Calling Alaska-class (CB-1) fans

[Cliffy B]

Hi Guys,
Sebastian,
That's a good question. The Alaska and her sister were de-comm'd shortly after the war. They may never have been re-painted into post war neutrals, but I'm just not sure.

Did Alaska and Guam spend at least 5 years in mothballs? ALL ships in mothballs are overhauled every 5 years, including a paint job. The both went in wearing Ms. 22, by 1950-51 they'd be in Ms. 13 I'd imagine. I know all of the New Orleans Class CAs and the Big 5 BBs were re-painted that way while in mothballs and they were all de-comm'd a lot sooner. Don't know why there aren't any photos of the CBs in mothballs...

[Sr. Gopher]

The Alaskas were more modern, so they could be held out longer for active duty than say, the Frisco. The older vessels were already over a decade old by the end of WWII.

[Russ2146]

Go to http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/56b.htm, which is the Washington and in the post war photos, scroll down and you'll see her reserve fleet companions, Alaska and Guam. Looks to me like they were repainted after the war.

[Sr. Gopher]

Russ does have a point there... Oh, well.

[SebastianP]

Thanks for the info.

Another CB question - is there an explanation posted somewhere for why exactly the CB's had their catapults amidships, rather than at the stern like pretty much every other cruiser or battleship the US built since 1935? With midships deck space being prime space for AA guns, it just seems weird for ships that were finished while the war was in full swing not to have the same arrangement...

Cheers,

SP

[Sr. Gopher]

I have a book here called Warships from 1860 to the Present Day, which states that the after hull lacked the depth needed to accomodate the four aircraft, so they were relocated to amidships. I personally think this is better, mainly because that entire structure isn't as vulnerable.

[famman47]

I'd like to do a 1/700 build of either Alaska or Guam, but this review I found of one of the two kits makes me really hesitate to buy either of the only two kits (Midship Models) that are currently on the market. Here is a link to the review:

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Are there any other opinions out there regarding the two Midship kits? Have they been improved at all since the above review? Thanks in advance for any help you all could provide as I decide whether or not to lay out the one hundred dollars.

[Atma]

I'd like to do a 1/700 build of either Alaska or Guam, but this review I found of one of the two kits makes me really hesitate to buy either of the only two kits (Midship Models) that are currently on the market. Here is a link to the review:

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Are there any other opinions out there regarding the two Midship kits? Have they been improved at all since the above review? Thanks in advance for any help you all could provide as I decide whether or not to lay out the one hundred dollars.

Well Im still waiting for a USS Alaska class in plastic ! Here is review for a Samek 1/700 USS Alaska:
http://www.steelnavy.com/Alaska.htm

[famman47]

Thanks for the link. I went ahead and got the Midship guam kit for a low price.

[BFR4570]

I, too, am waiting for a plastic 1/350 Alaska. I fell in love with this ship the first time I saw one, I believe in the old Scale Ship Modeler magazine. I never knew this class existed before then. The article was about a model of this ship that was made entirely from scratch out of brass only. I think it was either 1/96, or 1/192 scale. The author/builder had to learn a lot of new techniques in order to solder the larger pieces without melting an adjacent joint, or heat deforming the metal itself. He made a beautiful ship though. Unfortunately, I can't find my copy! Does anyone else out there remember this article, and can direct me to it? Or does anyone know if there is any kind of online link for this article?

[Atma]

I just cant belive we still dont have a 1/700 or a 1/350 USS Alaska. (Moderator note: In plastic - these ships are available in resin)
The best looking Battlecruisers/Large Cruisers/white elephants(call them what ever you want) ever conceived USN design, besides of course the hedgehog class - USS Worcester class -.
At lest Admiralty makes an amazing resin kit of USS Worcester class.

[taskforce48]

I, too, am waiting for a plastic 1/350 Alaska. I fell in love with this ship the first time I saw one, I believe in the old Scale Ship Modeler magazine. I never knew this class existed before then. The article was about a model of this ship that was made entirely from scratch out of brass only. I think it was either 1/96, or 1/192 scale. The author/builder had to learn a lot of new techniques in order to solder the larger pieces without melting an adjacent joint, or heat deforming the metal itself. He made a beautiful ship though. Unfortunately, I can't find my copy! Does anyone else out there remember this article, and can direct me to it? Or does anyone know if there is any kind of online link for this article?

Here it is

Send me your e-mail in a PM and I will forward you a copy of the article.

Matt

[BFR4570]

I, too, am waiting for a plastic 1/350 Alaska. I fell in love with this ship the first time I saw one, I believe in the old Scale Ship Modeler magazine. I never knew this class existed before then. The article was about a model of this ship that was made entirely from scratch out of brass only. I think it was either 1/96, or 1/192 scale. The author/builder had to learn a lot of new techniques in order to solder the larger pieces without melting an adjacent joint, or heat deforming the metal itself. He made a beautiful ship though. Unfortunately, I can't find my copy! Does anyone else out there remember this article, and can direct me to it? Or does anyone know if there is any kind of online link for this article?

Here it is

ssmartalaskathumb.jpg

Send me your e-mail in a PM and I will forward you a copy of the article.

Matt

Thank you very much! PM sent!

[Atma]

I just cant belive we still dont have a 1/700 or a 1/350 USS Alaska. (Moderator note: In plastic - these ships are available in resin)
The best looking Battlecruisers/Large Cruisers/white elephants(call them what ever you want) ever conceived USN design, besides of course the hedgehog class - USS Worcester class -.
At lest Admiralty makes an amazing resin kit of USS Worcester class.

It seems our prayers fall on deaf ears, I was expecting a plastic USS Alaska class kit by the end of the year... Seems we have to wait one more decade for this to happen.

[Ian Roberts]

Question for the folks here: Friedman's US Cruisers lists the main battery directors on Alaska as Mk.34s, but it's my humble opinion that they were actually Mk.38s (the larger directors used on the fast battleships). For evidence, I present this picture: http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/1201/04020143.jpg

Any thoughts?

[robertmelvin]

Thanks for posting that photo. It reminded me of what beautiful lines Alaska and Guam had. We definitely need a good injection molded kit, I'd hope in both 1/350 and 1/700, of these beautiful ships. Lovely lines.

Bob

[Blue Devil]

Question for the folks here: Friedman's US Cruisers lists the main battery directors on Alaska as Mk.34s, but it's my humble opinion that they were actually Mk.38s (the larger directors used on the fast battleships). For evidence, I present this picture: http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/1201/04020143.jpg

Any thoughts?

Garzke and Dulin refer to Mk.38 directors in the Radar section of the chapter on the Alaska class in their book Battleships, United States Battleships 1935-1992. So they, at least, agree with you (which strikes me as a pretty strong endorsement!).

Michael

[Ian Roberts]

Heh, well that's good enough for me.

And yeah, I agree that they're easily the best-looking USN ships of World War II. Over the past years I've drawn them in Photoshop for Shipbucket, a pixel-format naval drawings website.

Here they are in link format:

USS Alaska CB-1 1944

USS Alaska CB-1 1945

USS Guam CB-2 1944

Maybe my drawings will be of some service to a ship modeller here? I can only hope!

[Timmy C]

The only thing they lack are "eyes" in the form of prominent bridge windows.

[Blue Devil]

Not sure I would have put the red & white stripes on the OS2U either. Beautiful drawing though, thanks for sharing!

Michael