1/200 Scale Group Build from 2015-17

[Fliger747]

Reveling in a bunch of WWII surplus parts (via Hank) to equip Alaska. Installed (but not glued down) the 14 40 mm quads and working on the catapults. I am rather amazed at the tiny 20 mm mounts, I remember someone here showing one off held by tweezers. May be a while before I get to those, additionally because there is 30 of them.

Krishima and Hiei were a major concern tactically before and during the Pacific war. Actually ships very similar in characteristics to the Alaska's. Both had a similar armor scene, Alaska was a better steamer, Krishima had a larger weapon, though Alaska's were probably as effective. Both were really meant to accompany the carrier forces and over power or defend against the cruiser escorts. A major reason the old battle line was really parked for much of the war except for shore bombardment. Really interesting to read all the deliberations, especially with regards to speed for the ships which became the three classes of fast battleships and all the compromises that engendered.

Photos eventually!

T

[Fliger747]

Current progress with 40 mm and start of catapult construction.

[Fliger747]

Photo using photo stacking to increase depth of field.

[BB62vet]

Tom,

Excellent work - The PE adds another dimension. Thanks for sharing!!

Hank

[Mgunns]

Starting to look busy with the addition of the PE. This is really coming along nicely.

[Fliger747]

Many thanks to Hank for making available unused PE and parts from his ongoing (and excellent) NJ. After doing the catapults I am rather amazed at the engineering that went into the PONTOS materials. Very impressed with Mr Kim and Co. I think that the Veteran 40 mm quads are probably better, no fault of PONTOS, as they are adapting to the kit parts and they come out pretty well.

The radars will be another challenge, as well as the 30 20mm mounts, which are rather amazing tour de forces of minimal sized parts!

I replaced as many of the MK 51 directors as possible, a few flew off to who knows where. That necessitated removing the existing scratch ones, which sometimes required a rebuild of it's tub due to accelerated depreciation. Re built parts of the bow 40 mm tub and director as well. I would like to build the pipe rail covers for the main deck hatch way awnings. An easy item if in the PONTOS PE mode, perhaps a bit more interesting to scratch in some quantity for scratch made hatch coamings which might vary in size slightly.

Not looking forward to modifying the stack top, which i liked, but is wrong. Any thoughts on two and three pipe rail? I used Tom's on the Missouri, but it is in my mind over fine and fragile. Brass is too soft. Might consider tempering it?

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Tom wrote:

I would like to build the pipe rail covers for the main deck hatch way awnings. An easy item if in the PONTOS PE mode, perhaps a bit more interesting to scratch in some quantity for scratch made hatch coamings which might vary in size slightly

Tom,

Why not very small dia. brass rod (K & S comes to mind) - something like 1/64" dia. or less (if it's available - I haven't checked lately - Hobbylinc usually has a large assortment of K&S metals). The rods can be shaped and (silver) soldered as needed and then sprayed to suit.

Hank

edited - 10am

[tegunn]

You might have to make a jig for your framework on top of the funnel. Build a frame out of basswood and fasten wire pins in it at the grid spacing . Thread around these pins and then solder/CA it at the connecting points. If it's the double footrailing around the funnel, take a look at 1/700 scale railing...

[Fliger747]

The larger issue with the funnel cap is the shape, sort of a double scallop, but is currently straight. As the funnel is laminated from plexiglass and sanded to external shape, the top can be reshaped at some peril. A lot of the superstructure has a base of 1/8" plexiglass, hell for stout and an inexpensive material, which can be sanded to rounded contours, if not easily.

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Tom,

I've been trying to find a "good" picture or illustration of ALASKA's funnel, but without success. I don't have any decent plans of her (yet!) so the details are a bit fuzzy.

You mentioned the cap & associated railing - is that the actual funnel cap or the catwalk around the funnel just under the angled forward mast structure? I know the IOWAs all have a railed catwalk around the funnel cap that is made of straight grating (as in ladder rungs), not a diamond or rectangular pattern and it surrounds the funnel cap with ladder access on the forward side of the funnel.

I don't know of any PE manuf'rs that have anything available. That would be the thing to have if in fact that's what ALs upper funnel consisted of - also the mid funnel catwalk. A photo of HI shows a 2 rail railing around the mid funnel catwalk on her but the top cap railing is not discernible.

Hank

Hank

[Fliger747]

Somewhere I have a decent closeup of the top of the funnel (cap). The biggest issue is cutting out the scallops in the cap.

Perhaps their will be some good photo in Steve's book, whenever it shows up.

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

While viewing the USS WISCONSIN model (link provided by Larry Steinerman in his 1:200 MO thread) I was interested in some of the details as represented in that fine model.

One thing that caught my eye in the photos of this model was the way the portholes were represented in deckhouse bulkheads. The reality is that the porthole is flush with the exterior surface without an exaggerated continuous lip; the rim of the port being a very thin visible bead. There is a curved "brow" usually above the port, but not continuously surrounding the opening. This model has a thick lip that surrounds the port, which is a bit overdone.

I discovered that on a couple of the sheets of Pontos PE (sheet #15, for example) that there are un-numbered ports - both open and closed. The port covers on the IOWA class ships, as I have described above, are not external - they are internal, i.e. - inside the space. This way, the port can be dogged closed from the inside (in combat zones this is termed "darken ship"). Someone building a scratchbuilt model, for example, would find the open ports quite useful from the exterior standpoint. But from the outside, the closed port (a solid with an "X" etched in it) would be better left off or actually placed BEHIND the bulkhead as it is in reality somewhat recessed the thickness of that particular bulkhead.

My model will not have anything other than the kit molded ports as they seem to appear sufficient to represent the opening. I am, however, holding on to all these ports for future use.

[steinerman]

Howdy, Peoples,

I've already got a build thread going in the "Work in Progress" forum, but since I ordered my "Monster Mo" today, I guess that makes me a committed member of the 1:200 Scale Club - and eligible to participate in this "Oh-so-Holy" thread with the rest of you crazies. (Oops, did I say that?)

What did I order? The whole enchilada:

Trumpeter 1/200 USS Missouri Kit: Ordered - Due to be shipped week of Sept 9
Pontos 1/200 USS Missouri 1945 Detail Kit: Ordered - Due to be shipped Sept 15 - 25
Pontos 1/200 USS Missouri Advanced Detail Kit: Ordered - Due to be shipped Sept 15 - 25

Now, as if I didn't already spend enough $$$, I have a question:

Does anyone know if Randy M from San Diego still hangs around here? The last post I see from him was back in June. What I want to know is he still taking orders for his reworked stern section of this kit and if so, what's the cost and lead time? Not too sure if I'll get it or not, seeing as how the Wifey isn't too happy with me right now. I would like the hull to be correct, but of it isn't, I guess I can live with it. People who see the finished model won't know if the bottom is the right shape or not. Hell, my bottom's been out of shape for years and nobody's said too many bad things about it!

Anywho, I'll let you guys know when I get my goodies. And, by the way, I can't remember who it was in the Calling All Iowa Class Battleships thread that was waiting forever on 0.3mm drill bits, but Amazon sells them from several different suppliers. I bought 2 packs of 10 for $5.25 each with delivery the 1st of October.

Later, fellas, Have a pleasant night and a great day tomorrow. It's supposed to be 90 and muggy here in GR tomorrow. Thank Heaven for A/C!

[tegunn]

Tom wrote:

I would like to build the pipe rail covers for the main deck hatch way awnings. An easy item if in the PONTOS PE mode, perhaps a bit more interesting to scratch in some quantity for scratch made hatch coamings which might vary in size slightly

Tom,

Why not very small dia. brass rod (K & S comes to mind) - something like 1/64" dia. or less (if it's available - I haven't checked lately - Hobbylinc usually has a large assortment of K&S metals). The rods can be shaped and (silver) soldered as needed and then sprayed to suit.

Hank

edited - 10am

Check out the Albion/Connecto stuff. Not sure it measures out to what you need but good to know of the source for the future..Randy

http://www.uschivdr.com/shopping-catego ... es-tubing/

[BB62vet]

Steiner wrote:

Does anyone know if Randy M from San Diego still hangs around here? The last post I see from him was back in June. What I want to know is he still taking orders for his reworked stern section of this kit and if so, what's the cost and lead time? Not too sure if I'll get it or not, seeing as how the Wifey isn't too happy with me right now. I would like the hull to be correct, but of it isn't, I guess I can live with it. People who see the finished model won't know if the bottom is the right shape or not. Hell, my bottom's been out of shape for years and nobody's said too many bad things about it!

Larry - I'm not speaking FOR RandyM, but I think I can safely say that he is NOT taking orders for his hull mod. I have been in touch w/him since that time and various factors have contributed to his not being able to produce any of those parts (time/cost of mat'ls/availability of printer); I'm unhappy, but moving on with my own modification plan. I think RM still peruses the forum from time to time, but his comment to me regarding his work is that he's pretty much on the go and modeling has taken a back seat right now. Life seems to always get in the way of our hobbies

FYI - the shape of your bottom is a bit TOO MUCH INFO at this point

I would suggest you get a copy of Floating Drydock's MISSOURI Plan Book (or EPlan Book) as it's a very big asset in building the model.

I'm sort of surprised you bought both of the Pontos detail sets - please correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the Advanced Detail Set simply additional parts included with the normal Detail Set?

[steinerman]

Hi Hank,

Thanks for the update regarding Randy. Too bad on that deal, but I can fully understand. I was an engineer for 47 years myself and when the crap hits the fan, guess who has to fix it!

Yes, the Floating Drydock plans are on my list - probably next week or so, along with their 3D anchor chain.
As for the Pontos advanced detail kit, it contains 4 brass screws, 5 glass lenses for the searchlights, better blast bags, and quite a few other items that aren't in the original set. Mainly, it contains much better detailed 40mm quad Bofors guns from VeternModels. As soon as I get all this stuff, I'll post some pictures. Here are some pics from Ebay:

Now, I just have to figure out what to do about the hull bottom.........................

[BB62vet]

Larry,

Thanks for clearing that up (diff. between Pontos PE sets)!

As for the hull issue - I think this is Neptune's way of making us each a better modeler
We'll seek out ways to improve what's there, learning as we go along

You really believe this happy horse s#%t, don't you?

Personally, I'm still a bit leery of starting it, but will do so and hope for good results! I think I have a plan that might work for my purposes, a bit toned down rather than the whole enchilada.
Hank

[Fliger747]

It appears that the official nomenclature for the blast bags (we have called them many things here) is Bucklers for the attachments and the cloth flexible portion referred to as Bloomers. Nice chain stoppers and fire hydrant btw.

Cheers: Tom

[Channell]

Randy's got a lot to answer for putting crazy ideas into the heads of everyone building a 1/200 Iowa/Missouri. Let the mayhem begin!

[BB62vet]

OH! those crazy Ute's - always thinking a Chainsaw can solve everything!!!