1:200 USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 68-69 (Trumpeter MISSOURI kit)

[BB62vet]

Scott,

Much appreciated! I hope the case arrives when I'm home next weekend - I'll take it with me for a trial fit!

Hank

[MartinJQuinn]

She looks fantastic!

[BB62vet]

Martin,

Thanks so much - I really appreciate the remark.

Hank

[ModelMonkey]

Indeed, a superb build!

[BB62vet]

Steve,

Thanks so much!!! drop me an email sometime and catch me up!

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank:

A truly beautiful ship creation! I hope that you are truly happy about having gone through all of the hull mod trials from what now seems like so long ago.

The case, this comes as one huge assembled plexi box? I need something like that (actually two) but shipping to Alaska might be out of the question compared to having one fabricated here?

Been in Russia (Siberia) for the last month colluding with some old Russian friends. The Russian's I have met seem to think highly of our President (The current one).

Regards: Tom

[BB62vet]

Tom,

Hi again!! Thanks for the kind remarks!! Well, that's been some traveling, eh? I'll email you later today with info on the case I bought and also other "news", etc.

Happy 4th...er...5th

Hank

[Roger Torgeson]

Great work Hank.

with all your soon to be free time can the Archive Boat People expect to see you at the Archives in October?

[BB62vet]

Thanks, Roger - much appreciated. Answer sent via email!

Hank

[jpeeler]

Incredible work, Hank. That's all I know to say. Thank you for sharing it all with us here.

Jodie Peeler

[BB62vet]

J. Peeler,

Thanks, Kindly! Always much appreciated. Launching Day is closer and closer....!

Hank

[BB62vet]

While waiting for some life raft packs to dry from repainting, I started work on assembly of the brass PE ULQ-6 ECM frameworks that will replace the existing styrene parts that I originally constructed several years back. Just for reference:
Original antennae/frameworks in place:

If those of you following this build will recall, I had designed the parts in CAD for PE and had a sheet of those etched a year or so ago by Sterling Models in England. So, here is the first evening's work on assembly of these parts:

To say that this is extremely tedious work would be an understatement. It is quite slow-going and bending/folding these items is very delicate, to say the least. However, the end result is what will really improve the overall appearance of the conning tower once all this is completed, painted, and installed. Given the complexity and size of some of these parts, it may be a couple weeks before they are completed. FYI - the bottom photo only shows the parts I'm actually working on at that time - there are probably 6-10 more sub-assemblies that make up the complete framework.

[Fliger747]

Get the case as yet?

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

As a matter of fact - YES! it was delivered Friday - unfortunately, I forgot to transfer photos of the crate & case to my flash drive so I can't offer visual evidence!! And, to make matters worse, I can't get the case into either of our cars!!! So, it will sit at home for a couple months until I decide to rent a small van or something else in order to take it down here and then bring the completed model/case assembly back - more than likely sometime this fall. I will, however, provide photos of the case next week.

Work on the replacement PE brass ECM framework continues - little by little. Should have it pretty well together by the end of this week.

Hank

[Fliger747]

That's a pretty big case!

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Well, not really - it's 60" long, 16" high, and 10" wide - it's the height of the trunk opening at the back of the trunk and the angle of the seat back when laid down (not completely flat) that is causing the problem. That's common to both vehicles.

[BB62vet]

So, it's taken roughly 1 month to assemble, paint, and install the port ULQ-6 ECM framework & sensors on the upper conning tower. I now have to build the stbd side unit but will wait until the model as a whole is turned around to work on that side.

When I laid out the PE parts to be etched, I included spares of just about everything knowing in advance they might be needed - and they have been. It took 2 sets (port/stbd) of frameworks before 1 was completed correctly and square - I will keep the others as backup for replacement parts. I have enough on the sheet to do 1 1/2 sets so at this point I'm not worried. Getting these fragile items bent at 90� angles is no easy matter and this was the problem - without everything being correct, the internal parts simply wouldn't fit. Anyhow, here is a shot of the port side completed:

Compare this to the original plastic version in my older post from July 9th and you'll see that the PE version is quite a bit more detailed and is visually a better choice.

I will be continuing to finish items on the port side of the model before a 180� turn around to do the same on the stbd. side. 26' MTB & davits are next on the list.

[steinerman]

Hank, I gotta tell ya, your ship is nothing short of breathtaking!! THe only word I can think of to describe it is "Mind boggling". I can fully appreciate the work, patience, and eyestrain that went into creating this masterpiece. You should be proud of your accomplishment. Me - I'm overwhelmed at what you've done!

Good job, my Friend!

[BB62vet]

Larry,

So nice of your comments!!! I really appreciate them. Your model is also quite well done - esp. the smaller caliber AA mounts which I'm glad I haven't had to deal with on my build.

Yea, the use of bifocals & Opt visor do tend to provide the occasional headache, esp. after working for several hours on very small pieces. Much of the scratchbuilt parts are nerve-racking to build, but only when they don't turn out correct!

Later,

Hank

[Brett M]

Definitely worth the time and trouble to replace the antenna. The plastic looked good, the PE looks sharp.

Nice work on the entire build!