What-If modernized USS Long Beach CGN-9

[HvyCgn9]

G'day all,
Here R some pic's of my RC 1/72scale USS Long Beach currently at the detailing stage but operational !! (as often as possible!!)
When completed She will be fitted out as a Strike cruiser with upgraded weapons fit aft of the existing ASROC launcher. included will be port'n'stbd 30mm GOALKEEPER CWIS mounts, p'n'stbd 8" mk71 guns , 2 x 16cell VLS either side of the UNREP kingpost ,retains the pair of Quad Harpoon's and aft pair 20mm CWIS. With Aft superstructure rebuilt 2 as a hanger for a pair of SH-60 sized Helo's

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

when completed My version of USS Long Beach will have a SPS-48G on fwd mast with SPQ-9B on the back, and an SPS-67 on upper mast, the SPS-49 will be on the aft mast as soon as a build the Mast! got the Radar dish of a mate on Sunday!! She will retain all the fwd SPG-55 's but upgraded to C or D spec. All the Fwd launchers and SPG-55's will be resin kits from the APSmodels catalog. Here r some pic's of the SPS-49 for LB and the Mk-10 launchers and SPG-55's.

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Decided 2 alter the Hanger door arrangement from one large door to two smaller doors in a similar setup to the Arleigh Burke class DDG's I figure if Lb had been given a major Alteration like this hanger they would probably have based it on an existing Hanger arrangement. The original large door was so I could squeeze a CH-53E in but during a final redraw of plans shaved 20mm off the height of the hanger! (Forgot about the reason it was that tall!) The new look is much better, still need 2 add the Flight control station between the door's, but not bad for some leftovers out of the scraps box!
here R some pic's of a club mate's wicked Arleigh Burke Under construction and the altered Hanger on USS Long Beach.

Cheers Bruce
P.s Please leave some comments or suggestion's for other mod's!!

[SumGui]

Great to see this progressing - keep the pics coming, I'm always excited to see a modification of my first ship.

V/r
CTIC(SW)

[Seasick]

Thats one nice Long Beach. The Phalanx mounted above the hanger has been problematic. On the Perry class the Phalanx has to be put on stand-by while a helo is landing or launching, The USS Stark found out what could go wrong when that happens.

[HvyCgn9]

Ya Phalanx doesn't discriminate just shoot's at everyone!!!

[HvyCgn9]

Have finally got round 2 building Aft lattice mast! 4 evenings of cutting, gluing and redoing!! The SPS-49 is driven by a gutted micro servo but not completely happy with that so it will be replaced with a small geared motor later on.
Still need 2 add railings and some ladders.

Cheers Bruce

[LSUfan]

Have finally got round 2 building Aft lattice mast! 4 evenings of cutting, gluing and redoing!! The SPS-49 is driven by a gutted micro servo but not completely happy with that so it will be replaced with a small geared motor later on.
Still need 2 add railings and some ladders.

Cheers Bruce

It's too bad that the Long Beach never got Aegis and the VLS. She would have had an impressive magazine capacity.

[HvyCgn9]

Even with the Original Mk-10 launchers she still had 120 Sm2-ER's to play with and if she had been given the latest NTU upgrades plus some VLS cells in midships area (replacing ASROC launcher most likely) another plus for Lb is the SPG-55's can control missile's 2 a longer range than SPG-51 can (from what I have read in the other threads)

Here R some pic's of the SPS-48 antenna I made up last weekend




Cheers Bruce

[carr]

I'm loving this one! Keep it coming. Well done.

Regards,
Bob

[HvyCgn9]

Thx Bob, I'm making up the bits that I need 2 scratchbuild while I wait for my resin fittings 2 arrive. I'm also planning where all the deck lights will go, have some 1.8mm white LED's that should do what I want, Just need 2 get about 20 more!! then I can start solderin!
here's a coupla Pix of USS Long Beach in my livin room!!

Cheers Bruce

[carr]

Looking good! You know, if you convert one of the billboard superstructure sides into a flat panel TV, you'd have an entertainment center. Just a thought.

[HvyCgn9]

LMAO !! Good One Bob..!

Actually the Borg Cube is in piece's it was only glued with a few strategic drops of CA glue for March's TF72 Club run!!(It had been rushed together for the run!) about 2 make up new windows for it, After very CAREFULLY separating the sections! Mk II Bridge windows will not be smeared like old ones!! (hopefully!)

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Here is a pic of test fit of some of the Fwd mast parts, in the back ground is frame's for USS California CGN-36 and just behind Lb is HMAS ANZAC (upside down) rebuilding her for a club mate. Plus assorted junk!
USS Long Beach stands 94cm (37") from keel to top of Mast !!

Bruce


P.s Borg cube is still in bits fortunately it still slots back together without probs!!

[carr]

Bruce,

I've wondered where people who build in this type of scale do their work and store their builds. What is that, a garage? It looks more like a warehouse or maybe an abandoned sports stadium? If I built in that scale I'd have to move the wife and dog out to make room. Well, the wife for sure.

Impressive work. Keep it up!

Regards,
Bob

[HvyCgn9]

Thx Bob, Normally LB lives in the living room, but she's been out in the shed since Sunday's sail while I rearrange her electrical setup moving ESC's and making new motor mounts.
The Shed is approx 40' X 20' and can fit 2 large cars if all my bench's and stuff wasn't there!!

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

quick update did a re-ballasting (due 2 some shifty ballast on Sunday's sail) and test fit of fwd mast while she was in the test tank. She is 94cm (or 37") from keel 2 top of Fwd mast!!



Fwd mast sections R just on loose

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Update: made up drive for SPS-48 antenna, there is also a 1.8mm white LED at front of platform as part of NAV lights arrangement.

Bruce

[carr]

Bruce,

I may have missed it somewhere in the thread and, if so, I apologize, but what time frame are you envisioning this to be?

Thanks,
Bob

[HvyCgn9]

G'day Bob, I think I mentioned time period at start of thread, But to refresh my USS Long Beach is a WIF post 95' an as if refitted and upgraded version (instead of De-comm'd). A friend suggested doing an alternate superstructure with AEGIS radar,and VLS launchers, but I like the classic Box bridge and have done a sort of minimum cost refit!

Cheers Bruce