Postwar navy.

[Nektarios]

Looking good, Carl. You also helped highlight places I'll have to make considerations for when I start building the Mightier Mo. I'm not sure if the stack section on the aft, between the Harpoon Tubes, is big enough for one of the VLS, but I hope to be able to fit three of them lengthwise into that section. I would have asked you for comparison, but you already sent me the two spares you had. I already have a feeling I'll have to bulk out the sides of the aft structure as well, so that the structure itself is flush with the top deck. I think the narrow side of the VLS will manage to fit between the harpoons in a raised section, and since I'm planning on using all flat mounts in that location, with the angled ones in the forward block, it should be doable I think. I'm thinking I can manage to keep the Harpoons for additional capacity as well.

Oh, here's an interesting thing - the guns, by being only 3mm too long, actually translate, in scale, to being a little over a whole five calibers longer. Just thought I'd throw that interesting little tidbit out there.

I also want to build a what-if version of Iowa class but i was thinking about a less extensive "modernisation"

128 VLS cells plus the new 5-inch/62s and of course substituting Phallanx with RAM. I want also to add an SPS-48 or SPY-1(although i cannot find the proper place for it ).

I think your build might give me some ideas.

[Sauragnmon]

Yeah, I'm going to look into the thought of RAM launchers, I was thinking of positioning them centerline, possibly in the position of the old turret-top bofors mounts. Being that they need no magazine access under them, I thought it might not be impossible to position them there.

Curious how you plan, exactly, to have 128 cells in your VLS mounting?

5"/62's I'm not sure about, it'd be hard to acquire them without a supplier, as they're only on the newer Burkes in plastic, as I don't think anybody's producing Flight II Ticons, which would have two of them. That's the big reason I'm using the 5/54's, mostly because they were easy enough to acquire, thanks to the wonderful help of Carl. I'm truely cursing how long it takes my LHS to get the stock in, I just called and he's still got no news from Hobbycraft with regards to the stuff I've got on order.

[ASFC]

Thanks for the comments on Gold Rover! At the moment I have no plans to use her in a diorama due to space issues.

Iowa conversion maniacs, I am disappointed. There are no Harriers or ski jumps in your plans........


( only joking' I especially look forward to seeing the nuke powered battleship! )

[mitchell300]

Anybody can give me a link of any sites that sells PE for 1/700 ore brass turrets for scale 1/400-1/600?
Thanks.
and i hope that ur progress on ur next ship will be good
I love ur iowa!
I cant even my make 1.535 scale iowa like that O.o
Mitch

[Nektarios]

Iowa conversion maniacs, I am disappointed. There are no Harriers or ski jumps in your plans........

ASFC i never really considered the Harrier-carrier conversions really doable or practical. Although they were really interesting in theory nobody would invest a huge sum of money on 40-plus years old ships. Furthermore the Harrier-carrier conversion plans would reduce the shore bombardment capabilities of the BBs which was one of the most important reasons they were reactivated.

[ASFC]

You missed my smilie at the end of my post then.

I agree with you, whilst they would be interesting, in reality they would reduce the Firepower of the ship. It was though a more feasibly idea than some of their other more hair-brained ideas (anyone remember the idea of Spru-cans converted to carry Harriers for sea control? ).

[Nektarios]

Yup i did miss it.

Here are a couple of photos of the designs you mentioned.

[Nektarios]

Some photos of DDG-177 i finished yesterday.

















As always any comments or questions are welcomed.

[Sauragnmon]

Hey the second one looks kinda cute, even if it could have done with, say, a VLS up front, and a forward-facing CIWS. Not a bad idea, in concept, even if they would have been rather limited in operations. F-35's would have made it somewhat effective in principle, though the best would have been to add a catapult to the end of the deck to allow full-weight takeoffs, or a deflector for short-run takeoffs.

As to the flight-deck conversion, I'm considering the thought of doing that with a New Jersey, since the NJ was the one they were considering the FDC with in the first place. If I do consider it in full action, I'll likely take some time and do impression-casting of additional VLS mountings for the FDC NJ. It'll have similar modifications as the Mightier Mo, but without the aft turret, some of the aft VLS, no aft director. A buddy over on the what-if board did an interesting concept of a USMC converted Mi-24V, in marine paintjob. With the missile battery and two turrets remaining, using the improved guns, the FDC Iowa would serve decently as a heavy operations support unit, and between some F-35's and Mi-24's, it would be able to put forward a small beach head group in concept. I dunno, it'd at least look interesting. I'd just need to come up with a source for the bits, really. Though the big chunk of flight deck I have from this Testors Kuznetsov could well do the job. I'm considering cannibalizing it for a modern flight deck for something else. I already robbed it of its Skywatch and Cakestand radar plates for Vladivostok.

[orb]

As always, very nice work Nektarios! Since my knowledge about Japanese warships is rather limited... I was just wondering, why exactly is the landing deck sloped? Surely has to serve some purpose?

[Nektarios]

As always, very nice work Nektarios! Since my knowledge about Japanese warships is rather limited... I was just wondering, why exactly is the landing deck sloped? Surely has to serve some purpose?

I don t know why the landing deck is slopped. Since DDG-173 and DD-101 classes have this sloped landing deck it probably has a purpose.

[Ultimo Tiger]

You know the Japanese love to be artistic with their ships.

[Hippy Ed]

As always, very nice work Nektarios! Since my knowledge about Japanese warships is rather limited... I was just wondering, why exactly is the landing deck sloped? Surely has to serve some purpose?

I don t know why the landing deck is slopped. Since DDG-173 and DD-101 classes have this sloped landing deck it probably has a purpose.

Could it possibly have something ta do with keeping water off the deck? Or, possibly a slide fer the sailors ta go fer a swim.... hmmmm.....

[Nektarios]

Could it possibly have something ta do with keeping water off the deck? Or, possibly a slide fer the sailors ta go fer a swim.... hmmmm.....

Now that i m thinking about it s a slide for sure.

[Nektarios]

Some photos of DDG-178 the second ship of the Atago class.

















As always questions or comments are welcome.

[pingjockey]

Looks great as usual Nektarios!!!!

[Nektarios]

Looks great as usual Nektarios!!!!

Thank you pingjockey. I see you have many interesting ongoing builds. What is their progress so far ???

[pingjockey]

Looks great as usual Nektarios!!!!

Thank you pingjockey. I see you have many interesting ongoing builds. What is their progress so far ???

Well I was focusing on my 1/350 Cushing but I ran into a problem with attaching the deck and have shelved it for a bit. I am focusing on my battle group diorama now, with all my 1/700 escorts arrayed around my 1/720 Roosevelt. Roosevelt, Ingraham, and Arleigh Burke are almost complete. I am not modifying the kits to fit a particular group, just making a generic battle group. I will post some pics of the progress to date. As for the ocean base, I am debating whether to use gel medium or Carl's method of making water using the tamiya plates.

[NukeMM]

Thank you pingjockey. I see you have many interesting ongoing builds. What is their progress so far ???

Well I was focusing on my 1/350 Cushing but I ran into a problem with attaching the deck and have shelved it for a bit. I am focusing on my battle group diorama now, with all my 1/700 escorts arrayed around my 1/720 Roosevelt. Roosevelt, Ingraham, and Arleigh Burke are almost complete. I am not modifying the kits to fit a particular group, just making a generic battle group. I will post some pics of the progress to date. As for the ocean base, I am debating whether to use gel medium or Carl's method of making water using the tamiya plates.

Pingjockey,

How big will your dio be? Bigger than 11.75 x 16.5 inches? That's how big the OEPs are. If you discover a nice way to join the sheets together and hide the seam, let us know, please.

[NukeMM]

I worked on the foremast of my modern Iowa, today.

I extend the platform a little aft. The SPS-49 was going to hit the SPS-10 in front and the column on the aft of the platform. The platform also looks longer towards the aft in the photos.

I then add the brass rod structural supports to the mast platform.