Calling all USS Barnegat-class seaplane tender (AVP) fans

[NukeMM]

Darren's new 1/350 Small Signal Flag set was just perfect for finishing off my USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38!

The Dux served as flagship for ComMidEastFor in the 1950's and 1960's. The two-star admiral flag adds that special touch along with the admiral's barge.

Thanks Darren!

[NukeMM]

The USS Barnegat AVP-10 ended up as a Greek Cruise ship, the Kentavros.

[NukeMM]

Here are a couple of web pages with AVP information.

Vietnamese Navy (VNN) AVPs.

http://vnafmamn.com/VNNavy_inventory.html

USCG WAVPs and WHECs and other USCG craft:

http://www.levesque-art.com/coastguardp ... /id36.html

[NukeMM]

There is a terrific article by Joseph T. Ponti in the September 2008 issue of "Sea Classics" magazine, entitled "Weathermen at Sea in War and Peace. The article mentions and shows photos of a few WAVP/WHECs of the Casco / Barnegat class.

Here is a USCG AVP conversion.

USCGC Unimak WHEC-379 (the former USS Unimak AVP-31) along side USCGC Chase WPG-718.
(Photos courtesy of, and with permission of, Eric Heald, Unimak veteran.)

I like this photo because it compares the relative sizes of the two clases of cutters.



These are cool photos for the ship modeler.

[NukeMM]

Here are photos that I took of the Commander Series Models / Iron Shipwrights Series 1/350 USS Mackinac AVP-13 Resin Model Kit.

[NukeMM]

More photos of the Mackinac Kit..........

[NukeMM]

Well, I am having a hard time trying to keep this build a surprise. My internal need to share is getting the best of me. Because it is an unusual subject and that I intend to enter it in the 2009 Nationals (my first time) I wanted to keep it a secret and a surprise.

I hope that it is okay with CADMAN that I post progress photos in this "Calling All........Fans" catagory thread. It will help to keep this thread active, I would think.

But here is what I am building.............



It is a 311' Cutter in USCG service, originally a Barnegat class AVP seaplane tender.

I haven't exactly decided which one that I am going to portray, yet. Maybe that will be the secret.

I am converting the ISW 1/350 Mackinac AVP-13 kit.

[NukeMM]

[NukeMM]

[NukeMM]

Scratch built one of two blowers:



Detailed the forecastle a little. Styrene rod bitts and 1/700 Capstans from BFM that seem to work here in 1/350:

[NukeMM]

I assembled and attached the fantail's "towing rail", today.

[NukeMM]

After sorting through six different online sources for the associations between USCG 311' Cutters that were given to the Republic of Vietnam Navy (RVN) in the early 1970's, I think that I've sorted it all out. There was so, much conflicting information.

This turned out to be the most accurate resource:
http://www.vnafmamn.com/VNNavy_inventory2.html

HQ-2 Tran Quang Khai USCGC Cook Inlet WHEC-384 (AVP-36)

HQ-3 Tran Nhat Duat USCGC Yakutat WHEC-380 (AVP-32)

HQ-5 Tran Binh Trong USCGC Chincoteague WHEC-375 (AVP-24)

HQ-6 Tran Quoc Toan USCGC McCulloch WHEC-386 (AVP-56/AGP-8 Wachapreague)

HQ-15 Pham Ngu Lao USCGC Absecon WHEC-374 (AVP-23)

HQ-16 Ly Thuong Kiet USCGC Bering Strait WHEC-382 (AVP-34)

HQ-17 Ngo Quyen USCGC Castle Rock WHEC-383 (AVP-25)

3/27/2009 - Revised list ....................
After aquiring additional evidence and references the table, below, is the more accurate.

HQ-2 Tran Quang Khai USCGC Bering Strait WHEC-382 (AVP-34)

HQ-3 Tran Nhat Duat USCGC Yakutat WHEC-380 (AVP-32)

HQ-5 Tran Binh Trong USCGC Castle Rock WHEC-383 (AVP-25)

HQ-6 Tran Quoc Toan USCGC Cook Inlet WHEC-384 (AVP-36)

HQ-15 Pham Ngu Lao USCGC Absecon WHEC-374 (AVP-23)

HQ-16 Ly Thuong Kiet USCGC Chincoteague WHEC-375 (AVP-24)

HQ-17 Ngo Quyen USCGC McCulloch WHEC-386 (AVP-56/AGP-8 Wachapreague)

[NukeMM]

More RVN Mackinac / Casco class ship photos........

[NukeMM]

I thought that one of these medallions would look nice on my final display base.

[NukeMM]

Progress continues on my USCG 311' Cutter.

The Balloon Hangar Deck's Catwalks and compatments, below.





Yankee Modelworks white metal Signal Flag Bags have been attached and the O3 and O4 decks glued to the O2 assembly. And the O2 assembly has been glued to the O1 level.

[NukeMM]

Its starting to really take shape!

[Nektarios]

Your build looks amazing as every other i ve seen from you Carl

[bwross11]

Greetings all,
I was informed that I hadn't given an update on the Cook Inlet project by a friend of mine, so here you go.

This picture is a little dated since there has been more progress beyond this, but you get the idea.

I have finished blocking in the fire control platform above the bridge. Additionally, I have added butt strakes to the sides and have drilled and modeled a number of the overboard discharge ports. Having acquired ship yard drawings of the class I have made a few other modifications to the decks and structures to get them more accurate.

The other big addition was the basic framing up of the fire control tower amidship.


The main structure is .030" dia brass wire with .020" dia bracing. The entire assembly is just over 1" in height. I'll go back and add some wiring and the directors at a later date.

This picture is actually closer to where the hull currently stands.


Well, there you go; the current status of the USS Cook Inlet. Hopefully I'll be able to give more updates in a timely fashion, but since I'm rapidly moving into the fine detail segment of the project big gains are not that obvious.

Good modeling all,
Bruce

[NukeMM]

Bruce,

Thank you so, very much for posting this progress pictures!!

That hull is just super impressive! But it needs seachest intake grates, though, don't you think?

I want to remind any, and all, on-lookers that this is 1/144 scale.

Just beautiful! I could sit and look at it all day. And I think I will.

USS COOK INLET AVP-36 November 1944

[NukeMM]

Your build looks amazing as every other i ve seen from you Carl

Thanks, Nektarios!

If this was 1/700 I think it would be accepted in your Postwar 1/700 USN thread, right? Too, bad its 1/350.

I appreciate your monitoring my progress.