Model Monkey USS Portland CA-33 Superstructure

[ModelMonkey]

I'm happy to announce 3D-printed parts to help convert your USS Indianapolis CA-35 kit to sistership USS Portland CA-33 are in development. [edit: now done and for sale!]

Six new superstructure sections will be designed including a new aircraft handling deck, aft superstructure and gun tubs and new, accurate turrets. [edit: all done!]

These parts are not a complete conversion kit, but do relieve the modeler from having to scratch-build a whole new superstructure to match Portland's, which is different in many ways than Indianapolis'.

This conversion will be very challenging for most modelers. It is recommended only for those with expert modeling skills and experience in conversions requiring altering existing, major plastic kit parts. Most of the 3D-printed parts will be direct replacements for the parts found in any Indianapolis kit but the 3D-printed forward superstructure will require significant cutting of the plastic kit's hull in order to receive the new 3D-printed forward superstructure and aircraft handling deck.

Cheers to those who will accept the challenge!

Here are some screenshots of the as-yet incomplete design in progress up to the 03 level. Ignore the pink portion; this is a spacer to adjust for deck shear of the 01 level and is not part of the finished product.

As you may know, "Sweet Pea", as she was fondly known, was not configured as a flagship like her sister Indianapolis. Portland's forward superstructure's 01 level was noticeably narrower and significantly shorter. It did not extend aft beyond the forward funnel like her sister.

USS Portland survived the war.

From Wikipedia: "...she saw extensive service beginning at the 1942 Battle of the Coral Sea, where she escorted the aircraft carrier Yorktown and picked up survivors from the sunken carrier Lexington. She screened for Yorktown again in the Battle of Midway, picking up her survivors as well. She then supported the carrier Enterprise during the initial phase of the Guadalcanal Campaign later that year, and was torpedoed during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal."

[ModelMonkey]

Portside WIP:

[JTninja]

I have some late war plans from Floating Drydock to show you if you don't already have access to them

[ModelMonkey]

I have some late war plans from Floating Drydock to show you if you don't already have access to them

A late-war Portland design might be a good project if there is enough interest for it.

[aptivaboy]

I have an interesting photo of Sweet Pea's superstructure at Mare Island in very early 1942 that may (or, may not) prove useful. Shoot me your email addy and I'll send it.

Bob

[ModelMonkey]

I have an interesting photo of Sweet Pea's superstructure at Mare Island in very early 1942 that may (or, may not) prove useful. Shoot me your email addy and I'll send it.

Bob

Awesome!

[MatthewB]

Hurray!

This will provide me with the LAST ship I am missing from the USN at the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal (and almost the last ship I need to buy for both sides. I only lack a couple of Akatsuki and Shiratsyu DDs - Samidare, Ikazuchi, and Inazuma).

Of course, I am still close to a year away from finishing all of these.

But beautiful work so far.

I assume the rear Superstructure will be included or completed as well?

MB

[JTninja]

I have some late war plans from Floating Drydock to show you if you don't already have access to them

A late-war Portland design might be a good project if there is enough interest for it.

https://flic.kr/p/AAvcjY

This should help even with a '42 model, showing the deck configurations. For late war (posr '43 fit), it shows the servicing platform (located between the navigation bridge and the Fire Control Station) that differed from Indianapolis. The Fore Top Indy had at her sinking was the same fore top Portland got during her '43 refit, while Indy didn't get hers until Dec '44. You can see it here



It also shows that aft 40mm tub I was talking about Let me know if you need any close ups

[ModelMonkey]

Now that is one sweeeeet Pea!

I see the tub, thanks! I've had a couple requests for that entire platform. I had not intended to design it but with the interest expressed in this ship it appears that it is a highly desired feature (Frank Fowler can be very persuasive). I'll design that platform, too, for late war version fans. Thank Frank, Matt and JTNinja.

Because of printer size limitations, it will have to be offered separately.

[ModelMonkey]

A little closer...

For those who care to count (you know who you rivet counters are), there are 120 bolts on the lower barbette plate and 90 bolts on the upper. This is consistent with photos.

[Frank Fowler]

Thanks Steve. I am really loving what you are doing for the Portland.

[ModelMonkey]

Closer...

[Frank Fowler]

Looking very nice Steve. Will the 01 deck have wood planking?

[ModelMonkey]

Looking very nice Steve.

Thanks, Frank!

Will the 01 deck have wood planking?

Great question! I haven't yet confirmed that the 01 level was planked in '42. By 1944, photos indicate that both Portland's and Indy's 01 deck was not planked (see photo below) and may never have been.

Please point me to any '42 photos you know of that might confirm 01 level planking.

[Frank Fowler]

Well I thought I did, but I looked at the Mare Island 2/1942 photos again and I can't tell. It all blends in even the main deck blends so you cannot see the planking. I went through my other photos and books and only found one photo of the Indy's 01 level deck showing the wood. Early plans in Friedman's book shows wood and all the other CAs had planked 01 decks. I don't think Portland had the planking removed before 1943 or 1944 refits. I think it was planked in 1942, but just my .02 cents.

[aptivaboy]

It was planked in VERY early 1942: http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/ea7345d3be4a9551_large

However, I suspect the planking was removed along with her birdbath windscreens during her Jan or Feb 1942 Mare Island refit. I have no proof of that, but it would follow the general practice, so take it for what its worth. She appears to have had fairly wide waterways there, too.

Bob

[taskforce48]

Steve,

The Indy for sure did till at least 12/12/42, you can see this in April on pg40 and December on pg42 in the Classic Warships book on the class. I feel that the planking would not have been removed from the 01 deck until after her repairs from the damage at Savo.

Matt

[JTninja]

Lookin great!

Steve, is this what you're looking for? Not sure if these are the 01 and 02 decks (dont know my terminology too well)





Also, heres a great shot of the rear 40mm tub that the Portland had, and Indy had unti Dec '44

http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/033/0403330.jpg

[aptivaboy]

After looking at photos of Indy with her teak decks there later in the war, I'm actually going to come around to taskforce48's view; I think hes right. Indy was refitted at Mare Island 2-3 months after Portland, yet she retained her wooden deck there. Absent solid photographic or textual proof, we can't say for sure, but it sounds reasonable. Perhaps offer two deckhouses, one with and one without the decking?

Bob

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks so much, everyone!

Regarding the planking,

...Absent solid photographic or textual proof, we can't say for sure, but it sounds reasonable. Perhaps offer two deckhouses, one with and one without the decking?

Bob

Sounds good, planked deck it will be.

From the 1942 Life Magazine photo of Portland's aircraft handling deck below (and more specifically the length of the sailors' feet in the photo compared to plank width), in order to complete the design, I'm going to make two assumptions: 1) the planking width is 6 inches, and 2) that the 01 level's planking was the same type and width of planking at 6 inches wide.

The planks appear to be laid flush at the butt ends with no caulking between ends.

In 1/700 scale, I'm not sure how the planked deck will print, but at least the design will "wicked cool".