Hello again all....
Now that the small USCG cutter is finished, time to move on. This new project will be the Escort Carrier USS Guadalcanal CVE-60, and the USS Pillsbury DE-133 in a waterline scenario, side by side. These two ships among others were responsible for the capture of U-505. I won't do a history lesson here, you can find that on your own. The project is for the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Ill., and the ECSAA. The museum has the real u-boat, in pristeen condition from what I have seen in photos. I can't wait to see it! I am really getting into the waterline displays. Showing the ships in their own "element" is pretty cool. Thanks to Jim Bauman. So here we go.........
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File comment: Photo of CVE-60 with U-505 in the foreground. Note the CVE's MWB next to the sub.
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File comment: Good stb. view of the CVE. Note camo MS. 32 / Design 4A. Interesting scheme. Some parts are shaded rather then straight lined. Colors are 5-P, 5-L, 5-H, and 5-N, for the hull.
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File comment: Here's the DE with the U-505 again in the foreground. Pillsbury was an Edsall Class DE and is in MS22 scheme, circa 1944. Note her whaleboat.
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File comment: Nice profile drawing of the DE.
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File comment: Heres the start of the Carrier. I have fabricated the main keel from 3/16" plywood. Ribs or sections are 1/8" balsa. This photo shows the first layer of 1/16" bala sheeting installed to cover the hull. There will be one more, again 1/16", laminated and staggered to this first layer.
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File comment: Forward section of the CVE from stb side. Note the large number of hull formers, 51 on each side. I did this in an effort to keep the shape more uniform. Seems to be working well. Forecastle deck is 1/8" balsa. Hull sheeting rough at this stage, will get much better with the second layer.
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File comment: Bow view looking aft. Again note the number of "formers".
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File comment: Portside view looking aft. Bow not formed yet. I will use autobody filler here after hull sheeting is completed and sealed.
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File comment: Portside view showing the flightdeck rough-in. Flightdeck is 3/16" plywood. Sides of gallery deck are .040 styrene, with 3/16' plywood behind to stiffen the structure. Note the elevator locations.
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File comment: Portside aft view here. The aft elevator will be lowered eventually so the visible framework here will be removed. I'll detail it out later. Note the holes in the flightdeck. These are from screws holding the flightdeck dead flat to a work surface while installing the sides of the gallery deck. Very aft end of flightdeck is shaped balsa, as well as fwd. end.
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File comment: View of the framework for Pillsbury. In an effort to save some time, I decided to purchase a DE in semi kit form from BAD shipmodels. I regret that I did. I usually don't do any sort of reviews on other peoples "stuff". But I was rather dissapointed with this so called "kit". For the time it will take me to make things right, just with the hull, I should have built it myself. I will do the rest of the ship scratchbuilt, as the rest of the "kit" is junk. Just goes to show you, trust your OWN abilities. I will not make the mistake again. I will not say anymore on this.
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File comment: Another view of the hull framework for the DE. About the only thing thats close to being correct. I'll fix it , in any event. Guess I'm getting too picky in my age......
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Well, another project underway. In spite of some setbacks and dissapointments, things are moving forward. I have a deadline of June 2011. We will see. Wish me luck. My 58th birthday today. No wiser and no younger. At least I can still see, somewhat
Stay tuned...More to come....I continue on..............