WIP - 1/350 USS Lexington (CV-2)

[lvsquarerigger]

Along the way I have worked on the different guns to have them ready for installation when the hull is done and the deck is mounted. Here are some pics.

The 5" 25 cal are done. I used the base of the kit gun, the barrel from L'Arsenal, and the rest from the Gold Medal Models PE set.

I have the 20 mm and 50 cal guns cut and trimmed from the spru and standing in my little holding tool, a piece of .40 styrene drilled with the corredt holes for each different size. I intend to at least attempt the PE for these but god are those parts tiny!!!!!!!

I have the 1.1's from L'Arsenal and have played with the first package of four. Clearing the flash from the base of the gun is a real pain as it is really kind of thick and can't be cut as flash normally is. I ended up drilling a small hole and then cleaning it out with my Dremel tool with a diamond point. It really does take a very small bit to do this. The PE had me spitting nails as it is really, really tiny. And even using my highest magnifier, 3.85 I think it is, I have to really put it in my nose and I lost one seat, couldn't even come close to finding it when I did, and totally squashed the foot rest on another but have hopes of saving that one somehow. I think the modelling is much more accurate to scale than the kit parts so am willing to put up with some difficulty but boy what a pain!

Some of the pics are fuzzy but I had trouble getting my camera close enough to see anything on some of them.

[Jon C Ryckert]

I went ahead and typed the wrong page number just as you said without checking. Your model is really starting to come together. Can't wait to see what you do when it comes time to paint and weather. Thanks for the info on the 1.1 issue. I'll have to remember to check this page again so as to save me a few headaches when I finally do get to that stage. Can't wait for the next update.

[lvsquarerigger]

Have been really busy with travel and other things and haven't had much time to actually work on my ship but I did start to tackle one of the tedious tasks I've been avoiding, namely all the little braces on the 1.1 splintershielding. I still have to do the one for the one actually on the back end of the funnel assembly where the upper 8" guns were. But here are a couple of pics of the jig I use to make all those )(&&&^^@#$% itty bitty pieces that can pop out of the tweezers so easily and go off to the land of the lost and never to be found again. Even allowing for extras I had to make a couple more just for the bridge section. Also in the two pics of the bridge section you can see the splinter mattresses I put on the 8" director platform as shown in the latest pic that just came up on the Calling all Lex forum.

[lvsquarerigger]

Nothing to do with actually building anything but whenever I check in I look to see who is browsing this build. I've noticed a couple of times that there are somethings different from a regular forum member and bot is in parentheses for these:

Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Google [Bot], johndon, lvsquarerigger, MSNbot Media, potchip and 14 guests

Anyone out there know what these are?

James

[denstore]

The bots are different search engines.

[Timmy C]

What Denstore said - when search engines "crawl" through the internet, they act as users and show up as such on forums like this. Don't worry about them

[lvsquarerigger]

Thanks guys. One more little technological tidbit to comprehend.

James

[lvsquarerigger]

In getting my new computer set up and all my data transferred from flash drives I found the pics of the five inch guns being done. I tested the kit parts as is, didn't like them. The L'Arsenal parts as is, didn't like them either so crossed all the different things I had, kit parts, L'Arsenal parts, and my PE from GMM. The rails from L'Arsenal are actually more accurate but the fusers are molded in their base while the PE from GMM has them in one piece with the rails so I went with them. The kit barrel supports had holes for the kit parts not needed with the L'Arsenal barrels so I had to fill them. Used styrene rod glued in and then snipped off flush.

[lvsquarerigger]

I've been going over the photo posted on the calling all Lex forum of Lex in Pearl being refitted. Trying to resolve what is there with what is in the photo posted as the last photo of her before she really blew up. It seems the 8" director platfrom was partially closed in to make a radar room for the newly installed FC radar. I have already done the front part of that but am still fiddling with how to make the back window and whether I need to file as little off the front section to make that window look like the photo. But in the pic called the last photo it seems like that part isn't quite the same as it looks at Pearl. Don't know if it's just too grainy because it doesn't enlarge very well or if it's actually different. Oh well I guess whatever I do will be OK I just try very hard to make it as accurate as I can. Also in the Pearl photo I noticed a door in the base of the 8" platform support that I haven't noticed anywhere else so will add a PE one there.

James

[smithec]

I've been going over the photo posted on the calling all Lex forum of Lex in Pearl being refitted. Trying to resolve what is there with what is in the photo posted as the last photo of her before she really blew up. It seems the 8" director platfrom was partially closed in to make a radar room for the newly installed FC radar...

Hi James

I've been kind of busy over the summer so haven't been checking in on your build until now. Great progress. See you've been going through the same issues with the 1.1s and 5-ins that I did. But I hated the L'Arsenal 1.1 barrels - just the wrong proportions - and reverted to the kit barrels in WEM PE.

It's been fascinating to follow the debate on the 1.1/0.5 platforms on the quarters - all that height difference business. It really had me stumped, but what you've done LOOKS right, even if we are unsure about how they came to look the way they did. Good input from the forum to help.

Now, this photo from the NARA via James Noblin is amazing. At last some detail about areas we've never seen detailed pictures of before, and which have been subject to supposition and guesswork. At last we can clearly see the forward overhanging platform on the 5-inch fire control platform. And, lordy lordy, at last, the flag deck foward extension. Looks like it isn't enclosed at the front with proper screens - just a light metal roof on stanchions ahead of the forward enclosing bulkhead. Or maybe it's still under construction and they haven't welded up the steel work and fitted windows yet. And at last, photo proof of the FC radar on the forward roof of the 8-inch control.

Does anyone know who James Noblin is and how he can be contacted? That guy deserves a great big collective THANK YOU from us all I think. I just wonder if he has anything else up his sleeve.

I'll keep watching this space Jim.

[lvsquarerigger]

I've been going over the photo posted on the calling all Lex forum of Lex in Pearl being refitted. Trying to resolve what is there with what is in the photo posted as the last photo of her before she really blew up. It seems the 8" director platfrom was partially closed in to make a radar room for the newly installed FC radar...

Hi James

I've been kind of busy over the summer so haven't been checking in on your build until now. Great progress. See you've been going through the same issues with the 1.1s and 5-ins that I did. But I hated the L'Arsenal 1.1 barrels - just the wrong proportions - and reverted to the kit barrels in WEM PE.

It's been fascinating to follow the debate on the 1.1/0.5 platforms on the quarters - all that height difference business. It really had me stumped, but what you've done LOOKS right, even if we are unsure about how they came to look the way they did. Good input from the forum to help.

Now, this photo from the NARA via James Noblin is amazing. At last some detail about areas we've never seen detailed pictures of before, and which have been subject to supposition and guesswork. At last we can clearly see the forward overhanging platform on the 5-inch fire control platform. And, lordy lordy, at last, the flag deck foward extension. Looks like it isn't enclosed at the front with proper screens - just a light metal roof on stanchions ahead of the forward enclosing bulkhead. Or maybe it's still under construction and they haven't welded up the steel work and fitted windows yet. And at last, photo proof of the FC radar on the forward roof of the 8-inch control.

Does anyone know who James Nobin is and how he can be contacted? That guy deserves a great big collective THANK YOU from us all I think. I just wonder if he has anything else up his sleeve.

I'll keep watching this space Jim.

Like you I've been very busy and haven't taken much time for my model but it still sits across the room from my computer just waiting for some attention. I even had my dremel recharged and the battery is sitting there waiting for something to do.

Speaking of the 1.1's I'm not sure yet exactly how I'll depict them. I think the L'Arsenal barrels are a little too small and the ones from the kit too big. Maybe I'll take a shot at resin casting and see what comes up. Stranger things have happened. As far as they go I haven't seen anything out there that is really accurate. Oh well just one more thing to resolve. Thanks so much for following.

James

[smithec]

Hi James

This D (daughter) OB took me two years to build. How long you been working on her now?!

As is said in Startrek: This is the USS Lexington. But not as we know it Jim.

Cheers

[Guest]

Hi James

This D (daughter) OB took me two years to build. How long you been working on her now?!

As is said in Startrek: This is the USS Lexington. But not as we know it Jim.

Cheers

Chronologically it will be two years in February but along the way moving for 6 months, pneumonia and open heart surgery, and just living actual time is probably less than half that but it's definitely been a journey of discovery. Two to three years is normal for the squareriggers I usually build but this has definitely been an education. If I'm lucky it will be finished in less than another year, maybe, but it will be done as best I can however long it takes.

James

[lvsquarerigger]

I replied to Chris but didn't notice I hadn't logged in and wondered why I needed a verification code but it will pop up sooner or later

James

[smithec]

Hi James

This D (daughter) OB took me two years to build. How long you been working on her now?!

As is said in Startrek: This is the USS Lexington. But not as we know it Jim.

Cheers

Chronologically it will be two years in February but along the way moving for 6 months, pneumonia and open heart surgery, and just living actual time is probably less than half that but it's definitely been a journey of discovery. Two to three years is normal for the squareriggers I usually build but this has definitely been an education. If I'm lucky it will be finished in less than another year, maybe, but it will be done as best I can however long it takes.

James

And don't forget the air group James. Something that doesn't crop up on square riggers. I spent a quarter of my total time on the darned aeroplanes!

[lvsquarerigger]

[
James[/quote]

And don't forget the air group James. Something that doesn't crop up on square riggers. I spent a quarter of my total time on the darned aeroplanes![/quote]

You did have to mention them didn't you.

James

[lvsquarerigger]

I was cruising the builds in progress and came across this topic dealing with railings. There was a link and I followed it to get a very different insight into installing railings, the way to glue, and quite a bit on the subject. If you're interested you can go here:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=37612

It raised some questions about PE that I had not been aware of and now must make decisions on. Is super glue the wrong one to use for PE? It seems to be for railings. Fortunately most of the rails I have done are short to begin with and one I was having trouble with on the small platform just under the top AA platform on the funnel, I had removed the rails to gain access so I could remove the door molded in the kit. Now the technique to make them fit is much clearer and I can proceed. I wondered why I was so reluctant to finish that part and now I understand, I was waiting for this info to come to me so I would not have to do it over again.

The question I have is should I be using white glue for all PE to plastic attachments? Should I use super glue for the PE itself in things such as a radar? Jim it was your post that I got the link from do you have any further input?

[lvsquarerigger]

I went back through some of the pics I have, cut, cropped, and resized them to illustrate what I'm working on. When mounting rails I would mount them along the side edge instead of on top as is correct. Now having seen the correct way I have work to do. The small platform under the funnel AA platform will be first. Not sure if I need a stanchion at the funnel itself as the rails can be anchored to that. The same with the small platform on the bridge structure. Most of the bridge railings are behind splinter mattresses so I don't think I'll change them but the one on the rear platform definitely has to go, partially because my fingers have done damage as I handled the bridge structure but also because it doesn't look right. So here are a few pics to see the wrong way and the corrections will follow soon.

[DennisJP]

You realize the if the photographer turned slightly to the left in the top photo and took some pictures, all our questions about the shape of the island would be answered? Jeez...soooooo close, yet so far away.

If you go to the "Calling all lexington cv-2 fans" there are some recently new photos posted of Lexingtons last refit in April 42 that will help alot. Also there is a new pictorial book out on the Lexington from Classic Warships that has pictures as well as the ship yard plans of Lexingtons last refit.

[DennisJP]

I've been going over the photo posted on the calling all Lex forum of Lex in Pearl being refitted. Trying to resolve what is there with what is in the photo posted as the last photo of her before she really blew up. It seems the 8" director platfrom was partially closed in to make a radar room for the newly installed FC radar. I have already done the front part of that but am still fiddling with how to make the back window and whether I need to file as little off the front section to make that window look like the photo. But in the pic called the last photo it seems like that part isn't quite the same as it looks at Pearl. Don't know if it's just too grainy because it doesn't enlarge very well or if it's actually different. Oh well I guess whatever I do will be OK I just try very hard to make it as accurate as I can. Also in the Pearl photo I noticed a door in the base of the 8" platform support that I haven't noticed anywhere else so will add a PE one there.

James

Have to remember the ship is still in the yards. I was in the navy before and went through several yard periods on my ship. The yard workers will cut access holes in the walls, floors and ceilings to put in new equipment as well as remove others. So will have to compare this photo with a photo of the ship at sea.
There is the fire control radar that was installed so they would have to open up the director room to get the new equipment inside for the radar as well as material and welding equipment for any changes to the room and mounting the foundations for the radar equipment. Scaffolding is still there on the bridge level bellow.