Renwal 1/500 USS Springfield (waterlined)

[Steve]

A quick and easy build with little effort to complete sub-assemblies. The fit up was very good with hardly any filling - just mostly seam scraping needed. So quick I decided to waterline the hull (has a defined waterline as a guide). Completed that in about an hour using a hand saw. The gun mounts are terrible as expected and will be replaced (except I have yet to find any 3" twins) and the molded on handrail will be left as is (to extensive to remove). The picture shows the dry fit of all the sub-assemblies less the directors, radars, Terrier mounts, etc., all completed and ready to install. Apologies for the reversed main mast!

http://imgur.com/slbDCnI

http://imgur.com/2Ck6gZy

[Steve]

Subject says it all. I am completing a missile version and would like to do an all gun version. If not a complete kit please scan and send the instructions so I can see if I can combine it with missile version parts.

USS Springfield assemblies dry fit:

http://imgur.com/2Ck6gZy

[Steve]

In about a week from start to finish Steve Larsen (Model Monkey) has assembled a set of 2 - 6"/47 turrets and 6 - 5"/38 twin mounts AND designed and added the 6" barrels to the package! My set is on order and will greatly improve the looks of this old kit. My thanks to Steve for putting this together for the Renwal/Revell CLG kit.

[Steve]

To my disappointmentI have found out from here and over on SN that all 3 Renwal kits are CLG's and identical. There is no all gun Renwal Cleveland class CL in 500 scale.

[ModelMonkey]

Steve already knows this but for those not aware, Renwal's 1/500 Cleveland kits are basically all-gun versions with missile launchers replacing the aft two turrets. There's a very interesting story behind that but too long for here.

Suffice it to say, for those wanting a 1/500 scale all-gun Cleveland, it can be made starting with any of the Renwal kits (USS Springfield has been re-released by Revell) and adding some Model Monkey 3D-printed turrets and directors. See the 1/500-ish products here:

http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Mo ... +Ships&s=0

For those that like the kit for nostalgic reasons just the way it is configured and would just like a set of direct-replacement, accurate turrets, you can have that, too. See:

http://www.shapeways.com/product/VR8ACQ ... d=61646437

A 1/500 Cleveland square bridge can be had, also: http://www.shapeways.com/product/QKK8KA ... d=60051633

3D Modelparts can provide you with Bofors and Oerlikons in 1/500. See:
http://www.3dmodelparts.com/box-scale-m ... cessories/

[Steve]

Steve Larsen is also working on a set of 5"/38 barrels for the twin mounts using the single mount barrels already available. There is also a dished radar for the Mk 37 directors in the works but is not yet a sure thing. These and the previous new items and assembled sets listed by Steve are terrific additions for those of us who like to build these old Renwal 1/500 kits. I still have some ideas I plan to share with Steve which may expand what you can do with with this old kit.

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks to a some smart thinking by Steve (not me, the Steve in the post above), a set of sixteen 5"38 barrels in 1/500 scale is ready.

Shapeways' automated design analysis software had rejected the design months ago. Steve had a suggestion that worked while still keeping the barrels in scale.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/3WJYD ... d=61661217

[Steve]

I ask Steve to look into doing barbettes for the aft pair of 6"/47 turrets. So far this looks possible. If it comes to be, then a package with the turrets, aft barbettes plus 6" barrels would provide an immediate main battery upgrade.

[ModelMonkey]

The barbettes are ready: https://www.shapeways.com/product/7XUTH ... -barbettes

[Steve]

New pics - will add info later tonight


http://imgur.com/YiAJOti

http://imgur.com/GPSnykL

http://imgur.com/pd4v7fs


I have reposted this on the "builds in progress" with descriptions to assist anyone who would like or is doing this project that started as a simple OOB project.

[Steve]

With the arrival of the first orders from Model Monkey and Star Fighter I have modified the kit slightly and posted several "in progress" pics showing the forward area dry fit.

1. This shows the preparation of the 5" deck mountings with the kit bases being removed and drilled out to receive the "soda straw" 5/38 twin mount barbettes. How did Steve know that a plastic soda straw was an exact fit into the twin mount?

http://imgur.com/tvTczsZ

2. A 5" twin mount with the "soda straw" barbette fitted. The plastic kit barbettes have been filed off and the drilled out so the straw fits tightly enough to rotate.

http://imgur.com/3d1elcc

3. Another view of the fit.

http://imgur.com/LTjzYEw

4. The forward area dry fit for appearance only. The forward 6"47 barbettes have the turret mounting holes filled and redrilled to receive the smaller diameter turret pins. The 3"/50 twins are resin mounts from Star Fighter and I added a thin wafer underneath to set the mount off the deck.

http://imgur.com/qBGr0Oh

5. What else can I do to help!

http://imgur.com/EXbUV1X

6. Tough day gotta get ready for tomorrow!

http://imgur.com/MND0VvP


The USPS has yet to deliver the after turrets and barbettes plus the directors from ModelMonkey. BTW I am using Tamiya acrylic paint.

[Steve]

chocolate or seal point Siamese?

Sam is a 10 year old feral stray (vet confirmed this) we found on the property as a little kitten. It took us two days to actually "rescue" him. Out here in central NJ feral cats are not uncommon and the vet said he is probably a 1 in 200 !

[ModelMonkey]

...How did Steve know that a plastic soda straw was an exact fit into the twin mount?

All Model Monkey designs are straw-tested. It's a service that comes free of charge. Cat-testing is left up to the modeler.

Great work, Steve!

[Steve]

Here are the latest pics of the ongoing project. Components are "dry fit" and not all items are shown. Missing are the masts, boats, all directors and other misc parts. The only items still "in transit" are the new MK 37 radars just made available by Steve Larsen in a new material.

1. General assembly plus other parts from original kit for comparison:

http://imgur.com/AfZ8Pts

2. Forward details:

http://imgur.com/1ZDsdat

3. After details:

http://imgur.com/vvbf9UC

4. Comparison of parts :

http://imgur.com/iJkWpxX

5. What did you do with her- I'm in love?

http://imgur.com/VRxS1qS

I have also started working on some very old 1/700 Hasegawa CV's (Essex and Hancock) for assembly and painting practice (these two were the first Essex class kits to hit the market "a long time ago in a galaxy far,far away"). Some assembly was done years ago. I Will be replacing single and twin 5"/38's from Tamiya Missouri spare sprues. I can live with the 20mm and actually the 40mm are reasonably good!

[ftauss]

For the all gun WWII version I saw a PE set that had the catapults and crane. What do you do for the aircraft?

[Steve]

For the all gun WWII version I saw a PE set that had the catapults and crane. What do you do for the aircraft?

Interesting! Who makes the 500 scale PE for catapults and cranes?

[ftauss]

For the all gun WWII version I saw a PE set that had the catapults and crane. What do you do for the aircraft?

Interesting! Who makes the 500 scale PE for catapults and cranes?

Tom's Modelworks 5007 1/500 US Battleships/ Cruiser Cranes & Catapults

[ModelMonkey]

For those interested in an all-gun Cleveland, I rearranged the sets to be less confusing (thanks, ftauss!).

A set of Mk.34 directors in two different styles with Mk.13 airfoil-shaped radar antenna covers will be available in 1/500 today. [edit: done. http://shpws.me/O3UL]

[ftauss]

Anyone got a lead on 1/500 Kingfishers? I got all of Mr. Monkey's bits to make an all gun and Tom's Modelworks 1/500 PE catapults and cranes, which includes a radar. No go on Shapeways for the 0S2U though. Seagulls might work but the Seahawks came to late and the other one is better not even mentioned. Unfortunately almost all of my references are in storage for at least 4 more months so I can't be sure if it should be Seagulls or Kingfishers for the Clevelands.

Frank

[ftauss]

Nice. I am not being a stickler for super accuracy. At this point I will take what is available. Seagulls would be nice. Seahawks didn't appear until mid 45 so I'd think that is to late. I'm looking for a mid to late 44 look. I'm thinking by that time the Kingfishers would be standard even on cruisers.

Frank