What-If modernized USS Long Beach CGN-9

[Seasick]

The SM-6 (RIM-174A) has entered service. IOC this year. Terminal homing with the active seeker from the AIM-120C-7.

[HvyCgn9]

For a change from working on my other project CGN-36 I have begun fitting USS Long Beach's deck lighting starting with the hanger section. I am using 1.8mm LED's CA'd behind a small 1.9mm hole in the wall of the SS eventually once all lights are in and final painting is completed I will fit a small piece (1.5mm(ish) long)of clear styrene rod in front of the LED 2 diffuse (hopefully) the light. Got six done so far and need to add a couple more each side of hanger and upper area plus cabling for aft flood and flight deck lights.

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

I had been doing some building of racks for aft life raft canisters during the past week as well as some drive line alterations after our club run on 27th Feb, until I had a 'minor' fall on friday and broke my wrist !! All work has been shelved until I can use two paws!! Here R some pic's from work done so far....

Bruce

[navydavesof]

Looking like one fine piece of machinery! I would love to see some more internal shots of your helo hanger if you have any.

[HvyCgn9]

Sorry no new pix of hanger internals, just the earlier pix in the thread. Can't get the Hanger out for pix until I get the cast off my wrist!!

Bruce

[navydavesof]

I have something for the community. There are few paintings and reference material out there about the strike cruiser conversion planned for the USS Long Beach. This is a painting recently discovered at Lockheed Martin's Aegis warfare center and was done my Lockheed's conceptual artist Vince Peicyk. It has been stored at Lockheed's facility at Moorestown, New Jersey for decades. This is a copy of the original and is being posted with permission on the internet for the first time.

As you can see it's fitted as:
Aegis
4x SPG-62 from the looks of the directors
2x Mk71 MCLWGs
2x Mk26 twin rail launchers
16x Harpoon
8x some larger missile, perhaps another launcher variant for the tomahawk
SPS-49 on the aft part of the mast
SPQ-9 perhaps inside the dome

This ship would have been a beast. I have a larger version of the file if anyone would like a copy.

[HvyCgn9]

Awesome painting mate! Hints of the CGN-42 AEGIS cruiser in the design of the super structure.

Sending you a PM mate for the larger file!

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Thx Dave, Got the e-mails!! stunning paintings!!

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

I have been looking over the concept art and will use a modified version of the concept bridge superstructure on my Hybrid/modernised 8"gun CLG which would be a DeMoines class Hvy cruiser hull with the Superstructure gutted aft of the fwd 5" center mount and fwd of the aft 8" turret and a new SS in place with some Burke style funnels blended in.
I Shall be doing a bit of drawing shortly and should have a side view in a few days....if I can draw with a broken wrist.....will post any stuff on this in the DeMoines modernization thread.

Bruce

[navydavesof]

I have been looking over the concept art and will use a modified version of the concept bridge superstructure on my Hybrid/modernised 8"gun CLG which would be a DeMoines class Hvy cruiser hull with the Superstructure gutted aft of the fwd 5" center mount and fwd of the aft 8" turret and a new SS in place with some Burke style funnels blended in.
I Shall be doing a bit of drawing shortly and should have a side view in a few days....if I can draw with a broken wrist.....will post any stuff on this in the DeMoines modernization thread.

Bruce

COOL! That will be one fun project to follow!

[HvyCgn9]

Still a couple more weeks before I can do any more work on USS Long Beach, my wrist is out of the cast but very stiff and sore
Played around with my camera the other day and got some pix of my CH-53e Super Stallion on the heli deck and a shot of the monster in its usual place in my living room....

Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Well I have restarted work on detailing the beast, beginning with finishing construction of the life raft racks either side of the hanger. They are nearly done just some LED lighting to fit then I can paint and fit them.
Began building the platform's for the SLQ-32 ECM system which stick out from either side of the upper bridge area very fiddly, but made a start!! Good to be doing some building again.

Cheers Bruce

PS Any one have decent pic's of the older Square type Satcom antenna??

[navydavesof]

Nice work, Bruce! She's looking pretty darn beautiful! I really like how big your landing pad is. I can't wait to see what markings you chose for the landing pad!

[HvyCgn9]

Thx Mate,
I will be redoing the flight deck a darker gray when I get 2 it !! Its not quite the right color, I have compared it to a club mates USS Fife DDG-991 flight deck and now I want 2 change the deck colors before 2 much more detail goes on her. Should be redoing it soon just need 2 get the paint....

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Been doin some work on the beast over the Easter weekend, managed to get the port side life raft rack completed and painted. And managed 2 finish the fwd Satcom antenna (not completely happy with it but it will do for now)

Cheers Bruce

[Seasick]

The Aegis conversion of the Long Beach would have been interesting. Four AN/SPY-1A phased arrays, 4 AN/SPG-62 illuminators, AN/SPQ-9A in the randome, a AN/SPG-60 for gunfire control would be likely. The Mk26 launchers would have been the modification 2 (Mk26 mod2) with 64 rounds per launcher. Probably only 8 harpoons. Two armored box launchers maybe more with the reduction of Harpoons. The Mk26 would have a 128 round magazine load she would be the most powerful Aegis ship until the early 1990s.

[carr]

Outstanding work! I'm really enjoying this one. Thanks for sharing! I've got a 1/350 version of this on my future to-do list. Of course, I'll need an extra lifetime or two to do everything on my list! Can't wait to see more.

Regards,
Bob

[HvyCgn9]

This week have been getting the platforms for the ECM gear finished off and decided 2 rebuild the box that the SLQ-32 ECM platforms attach too, as it turned out 2 be a POS!! It was not square 2 the deck, So it got attacked with the little drill, a screw driver and pliers!! The replacement piece is a much improved bit of kit..
Had a bit of a test run [in the rain] with my club mates last weekend and new motor position is much quieter now.
Here R some pic's of the test run and the rebuilt upper bits...

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

And some more...painted new upper bit and attached the SLQ-32 ECM gear [resin fittings from APSmodels] now just need 2 glue new bit to upper superstructure. Also made up the 2 flag lockers that go at the back of the bridge, and working on the dual whip antenna mounted on the back face of the cube (just can't get the hinge right!)

Bruce

[carr]

She's looking better with every new post! I love this one.

As a detail nut, I have to ask about the SLQ-32. You've installed the SLQ-32(v)3. Your time frame is mid to late 90's. From the mid 90's on, SLQ-32 was often paired with a separate enhancement called Sidekick; the pair of devices was collectively referred to as SLQ-32(v)5. Just thought I'd throw that out there in case you wanted to consider adding Sidekick.

Here's a photo of Sidekick as mounted on a Perry FFG.


Regardless, this is great work. I can't wait to see more.

Regards,
Bob