Civilian/Military Transports Group Build Apr.15-Oct.15, 2011

[STELLAA]

I have started to painto and stain the T2 tanker...
The base kit is the <<Esso Glasgow>> 1/400 of Heller.

[reigels]

Well if Harry's going to sponsor the build, it would seem appropriate to do one of his kits from my stash.

I'm thinking S.S. Drumgeith, probably done up as a generic freighter in WW1 neutrality markings, something similar to this: http://www.uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/ship ... hipID=3014

--Scott Reigel

[Harry @ BFM]

Sounds good to me, Scott

BTW, I have those 2 big vents in front of the stack. I had to make them for the SS Backworth.

That's 3 BFM kits then, Bobby's, yours and mine.

[Pieter]

Two things happened today. My card kit of Lichtenfels arrived, and turned out to be rather disappointing. I should be able to make it work along the the rough scans of her deck plans which can be found on the 'web but I also spent some time in a maritime library today. I finally managed to find some good quality drawings of a Poelau class combination liner of the late 1920's. As one of these , Poelau Laut, is one of my favorite ships I've decide to enter this one in the GB. Scratchbuilt in 1/700 off course, styrene over a carved balsa core with detail part from BMK and BFM.

[JimRussell]

If this ship qualifies, I am in. USS Leonard Wood APA-12, 1944, 1/350. She will be scratched from wood and styrene (with commercial PE and small parts).

Resources are slim, the dazzle sheet (pic 1) which will double as a plan, and photos, the best of which is pic 2 from navsource credited to Mike Green.

jim

[taskforce48]

Just came to me, would warships that took part in Operation Magic Carpet be allowed? They did transport troops

I am afraid I will have to go with a no on this. See my PM for exact details and examples but it boils down to it wasn't their intended purpose.

If this ship qualifies, I am in. USS Leonard Wood APA-12

I think that would make the grade!

I have updated prizes and awards above as well as added our latest participants.

Matt

[taskforce48]

Hey all, just a quick update. The awards have arrived and look pretty good. Hopefully have some photos posted tomorrow.

Matt

[JimRussell]

USS Leonard Wood APA-12

I know Matt has us all chomping at the bit with an April 15 start date (does he want us to finish our taxes first??), but with a scratchbuild there is quite a bit of preparation that has to be done before building can commence. This post will cover plans.

First, something about the ship. She was laid down as SS Nutmeg State during 1921, served between the wars as a commercial transport, acquired 1939 by the War Department, turned over to the USN in 1941 to eventually become the Attack Transport USS Leonard Wood APA-12. She was one of eight ships in this class which were collectively know as the Harris Class transports. She earned 8 battle stars during WWII, 1 at North Africa and 7 in the Pacific. During WWII she was manned by the US Coast Guard.
LOA 535'2", beam 72'4", speed 17 knots.

I was unable to find any commercial plans for any of the Harris Class, so pic 1 shows what was used to draw a set of 1/350 plans, a dazzle sketch and some plans of a near sister (APA-14) included in Friedman's Amphibious book. Pic 2 shows a plan and elevation (top and side views to us mechanical types). Pic 3 shows most of the superstructure decks and houses. They may look spare when compared to "professionally drawn" plans but too much detail too early can be confusing.

jim

[Harry @ BFM]

Hi Jim,

Do not know if you have seen this, a history and a couple of photos of APA-12

http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/cutterlist.asp#L

[JimRussell]

Thanks Harry, mostly duplicates what is available at Navsource (which is really a fantastic resource for any USN WWII model builder).

jim

[taskforce48]

Jim,

That pretty cool how you come up with your plans!

Everyone should check out the first page as I have uploaded images of the awards for this build!

Matt

[GTDEATH13]

Does the 1/350 Antarctica Observation Ship Soya from Hasegawa qualify for this group build? If yes, then this is my participation...

[PetrOs]

I would assume, yes..

[taskforce48]

Alright everyone, the 15th has arrived and passed already. Let the building commence!

Does the 1/350 Antarctica Observation Ship Soya from Hasegawa qualify for this group build? If yes, then this is my participation...

I would say that this qualifies as a "special duty ship" and would be allowed.

Have fun, it's going to be an interesting 6 months

Matt

[ArizonaBB39]

Jim, looking forward to your progress.

I hope to join you all in this build. I've started to grow a liking to the military transports.

[Guest]

I plan to get in on the build with a 1:350 IJN Sagara Maru (scratch built of course). Pix will follow as I start getting drawings together and laminate oak blocks for the hull.

Phantom Bill

[reigels]

Started work today on my 1:700 BFM Drumgeith kit. Added a little more hull with .080 styrene since I'm planning to paint her in neutrality markings (probably Danish) and would like a little more of the hull to be visible. A bit of red AF paint showing should also add a bit more interest.

A little work on the deck houses, thinning the overhangs and adding a bit of camber to the top decks as well. Black edges are just permanent marker to check on thickness while wet sanding. Also filling the hull portholes since, although correct for Drumgeith, they seem to have been unusual for steamers of the time and I'm looking for a more generic appearance.





Finished model should end up looking something like this: http://www.uboat.net/wwi/ships_hit/2912.html

[moomoon]

Very nice freighter reigels, already looks nice

[Quincy]

Very nice freighter reigels, already looks nice

Agreed!




Bob Pink.

[JimRussell]

A scratchbuild occasionally has a part that raises the question "how am I going to make THAT".

The Leonard Wood has some oversize (6 pcs .65" x .14" top of deck house and 4 pcs .82" x .06" face of bridge) cowl vents that had me worried. My stash had nothing close. I checked the scratchbuild Q&A and found solder (if I had any big enough all I could see was pretzel), sprue (I tried and maintained my record of NEVER having made a usable part from heated and manipulated sprue) and buy from Harry (too small).

Started to look at my Plastruct shapes and found tubing that was 3/16" OD and 1/8" ID (#90605). Had 1/8" rod for the stem. Drilled a 1/8"hole on the side of the tubing, crowned a length of rod to 1/8"dia. Fit the rod in the tube and rotated so that the crown was snug against the tube ID. Welded with lots of liquid cement and let dry overnight (pic 4). Sanded one face of the tube flush with the rod, sanded the opposite face with a .030" projection from the rod (pic 1). Crowned the back of the incipiant vent, drilled and burred the ID of the cowl (pic 2). Did the same procedure with 1/8" OD x 1/16" ID (#90604) tubinf and 1/16" rod for the long, skinny vent (pic 3).

Parts are just semi finished, need Bondo, sand and prime but with a scratchbuild I tend to do most major parts rough and quickly dry fit. I get an idea how the ship will look and find the mistakes early.

jim