Model Monkey Sneak Peeks

[taskforce48]

Guess it's time to dust off that old Yankee kit!

Matt

[MartinJQuinn]

Magnificent work on the WeeVee, Steve. Simply superb!!

[Mgunns]

What kit would the 1/350 WEE VEE superstructure work on? I'm intrigued.

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, fellas!

This superstructure is designed specifically to fit the 1/350 scale Blue Water Navy kit per the client's request. It will be offered to the general public. It should be available today pending any "life happens" events.

Its features are based on the latest research much of which has been provided by Martin J. Quinn who also sent an entire BWN kit to me to make sure the 3D design would fit the model. The design benefits from several late 1930s-era high-res photos only made available to the public by the Navy since 2016. The BWN kit is a very nice kit (heavy, too!).

The Iowa class Korean War-era quadruped mast will be ready next (should make Tom very happy!). That project was also the beneficiary of considerable research efforts made by Rick E. Davis, Hank Strub and several other wonderful and generous members of this site. Some of the research was conducted at the National Archives this past month. The 3D mast design is based on scale 2D drawings made by our own "BB62Vet", who used the latest references available to produce the 2D drawings.

I hope to make the mast available in 1/200 scale, and possibly 1/350. Its features are very fine, too fine to be printable in 1/700 scale, sadly.

[ModelMonkey]

WeeVee superstructure is done!

viewtopic.php?f=16&t=163596&p=716959#p716959

[Mark McKinnis]

Hi Steve,

Most impressive work! Any chance the 1/700 Intrepid/Ticonderoga/Hancock Island is in the Que?


Thanks,

Mark

[ModelMonkey]

Hi Mark,

PM coming your way.

[Mark McKinnis]

Cool!

I did not realize that you had a running tally going on that page. Very clever. There is method to the madness.

[ModelMonkey]

Working on several designs at the moment. Among them is a type of "ragtop" 5"/38 mount for Benson/Gleaves class DDs. The "ragtop" designs are intended to supplement the superb Dragon 1/350 scale Benson/Gleaves kits making it easier for modelers to build more ships of the two classes. This mount will be available in several other scales larger than 1/350, too.

Some background:

Steve,

The "open-top" half-shield mounts went through a few iterations for sure....Directly below are a couple of views of the Half-Shield Mount with the lower frontal cover retained in the design that was installed on USS MADISON (DD-425) in June 1941. These two images are curious of Roger Torgeson....

Here's the first type, let's call it "Type A", at 50% complete. It will have a "soft" top designed onto it.

[ModelMonkey]

The first design for a canvas-top 5"/38 mount is complete. See: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=163596&p=718583#p718583

Two more similar canvas-top designs coming. These are intended to help modelers build various ships of the Sims, Benson and Gleaves classes.

Another design nearing completion is the Drh LC/34 mount, better known as twin-gun 38cm (15") turret. This will be offered in sets for Bismarck and Tirpitz (4 turrets) and rebuilt Gneisenau (3 turrets). The overall dimensions of this design match Krupp blueprints as well as AOTS drawings by author Jack Brower. Turrets sets will be made available throughout the next week in all popular scales including 1/700, 1/600, 1/570, 1/400 and 1/350. Other scales are possible. 38cm SKC/34 cannon barrels are also being designed.

[RNfanDan]

The first design for a canvas-top 5"/38 mount is complete. See: viewtopic.php?f=16&t=163596&p=718583#p718583

Another design nearing completion is the Drh LC/34 mount, better known as twin-gun 38cm (15") turret.

Will these sets include one blanked-off (no rangefinder shrouds) for turret "Anton"?

Thanks, Steve!

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks, Dan!

Yes, Anton's rangefinder is removed and openings are blanked.

[ModelMonkey]

Almost done. the SKC/34 guns have been added to both turret designs. The guns match AOTS dimensions. Yet to be added are view-port shutters on the glacis, some more detailing, and then it will be added to the catalog, probably for sale tomorrow (Monday).

[Seeadler290]

Bravo! Expect yet another sale shortly!
Any possibility of a version with the rangefinder shutters open? Would love to show the internal rangefinders in action.

[ModelMonkey]

Bravo! Expect yet another sale shortly!
Any possibility of a version with the rangefinder shutters open? Would love to show the internal rangefinders in action.

Thanks so much!

Regarding open shutters, It looks like the answer is "yes".

I am at this very moment uploading the design to Shapeways in 1/600 scale.

[bioshock73]

any progress on the modernized Pennsylvania parts?

[ModelMonkey]

any progress on the modernized Pennsylvania parts?

Not yet.

PM coming your way.

[ModelMonkey]

Here's the Tennessee class 14"/50 cal. turret design at 80% complete:

[Seeadler290]

Bravo! Expect yet another sale shortly!
Any possibility of a version with the rangefinder shutters open? Would love to show the internal rangefinders in action.

Thanks so much!

.

In better news, I am at this very moment uploading the design to Shapeways in 1/600 scale.

No problem Steve. Let me know when these beauties are ready in 1/350!

[ModelMonkey]

Sure will!

Not too much longer.