The Ship Model Forum

Yeah, wish I would have seen that pic earlier in my build of the Chicago but C'est la vie

Matt

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In the yards right now:
1/350 USS Portland CA-33 1942
1/350 Trumpeter Texas with a twist

Guys, I can help a little in dating the photos of USS NORTHAMPTON, at least those showing 20-mm guns onboard. USS NORTHAMPTON got her 20-mm guns installed at PHNY in March 1942. (Restricted Availability for installation of 1.1-in mounts and 20-mm guns was scheduled for 10-19 March 1942 at PHNY, but may have lasted longer.) So, those photos date after that.

The attached images show the installation of the 20-mm guns as of 19 March 1942 at PHNY. There isn't much to be seen of the rest of the ship, but there are a lot of details of the 20-mm installations themselves. The bulwarks have yet to be painted and several of the 20-mm guns are still painted in a lighter color as delivered. By the way, the "cone shaped" things with wires coming out the top, aren't part of the ship. They are lights used at night to work on the ships.

PS. Here is another overhead aerial image dated as being taken on 27 March 1942, that may be useful. It was taken at PHNY after her yard period among a series of PHNY survey photos showing Anti-Torpedo netting protections being used.

Thanks, Frank, for posting the info about Northampton photos on FB and for the additional images, Rick. These are coming right in time for me as I am just finishing design of some PE parts for my Chicago build. I noticed the clipped bridge wings before but these photos are really great for additional details.

Would be great to see more of such lively "walk around live ship" photos! (actually there are tons of various excellent WW2 photos from Life magazine photographers at https://www.facebook.com/Radio.WW2/!)

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My Gallery | At works: 1/700 USS Chicago 8/1942 | 1/700 Kinugasa 8/1942 | Recently completed: 1/700 Yunagi 8/1942

Just noticed on photos from the WW2 Radio FB page Northampton´s that SOC-3s were just in the process of repainting red centres on a/c insignia. Perhaps there is a note on that in the ship´s log so the date might be established even more precisely. FWIW.

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My Gallery | At works: 1/700 USS Chicago 8/1942 | 1/700 Kinugasa 8/1942 | Recently completed: 1/700 Yunagi 8/1942

Thanks Rick for the additional Northampton photos. These are very helpful. They also confirm that the 03 level extended past the two angled foremast tripod legs and the splinter shield along the backside of this level. They also confirm the four 20 mm on the mainmast platform on either side of the MK19 director. I always thought it might be too crowded on that platform for four mounts and had not seen a clear photo with four. Also, you are welcome Vladi. This is such a great site to share information with great folks willing to help and share, as well as some great models. I know your builds of the Northampton and Chicago will turn out great.

Matt, I believe the Chicago photo (August 15, 1942) you posted shows she had the 03 level 20mm posts done in a different way from Northampton. Chicago´s added 20mm platforms extended forward from the bridge while Northampton´s 20mm guns were inside the original bridge level. I also think it´s not certain these 20mm guns were positioned higher above the 03 level floor on Chicago - at least it seems the floor of the extended platform was even with the 03 bridge floor level (if you consider the height of the floor bracing under the floor of the bridge). As I´m not aware of any photo showing the insides of this bridge level at the given time I cannot prove any raised platform like on the Northampton.

Also, Chicago definitely had no additional director tubs at the Mk19 level at the time of the Savo Battle, just railings (judging from other photos before and after the battle).

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My Gallery | At works: 1/700 USS Chicago 8/1942 | 1/700 Kinugasa 8/1942 | Recently completed: 1/700 Yunagi 8/1942

Hi folks,

I've been seeing some relatively cheap 1/700 resin kits on eBay by CNDragon - including a "Northampton class" cruiser, Dorsetshire and several pre-WW1/WW1 subjects. The price, which included shipping was pretty much in the range of plastic kits!

I took the plunge and bought a Northampton, so it's in-transit, but anyone know anything about that company?

Couldn't find a website or anything, but the kit looked reasonable to me - including PE (for US$50 including shipping), but I'm FAR from a Northampton expert. I'm planning to build it as Houston.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CNDRAGON-70015-1-700-Resin-model-kit-USN-Northampton-Class-Heavy-Cruiser/163542484454?hash=item2613e445e6:g:oSkAAOSwQrVb7Cw7:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true

Thoughts?

Paul

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Hard a starboard.......Shoot!

Northampton is a pirate copy of the Corsair Armada kit. That company produced not licensed copies of kits from several companies.

Northampton (and the kit) had the short forecastle, Houston had the longer forecastle. Corsair Armada has a specific kit for Houston.

From the kit, it could be possible to built an early war Northampton, Chester, and Louisville. The other three ships had the long forecastle.

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Yes, it's a copy of the Corsair Armada kit, but, like all CNDragon kits, there are no instructions. I compared it to my Corsair Armada kits and it was a direct copy of the CA Northampton.

It appears that CNDragon does nothing but make an exact copy of the resin kits produced sometime in the past fifteen years by various reputable manufacturers, and they don't ever bother to provide any instructions. At least the other Chinese companies create drawings to some level of quality.

Does anybody know if SS-Model is also a pirate or do they do original work?

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On the workbench:
1/700 Vladivostok - Combrig
1/700 HMS Peacock - Dodo Models
1/700 Askold - White Ensign

Oh crap! Thanks guys...I should've guessed something wasn't right. Will not go down that road again!

Also, didn't know about that significant difference within the class. Wasn't mentioned in anything I'd read before, but I can clearly see it in photos now it's been pointed out.

You live and you learn....

Paul

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Hard a starboard.......Shoot!

The long forecastle ships were designed as fleet flagships. This was Chicago, Houston, and Augusta

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Our CO prior to flying to the boomer: “Our goals on this patrol is to shoot missiles and torpedoes.”
Junior Nuke Officer (me) : “Captain, don’t we really want to be like Monty Python and ‘Not be seen’?”
CO “You seem to be missing the big picture”
“Oh”

If you choose something other than Northampton, there is another feature to consider. The class was built with torpedo tubes below the after sets of 5" guns. After the tubes were removed, Northampton and all of the long-forecastle ships plated over the opening. Louisville retained the opening and Chester also had an opening, but of reduced size. So if you do either Chester or Louisville, this opening will have to be carved out. Just something to think about when deciding which ship you wish the kit to depict.

Ah, I was not aware that the torpedo tubes openings were retained in Chester and Louisville!

Regarding SS-Model: I am not sure, if there is a company with this name. The kits sold on Ebay under that name are usually by OceanMoon and they produce a lot of ships, which were never available from anyone else (e.g. Chinese, Japanese, and USN ships). But sometimes kits without any information about the company are included and some of these appear to be slightly modified copies of available kits.

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Hello guys, I am looking for a photo of a Northampton class CA that would show closed hangar door (the well deck looking aft). Any ideas please?

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My Gallery | At works: 1/700 USS Chicago 8/1942 | 1/700 Kinugasa 8/1942 | Recently completed: 1/700 Yunagi 8/1942

There are some Navsource pictures of USS Chester battle damage in early 1942 that shows some shots of the hangar area but the accordion style door is open. These were later replaced with roll up style doors that were lighter.

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Our CO prior to flying to the boomer: “Our goals on this patrol is to shoot missiles and torpedoes.”
Junior Nuke Officer (me) : “Captain, don’t we really want to be like Monty Python and ‘Not be seen’?”
CO “You seem to be missing the big picture”
“Oh”

I’ve got a couple more home on my computer that might help, but here is one that gives you an idea.

Hope it helps,

Matt

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In the yards right now:
1/350 USS Portland CA-33 1942
1/350 Trumpeter Texas with a twist

Thanks, guys, good points. It seems the doors consisted of two parts - one accordeon-like closer to the centre (as Cpt Morgan pointed out) and the second one outwards with heavy bracing (Matt´s point and also e.g. here). Interesting arrangement, quite complicated... Also where did the outward part fold to when the hangar was opened - rolled to the side?

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My Gallery | At works: 1/700 USS Chicago 8/1942 | 1/700 Kinugasa 8/1942 | Recently completed: 1/700 Yunagi 8/1942

I just came accross this photo. It confirms the hangar door consisted of two parts, although it is still unclear to me where did the outer part go to when opened.

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My Gallery | At works: 1/700 USS Chicago 8/1942 | 1/700 Kinugasa 8/1942 | Recently completed: 1/700 Yunagi 8/1942

That's the most famous & widely reproduced image of CA-30. Her hangar doors were later altered to the lighter roll-up type as noted, but there are many pix of the earlier ones. Here is one that I found easily...but I will certainly have others, too.