WIP: 1/350 Pre-War USS Honolulu (CL-48)

[ArizonaBB39]

Good to see you back at it Tony

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
This time around, more time spent has been spent working and a lot less time spent taking pics and posting here; hopefully a sign of progress. Don't get me wrong, posting here and getting feedback has provided much impetus and affirmation. Sharing is what we modeler's once could only do at club meetings. The wife can only say, "that looks great honey", so often before sounding fake, so these message boards have surely saved many wive's from having to stop what they're doing to look at something unrecognizable and very small to say, "wow, that's nice...", and mean it.
I've done work on the s/s mainly, as there is so much to do. The brass masts have been cut and shaped, but are not finished by a long shot!
I have begun doing the numerous rows of railings on the s/s. I have focused on using a single piece of railing whenever possible; rather than butting or splicing ends together. Either way, it's tedious work, but it's a must on a model ship in my opinion. Also, almost all of the upper deck railings on Honolulu had no bottom rung, as the stanchions were attached to the vertical surfaces they surrounded. This presents a bit of a challenge when preparing each, "run", of railings.
Measuring, pre-fitting and re-fit checking is the order of the day. That and a whole lotta patience!
Here is what I've got done in the past week or so. The railings are easy to bend after being installed and handling pre-painted subassemblies requires a constant vigil. I have more to do, so I'll show some progress pics and get back to work.
Here is the fwd s/s assembly as it looks today.

.......check out the locating boss' for the foremast

........ still have lots more to do on the bridge.............


Here is the aft s/s after some railing work added on and ladders installed.







Faithfully submitted, Tony

[MartinJQuinn]

Holy crap, Tony. I can't get the railings on WITH the bottom rung on. How the hell do you do it without it??? Lovely work, can't wait to see it COMPLETED in Omaha!

[JimRussell]

Holy crap, Tony. I can't get the railings on WITH the bottom rung on. How the hell do you do it without it??? Lovely work, can't wait to see it COMPLETED in Omaha!

Not only is the bottom rail gone, the stanchion is NOT sitting on the deck but is attached to the bulkhead. This begs the question..how the h*** do you position and hold the railing during the dry fit and gluing operation?????

[Cadman]

that looks great honey!

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Real quick update. I've done more on the fwd s/s........

Gotta go.
More later, Tony

[Elvis965]

Wow! That is some sweet PE work, Tony...really nice!

Bob

[NCMac]

Holy crap, Tony. I can't get the railings on WITH the bottom rung on. How the hell do you do it without it???

Not only is the bottom rail gone, the stanchion is NOT sitting on the deck but is attached to the bulkhead. This begs the question..how the h*** do you position and hold the railing during the dry fit and gluing operation?????

I can only echo both these terrific modelers. Fantastic research, exceptionally detailed, and supremely clean work. Any lessons you'd care to pass along would be appreciated.

The US "Treaty" cruisers are among my favorite ships and I've always thought the Brooklyns (and St. Louis') to be the best of the bunch. I have hopes of starting a Niko 1/700 soon.

Mac

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Mac,
Patience, tolerance and the ability to silence the, "voices", was a good start for me.
I'm trying to get Lee to do some horse-trading so I can get a 96 Brooklyn hull and plans.
Sweeeeeet!
I'd probably like a pre-war CL.
Tony

[NCMac]

Tony,

Patience and tolerence are nearly always useful; not certain about the "voices" though!

Do you fold your PE railings around the solid resin (or plastic) piece? How do you keep it secured while the glue (some sort of CA, I'm guessing) sets?

Did I correctly understand that you are considering a 1/96 USS Brooklyn class? That would be a spectacular model. I'm in awe of the large scale builds I see from Bill Waldorf and ARH. I agree with pre-war; the wood decks, turret markings, and aircraft are quite appealing. If Corsair Armada reissues their USS Helena she's my bet for a 1/700 pre-war version.

Good luck and please keep posting your exceptional work.

Mac

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
Hi Mac,
I use a simple tool from Tamiya; p/e bending pliers, and a simple set of p/e cutting pliers from Xuron. These don't do not do everything perfectly, and I know that there are better tools available. These tools get used for nothing else; same as the Tamiya decal cutting scissors and Xuron plastic parts pliers.
Yes, you read correctly, I want to build a 96 Brooklyn Class CL; probably the Honolulu. I have a ton of research material on her already! I have an Adams Class DDG in 1/96 that is in the scratch-build forum, and I recently got a R/C 96 USN GUPPY sub. In some ways the R/C models kick buxx, as you can bring them to life using motors and other electronics gear; not just with fancy p/e work and weathering. Heaven forgive me for saying that!
The problem with a 96 CL hull is it's over 72" long. I have a Coontz DLG hull and plans that I won't use, and a 96 Knox Class FF that I've barely started.
Next project is the stalled 1/700 CVS-14; also in the WIP forum.............somewhere!
Take care, Tony

[johnno]

How do you find the time, Tony? Working at a hobby store, answering dozens of emails a day regarding L'Arsenal products, packing, shipping, banking payments for those products...long distance calls to France, attending shows and now...working on a model of USS Honolulu prewar with all the research and scratch building parts!
Superman!

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
John,
In plain English, I'm over-committed. I did leave the Hobby Shop in April, so Sunday's are mine. Some modeling time is available in the early morning on Sunday's, and the Honolulu project needs to be finished first; as well as 3 more builds. After that, no more build-for-someone-else projects. For some reason, I have difficulty saying no.
A curse or a blessing; don't know yet.
Superman? Thanks for the kudo, but, "Stupid Man", probably comes closer.
I am having fun with Honolulu right now, as the progress is better than ever. That makes me happy!
Happy 4th!!
Tony

[LE BOSCO]

Hi Tony
Magnificent work of improvement and transformation :thumbs
I like it
Nicolas

[NCMac]

Tony,

Thank you for your comments. I suspect tools are not my problem; however I probably should move beyond the razor blades, Xacto chisel blade, and tweezers I use now. Next trip to my (not so) LHS, I'll see what I can find.
I did locate a Corsair Armada 1/700 USS Honolulu online.
Thought I'd seen you (via MW) with RC models. All the RC I've seen in eastern NC is of the aircraft and car variety which has probably saved me a fortune!
I've found many of the 1/350 builds here very helpful for my 1/700 efforts and I'll keep reading as you keep building What a deal, right?
Thanks again,

Mac

[robertmelvin]

Tony, truly beautiful work. Your thread has been an inspiration to me. I've been debating taking on a resin project for some time and watching your work on Honolulu has inspired me to take the plunge, at least so far as getting one in the stash. I think I'll probably start with something less ambitious, like a DD, but who knows from there. Thanks for sharing your great work with us and by all means, keep the updates coming.

Bob

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
First off; thanks for the cudos!
You bet it feels rewarding!
I'm only giving myself a very little time to post, as I have an unusual situation at home. My wife and daughter stayed up waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay
late; giving me extra time to build. I now have 23 days to complete this model. It may look impossible, but many sub-assemblies are already
completed; like a puzzle.
See images of latest effort. Here is the bridge area nearing completion and the L'Arsenal 1/350 pelorus' will be added. These things are tiny!
At bottom/center of each image is the two pelorus' prepped and painted already.





I must finish the catwalk/railings around the 24" searchlight
platforms. The 24" searchlight platforms are not in the kit and not on the kit instructions. Roger did his and Chris has not yet. In all fairness,
Chris's Pre-war Brooklyn is not finished. Roger's Pre-war Phoenix is in the gallery. I will now take a moment to thanks Chris Preston and Roger
Torgeson for their technical assistance. We all help each other!
What's that????
Get back to work?
Alrighty then!
Tony

[MartinJQuinn]

We all help each other!

That's what makes this forum the best on 'net.

She looks great Tony. I know you'll have her done in time!

[Dave Hill]

That's some awesome work Tony!!!!!!...your p/e and paint are flawless!

...hmmmm...the ship's bell looks very familiar !

Dave

[Tony Bunch]

Hi Guys,
I probably should not have done this, but one of the many, "fires", to put out included building the boat handling cranes. I used the GMM New Orleans p/e set cranes and the rest was scratch built using plastic, brass and stainless steel materials; references included using drawings and photos. I took the time to add some surface detail that made the crane bases look much more realistic, but the devil does indeed lie in the details! I spent the last 24 hours, (while awake), doing these two cranes! Here's the heck of it...........I could have added more detail!!




Also, the searchlight tower is almost finished and the same for the fwd s/s sub-assembly........
2 weeks to go!
Tony