USS Indiana BB-58 Scratchbuild in 1/96 - 1944

[mark_sch]

Mark

[Bill Waldorf]

Hello again all! Guess it's about time for a new update on the Indiana build. I have been feverishly working on final details for the ship. AA guns, searchlights, radars, etc. I am getting there. This is an in-progress report on those details. Lets take a look........

Lets start at the bow. Here is the very forward twin 20MM mounts. There is some dispute as to wether these were in fact installed on the ship, as 20MM singles are also noted in my research. I decided to go with these. 20MM twins were in short supply, but I belive a few were added at Indianas last refit.

Anchor chains and stays now added. Copper and SS chain used here.

Here I have added the Mk27 stand by fire control radar atop the conning tower. This replaced the Mk 40 optical director.

I have added the sky-lookouts and target designators on the air defense platform atop the conning tower.

Another view of the AD platform.

SR/a secondary air search radar added here.

Another view

One of four Mk 37 gun directors for the 5" guns. The large radar is the Mk 12, and I have added the Mk22, the smaller football shaped one next to it. All P/E. The Mk 12 is a ranging and tracking radar, while the Mk22 is a height finding radar. These directors were employed against surface and airborne targets.

Another view

A 24' personnal boat added. A 26' MWB will be added also.

Ship number added. Techmod decals.

Boat booms added, port and stb. Tapered wood dowel used here, with fine tape to simulate metal rings.

Accomodation ladders added, two stb. and one port aft. Brass P/E. The lower platform is styrene w/brass railing. Not rigged as of yet.

One of 12 quad 40MM mounts. These are a kit from JR Haynes and consist of some 19 parts, P/E brass, resin and cast metal. Time consuming to assemble. I have 7 more to complete. Note the whip antennas which have been added,too.

Forward searchlight platform on the conning tower. Searchlights are cast resin. Note the MK51 gun directors just below. Also note the ships bell.

Aft searchlight platform on conning tower.

Gun arrangement on stb side superstructure deck. Portside differed from this arrangement. Again note the 20MM twins. I figure there were 8 of these mounts in total.

Heres the portside arrangement.

This area portside is where the other crane used to be. It was removed and this 20MM arrangement was added. Note the practice loading machine below the 20's, between the 5" turrents.

Good view of the forward superstructure AA complement.

Well, there it is, progress to date. As I said, more to go. I just keep cramming stuff on! On another note, The Indiana will be dedicated to the Indiana War Memorial Museum on July 29 at 2 PM. I am 90% sure on that. I'll post again before then. If any of you are close, please stop by!! Work goes on.......More to come...Stay tuned................................Bill W.

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Bill A true masterpiece. As I have said many times I am always inspired by the depth of detail and standard of craftsmanship from your models but the Indiana raises the bar a few more notches, amazing and inspirational work Thanks for taking time out to post such superb pictures .
Dave Wooley

[Richard J OMalley]

IT'S Alive

[Chris E.]

Ohhhh... She's looking great, Bill!!! Really coming to life. The person who quoted the line,"The Devil is in the details" evidently was a model builder! There's seems to be almost as much work in ships fittings and guns as there was in hull and superstructure construction! I am astounded by the level of detail here and I will be there for the dedication!

[ccain]

Breathtaking! Beautiful!!!

[ozpirate]

Hope I can build as good as your model. Can you build mine....... Na really very nice ship.
Mick

[HvyCgn9]

That's a beautiful model most impressive!!

Cheers Bruce

[JIM BAUMANN]

sharp sharp sharp!!!

The cleanliness and clean demarcation and finesse is testament to your superb methodology !!


Breathtaking!

JIM B

[Bill Waldorf]

Once again, Thanks to all for the posts and your kind words and thoughts. Makes it all more worthwhile. It is official,the Indiana replica will be formally presented to the Indiana War Memorial Museum and the remaining members of her crew on July 29, 2010, at 2 PM. As I said before, if any of you are close, please attend. There will be many vets there and many great stories. My replica is of course there too, but to meet the men who served aboard these great ships is a real treat. They are a disappearing lot. Time moves on, and there is but a few left. God's speed to all of them. If I in some way can enrich their lives a bit, thats payment enough for me. Hope to see some of you there............Stay Tuned.....More to come.................Bill W.

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Bill I wish I could be there , It will be a great day and all the very best to you , savor the day as I know you will .
Dave Wooley

[roy allen]

Superb workmanship Bill

Hope all goes well for the 29th

Roy

[Neptune]

Sweet build for sure!
Hope you will enjoy that day! It's a great addition to the museum and I hope they like it, but I'm pretty sure of that!!!

[ArizonaBB39]

She looks beautiful Bill. Thanks for sharing!

[gtbred]

No words!

[Bill Waldorf]

Hello again all! The final phases of the construction of the USS Indiana have now been completed. All AA weaponry is installed as well as the aircraft and a few other small details. All that remains is rigging. Time grows short! I have a delivery date of July 27th, I think I'll make it! The replica will be flown direct to Indianapolis from here in Jacksonville, Fla., via FedEx, and will have a man riding along to be sure it gets there in one piece. Never have put a large scale ship on an airplane, so I don't know what will happen, if anything. In any event, I sure hope they are careful. This ship is like my kid! Been around the shop for so long ,I got attached to it. Sort of sad to see it go. Good thing is lots will see it. Better than here. Anyway, enough of my rambling, lets take a look....................

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A stern view here from stb. side. I have added three OS2U Kingfisher a/c here. Two on the cats and one on deck. A/C from JR Haynes. I added the radio antenna, and some additional struts and bracing to the floats. Note the crane controls. Ships name has also been added. Quad 40's installed too.

Another view of the seaplane. Note it is on its trolley and the tie down cables securing the aircraft to the cat while the ship is underway. There was no hanger deck on the South Dakotas, so the a/c were stowed as you see. Many were lost due to bad weather and rough seas.

Here's a small detail that has been overlooked on many models. This is the a/c "sled". It was towed by the cat behind the ship in it's wake. The seaplane would land in the slick spot of the wake and taxi towards this sled. A small hook on the bottom of the main float would catch the netting, then be towed towards the ship. The crane would then hoist the a/c aboard. Sounds like a rather precarious operation to me, but it did work. This sled was stowed most of the time, I don't know where, but I thought I would represent it just for interest.

The AA arrangement at the aft end of the superstructure. Note all the 40MM Quads. 20MM's also added. Lots of firepower here. Imagine trying to attack this ship........

More 20MM singles added forward on the focasle deck. Main part of the gun is from Bluejacket Shipcrafters and is cast metal. I added the shield from Tom's Modelworks, and a sight from JR Haynes, both p/e. Handreel is from Kadee products. So four mfgrs. to produce one part. There are 45 of these on the ship. I added the ammo canister from styrene rod.

Another view of the single 20MM arrangement forward, just in front of turrent #1.

Captains gig added here. A 40' motor launch. Cast resin and metal from JR Haynes. Wish I had a 40 footer.........

26' motor launch added here. Again from JR Haynes, cast resin and metal.

These next few photos are some overall views.....

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Well, there it is! As I said, on to rigging and flags. Then to build the plexiglass case and crate for shipment. More to come. By the way, the dedication to the Vets of the ship will be July 29th as I have said, but the time has changed from 2 PM to 11 AM. Hope to see some of you there. Stay tuned, we are almost there..................

[Dave Wooley]

Bill I can empathize with you when you say the model is "like my kid� What a wonderful sentiment, that says so much about the model builder. The time, effort and a fair bit of frustration all go to make this model but in the end it is part of you and you are part of the model it is much more than the sum of its parts. Many visitors in the months and years to come will view your model and see the model before them with a host of different emotions but it is in the knowledge that it is your model that is capable of doing this. You really can not ask for better. Good luck on shipping the Indiana, I only wish I could be there to savor the occasion .
Dave Wooley

[Richard J OMalley]

Bill
I can only imagine the pride you must feel knowing all the people that will stand in oho viewing your work .

[Capit�o Norbert]

Bill i would like to give my congratulations about this fine and very well made model of Indiana.
great from you
sincerely
Cap Norberto

[russclark]

bill your indy is awsome, you are a ture master of scratchbuilding,i am sure there will be many people picking there jaws off the floor