Calling all USS Barnegat-class seaplane tender (AVP) fans

[NukeMM]

Continuing to plan my diorama of "The Little White Fleet" (USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38, USS Greenwich Bay AVP-41 and USS Valcour AVP-55) which shared the flagship duty for COMIDEASTFOR in the 1950's and 1960's.

I saw this photo in a 1954 USS Duxbury Bay Cruise Book of he Dux pulling in to Pier 2 at Norfolk NOB where the USS Greenwich Bay is already moored.



I'm working on creating the warehouse on Pier 2. So far, I've just laid out the dimensions and some details in CorelDraw and glued printed walls to thin foam board assembled a mockup of the warehouse for perspective as to the size and layout of the diorama. I'll eventually create the warehouse is some other material, yet to be determined.





I'm thinking about this layout and having the warehouse/pier extend up to the left edge of the display base. I'm modifying Battlefleet Models' 1/350 Dock Set pieces to make a wider pier to accommodate the warehouse.



Here is Pier 2, third pier from the left, in the 1940's.



Here's a shot from 1954.......



Closer details of the walls of the warehouse......





This is what Pier 2 looked like in the 1990's (1995?).

[jepot]

Ok Carl, so finally some progress on our little project.....





sorry for the very bright picture; will adjust next time; will hopefully have more progress...soon! Must take advantage of the very hot weather here...

[NukeMM]

My 1953 1/350 Norfolk Naval Base diorama, featuring three AVPs, is starting to take shape.

I created drawings in CorelDraw and passed them on to David Angelo at Loose Cannon. He cut out my master parts (walls and doors) from clear acrylic. From these masters, I've created resin parts and I hope that others will be interested in the model kit that I plan to market at Back-Aft Models.

The dock is made from modified dock sections from Battlefleet Models' 1/350 dock set. I had to cut them and glue them back together to create a wider dock to accommodate the width of the warehouse. I made resin copies of these modified dock sections.

I plan to angle the dock in the diorama and will be cutting the dock, with the warehouse attached, at the desired angle. I hope this works. I have a band saw and a power miter saw to choose from. I'll experiment with the power miter saw, first, and start away from the actual desired angle line to see how that works.

I've yet to paint the edges of the dock. I plan to attach the upper roof sections once that the warehouse is glued to the dock. I want to glue it to the dock from the inside.

[NukeMM]

[NukeMM]

Here comes the really fun part! Creating the layout of the dock details for the diorama to support the storyline of all that'll be going on.

Train cars by PetrOs; gray crates and barges by Battlefleet Models, yellow crates by L'Arsenal.

Ooops! Those barges are 1/700, not 1/350 like I thought they were. So much for this layout with barges.

[NukeMM]

I like these trains by PetrOs but, I wish there were black decals in addition to the white ones that were included.

[bwross11]

Carl,

That dock scene is really outstanding......man you just keep getting better and better!!!

Bravo Zulu shipmate,

Bruce

[brayski]

good day USS Barnegat class fans, i just want to share my on going project:

BRP Andres Bonifacio (PF-7), (ex-USS Chincoteague (AVP-24), ex-USCGC Chincoteague (WAVP-375), RVNS L� Th??ng Ki?t (HQ-16)
She served under Philippine Navy from 1976 to the 1990s. Helicopter deck was added in 1979 but she doesn't have a permanently assigned aircraft
I got this kit from Mr. Carl of Back-aft.com which was very helpful (thank you very much)
due to very limited picture reference and amateur skills that i have, this representation is not 100% accurate (i still have a long way to go)

[brayski]

inspired by Mr. Carl's project, i made a simple pier just made of styrofoam sheets and toothpicks that i got from 99cents store.
there's no progress yet with the ship

i also put another 2 unfinished ships of the same scale, but of a different kind (Cannon class destroyer escort and an DER conversion of an Edsall Class) which also served the Philippine Navy in the 1970s up to the 80s

[jepot]

a project looong overdue and in the works..in a different scale...



...

[jepot]

is the main mast too tall or is it meant to be that way, based on pictures? Carl what do you think?



???

[Timmy C]

Looks too tall: this photo shows it's only a little bit taller than the distance between waterline and top of the bridge.

[jepot]

Looks too tall: this photo shows it's only a little bit taller than the distance between waterline and top of the bridge.

Thanks Timmy! Its hard to discern such from pics at diff angles only- the pic you showed was the ship i built in an earlier configuration after she escaped from Vietnam and was commissioned into the Philippine Navy...

[NukeMM]

is the main mast too tall or is it meant to be that way, based on pictures? Carl what do you think?

???

Jepot,

The mast that I made for my 1/700 USCGC Bering Strait is 3cm high from the deck with the yardarm at 2cm from the deck and the yardarm is 1.5cm wide. I'd suggest some thinner brass rod, too.

The aft tripod mast looks great!

[jepot]

is the main mast too tall or is it meant to be that way, based on pictures? Carl what do you think?

???

Jepot,

The mast that I made for my 1/700 USCGC Bering Strait is 3cm high from the deck with the yardarm at 2cm from the deck and the yardarm is 1.5cm wide. I'd suggest some thinner brass rod, too.

The aft tripod mast looks great!

thanks for the advice Carl! 3 cm high from the deck? hmm in that case the height of the aft mast height may be wrong too...and considering i had a rather hard time scratchbuilding it, moreso the range finder at the top, geez!

this is how she looks now...if you noticed, the main mast had a thinner extension too- was that the thinner brass rod you were mentioning?



...

[NukeMM]

inspired by Mr. Carl's project, i made a simple pier just made of styrofoam sheets and toothpicks that i got from 99cents store.
there's no progress yet with the ship

i also put another 2 unfinished ships of the same scale, but of a different kind (Cannon class destroyer escort and an DER conversion of an Edsall Class) which also served the Philippine Navy in the 1970s up to the 80s

This looks great, Brayski! Great job on the helo deck!

[NukeMM]

Showing off my model to the next generation. He was fascinated by the little sailors on my 1/350 Coast Guard cutter.

[Mike C]

That is such a nice model, Carl. Just looking at pictures of it makes me want to put on a jacket.

[NukeMM]

Here is a new "MUST HAVE" book for me................

Eyes of the Fleet: The U.S. Navy's Seaplane Tenders and Patrol Aircraft in World War II

by CDR David D. Bruhn, USN (Ret.)



Book Description
Cloaked by jungle foliage, the unheralded seaplane tenders operated ahead of the Fleet, like the Navy's famed PT boats. As Halsey's South Pacific, MacArthur's Southwest Pacific, and Spruance's Central Pacific forces advanced toward Japan, these ships served as afloat-bases for patrol planes referred to as the "eyes of the fleet." The large fabric-clad PBY "Catalinas" and later PBM "Mariners" combed the seaways for Japanese forces and carried out bombing, depth charge, and torpedo attacks on enemy ships and submarines. Nighttime anti-shipping operations-"Black Cat" or "Nightmare" missions-were dangerous and daytime combat operations even more so, when encounters with more maneuverable and heavily-armed fighters necessitated hiding in clouds to survive. The Japanese were keen to destroy the scouts and their floating bases, and seaplane tenders often lived a furtive existence, particularly early in the war. Pilots, plane crews and shipboard personnel received scores of awards for valor, including the Medal of Honor, Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, and Silver and Bronze Star Medals.

http://heritagebooks.com/mm5/merchant.m ... gory_Code=

[Mike C]

Book ordered based on your endorsement. I hope it sheds some light on the ordeal of AVP-24.