Model Monkey News

[Admiral John Byng]

I did wonder as of course the ship had A,B,X,Y turrets but I did not realise you had done a set with all four of them as individuals. I will contact Shapeways.

[ModelMonkey]

We are happy to announce that 3D-printed enclosed bridges, enlarged foremast and a set of directors to help convert your World War Two-era Baltimore class heavy cruiser model kit to become USS Saint Paul CA-73 as she appeared during the Vietnam War is ready in several popular scales.

This model includes a set of directors needed to complete the conversion to the ship's 1968 appearance. There are enough directors for both the forward and the aft superstructure (the aft superstructure is not included). The set includes:

- two Mk.34 Directors
- two Mk.13 airfoil-shaped Radar Antennas
- two Mk.37 Directors, late type with commander's cuppola
- four Mk.56 Directors
- one AN/URN-3 TACAN Beacon

[ModelMonkey]

Enclosed bridges for sistership USS Los Angeles CA-135 as they appeared circa 1968 are ready.

[proditor]

YES!!!

Thank you so much Steve!

[FRAMSailor]

They look great! Since I do not have a spare Baltimore kit, any recommendation on which one would be the easiest to convert in 1/700?

[ModelMonkey]

Great question! I believe that the Pit-Road and the Trumpeter kits are related and come from the same mold. If so, either will work well.

Hopefully, a modeler here with both plastic kits in hand can confirm or deny that and venture a good recommendation.

[maxim]

I would recommend the USS Pittsburgh kit by Trumpeter or Pit-Road. It is the same kit. The PE parts by WEM include also some of the required radars:

https://www.whiteensignmodels.com/p/WEM ... JgM-_LzJ2U

[SeanF]

The Pittsburgh kit is definitely the one you'll want to start with, as it has the correct single-crane stern for the Los Angeles and St. Paul. If you're starting with either the '43 or '44 USS Baltimore releases you'll need to rework it.

- Sean F.

[proditor]

Shapeways tells me my shiny new bridges are being constructed as we speak

[ModelMonkey]

Yay! Please consider posting pics of your build.

We are very pleased to announce two different designs of very accurately shaped and very highly detailed Mk.38 Directors (set of 2) with Mk.13 airfoil-shaped Radar Antennas (set of 4) is now available in several popular scales.

This set represents the Mark 38 Main Battery Fire Control Director fit to fast battleships of the North Carolina class, South Dakota class and Iowa class, as well as Alaska class large cruisers. Some ships' Mk.38 directors carried Mk.13 radar antennas fit with airfoil-shaped covers.

This Mk.38 model's configuration represents the "square back shield"-type as they appeared during World War Two. A set of Mk.38 directors of modernized configuration will be offered soon.

Mk.38 director features:
- open director captain hatch (slid forward)
- accurately shaped viewfinder covers with hinge and hinge motor detail
- accurately shaped and located defroster covers with hinge detail
- accurately sized, numbered and located bolt-head details
- raised bases for handrails (handrails not included - use small diameter wire)

Two of the Mk.13 antennas are smooth and two have recessed features. Please consult your references to know if the Mk.13 antenna is appropriate for your model, and of which type, smooth or recessed.

[SeanF]

Okay, order placed for a St. Paul superstructure and turrets and an extra set of Mk. 34s in 1:700, and those new Mk. 38s in 1:350. I was quite pleased with the results of your products on my PA and AZ builds, and look forward to building St. Paul.

- Sean F.

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, Sean! Support from you and others keeps more products coming.

I think you're really going to be much happier with the new Mk.38s compared with what is found in most kits.

[Admiral John Byng]

Steve, I see you do a lot of sets for a 1/350 USS Portland. When the Indianapolis kits came out I was wanting a Portland so I waited but no kit yet! Is there a lot of scratchbuilding to do or do your sets pretty much cover everything?

[ModelMonkey]

Steve, I see you do a lot of sets for a 1/350 USS Portland. When the Indianapolis kits came out I was wanting a Portland so I waited but no kit yet! Is there a lot of scratchbuilding to do or do your sets pretty much cover everything?

Thanks for the interest!

The sets cover all the major structures, main battery directors, and triple turrets, too (no 8" barrels). It does not include any AA weapons but one set does include the aft Oerlikon tubs including Turret #3's rooftop tub. Since the Indy kits are generally late-war, you'll need AA weapons for 1942, such as 1.1" Chicago Pianos instead of Bofors, offered by other vendors. I recommend 3D Modelparts for those.

You'll need to do some surgery on the Indy hull explained best in the following two build threads:

1/350 WIP: viewtopic.php?f=59&t=162943&hilit=portland
completed 1/700 build: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=162753&hilit=portland

Vlad used Tamiya's 1/700 Indy for his build. My aircraft handling deck came out a bit short for that kit. The deck has since been lengthened for a better fit.

My parts do not include the interior of the aircraft hangars so if you want to cut open the hangar doors and expose the hangar interiors there will be some scratchbuilding needed there.

The decks in the MM Portland superstructure parts are all properly planked and cambered. Yep, cambered.

Hope all this sounds intriguing!

[navydavesof]

Most excellent! I will be following closely!

[ModelMonkey]

A set of two accurately shaped and highly detailed Mk.38 Directors in their six-sided World War Two configuration has been added to the catalog.

Features:
- open director captain hatch (slid forward)
- accurately shaped viewfinder covers with hinge and hinge motor detail
- accurately shaped and located defroster covers with hinge detail
- accurately sized, numbered and located bolt-head details
- raised bases for handrails (handrails not included - use small diameter wire)

Similar sets are available in 1/192, 1/350, 1/600 and 1/700 scales.

[MatthewB]

It would be nice to have some 1/700 Mk. 37 Directors with the angled-back for early Benson/Gleaves and Fletcher DDs.

I have Early-war 16 Benson/Gleaves, and 6 Fletchers that I'd like to have better looking directors on.

MB

[ModelMonkey]

It would be nice to have some 1/700 Mk. 37 Directors with the angled-back for early Benson/Gleaves and Fletcher DDs.

I have Early-war 16 Benson/Gleaves, and 6 Fletchers that I'd like to have better looking directors on.

MB

That would be an excellent product. Please send any accurate, dimensioned 2D drawings of the angle-back director and I'll add it to the queue.

[ModelMonkey]

Angle-back plans received, angle-back Mk.37s added to the queue!

[Seeadler290]

Hi Tom. Any hope of getting a fore and aft superstructure conversion for 1/350 Graf Spee into Admiral Scheer (1940)?