1/350 USS New Orleans CA-32 (1945)

[Dave Hill]

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.





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.




Removing the molded on bitts which were a litle to small


Dave

[MartinJQuinn]

Looking forward to seeing this progress, Dave!

[Quincy]

Me too! I love your show and tell pictures of your progress.



Bob Pink.

[JimRussell]

Dave,

Pic's are great. Mods are FUN.

Jim

[Firecaptain]

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

[J. Soca]

Keep those pictures coming Dave, i'm looking forward to see her finished.


Jose

[Dave Hill]

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

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

[Firecaptain]

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

[Quincy]

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.

[MartinJQuinn]

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!

[Serhan Oflas]

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 .

Regards
Serhan

[Firecaptain]

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

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.

[Dave Hill]

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

[Dave Hill]

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.


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.




An over-all look at the hull.


Dave

[William J]

looking good Dave

Bill Keough

[Dave Hill]

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.





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

Dave

[Dave Hill]

...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.




Additional holes drilled in the correct locations.

Dave

[Dave Hill]

...finishing the hull mods.

The holes plugged and sanded.






Dave

[taskforce48]

Loving it! 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

[MartinJQuinn]

Great stuff - keep the pictures coming!