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1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
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Author:  Dave Hill [ Mon Aug 25, 2008 11:32 am ]
Post subject:  1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
I’m using Trumpeter’s 1944 San Francisco to convert into the New Orleans as she looked after her final refit in 1945. With all the “Frisco’s” hitting the scene I chose to model the matriarch of the class because despite earning 16 Battle Stars and having 150 ft of her bow blown off by an enemy torpedo, she seems to be somewhat overshadowed by her more famous sister.

Visually the two ships look very similar...but after studying my references there are many details distinguishing the two.
The reference material I'm useing will be a set of "G" series plans from the Floating Drydock, Steve Wiper's New orleans class cruisers book and the CA-32 NavSource webpage...also, if I fold the plans to the section I need, I can scan them with my printer and reduce the sections from 1/192 to 1/350.

...any and all help from others will be greatly appreciated!!!



I started with the Hull/deck modifications...first the hull went under the saw by removeing the molded on prop guards...then stern 40mm tubs needed to go as the kit tubs are wrong for New Orleans...then the stern 20mm shields needed to be removed as well.

Image

Image

Next came removing some of the molded on deck details like the bow 20mm shields...anchor chain...hatches (to be replaced with PE)...bitts...and the Hawsepipe openings were hollowed out.

Image

Image
Removing the molded on bitts which were a litle to small


Dave :wave_1:
Author:  MartinJQuinn [ Mon Aug 25, 2008 1:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Looking forward to seeing this progress, Dave!
Author:  Quincy [ Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Me too! I love your show and tell pictures of your progress. :thumbs_up_1: :thumbs_up_1:



Bob Pink.
Author:  JimRussell [ Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Dave,

Pic's are great. Mods are FUN.

Jim
Author:  Firecaptain [ Tue Aug 26, 2008 3:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Really enjoy the step by step WIP's, I get a lot of ideas
on techniques and construction.
What are the other sister ships to the New Orleans?

What brand are the accessories will you be using?


Thanks
Author:  J. Soca [ Tue Aug 26, 2008 10:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Keep those pictures coming Dave, i'm looking forward to see her finished.


Jose
Author:  Dave Hill [ Wed Aug 27, 2008 6:50 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Firecaptain wrote:
What are the other sister ships to the New Orleans?


Cap'n,

The other ships in the class are:

Astoria CA-34
Minneapolis CA-36
Tuscaloosa CA-38
Quincy CA-39
Vincennes CA-44


Firecaptain wrote:
What brand are the accessories will you be using?


GMM & WEM New Orleans class PE sets
L'Arsenal 40mm & 20mm AA guns
Veteran Model 5"/25 guns w/L'Arsenal brass barrels
B&D Barrels 8"/55 brass barrels

Dave :wave_1:
Author:  Firecaptain [ Wed Aug 27, 2008 12:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Thanks for the info Dave.

Anyone following this thread know the differences in the Trumpeter Astoria and New Orleans kits?
(wondering if I need to get them since I see they may be close to the San Francisco, correct?)




Thanks
Author:  Quincy [ Wed Aug 27, 2008 2:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Hi Firecaptain,

The Astoria would be closest match for San Fransisco in 1/700. In the San Francisco kit, it has parts for the Astoria as well.
I saw the Astoria kit at my HobbyTownUSA store and was tempted to buy it. The only thing that stopped me was that I already have the Combrig resin kit of her. Next up is the Minnieapolis kit, that one I'll get!



Bob Pink.
Author:  MartinJQuinn [ Wed Aug 27, 2008 3:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Quincy wrote:
I saw the Astoria kit at my HobbyTownUSA store and was tempted to buy it. The only thing that stopped me was that I already have the Combrig resin kit of her.


That's funny - same thing happened to me at lunch today when I went to buy super glue!
Author:  Serhan Oflas [ Wed Aug 27, 2008 3:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Hello Dave,

Thanks for sharing your built. I'll watch with great interest. Hope you will inform shortcomings about construction if you'll meet. I have this lovely seen kit and eager to know all story :smallsmile:.

Regards :wave_1:
Serhan
Author:  Firecaptain [ Wed Aug 27, 2008 4:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Thanks Bob.
I have the San Francisco in 1/700, and normally only like to buy a sister ship or one from a refit etc that is visibly different.
One that at first glance you can tell that it is in fact a different ship, and / or has noticeable differences.

So thats why I was inquiring to the differences between the Trumpy Astoria and New Orleans as they relate to each other and to the SF.
Thanks





Quincy wrote:
Hi Firecaptain,

The Astoria would be closest match for San Fransisco in 1/700. In the San Francisco kit, it has parts for the Astoria as well.
I saw the Astoria kit at my HobbyTownUSA store and was tempted to buy it. The only thing that stopped me was that I already have the Combrig resin kit of her. Next up is the Minnieapolis kit, that one I'll get!

Bob Pink.
Author:  Dave Hill [ Wed Aug 27, 2008 7:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Serhan,

I'm fairly early in my build, but I found one thing already...checking my plans with digital calipers turret # 2 sits 2mm to low...the turret itself is the correct hight, it's the turret base that is wrong making the over-all hight incorrect...a spacer of some kind will be needed to get the correct over-all dimension...turrets 1 and 3 are correct!

Dave :wave_1:
Author:  Dave Hill [ Sun Aug 31, 2008 3:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Update: Hull

I really hate these two pc hulls!!!...It would be so nice if manufactures would make the hulls one pc with a groove 1/2 to 3/4 deep in the plastic so it would be easy to cut apart if you wanted to waterline it but still have a solid one pc. hull with no seam to deal with.

The fit of the hull halves was okay except at the bow which didn't fit very well and needed alot of filler and sanding to get smooth...the rest of the hull only needed a modest amount of sanding to smooth out the seam.

Image
The portholes up to #1 turret needd to be filled in as by wartime they were plated over.


Next came the prop shafts made from .060" alluminum tubing and styrene rod glued to the bottom of the hull groove to lift the deck flush to the top edge of the hull.

Image

Image
An over-all look at the hull.


Dave :wave_1:
Author:  William J [ Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
looking good Dave

Bill Keough :wave_1:
Author:  Dave Hill [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:00 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Hi all!!!

Update: Adding the deck.

Fitting the deck was a snap after gluing the styrene rod spacers to the hull groove...the deck sits flush to the top edge of the hull and no sanding will be needed here. before I could glue the deck down I had to cut off the remnants of the kit's 40mm tubs and then sand them smooth to follow the shape of the hull.


Image

Image
The tabs removed and sanded smooth...(notice how the deck sits flush with the top of the hull.)

Dave :wave_1:
Author:  Dave Hill [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:18 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
...the hull mods.

After referancing my drawings,I needed to fill in more of the portholes and drill some additional holes in the correct locations...to save time I used styrene rod instead of putty to plug the holes not needed and then sanded them smooth.

Image

Image
Additional holes drilled in the correct locations.

Dave :wave_1:
Author:  Dave Hill [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
...finishing the hull mods.

The holes plugged and sanded.


Image

Image

Dave :wave_1:
Author:  taskforce48 [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Loving it! :thumbs_up_1: Can't wait to see more, I am dying to start my 44' SF but I have to finish my 42' Frisco and Buchanan

Matt
Author:  MartinJQuinn [ Wed Sep 10, 2008 1:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: 1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)
Great stuff - keep the pictures coming!
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