Calling all USS Indianapolis CA-35 & USS Portland CA-33 fans

[Cy M]

Hi all, just getting back into ships after many years away from modeling. With backdating the Academy Indy in mind, does anyone know where to buy the thin decking to cut for the aft sections of the model. Thanks

[ModelMonkey]

....The plans are not a help. They profile shows the compass house as longer than the fire control deck. The plan view shows them as the same length, each being more or less copies of each other dimensionally. Fun, huh? Dueling C&R plans....

I can't answer your question, Bob, but I know your pain.

[taskforce48]

Cy,

You can go with evergreen styrene sheet that is called "V Groove .20". This is the common material used. I have started using style "C" Artwox generic wooden deck for my 1/350 builds.

HTH

[Cy M]

Thanks, I'll make a template and use the Artwox.

[aptivaboy]

Are there any plans available of the Indy and Portland's gun directors, as built? Or, good detail photos?

Many thanks,

Bob

[Jabberwock]

Hope someone can help here.

Just started an Academy Indianapolis and I was wondering if anyone could identify the following. Academy have moulded a semi-circular 'lump' on the fore-deck, as seen here -

The same portion of the deck is seen below (detail taken from freely available images on the interweb) and the 'lump' circled in black.

I have checked an available plan and it MAY be an escape hatch cover.

Anyone any ideas?

Cheers, Jabb

[Steve Sobieralski]

I doubt that it is an escape hatch as there are three other hatches in the immediate area. It appears to be a cover over some piece of equipment, perhaps a ventilation fan, with an electrical box attached to the back, perhaps a control panel. The attached photos show the object in question on the well-detailed Tehnohart model of the Indianapolis. Unfortunately the instructions give no clue as to what the object actually is.

IND015 290A.JPG (29.65 KiB) Viewed 8027 times

IND015 286A.JPG (41.48 KiB) Viewed 8027 times

[Jabberwock]

Thank you kindly for your swift and informative reply.

That will allow me to add a small amount of detail to the 'lump'

Regards, Jabb

[Steve Sobieralski]

More info:

I looked at my set of Webb Warships Indianapolis plans last night. The "lump" is called out as an exhaust fan, which means the box with the door on the back is probably where the air exits when the fan is in operation. The entire area of the main deck forward of B barbette is shown as officer's quarters. The exhaust fan is located directly over the main officer's head and washroom.

[Jabberwock]

Nice concise answer!

Yes Steve, it looks like that.

When I started to look at the real images, it reminded me of the old knife sharpening machines that were attached to bicycles that traders used when visiting remote villages and towns with!

Similar to this -

images.jpg (10.52 KiB) Viewed 7957 times

Officers toilet extractor fan!

Cheers, Jabb

[Jabberwock]

PONTOS INSTRUCTION CORRECTION

Just realized there is a minor mistake in the Pontos instructions. The handrails on the tops of the funnel caps have been transposed.

Part no's 84 & 85 should be switched.

Didn't spot it when making up the first one, but noticeable on the second.

Cheers, Jabb

[aptivaboy]

Hi,

There's really just one major area that I'm still having issues with for the CAD model. It concerns the series of windows on the flag bridge level that appear to trail aft. I'm not sure if they're actually windows, or are meant as transparent wind breaks, or perhaps both. I'd attach a photo but I'm on my work computer and unable to access Navsource (they blocked it as a suspicious site, seriously!). But, if you loo on the large, extended flag bridge level, the lowest one that just out the farthest from the centerline, you'll see a series of 5-6 windows. I simply can't figure out where they go. They do not appear to run straight from the flag bridge up to the navigation bridge wings as those wings are shaped differently. Are they internal? I can't tell. Any help GREATLY appreciated.

Bob

[aercastro82]

Can anyone please provide me information about the color scheme for
USS PORTLAND in May 1942 (Measure 11?),
USS PORTLAND in August 1942 (Measure 21?), and
USS PORTLAND in November 1942.

I appreciate for the response.

[Don Andrews]

Can anyone please provide me information about the color scheme for
USS PORTLAND in May 1942 (Measure 11?),
USS PORTLAND in August 1942 (Measure 21?), and
USS PORTLAND in November 1942.

I appreciate for the response.

Portland in Nov 42 is the real mystery. She definitively wore Ms 32/10d, but only pictures of her starboard side and from directly ahead are known to exist. What more would you like to know about her camouflage?

Don Andrews
The Andrews Shipyard

[taskforce48]

Ms11 is a possibility for early 42�, but by August and November she was for sure in Ms21. I will check my references for when she could have gone from ms11 to 21. She was also likely painted in Ms1 until her February refit.

HTH

Matt

[Don Andrews]

In 42, Ma 11 and Ms 21 were really the same. 5-S was discontinued because it proved less than satisfactory. It was replaced with 5-N, which was later redesignated Ms 21.

[aercastro82]

Will anyone please confirm if USS PORTLAND had SG radar in November 1942?

I am not sure if that's the SG radar at the foremast just below the SC radar.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/033/0403316.jpg
http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/033/0403308.jpg

According to USS PORTLAND's War Diary:
http://taskforce67.tripod.com/ca33.htm

November 13, 1942
0141 As we changed course, our 'SG' radar showed
4 ships in a SW to NE line. Third ship in line
appeared to be a battleship.

At least, this quote does prove that there was an SG radar on USS PORTLAND.

[taskforce48]

Very interesting, I�ve never know the Sweet Pea to have an SG at that time. I am curious as to the notation In the action report. It is well documented that Helena had it and was providing a lot of info. Could it be perhaps that was a report from Helena referencing the SG? I don�t think that is a an SG on the foremast as it does not look like it provides enough clearance. Let me check my references a little more. I seem to remember there being a section in Portland�s damage report that mentions radars and their performance or how they were affected. Don�t remember mention of an SG. Let me dig around...

Matt

[aercastro82]

Another part of the report

At about 0127, while on course 280, speed 18, the first
radar contact with the enemy was reported by the U.S.S.
HELENA, range 31-900 yards, bearing, 310�. At about 0142
the PORTLAND made her first radar contact on SG radar,
showing about three echoes from 305 T. to 320 T. range
11,000 to 14,000 yards. The FC radar on main battery
director two then picked up the contact about 30 degrees
on the port bow, and tracking was commenced by the plotting
room.

[taskforce48]

Well no denying that, can't find mention of when it was installed. I did notice that Terzibaschitsch has her having one there in his Cruiser book, Profile Morskie also has one there but I generally question their accuracy. I have a slightly higher resolution copy of the distance shot of the Portland and included a crop. You see something there, what it is is not definite but evidence would lead us to believe it would be an SG. I felt it would interfere with the SA in that location, but that is where the Indy got hers installed in December of 42 and looking at Fletcher's installation we see a similar set up. I think the Cockatoo picture shows the platform but the radar was probably removed as it is not clear to me there. Good catch! Never noticed that info and I am slowly working on my 1/350 Sweet Pea, was about to call the mast done but now have to go back and add an SG. You always hear about Helena and Fletcher's SG use during the Bar Room Brawl, but never heard about Portland.


Profile Morskie


Indianapolis 12/42 from CW Pictorial


Crop of Tulagi