a carrier - or like modern Iowas sit way higher).

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- @Shipific on IG
my gallery

Thanks for the tip on her riding higher. That is something I hadn't thought of be should be able to address. I am excited about this build because it is fun and it was tax my scratch building skills. I hope to learn some things with this one to use on future builds. I didn't have time to get much done this weekend so I hope to get some done this week and get some initial pics.

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

Did a little tinkering with this one the last few days. The hull and waterline plate were already attached when I got the kit. There was a LOT of extra glue all over and I got that mostly cleaned up. I also started removing some of the aft deck details so that flight deck will fit in place. Did a little prepping of the flight deck also. Here are a couple of shots of what I have so far. Still need to do more sanding/cleaning up on the hull and deck. Also need to start working on the hanger. The flight deck is just dry fitted for now.

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

Hey Mike,
I LIKE IT A LOT

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Jim Varnell
ABH2 USN/RET.
89-00
Eastern NC Modelworks

Up coming projects:
1/700 scale rebuild of diorama project 960 square feet.
(Table 1 underway)Feb.2017
1/350 USS ALASKA CB-1(started Aug. 2017) 70% completed

Very interesting!

Does that flightdeck section come from a supercarrier?

Thanks Jim . Marijn, yes from a 1/800 kit. I have a parts kit that has two flight decks so I cut one up for this project. I didn't want a large deck on her and this section was just the right size for what I want. I did a little more sanding and removing of details from the existing hull over the last couple days. Still have more to clean up and then should be ready to start scratch building the hanger section.

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

Interesting concept! i'll keep my eyes on this thread for sure




Jose

Haven't had a lot of time lately but I got some work done on the hanger area. I also have been removing some of the additional molded on details because I either have PE replacements or don't want/need them on her. I should have some updated WIP pics in a day or two.

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

Got the walls of the hanger built and installed and got the molded on details removed from the superstructure. I have PE doors, fire hoses, and other bits to detail things up. I should have the top of the hanger done tomorrow and then need to start working on detailing it.

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

Coming along great




Jose

Man, one should build a what-if ISE based on this. Just redesign the rear deck a little and voi-la, you got yourself a man in the iron castle style ship. This reminded me Ise now in some way. More pretty of course. Ise was not nice to look at.

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- @Shipific on IG
my gallery

Pascalemod, I agree that Ise would make a really cool what-if project. I think if you removed the amidships turrets on her and extended the flight deck up to the funnel, it would have a lot of potential. If I had an Ise kit in my stash, I would have used her. I am having a lot of fun working on this one though. Learning good stuff and enjoying myself

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

I got the hanger finished minus some cleaning up on the seams and such. I also started working on the stern below the end of the flight deck. I don't have any pics of the stern yet but will get some this weekend. Still need to add details to the outside of the hanger which I will do this weekend also.

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

Reworked the stern and did a little work up front on the bridge. Started working on the addition to the front superstructure and should have some pics of that in a day or two.

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

Haven't had much time this week but got a little accomplished. I used some styrene sheet to raise her waterline up a tad to reflect the weight taken off by the turrets and such. I also made some progress on constructing the new forward superstructure section. I don't have the pics handy right now but will try to get them uploaded tomorrow.

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Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

Interesting! I love BB WIFs! I will follow!

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Proper Preparation Prevents Poor Performance

Couple pics of the modified forward superstructure. I did some sanding and cleaning up on it after the pics and then primed everything. I was quite nervous about the scratch building on this project but I am really enjoying it! More pics soon.

_________________
Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

I was able to work on some details around the hanger area, and some painting the last couple days. I will get the pics posted tomorrow. Hoping to start painting the decks and superstructure tomorrow also.

_________________
Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944

A few pics of the latest progress.

_________________
Just finished:
1/350 USS Santee 1944

Current projects:
1/700 USS Catamount 1960
1/350 USS Columbia 1945
1/350 USS San Francisco 1944