Diorama - 1/700 USS Ajax AR-6 & Knox FFs

[NukeMM]

Ever since I saw this photo (3 years ago) I've had the urge to build a diorama of it.

Located at Subic Bay sometime before the USS Ajax's decommissioning in 1986 and the USS Brewton receiving the bow's bulwark modification sometime before 1984, it depicts the repair ship with three USS Knox Class frigates; USS Brewton, USS Whipple, and USS Ouellet.



I plan to use the Loose Cannon Productions USS Vulcan AR-5 1/700 resin kit and three AFV Club USS Robert E. Peary FFG-1073 1/700 plastic kits.

I plan to make it as small of a diorama as I can and I plan to omit the barges to the stern of the Ajax but, include the white buildings nearest the ship. I'll probably have to scratch build the barge outboard the Ouellet

So far, I've started modifying the Vulcan kit by removing much of the molded-in details on the O2 deck, around the bridge deck and on the main deck, fore and aft. I've filled the wooden deck pattern with bondo and I've sanded it smooth. I'm just about ready to prime these parts and check the putty job.



Detailsl to be removed are marked with black.

[NukeMM]

[pingjockey]

Great idea for a diorama! Looking forward to seeing this one progress. Looks good so far.

[NukeMM]

Thanks, Ping. I hope that it turns out like I'm picturing it.

I've been playing around with the layout using temporary buildings and barge. I'll have to scratch build the larger white buildings and barge but, I think that I can modify the smaller buildings to resemble the ones in the photo.

[Rui Matos]

Hi Carl

Looks very good, the composition is very well balanced!
Don't forget the different weathering on the heli decks of the FFG's - it will make it (even) more interesting and the small craft in front of USS Ajax

A project to follow with pleasure!
Keep up
Cheers,
Rui

[NukeMM]

Hi Carl

Looks very good, the composition is very well balanced!
Don't forget the different weathering on the heli decks of the FFG's - it will make it (even) more interesting and the small craft in front of USS Ajax

A project to follow with pleasure!
Keep up
Cheers,
Rui

Once again, I admire your eye for detail, Rui!

I, too, noticed the different shades to the helo decks. I'll be trying to pick out any details, like that, that I can see from this photo and another of the same scene from a different angle.

I may have to leave out all of the vehicles, though.

[roy allen]

Carl,
do you have to make your own cases for this or are you lucky enough to have a sealed display case at home.

I have massive problems with storage once a model is complete and have been toying with the idea of making my own.
GLASS heavier and very fragile but looks great
PERSP light but easily scratches and i can never get a smooth cut for some reason

The angle of the dio is perfect as it draws the eye across the scene nicely


Roy

[NukeMM]

Carl,
do you have to make your own cases for this or are you lucky enough to have a sealed display case at home.

I have massive problems with storage once a model is complete and have been toying with the idea of making my own.
GLASS heavier and very fragile but looks great
PERSP light but easily scratches and i can never get a smooth cut for some reason

The angle of the dio is perfect as it draws the eye across the scene nicely


Roy

Roy,

I haven't made any cases, myself, yet. But, I may in the future.

For this diorama, I am using an IMEX case.



Since starting my ship modeling, I have been using various size IMEX cases and mounting them on wooden bases that I have made myself and adding a nameplate from the local trophy shop.





I have had custom cases made for my USS Iowa, USCGC Bering Strait, the harbor diorama, and my USS Oyster Bay diorama. With most of these, I have routered a groove in the wooden base and the trophy shop guy made the case to fit exactly inside the groove.

[Robin]

Carl,

If you are doing a diorama of Subic, you need to include Magsaysay Dr and Olongapo City with everything!

Robin

[NukeMM]

Carl,

If you are doing a diorama of Subic, you need to include Magsaysay Dr and Olongapo City with everything!

Robin

Whatever those are!?? But, I'll keep in mind, anyway, Robin.

On a serious note, Robin, (and I assume that you've seen such a nest of ships next to a tender, in person) I'd like to discuss, with you, the layout of gangways or accommodation ladders between the nested ships and the tender and since I can't see the stbd side of the AJAX, here, where the gangway/ladder from the dock onto the AJAX would have been and what it would have looked like.

[Robin]

Carl,

You have my number call any time.

Magsaysay Dr is the main drag outside the main gate of the base and Olongapo City is the town!

[kidcurrie42]

Looking Good Carl,

Check Navsource especially USS Vulcan page, gives a good side on shot of her alongside with gangways, there are several ways it can be done, so none would be wrong, she would have even utilised her accomodation ladder at times, for ship to ship brows, look for easiest route across.

Happy Modeling

John

[Russ2146]

Carl, Don't forget

[NukeMM]

I'll study the Navsource photos, closer, John. Thanks!

"Don't forget" what, Russ? I don't understand.

The Vulcan kit comes with PE cargo doors for the side of the ship and there is an option for open or closed doors. It looks like I'll have to open at least one door on each side of the AJAX for the brows and access laddes. That means drilling out the resin and chiseling out the openings like I did on my USS Oyster Bay.

Robin gave me good information about brows between the FFGs near their fantials where their quarterdecks were located.

The ships in this diorama are going to be the easiest, for me, to replicate. It is the land details, finishes, and textures that I'm worried about portraying realistically. I don't want it to look like a clean HO train layout.

[Russ2146]

Booms

[NukeMM]

Booms

I wasn't sure if that's what you were talking about. I know we've discussed boat booms, recently.

In some photos of the AJAX and JASON the boat booms appear and disappear. I think I'll add them to my AJAX just as an added little detail even though I can't see if they are there, in the inspiration photo.

[Russ2146]

Well the view of the forward port side is blocked but I see a little linear distortion just aft of the flight deck of the closest FFG. But they may have been removed because in recent times they seemed to have neted at pierside and they would have been tough to use given their height above the water.

But among the 1980 Navsource photos they appear on the Stbd side but not the Port. Tenders, it seems to me, nest to Port rather than Stbd so booms wouldn't be needed there.

[NukeMM]

I found this pic of the USS Ajax, online, and dated 1980.

It's hard to tell if its the port or starboard side.

[Russ2146]

These are dated October 1980

[Rui Matos]

It's hard to tell if its the port or starboard side.

Carl,
it's starboard (note the beam kind of protection) and compare with the first photo Russ posted

Rui