Model Monkey 1/350 USS Portland Bridge

[taskforce48]

Just got my latest delivery from Shapeways. It contained Model Monkey's 1/350 3D printed USS Portland 1942 Bridge. 3D printing has achieved a new level in finesse and detail. It comes as two separate parts that literally click together like Lego's and then it is near impossible to tell it isn't one piece. It certainly looks the part and looking references it is spot on for accuracy, it's designed to fit either the Academy or the Trumpeter USS Indianapolis kits. My only negative for it is the deck planking didn't quite print quite right. I am not sure if Steve's design is just pushing the envelope of Shapeway's ability or if I got a bad print. It has streaks of smooth detail across the deck and the planking is lost. I am not too concerned for a couple of reasons;
#1- The decking is more properly scaled than the kit planking and will stand out anyway
#2- Turret II will cover most of it
#3- The Planking is so fine, after a prime and paint it may not be all that visible anyway.

I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking.











Here the parts are on an Academy conversion I started awhile back





Matt

[NavyFan1]

So, Matt in a nutshell, would this would be accurate for a prewar (late 1930's) Portland?

[taskforce48]

In a nutshell, no. It would get you a heck of a lot closer than a stock kit bridge though. In February of 42, the Sweet Pea was upgraded and a lot of work was done to the bridge to add 20mm's. Don't have references right in front of me but it would be some work.

HTH
Matt