1/72 scale USS California CGN-36

[russclark]

hi bruce,i like your choise in the california.hull looks great.you guys seem to like big things down there .if you are building two ships in 1/72 you must have a big area to work in.if i built sheer in 1/72 she would be 8ft 3 in long yikes!!?

[HvyCgn9]

G'day Russ,
I really like California class's clean hull lines, they have a lean greyhound like look 2 em. Originally had intended 2 build USS Albany CG-10 after CGN-9 and have all the hull plans and frame drawing's ready 2 go! But I was at a club mates BBQ and was reading a book from the early 1990's on World Seapower and came across a really good colored line drawing of California showing side and overhead views within 2 weeks I had drawn up 1/72 scale hull lines and frames!! Scale ship Model building is addictive and can be very bad for your bank account!!
I currently have USS Long Beach CGN-9(operational/detailing), USS California CGN-36(Building), a 1/72scale Modern AHST Tug (Building), and I'm doing a monster rebuild of a club mates 1/72 ANZAC class FFH.... fortunately I have a 40' x 20' shed 2 playin!!

Bruce

[bassfun]

Hi Bruce; glad to see you back on the California, in response to your earlier question, I am going for static display,
around 1/192 scale, something not too big-not too small. I will be watching as I am interested in seeing how you go about
laying out the deck and superstructure since there aren't any plans or measurements that I am aware of. I suppose it's
much like doing the hull, scaling up photos and drawings to get close to what you want. Mine won't be a competition or
museum scale but I would like to get it as close as possible. The person I want to build this for I am sure will spot any gross
inaccuracies.

mike.

[HvyCgn9]

G'day Mike, I will probably get the superstructure from CNC models(finances permitting), He does a 1/96th CNC cut sintra supersrtucture kit he's able 2 scale it up to 1/72 for me. Maybe you could get it scaled down to 1/192?? Check at his web site at www.cncmodels.com (I think)

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Been doing the aft hull sheeting over the weekend and today did the upper fwd sheeting ( and found a new way 2 use cable ties ), just got 2 do the lower bow section, bilges and stern plate....then the fun stuff begins...resin,f/g,and bloody sanding!!

Cheers Bruce

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Bruce A different method of covering the hull but the results speak for themselves it works superbly well . As you say the applications of elbow grease is the next real test . It's excellent to see so many "scratch builds" rising up from those model workshop dock yards and in many ways it's down to ARH for the original inspiration.
Dave Wooley

[HvyCgn9]

Thx Dave, The good thing about a California class CGN is the hull has no complex shapes or the bow 'knuckle' seen in the Virginia class CGN's so the ply can be bent around relatively easy. I'm going to plank the lower bow and bilges with some 15mm wide planks of 1.5mm ply they R the only area's that require planking....when I get some more glue I forgot 2 put the lid on!! DOH!!

Cheers Bruce

[Ticonderoga]

Great work Bruce, wish I could work as fast AND as accurately.

Andrew

[HvyCgn9]

Thx Andrew,
Here are some pix of current progress of hull, Transom is done, bow planking finished and up next its time to give insides a coat of resin and chuck some filler on it in a couple of spots...

Cheers Bruce

[NorthSea]

Looking good Bruce, nice clean finish with that method of planking the hull. I notice you have left several frames as complete bulkheads. What's your reason for this?

Keep up the good work
NS

[HvyCgn9]

Left em for compartmentalization against flooding I had intended to have 2 bulkheads but left the aft most one intact because I forgot 2 cut middle out!! I will probably leave it as is now just got 2 drill some holes in all the bulkheads for cabling.

Cheers Bruce

PS Cali could probably lose the bow forward of the BH and still float....Not that I ever want that 2 occur!!

[NorthSea]

Bruce, do you know the weight of your hull at this stage?

[HvyCgn9]

give me 5 mins to find out !!

[HvyCgn9]

Ran out 2 shed 2 check!! She weighs 4.79kg (10.5 lbs) pre fibre glassing.....Kitchen digital scales finally useful for something!!

Cheers Bruce

PS as a comparison my USS Long Beach completed hull with just motors,esc's ,and prop shafts in her weighs in around 22kg-24kg ....that's no ballast or drive batteries!! Full loaded weighs in at approx 60+kg (although I'd swear she's getting heavier!!)

[NorthSea]

Thanks for checking Bruce, that seems light for such a big hull. I think that my build will end up closer to your Long beach figure, but it's too early for a weigh-in yet.

[HvyCgn9]

Yeah Mate!! I can pick her up with one hand at midships frame!! But when completed she will be in the region of 30kg full load ( a Ticonderoga class in 1/72 is 25.6kg fully ballasted)
Your big Kirov being about 3.6m x 0.4m is easily going to be 25 to 30kg when assembled!! before ballast goes in!!
Ply is a great material 2 work with because it is light and strong, Add F/glass and its even stronger.

Cheers Bruce

[Guest]

not that this changes your project, and i wish you success, but the sonar dome was removed probably around '95. i rode the cali from 93-96, two westpac's, 1st one keeping close to north korea, 2nd one in the persian gulf. the sonar dome was removed during overhaul between the 2 cruises.

[HvyCgn9]

Sweet Mate!! I have never liked it much anyways!!
Once new workshop is sorted/organized I shall sand the bugga down a bit! I may even make a mold from here and make a couple of hulls see if anyone wants one!! If they want a sonar dome they can always add it!

Cheers Bruce

[Richard J OMalley]

I will be watching this one .A friend of mine just started on CGN-36 in 1/96 scale .

[HvyCgn9]

Thx mate!
I will be getting stuck back into my various model projects very shortly[CGN9 detailing, 1/72 Tug, refit on a 1/72 ANZAC class for a mate, various smaller models,...], just finished moving house and have a much better area 2 work in now at my new workshop/shed.
Will be ordering the shafts/rudders and props for CGN-36 shortly and hope 2 get stuck into finishing off her hull soon 2 as soon as TAX return comes back!! So I cab buy some F/g and more resin for this beast.

Bruce