USS Washington, Guadalcanal 1942 [Trumpeter]

[marijn van gils]

Fantastic work Greg!

I got some of the shelf oddity sets (for IJN), and the parts are even finer than you would imagine when seeing these photo's. The photo's are often so enlarged you don't realize how fine the PE actually is; easily a match for Flyhawk, 5-star, and the like.

Keep up the good work!

Marijn

[blacman]

Thank you Marijn !
Happy to hear it!

I am a bit stopped with BB56 due to rework on midship area. Still considering to redo the funnels and platforms around. And also still did not found good references for 127mm training device. Anyone can help please ...?

[blacman]

hello
BB56 project reactivated

main tower ready for painting







after painting additional platforms will be added


navigation bridge:




and Bofors platform:




there is updated on spardeck also. 127mm and 40mm loading exercise units done:






whaleboat




and fast render :

[Dan K]

Very nice work, Greg.

[Daytona675R]

Greg, it's...just exquisite.

In other circumstances, I wouldn't dare to write the following line, however, it seems you are focused to the extreme detail. Please, take it just as a note...

As you probably know, the Trumpeter's USS Washington kit actually represents the early 1942 fit of the USS North Carolina...with the front tower being generic for both this 1942 and 1944 version kits. And as such, the ladders present on the main tower are placed correctly for the 1944 Showboat but, unfortunately, not for the Washington. The front ones on the both port and starboard sides are redundant and shouldn't be there. Please, see here and here. They were placed on the USS North Carolina during the installation of the observation platform in the middle of the tower (Stryker's bridge) in Sept. 1943. Moreover, I think the rear ladders should be continuous, going from the bottom to the top uninterrupted (I am not sure about this, but certainly at least to the searchlight platform). Ed McDonald re-created this nicely in his awesome BB-56 build.

But if you are aware of this and decided to left it this way, please, forget all the above

[hondaman117]

Fantastic work! You could give Pontos a run for their money with your detail set!

[tenacioustanaka]

I don't know how much more of blacman's genius I can take. I've seriously questioned my desire to continue modeling the way I do after watching his exquisite builds and innovation he puts into them.

As anal retentive as I tend to be with modeling, simple "super detailing" in the traditional sense, i.e. scratchbuilding, using commercially produced pe sets, and other well known techniques..... I've come to the conclusion that with modern technology at the level of sophistication that it is, I'm afraid I'm going to have to learn a whole new hobby just to keep this one relevant for my purposes. I guess it is time to try to figure out EXACTLY how our esteemed colleague goes about designing and producing custom etch the way he does. This is really the only way I can see to have precisely the parts and details one would want in a high end detailing set without all the waste and extras that so often comes with "generic" sets... and even kit specific sets in many cases.

Problem is.... I haven't the slightest clue where to begin. Can anyone help ... short of me having to attend MIT or peep through the windows of some other bastion of ridiculous intellect?


Maybe the simplest answer would be to commission him to make sets for EVERY project I ever plan to tackle. Goodbye Wife, house, car, cat and probably even my own sanity if that were to occur.

[marijn van gils]

Any updates Greg? I'm missing this one�

I hope everything is ok?

Cheers,

Marijn

[pascalemod]

I am using this project to help my 1/700 Washington but Atlantic fit and this is of course on a totally other level. I also used Shelf Oddity parts - rafts, gun loaders, cutters to dress it up and can attest that the parts are fantastic, professionally packaged, and beautifully detailed above all expectations. The order took a month to process though so buyer must budget for this.

On to the build - Im looking for rigging. Is there a good rigging diagram for Washington around?

[taskforce48]

Closest I�ve found from Researcher @ Large

North Carolina/South Dakota Rigging

Matt

[blacman]

Closest I�ve found from Researcher @ Large

North Carolina/South Dakota Rigging

Matt

Thank you !

Any updates Greg? I'm missing this one�

I hope everything is ok?

Cheers,

Marijn

I am owning big appologies for huge drop of this build. Profesional activities and also hobby shop activities almost killed my ships modeling....
I must say that computer game - World of Warships - also did not help me to get back to ships modelling.... unfortunately. I have created the clan of players - Task Force 16 [TF16] (of course Guadalcanal Campaign was the reason for that name ) and I play too much I guess too ...

But virtual ships cannot substitute real models.

I promise to finish BB56 before next WroclawModelShow for sure. WMS is taking place on April next year....

[marinR00]

I am owning big appologies for huge drop of this build. Profesional activities and also hobby shop activities almost killed my ships modeling....
I must say that computer game - World of Warships - also did not help me to get back to ships modelling.... unfortunately. I have created the clan of players - Task Force 16 [TF16] (of course Guadalcanal Campaign was the reason for that name ) and I play too much I guess too ...

But virtual ships cannot substitute real models.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who uses valuable model making time to play World of Warships! Its addicting. The level of detail on some of those ships - especially the ones that were never built - is really impressive. Looking forward to seeing you in the game and updates to your amazing build!

[blacman]

Hello !
It's been a while that this WIP thread was off. I hope to make him live again.
Time is passing by, new technologies come up... so let's get some of them on board !

Greg, it's...just exquisite.

In other circumstances, I wouldn't dare to write the following line, however, it seems you are focused to the extreme detail. Please, take it just as a note...

As you probably know, the Trumpeter's USS Washington kit actually represents the early 1942 fit of the USS North Carolina...with the front tower being generic for both this 1942 and 1944 version kits. And as such, the ladders present on the main tower are placed correctly for the 1944 Showboat but, unfortunately, not for the Washington. The front ones on the both port and starboard sides are redundant and shouldn't be there. Please, see here and here. They were placed on the USS North Carolina during the installation of the observation platform in the middle of the tower (Stryker's bridge) in Sept. 1943. Moreover, I think the rear ladders should be continuous, going from the bottom to the top uninterrupted (I am not sure about this, but certainly at least to the searchlight platform). Ed McDonald re-created this nicely in his awesome BB-56 build.

But if you are aware of this and decided to left it this way, please, forget all the above

thank you David! Notes taken

My last design of BB56 pilothouse deck was wrong :

I re-designed it in and sent for etching but it takes a time. To speed up building proces I decided to print it�

I believe it looks as good as PE contructs. But 3D printed parts have certain disadvantages...
painting proces:

and here you can see 3D printed parts are far more rough than PE equivalents

midship fitting trials - small correction needed :

to replace Trumpeter solid plastic block into supporting frame.

overall - everything should fit quite good...

[Vladi]

Coming along great! Love your work, Greg.

[MartinJQuinn]

Great details! Glad to see you are back at it.

[marijn van gils]

Glad to see you back in the shipyard too!

Looking forward to the next steps...

[blacman]

Small progres on superstructures, preliminary assembling. All chinks should dissapear in final montage.

mid platform will be redone. I don't like the way it looks

127mm AA almost ready:

they will be displayed in full range of barrels position:

and preparation for 40mm Bofors assembling:

[taskforce48]

Outstanding work!! Absolutely loving what you are doing. Only nitpick is the Washington did not have 40mm�s at Guadalcanal. She had 6 1.1�s at the time of the Kirishima duel.

Matt

[blacman]

.... the Washington did not have 40mm�s at Guadalcanal. She had 6 1.1�s at the time of the Kirishima duel.

Matt

in US Navy...
Thank you Matt ! I will research 1.1� and Mk44 Director. Definitelly they will be installed.

[taskforce48]

Ok, one more curveball but an easy(ish) one. The Washington had six Mk49 directors for her 1.1�s. They were installed just before heading to the Pacific. The stern ones are most clearly seen in this image
Washington�s Aft 1.1�s

And for Mk 49 research, can�t beat Tracy White�s Researcher @ Large page-
Mk 49 Resource

Keep up the amazing work, so glad to see you back at this build!

Matt