Model Monkey USS Portland CA-33 Superstructure

[Jeff Sharp]

Hi,

Those life photos date to about January, 1942, so she hadn't yet had her February Mare Island refit where a lot of changes took place. The photo with the SOCs is definitely from that time frame. Note that they haven't yet totally painted out the ship's name on their fuselages - it was still way to early in the war. I sent that exact photo to aviation author Tom Doll and he confirmed the rough date based upon the SOC markings - he's a paint and markings guy and has written several books on the subject, so if anyone would know it would be him. The Measure 1 paint also suggests a super early pre-refit date. A lot would change just a month later.

Bob

Bob, that series of photos also shows Indianapolis in MS-1/5 camo meeting up with the Task Force 12. These photos are from Dec. 7, 1941 and a day or two after.
http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/03a9dc17bd4cf757_large

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks so much fellas!

Life happened this weekend so I hope to complete the design tonight or tomorrow, to include planking the navigating bridge level.

The design will certainly far surpass the maximum file size for a single design Shapeways can print so I will have to offer the design in two parts. I'll try to be clever yet logical about where the break happens.

[MatthewB]

Thanks so much fellas!

Life happened this weekend so I hope to complete the design tonight or tomorrow, to include planking the navigating bridge level.

The design will certainly far surpass the maximum file size for a single design Shapeways can print so I will have to offer the design in two parts. I'll try to be clever yet logical about where the break happens.

That is something I have encountered rather frequently with Shapeways (maximum file size). But usually the stuff I have done is only printed once, and then is used as a master for a mold to be cast in white-metal.

But I know with the SoDak I am going to have to break it up into many different parts.

But... Does this mean you will be going to the aft superstructure next?

MB

[ModelMonkey]

But... Does this mean you will be going to the aft superstructure next?

MB

Aye, Cap'n!

Taking a look at the aircraft handling deck, too. It is a critical feature because the rear tripod legs pass below main deck level to the aircraft handling deck.

[ModelMonkey]

The design for the 1942 USS Portland CA-33 Forward Superstructure is complete. It is available in 1/700 and 1/350 scales.

Thanks so much to all who provided expertise and advice in the completion of the design!

Link:
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Monkey.
On the left side of the page, just click the scale you are interested in.

The very large size of the design's electronic file is too large to be printed by Shapeways as one design. Therefore it is offered in two parts, an upper section and a lower section, divided at the top of the bridge level. This will permit the modeler to access the interior of the bridge for ease of painting and further detailing such as the installation of clear window panes (not included).

The lower-most portions of the aft tripod legs have been omitted to prevent breakage and ease printing and will be included as integral features of the forthcoming Aircraft Handling Deck. This will also help ensure proper alignment.

New to Model Monkey designs, two of the levels are designed with to-scale planked decks, the 01 level and the navigating bridge level. This planked deck feature has not yet been 3D-printed. That feature makes this very much a "cutting-edge" design.

[Frank Fowler]

Just ordered both scales. We will see if it prints the first time with Shapeways. Looking forward to the other parts to complete this conversion. Thanks for doing these Steve. Have a great Thanksgiving holiday.

[ModelMonkey]

Just ordered both scales. We will see if it prints the first time with Shapeways. Looking forward to the other parts to complete this conversion. Thanks for doing these Steve. Have a great Thanksgiving holiday.

Thanks so much, Frank, for all your advice and patronage!

Here, below, is how my software "sees" the completed superstructure. You can see why I decided to make the lower tripod legs part of the forthcoming Aircraft Handling Deck. They are simply too vulnerable to damage if left here.

I'm excited to learn how the planked decking actually prints. It looks convincing in the design.

The geometry of the splinter shielding on the foretop was probably the most technically challenging part of the design. Additionally, getting everything to line up as features appear in the Life Magazine photos of the actual ship was a two-day design extravaganza.

[MatthewB]

Is that line around the lowest level bridge deckhouse (with the Turret #2 barbette on it) supposed to be a handrail?

Because it looks rather strange in the test render compared to the model.

MB

[ModelMonkey]

Is that line around the lowest level bridge deckhouse (with the Turret #2 barbette on it) supposed to be a handrail?

Because it looks rather strange in the test render compared to the model.

MB

No, Matt, it's not supposed to be a handrail, but it is a prominent feature, fixed to the bulkhead, that appears in photos of the ship pre-war through at least 1944.

[Guest]

I believe that wrap around railing is much like we see on IJN ships; an anchor point for rigging sun awnings.

Dan k

[MatthewB]

I believe that wrap around railing is much like we see on IJN ships; an anchor point for rigging sun awnings.

Dan k

I thought it was simply a drip-guard, but I can see it being an anchor point for awning.

It looks, though, like the rim that runs around the Bridge on the New Orleans-class pre-1943, that was right over the lower-level Bridge Windows.

I would have preferred to have the part without it, and the hatches, though, as I plan to use PE hatches and detailing.

But when I get the SoDak finished, I will be getting this (and the hopefully, by then completed rear Superstructure and masts).


MB

[ModelMonkey]

The design has been updated to include the lower drip guard (visible under the porthole in this photo) and improve the appearance of the main battery director.

[steviecee]

when will the whole conversion set be ready

[ModelMonkey]

when will the whole conversion set be ready

The aircraft handling deck is in design now. This should be done in a week or so. When complete, portions of the aft superstructure will be designed. That will take another week or so.

[Steve]

when will the whole conversion set be ready

The aircraft handling deck is in design now. This should be done in a week or so. When complete, portions of the aft superstructure will be designed. That will take another week or so.

With these parts converting a Tamiya 700 scale kit may be easy providing you accept the kit hull and buy the sprue for the second catapult from Tamiya USA.

Will there be instructions included even if only very basic?

[MatthewB]

The aircraft handling deck is in design now. This should be done in a week or so. When complete, portions of the aft superstructure will be designed. That will take another week or so.

With these parts converting a Tamiya 700 scale kit may be easy providing you accept the kit hull and buy the sprue for the second catapult from Tamiya USA.

Will there be instructions included even if only very basic?

They make a sprue with another catapult?

I have an old Matchbox USS Indianapolis I plan to convert. I found some appropriately scaled "decking" for the wooden decks (I will need to take it to my old work, and have the backing milled down to where the decking is thinner). But I did not think about whether it had one or two catapults.

Maybe it would be easier to just get the Tamiya kit, and the Second Catapult.

But SOME Portland is better than NO Portland.

MB

[Steve]

Tamiya USA will sell individual sprues for a kit if you know the kit no. and sprue tag. In this case the sprue that came with the kit has only one catapult.

[ModelMonkey]

With these parts converting a Tamiya 700 scale kit may be easy providing you accept the kit hull and buy the sprue for the second catapult from Tamiya USA.

I hope that converting the Tamiya kit will be very straightforward! Another option is to use photoetch catapults from your favorite PE manufacturer's US cruiser set.

Please be advised I am not designing these parts to fit any specific kit. They are being designed to represent the actual ship and the design is dimensioned accordingly. Some adjustment of the 3D-printed part may be necessary to fit the kit you have.

For the aircraft handling deck now in design, I am intentionally designing the deck itself to be a bit wide so that it can be used with any kit; the modeler can gently trim/sand the deck edges to fit whatever kit you have on hand.

Please feel free to send me the actual dimensions of your kit's aircraft handling deck in millimeters to make sure I don't come up short for you.

"Kit Surgery" will still be required to alter the Indianapolis hull to accept the new Portland aircraft handling deck and match Portland's look. Portland's deck extends much farther forward, astride the forward funnel. The Indy kit's forecastle deck will have to trimmed forward as well as the hull sides in this area (compare photos below). Careful study of photographs from NavSource will be a big help here.

Will there be instructions included even if only very basic?

Unfortunately, as an independent designer, not a Shapeways employee or contractor, I have no way of including anything with the products they print, such as instructions. (Think of Shapeways as a kind of Kinkos where a designer like me sends them the file and they print it for whoever wants a copy). But there is considerable discussion on the Calling All Portland Class Fans thread, certainly more forthcoming, that should be all you'll need to make the conversion a success.

Hope this helps!

[MatthewB]

The Aircraft Well-deck is just like on the Northampton-class CAs.

Several of them had the forecastle extended back to provide for Flag Officer's Staff quarters.

The Indianapolis had this done, whereas the Portland didn't.

It will be a challenging conversion.

Although.... You could simply do a new hull, and just produce the entire kit.

MB

[JTninja]

Its not too bad. I mainly studied what photos I could find on the internet as well as the Portland/Indy Pictorial book, made some marks with a sharpie, and then consulted my sources again. That I slow cut with an xacto knife. You can do something more or less like this