The Ship Model Forum

Trying to contact maccrage of Milwaukee, OR regarding your Shapeways Brooklyn superstructure. Haven't seen you post since 13NOV2021.

Random one for you all, decking on the stern of the USS Helena in 1942.



All drawing I can find of the Helena all show her deck planking ending just fore of the Hangar cover.(Blue arrow) which is supported by an image of her fitting out on page 4 of Leeward's Damage Report No.1.

However, this image of St. Louis in March of 1942 shows the planks ending further forward (Red arrow)



Question, did the Helena get the same treatment post 12/7/41 repairs or was St Louis built this way? On page 26 of the Leeward publication, there are two images I have not seen elsewhere of the Helena finishing her refit, one shows a potential answer shot but in the book it's not high resolution enough to pick out the decking. I have found two of the images in high resolution that are on that page, but the one in the bottom left corner I have been unsuccessful in tracking down.

TIA
Matt

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In the yards right now:
USS Utah AG-16
On Hold
1/350 USS Portland CA-33 1942
1/350 Trumpeter Texas with a twist

I'm pretty sure the wooden decking did not go past the red arrow in your drawing. In the photo you can see the line of the transverse margin board (there the wood decking stops) crossing the deck just aft of the vents and other equipment.

The hanger cover front end is where your blue arrow shows when the hanger is closed. But when it opens if rolls forward on the two tracks visible in the photo and drawing to where your red arrow points. There is no wood decking between these rails.

The Clevelands were like this too.

I would guess that the catapults, hanger cover rollers, airplanes and such would leak oils and grease that would stain wood decking. Also, for the lower 6"/47 triple turrets the blast from the guns might also burn the decking. At least the wood decking stops aft of the gun barrel muzzles up forward, and ahead of the muzzles aft. I don't think this was a real problem though. The USS Oklahoma City CLG-5 had wooden decking extending far forward of the 6"/47 turret and it pumped about 18,000 6 inch rounds out of the forward turret in Vietnam. If there was any charring of the teak it was easily removed by holystoning.

Phil

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A collision at sea will ruin your entire day. Aristotle

Too late?

With Vee Hobby future release of a 1944 Honolulu, how difficult would it be to backdate it to a 1942 version?



Bob

There would be many differences, the most extensive changes were made to the bridge:

1939

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Honolulu_(CL-48)_underway_at_sea_on_9_February_1939_(NH_53562).jpg

1942
https://www.navsource.org/archives/04/048/0404822.jpg
https://www.navsource.org/archives/04/048/04048.htm

1944

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Honolulu_(CL-48)_at_anchor_in_1944.jpeg

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If it helps, here is a youtube about Cleveland class hangar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT6pRbK4bfg

Thank you Maxim



Bob

CL-46 USS Phoenix Booklet of General Plans (19XX) (version 1) https://archive.org/details/cl46bogp19xx
CL-46 USS Phoenix Booklet of General Plans (19XX) (version 2) https://archive.org/details/cl46bogp19xxv2
CL-46 USS Phoenix Booklet of General Plans (19XX) (version 3) https://archive.org/details/cl46bogp19xxv3

Does anyone have any info on when this kit will be released?

Steve