1/700 USS Chicago CA-29 at Battle of Savo Island

[Captain Morgan]

First of all I forgot to add a photo of my PE sheets version 2. I separated them into three sheets: USS Chicago 1942 specific parts to the left, Miscellaneous USN Treaty Cruisers parts (early WW2) to the right and SOC-3 parts (upgrade to Trumpy) bottom right. BTW I think they might be useful for modifying the Tamiya USS Indianapolis kit into Chicago, too (provided you won�t mind the 3m difference in hull length):

PE v02 m.jpg

Now about my latest advances. As mentioned before, I decided to replace the catapult towers in the end (my previous attempt based on the resin part turned out too short and after I repaired them to the correct height windows and brims were too low). So I cut off both towers as a whole and replaced them with 4.75mm diameter polystyrene tubes sanded down on their outer edge and equipped with my PE windows, brims and doors (ladders to come). They look much better to me now

catapult tower comparison m.jpg

I continued with adding PE parts to the forward and aft walls of the well deck. The forward part was a bit tricky to design as I found no photos showing the final configuration clearly but after some discussions with Mike C and more hours spent staring on photos I ended up with what I hope is a reasonable approximation.

midships fwd2 m.jpg

The other end of well deck was a similarly an open question as I found no definitive answer on the version of the hangar door for the time of the Battle of Savo Island (see CASF Northampton class thread). I designed all three versions in PE and I decided to use the horizontal jalousie version (�B�) in the end that seems to have been common on class units at the given timeframe as witnessed by 1942 photos of Northampton from the LIFE magazine discussed in the CASF thread. The centerline structure was designed according to the same photo series. It is quite a complicated piece to fold from PE for its miniature dimensions in 1/700 so I decided that the outmost parts will be done from a styrene square rod instead of PE (not in the photo, will be added later).

midships aft2 m.jpg

Next came the aft bridge. While dry-fitting PE parts onto the resin hull I realized the bottom part (molded on the resin hull) was approx. 1.6 mm too tall. This was apparently noticeable when viewed from the side � the bridge overhang aft should be just above the aft main gun turret according to photos but there was a large gap there. So I had to cut the upmost layer of the resin part. I continued by gluing the aft mast pole into its place and constructing the aft bridge.

aft bridge 1m.jpg

While designing the second version of my PE parts I noticed one interesting detail � contrary to pre-war photos Chicago had a new position for flag bags aft extending out of the crane platform as on the photo below. So my part is now hopefully another step closer to the original.

NARA 80-G-13455 cropped view from CA-29 direction CA-25 Guadalcanal-Tulagi operation 19420722.jpg

aft bridge 2m.jpg

Flag bags themselves are not shown on the photo yet, will be added after rigging is finished. Also supports under the extended "wings" will be added.

I wish you sold these PE sets as I for one would buy a few sets.

[Vladi]

I wish you sold these PE sets as I for one would buy a few sets.

Thanks for your interest! Perhaps I can help, see viewtopic.php?f=15&t=188482

[taskforce48]

Well you are in luck

Matt

[Vladi]

Some "under skirts" photos.

[Milan Kuliffay]

Vladi, excellent work.

[pascalemod]

I dont know how you guys do these full PE builds. Patience level - god.

[Vladi]

Vladi, excellent work.

V?aka, Milan. You are a great inspiration to me!

I dont know how you guys do these full PE builds. Patience level - god.

Thank you. You should just try yourself But beware, it�s an obscessive disorder and should be treated!

[J. Soca]

Beautiful P.E work!





Jose

[Vladi]

Thank you, Jose

Nothing much done in the meantime, only those small searchlight platforms and their related ladders added to the forward tripod mast.

Happy May Day (and no Mayday)!

[taskforce48]

WOW! She is looking sweet

Matt

[Jeff Sharp]

Vladi,
I�m loving this! She looks awesome and I can�t wait to see more.

[Dan K]

Nice photo angle on the work. Looking very nice.

[Vladi]

Thank you very much, sirs!

To be continued again earliest in the last decade of May

[Vladi]

It took me much more than anticipated to get back to my build, but luckily I am back at my Chicago now. Apart from many smaller details, I amended the upper 5in gun platform and worked on funnels. Started adding railings along the deck yesterday. I hope to post more updates soon.

(I don�t know why the preview photos seem to be so much out of focus - the actual photos are much better if you click them)

[Vladi]

Details on both masts and railings completed today

[Dan K]

Really nice, crisp work, Valdi.

[MartinJQuinn]

Really nice, crisp work, Valdi.

I'll second that!

[Vladi]

Thank you, Dan and Martin! I am glad you like it

For the matter of documentation of earlier steps: I realized the original kit part for the upper 5in deck was not really correct. Photos show the arrangement of splinter shields at this level was clearly different than in the kit both on Chicago and Houston, see photos before and after amendment below. They came out not exactly as intended (it would have been better to remove the shields entirely and replace them with brass stripes) but they are still better than before.

Also the tubs for 1.1 in quad guns were actually not located at the exactly same level as the upper 5in deck, so I had to separate them from the 5in gun deck and decrease the height of their underlying superstructure parts. It is not eaxctly clear to me yet how exactly the situation looked like at the back of these tubs, but apparently their back was open and there was a ladder that connected them to the lower 5in platform below and the other one above. There were slight differences between individual Northampton class members and I have not find any clear picture showing the situation on Chicago, so an educated guess will have to be used here.

[Vladi]

Just a quick notice that I�m not stuck again - today I transformed my Chicago into something like a "White Ghost" I�am happy that the deleted portholes remained faintly visible as I intented to have them appear as that they were plated over. Also the PE portholes look quite reasonably to me. Now I am waiting for the main gun mounts, watch this space

[ArizonaBB39]

Vladi, this build is amazing! A great inspiration for my planned 1941 builds of Chicago and her sisters.