Calling all USS Indianapolis CA-35 & USS Portland CA-33 fans

[Jon C Ryckert]

Thanks for the reply Charles. I goofed when I mentioned HNSA plans as I believe that I may have saved the plans from an on-line search on the National Archives website. I'll verify later today. Just for your information, the plans I have are for the 1944 refit. P.M me with your email if you would like me to send you what I have. Jon

Updated: Just in case anyone was wondering, it was through an online search that I found the Booklet of General Plans for the Indianapolis's 1944 refit. I typed in 'USS Indianapolis' in the search box and four pages of plans came up within the 26 holdings that were listed.

[Jeff Sharp]

Interesting deck detail on '41 Portland. Notice that the Navigation Bridge has teak decking but the flag bridge below it and the Range Finder deck above it both do not..
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/c1f32958fcf0b36b_large

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/bb3b69a54cb78c9f_large

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/3668b2c7955557e0_large

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/7a15726218d9bcf2_large

Also notice the color difference that the Flag and Range finder decks are compared to the 5-D bulkheads.
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/77faf00ad987194f_large

Notice just below the left foot of the guy sitting in the lookout chair there is a support brace for the wind shield. Half of that brace is 5-D to match the shield and the other half is whatever color the deck is.
Any guesses what color the deck is?
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/9ee39321d2d7fe59_large

And the teak decks get a fresh coat of blue paint.
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/e2adfbdb33b02388_large

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/9cb4880b1aedf43b_large

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/a1785d81da532fb8_large

But the it didn't adhere too well.
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/4070081911c5df41_large

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/00f516fff5d5b79a_large

[Devin]

Great find on those Portland images.

Speaking of which, does anyone have a method for searching the Life archives? I can never find anything by searching on a name, even if it's in the image description. Everything I've been able to find has been pure accident from hours of skimming.

[Charles Landrum]

I have spent a lot of time searching the archives and there is no rhyme or reason. People have guessed that the root problem is the junior staff who has scanned the images and populated the archive not being familiar with the subjects and probably relying on poor initial documentation by the photographer.

I have been successful searching general topics like "Naval Operations", "maneuvers", "Atlantic" and then searching the results. Once I find a photo of interest, I click on other photos in the series which will present you with new photos to the right. It is maddening work, like digging for fossils or combing a beach. Plus more images keep getting added so you have to re-search ground already covered.

I wish there were better tools.

[Jeff Sharp]

Yeah, it's very cumbersome but still very cool to have access to these pics. For this one I simply searched "US Navy". I am still finding new ones that I have never seen before.

[Matt Gill]

Just a heads up for anyone who may be interested in tackling a larger scale USS Portland at some point. I believe that Tehnoart (Riga, Latvia) may be planning to develop & release a USS Portland in late 2015 or early 2016 based on my communication with Dimitrij (the owner). They've agreed to do a complete build for me from their Indianapolis and he mentioned that they plan to add it to their USS Ward and Gearing line of kits. I'm in no way affiliated with them - just a long-term customer and I'm also certain it will be pretty pricey. That said, I also think it's going to be an exceptional model. Thought I'd mention it if anyone ever considered doing something larger. Best...

[pbudzik]

Jeff - Thank you for the photo links

[DrPR]

Jeff,

What is the URL of the LIFE photo gallery that you are seeing? I tried to find it and found a dozen or more "LIFE photo galleries," all trying to sell photos from LIFE. When I thought I was in the actual LIFE gallery pages I kept getting all kinds of screwball links to other sites, including modelling sites and advertising. And the subtitles associated with many images had nothing at all to do with the pictures, but were apparently text for entirely different photos.

Thanks.

Phil

[JTninja]

Try this Phil

http://images.google.com/hosted/life


For example, I typed in cruiser. Came across this image of what looks to be like the USS Portland..

http://images.google.com/hosted/life/6d ... 8a217.html

[Jeff Sharp]

That is the right link. Just type in "US Navy" to find the Portland pics. The ones you found when you typed in "Cruisers" are of the Northampton 1942.

[DrPR]

Thanks!

Phil

[Jeff Sharp]

Here's a look at the machine gun platform on top of Portland's aft turret. Strangely this platform was at an angle across the top of the turret. Just as strange, there were only two machine guns on this platform, one on the starboard side and one in the middle. It doesn't appear that one was ever installed on the port side.


Additional views of this platform can be seen at the LIFE collection of photos like this one.
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/b297f164d3b4df6f_large

[DavidK]

Here's a look at the machine gun platform on top of Portland's aft turret. Strangely this platform was at an angle across the top of the turret. Just as strange, there were only two machine guns on this platform, one on the starboard side and one in the middle. It doesn't appear that one was ever installed on the port side.


Additional views of this platform can be seen at the LIFE collection of photos like this one.
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/b297f164d3b4df6f_large

I could sure use a photo or drawing of the AA platform on the aft turret from above looking down so I can scratch build one on my 1942 Portland model. Anybody think they've got this?

Thanks.

[Frank Fowler]

Hi David,
If you are building the Portland from spring 1942 through the November battles where she was damaged the platform shown in the photo was no longer there. It had been replaced with a simple gun tub rounded at the front of the turret (facing aft), elongated to the rear of the turret with a straight back. The tub had one 20 mm gun in it with an ammo box at the back.

[DavidK]

Thanks Frank.

All of my 1942 Portland photos are biased toward the bow, so the appearance of the aft bridge and turret are not well shown. All I had was this little snippet from the Classic Warships resin kit instructions (kit is out of production but was billed as a 1942 Portland). It shows exactly what you described, though the level of detail in the instruction sheet is low.

Dave

[prowler0000]

Can someone give me some guidance on paint colours please?

Intend painting Indy as-lost, & use mainly Tamiya or Vallejo... I refuse to believe shes vallejo 990 like all the other Trumpy ships... also a deck blue in those ranges please?

Many thanks as usual guys!

[Aekold]

Hi folks!
I've settled to build battle of Coral Sea lineups for IJN and USN (in 1/700), and Portland is one of the few ships I am currently missing.
What is the best model to take as a coversion base? Tamiya Indy'45, Niko Portland'44, or smth else?
Is it realistic to find Midship Models Portland'42?
In the very beginning of the thread they recommended Model Art issue #28 - I failed to find this issue, can anybody give a link where I can buy it?
Any suggestion are welcome; thanks a lot in advance.

[Aekold]

Is this kit: http://www.hlj.com/product/flmw70003/Nav
of any use?

[MartinJQuinn]

Is it realistic to find Midship Models Portland'42?

I have one I'll probably never build - it's your's for $75, shipping included within the continental USA. PM me if you are interested. I'll just have to dig it out of storage.

Is this kit: http://www.hlj.com/product/flmw70003/Nav
of any use?

No - deck would have been dark blue (20B) at the time of Coral Sea.

[Aekold]

Is it realistic to find Midship Models Portland'42?

I have one I'll probably never build - it's your's for $75, shipping included within the continental USA. PM me if you are interested. I'll just have to dig it out of storage.

Very interested, PMed you the details