What-If South Dakota-class BB-49 (1920s)

[Betelguese90]

What is ever ones take on if the 1920 South Dakota class, BB-49 through BB-54, were completed?

[Betelguese90]

here are a few links on the warship class in general:


http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/49a.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dak ... hip_(1920)

[Betelguese90]

going to kitbash a Revell 1/429 scale Arizona into that South Dakota. going to lengthen & widen the hull plus redo the bow like I have done using the same Arizona hull to do a Tennessee & Colorado hulls.

Should be an interesting build. Have to post updates when you start working on it. I ended up getting IHP 1/700 South Dakota kit before they stopped production on their resin line. Going to do a 'as is' build, depicting her as she would have looked as built.

[taskforce48]

Time to give this one a revive, looking at some details of this class and curious to get everyone's take.

#1- There are two sets of BOGP's available for this class, both virtually identical with the South Dakota's being slightly cleaner and more detailed. Neither one mentions any wooden decking anywhere. Calls out Tile and Linoleum, but no wood. We know that the main deck would have been planked in most likely Teak following before and after USN building and design practices, but what about the 01 deck or the top of the midship deckhouse around the boat deck? I feel like these would have been planked as this was crew's messing and berthing spaces and wood decking served as an insulation.

#2- The Midship deckhouse has a "step" in it adjacent to the funnel. I have thought it weird that the 3-in AA gun is so close to this step, making the working circle tight to the aft. After looking at the plans again, I notice the "step" is very near the Boat Crane when viewed from the side. But in the plan view, we see the crane is well forward but the working circle for the 3-in AA gun is shown. Am I seeing this right as the step does not run straight from Port to Starboard, but has recesses at the corners making an almost partial tub for the 3-in gun?

Matt

[Timmy C]

For whatever it's worth, I agree with your interpretation - the most logical way to parse the profile and plan views is to interpret the solid "half" of the 3" gun circle as being the curved bulkhead of the "step".

[taskforce48]

Thanks Timmy! Here is how I imagine this area in a 3D version of the ship I am working on.

Matt

[FFG-7]

Bridge Deck & Boats Stowage sheet shows 4"x2.5" teak. the lower 3" mount's center point should be closer to the edge of the superstructure deck according to the Structure, Upper Decks & Bridges sheet.

[TZoli]

Do you have sources or drawings of the ship boats?
20ft Dinghy
30ft Whale Boat
31ft Racing Cutter
35ft Motor Boat
40ft Motor Boat
40ft Motor Sailing Launch
50ft Motor Sailing Launch
50ft Steamer
?

[FFG-7]

I have some boats for cruisers possibly heavy cruisers so will get back to you once I check to see what I have.
ended up the plans of the ship's boats were misidentified as coming from CA-29 USS Chicago when it was CA-14 USS Chicago of the 1880's. if the boats were for CA-29 USS Chicago then might have been same as might have been used on your South Dakota.
talk to ModelFunShipyard who did a what if for 3D-Wild of BC USS Lexington which is of the same time period as your model to see if he has the plans of the Lexington's ship's boats or can get you the 3d printed boats.