WIP: 1/350 Pre-War USS Honolulu (CL-48)

[Dave Hill]

Hey guys

Sorry for the misleading post I made earlier...I'm not in the hospital!...I'm just enjoying being outdoors after a long Michigan winter!...I appologize for any confusion!

Dave

[Elvis965]

Nice work, Tony! Good to see you back at it!

One red turret top and one striped one? Interesting.

Didn't Helena also have green stripes on one of her turrets?



Bob

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Bob,
All I can say about the stripes and solid colors used on the turret tops is this: in 1939 Honolulu was CruDiv 9's flagship, and I'm copying a detailed photo of her as shown with stripes atop only T-2 and T-4 was a solid color. Additionally, the mainmast had a 2-star pennant flying from a jackstaff; also seen is this same pic. I've posted this pic earlier in this thread. In 1938, the Honolulu was seen with all three of her fwd turret tops with two stripes. That was considered her markings while exercising in a "Fleet Problem". It turns out that Lt Cruisers were designated with 2 stripes atop their fwd turrets. CA's has a single solid stripe that did NOT cover the entire turret top; that was saved for BB's.
The build:
Much, much work to do to finish the superstructure. I've added on all of the fwd s/s vertical ladders using .010" square stock attached to the pre-cut p/e ladders then attached where shown. Tamiya liquid cement will in fact bond the plastruct to the p/e and will bond the platstruct to the resin. If in doubt, a tiny drop of thin CA for back up has been used. The fwd s/s is in focus now, and I've got to determine where the inclined ladders go and where to cut through holes in each deck level for them. I know the inclined ladders are at the rear of each of the bridge deckhouses as seen in the Pre-War Brooklyn drawings I have scaled to 1/350. I'll figure it out. Also, I'll be adding the railings to each deck level before stacking them permanently. Another consideration is how much of the s/s to attach to the hull before adding the main deck railings. It would sure be easier to add on the main deck railings with a minimum or none of the s/s in place. We'll see. Soon to be dealt with; the funnels need more work; probably a good 4-6 hours will finish them nicely. The main thing is that I progress daily.
On a semi-serious note: I've taken ship modeling seriously for a while now; serious enough to care about the outcome of a project, and serious about the tid-bits of time to build I'm allowing myself. Although this model is not ever going up for public display, I am building her as a tribute to a great man and a great navy. What was ahead for Adm HE Kimmel and the USS Honolulu in 1939, (as I'm building her), would indeed be pretty darn difficult for anyone to get his mind around! Anyway, when this model is finished, his great grandson Mr.Manning Kimmel iV will receive this; a tribute to a great navy man. That's my opinion.
Back to the model.
Here are some s/s progress pics taken a few days ago. Each deck level is being treated as a model in its' own right; making the future finished USS Honolulu a complex gathering of sub-assemblies.
Here are a few views of the fwd s/s....





Thanks for letting me share, Tony

[ArizonaBB39]

Tony,

I always enjoy looking at your work, and it looks good Keep it up!

[Quincy]

Tony,

I always enjoy looking at your work, and it looks good Keep it up!

Ditto!




Bob Pink.

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Today ,I primered the deck that will end up being a natural unpainted wood surface. The base coat was neutral grey and the primer coat is white. I'm hoping to achieve the correct shade of the natural deck color; one that befits a flagship in the peacetime US Navy.
The white primer color is to enhance a lighter top coat after painting.
Also today, I spent some time placing the deckhouses on the 1/350 drawings, and I found a problem. When attached together in line, the entire assembly overruns onto the 4 turrets' position. The overall assembly is too long coming out of the box.
Funny thing, there are these two vertical pieces that are part of the aft most deckhouse and it looks like they're there on purpose. It looks like all I have to do is remove these and the aft dckhouse will then be positioned forward fixing this simple problem. I always give the manufacturer the benefit of the doubt, but this looks clear enough to me. Why are these aft dekhouse "bulkheads", there?
I'll never know, but I need to move on!
Here are some pics showing this simple problem and the equally simple solution.





Today, I also primered the photo-etch sheets, (3 sheets), so I can get ready to add on the railings to the individual deck levels. Railings will be added on according to the order that makes the most sense.
Tony

[ArizonaBB39]

Tony,

Excellent work, I wish I could get stuff I do in plastic to look as good as what you achieve in resin!

[PeteM]

Tony, first of all excellent work. As far as your question on the additional bulkheads, I'm no expert on resin molding but it seems to me that those two pieces are there to assist in the molding process, to get the resin into that area of the aft superstructure that is directly above them. Otherwise that part would be hanging in the air and it would be difficult to get the resin to flow into that area. I think they were meant to be removed so that the after part of the superstructure part just forward of it will fit snugly underneath it. My 2c.

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Pete,
I concur. I have made the changes as required' probably by design. I only have pages copied from the YMW instruction sheet. Pics show nothing and without dialog, I'm on my own; a place I'm used to being. I have since discovered that the same area on the fwd end of the aft s/s needs a few more changes.
I'll post when I'm through with the hacking!
Tony

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
First, I cut off those protuberances and sanded the sides of the boat-deckhouse to fit into the aft s/s assembly. Okay, now we're off and running!
Well, after studying a yard pic of CL-48 in Jan. of 42, I noticed that there is no porthole or w/t door at the front of the Mk34 tower as on the kit part.....gone!
I noticed the base for the mainmast is not symmetrical in shape, (unlike the kit part), but is almost entirely left of center; relative to the ships longitudinal c/l............gone!
The stbd side inclined ladder that goes down, (and fwd), to the roof of the boat-deckhouse needs to be added on; along with the railings on all of the aft s/s. Also, the lattice piece beneath the upper platform for the mainmast is all wrong....gone! I did that wrong!
The boat deckhouse roof detail is not the same as any pics I have of CL48, so it will be entirely re-done.
The tif of CL48 is just too big! I compressed it after cropping it and it's still too big. Sorry.
Here are some pics of todays work........or un-work.






Today, I got my Master Barrels Mast and yard set for the Varyag that will be used on this project; another $20.
Tony

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
I've been making some progress with corrections to the s/s sub-assemblies.
With some recent hi-res yard pics I've received, I am now able to correctly depict Honolulu's port side as well as the starboard side details; as I had to make earlier. Call it obsession with accuracy.
The last few days have been spent of the aft deckhouse and the boat deckhouse.
The boatdeckhouse has a large roof mounted ventilator that is not inlcuded in the Brooklyn kit, so I made one.
Also, the mushroom vents are from the L'Arsenal Missouri foredeck set, but had to be reduced in height.







Thanks for your interest, Tony

[ArizonaBB39]

Looking good Tony

[MartinJQuinn]

Tony,

My friend, you are a modeling artist. Super cool work...

[Avery Boyer]

I agree with Martin, absolutely superb work. Like all modelers, you have an artistic "style" and yours is crisp and clean. And as always, your attention to detail is remarkable.

[DanCinSD]

ok Tony, pour yourself a cold coke, kick back for 20min.............
Now, back to work August is coming fast!!

[J. Soca]

That is most impressive Tony!!


Jose

[mmkc50]

Your posts are interesting reading material. My father served on the USS Honolulu CL-48 as a gunner's mate. He will be 90 in July and I am looking for a replica model. He was on the Honolulu when Pearl Harbor was attacked. I don't think I could build one like you are doing but am interested in purchasing a built model or even a kit if they make it. Any information you could give me would be appreciated.
Thanks- we are all going to the next reunion in Chicago, September 22, 2011. Daughters and Sons of Pearl Harbor Surviviors will be there.

[Tony Bunch]

Hi mmkc50,
Unfortunately, there are no Brooklyn class CL's currently available in plastic model form. Many modeler's hope this will change some day. This class of ship made a difference!
Models?
There are some Brooklyn Class CL's available in 1/700 and 1/350 scale, but in the resin cast parts; mixed media form only. This project is just such a build.
The 1/700 models are roughly 10" long and the 1/350 scale models are 20". I believe that Corsair Armada did CL48 specifically in 1/700 scale. This kit may or may not be available these days. Niko Models of Poland offers a variety of Brooklyn's in 1/700 scale covering nearly all ships and or configurations.
Yankee Modelworks and IronShipwright both offer Brooklyn's in 1/350 scale. This particular build log is using the Yankee Modelworks 1/350 1942 USS Brooklyn kit; being back-dated to 1939 Honolulu.
I hate to say it, but no matter which kit you should choose, you're in for some work; lesser so in 1/700 scale.
If you're looking to hire a modeler to build Honolulu for you, you may wish to post on the main forum here on modelwarships.com.
I'm afraid I can not offer this service.
Please pass along my fondest regards to your father on behalf of we ship modeler's / junior historians the world over.
THANKS!
All the very best, Tony Bunch

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
This is a short post just to say, "I'm baaaaaack".
The CL-48 project finish is now within my sights. So much to do, and so little time! This evening, I finished assembly of the bridge deckhouse, and now I'll build the a/c handling crane. Tomorrow, more!
Pics when worthy, Tony
Well, here's a look at the painted main deck. I used Floquil's "Mud" lightened with Reefer White. I've used this wood deck color combo before on 1/700 Iowa builds.

Happy Memorial Day!

[MartinJQuinn]

Yeah, progress! I like the deck color.