Calling all USS North Carolina BB-55 & USS Washington BB-56 fans

[MatthewB]

Is there a good info on radars that Washington carried in its North Atlantic mid 1942 fit? BEFORE moving to Pacific basically. What difference was vs Guadalcanal, in other way of asking. Trumpeter kit 1/700 is all over the place - its clearly pre Guadalcanal hull but not sure about radar setup.

It had the rather nice patchy camouflage, MS12 Modified.

Just a comment on the Washington.

There are several Photo Etch kits for her that allow you to build her as she was at Guadalcanal, one of which is very extensive, by a member of this forum (I think who goes by the name Shelf Oddity).

Here is a link to his build of the Washington (prepare to be overwhelmed by the detail he goes into):

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=159504&start=120

Five Star Models also make a very complete PE set for the Washington, which will allow you to build her at nearly any point in her WWII career prior to 1944/45.

http://www.fstarmodel.com/pd.jsp?id=89# ... _304_60_-1


I do not know if Blacman (Who is I think who Shelf Oddity is) has the Washington detail set for sale, but it is the better of the two sets specifically for Guadalcanal.

MB

[Jon C Ryckert]

Couple of questions regarding the 1/350 Trumpeter North Carolina. Being that this is a Trumpeter kit, is the lower hull accurately shaped? The kit represents the ship in 1944 but I would like to do the kit in the Sep - Oct 1942 timeframe so would the tubs for the 40mm be the same as the 1.1mg's tubs? I have hardly any reference material for this ship besides what I can find online and what I have found after reading up to page 12 of this forum. Thanks for any help.

[Rick E Davis]

I don't have the exact dimensions for the quad 1.1-in mount, but the quad 1.1-in "tubs" were smaller than required for the quad 40-mm "tubs" surrounding bulwark. The bulwark diameter for the quad 1.1-in mount on the first FLETCHERS equipped with that mount, had a diameter of 15.5-ft. Twin 40-mm mounts could fit in the bulwark working circle for quad 1.1-in mounts, but it appears that they normally installed all new bulwarks to account for height and bulwark clip stowage differences. Attached are drawings for the "standard" bulwark working circles as determined in 1941-42 as the new 40-mm gun mounts were being developed. Also, I included the typical single 3-in/50cal DP gun mount bulwark shield diameter since the 3-in/50 and quad 1.1-in mounts were used in the same "tubs". I can't confirm that these dimensions were final or the same throughout the war.

The bulwark diameters and shapes were dependent on the installation location and refinements did occur.

(Note; the "AB" circles show where measuring gages were located for the tests)

Single 3-in gun mount bulwark ... 16-ft diameter



Quad 40-mm mount bulwark ... 18-ft diameter



Twin 40-mm mount bulwark ... 14-ft diameter

[Jon C Ryckert]

Thank you for the reply Rick.

[whaynes]

After the Sept. 1944 refit, did the 20 mm guns have the Mk 14 gunsights? Were these also mounted on the Mk 51 gun directors?
Thanks, Walt Haynes

[Littorio]

I'm getting everything together ready to build the Trumpeter 1/350 kit of NC as in July 45 and have read through the thread, however the one thing I've not been able to find is the position of the twin 20mm's. Does anyone have a plan that shows the position of these?

[Maarten Sch�nfeld]

I'm getting everything together ready to build the Trumpeter 1/350 kit of NC as in July 45 and have read through the thread, however the one thing I've not been able to find is the position of the twin 20mm's. Does anyone have a plan that shows the position of these?

Hi Littorio, I think this is the 1945 diagram you're looking for. Cheers!

[Maarten Sch�nfeld]

I have searched further, I found also another plan showing many more twin 20mm guns. This is even more to your liking. I had to scan it in two parts.

[Littorio]

I have searched further, I found also another plan showing many more twin 20mm guns. This is even more to your liking. I had to scan it in two parts.

NC 1945 left.jpg

NC 1945 right.jpg

Thank you Maarten this second set of drawings clearly shows the twins, now I can get the twins I need plus some other items still to get then I�ll be ready to go.

[Maarten Sch�nfeld]

[alexkon3]

Hello,

does anybody know when NC got the "Strykers Bridge" at 07 lvl? I've read it got installed after the battle of the eastern solomons my guess would've been that it was late 1943

[MartinJQuinn]

Hello,

does anybody know when NC got the "Strykers Bridge" at 07 lvl? I've read it got installed after the battle of the eastern solomons my guess would've been that it was late 1943

Sometime between August and November, 1943, when these photos were taken.

[Jon C Ryckert]

Anyone have some good pictures of the inside of the fantail 40mm mounts. Are the decks of the mounts flush with the main deck or did they step down? Thanks

[ModelMonkey]

Not inside. I know that this photo doesn't answer the question very well but may help. It looks like it is raised higher than similar tubs farther forward (see bottom photo).

[Jon C Ryckert]

Sorry Steve, it doesn't, but thank you anyway. Btw, have you gotten caught up yet?

[ModelMonkey]

All caught up!

[Zacharias]

What is considered the best PE detail set for 1/350 North Carolina, would that be Lionroar or some other set?

[MartinJQuinn]

What is considered the best PE detail set for 1/350 North Carolina, would that be Lionroar or some other set?

I used the White Ensign set on my North Carolina. Overall, I recalled I liked it. The Gold Medal Model set looks pretty good as well.

[Frosty]

What is considered the best PE detail set for 1/350 North Carolina, would that be Lionroar or some other set?

Don't know which one is best, but years ago, when i was building my NC i found LR to contain somewhat more details than others - for example around rear superstructure. Also LR gets you the propellers, chain, barrels etc - things that you otherwise need (or rather might want) to get separately.
I still ended up using bits from Eduard, as well as had to buy WEM SK2 radar (lost some LR parts one during a move from UK to Poland ;) ).

[Daytona675R]

Don't forget the Five Star Model set (FS350033).