USS Utah AG-16

[joander]

I've lurked here for years, but your Utah thread finally prompted me to register. I've always had a thing for Utah in her AG-16 configuration and have really enjoyed watching your progress here. I see Utah every day from my home, and frequently see her up close when work takes me over to Ford Island.

Cheers
-Jim

[taskforce48]

Abram, Jeff and Martin,

Thanks for words of encouragement! Trying my best to do the old girl proud.

I wish I had the time, money, skill and printer of course to print parts like that!

Jeff, Of all you listed I only have the printer

Jim,

Welcome aboard, I'm thrilled that my work has inspired you to take the plunge. Must be very moving to be able to see the wreck so often, I must make the trek soon to pay my respects to her and the Arizona.


As for the build, not much advancements, unfortunately the parts you saw pictured above were to frail to survive removal from the supports. I did take the opportunity to go back and "Tweak" the design a bit and have another set in the que to print her soon. Once I get the bridge sorted out, I should start moving quickly with the rest.

More soon hopefully,

Matt

[Jeff Sharp]

Hey guys, let's go check out Utah!
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/vide ... /567910333

[MartinJQuinn]

Hey guys, let's go check out Utah!
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/vide ... /567910333

Nice find!

[taskforce48]

Pretty cool find there Jeff!

Where does it end?!?


Matt

[taskforce48]

I�ll take it, a little clean up is needed but pretty happy with the outcome.



Matt

[MartinJQuinn]

[ArizonaBB39]

Very nice!

[taskforce48]

Thanks guys!

I really think I have a problem now

Matt

[taskforce48]

It started out with this


But I wasn't liking how the PE was fitting,




So I started a little more aggressive version

Here is how the ship is looking with various Home Made and AM parts, redid the 01 Deck from scribed styrene to allow for the new parts.


Hopefully a successful print to follow and more updates soon.

Matt

[taskforce48]

You all said it couldn�t be done, you all scoffed at me, some even called Mad! Mad I tell you! mad!!!

Ok this Social Distancing may be getting to me a wee bit....

Anyhoo, got a decent print after a few tweaks




Painted-




Matt

[Chuck Bauer]

Wow, it's really building up nicely.

Looking forward to more "madness"!

[MartinJQuinn]

That looks better than the PE parts. Nice!

[Jeff Sharp]

That looks awesome Matt!!

[Vladi]

I agree, it looks really good!
Vladi

[taskforce48]

Thanks Vladi, I have been so caught up in other projects that I keep forgetting to update this thread.

Work is progressing slowly, but making some progress. Have the Bridge done except for some more rigging and small final touch details. I also see that only when I take pictures do I notice things like over spray





Thanks for checking in!

Matt

[ArizonaBB39]

Matt, she's looking great! Keep it up

[navydave1989]

Hi, Matt! Very glad to see some updates to this thread as I've been taking some notes for my own Utah project. I'm modifying the 1/700 Niko USS Florida kit. As others here have noted, the anti-torpedo bulge was nowhere near correct, so that was the first modification. This past weekend I built up the bottom of the hull a bit to reflect her increased freeboard she had after all the weapons removal modifications. It's a slow go, but I'm glad I have someone else's build to cheat, I mean, learn from.

I do have a question for you though...based on all the photos of the wreck as well as a great article by Anthony Tully, it's clear that the deck where the 1.1 inch mounts were located was covered in a layer of concrete to lessen damage from the dummy bomb hits while acting as target ship. Have you decided how you're going to portray that texture/color etc.?

Here's the article I'm talking about, if you haven't seen it: https://www.oocities.org/historypost/Utah/utahpage.htm

[Jeff Sharp]

Hi Matt! Just checking to see if you made any more progress on this one? Maybe this will give you a little inspiration. Check out the size of that dog house! Oct. 3, 1941.

[taskforce48]

Holy cow!! I haven't updated this since June???

I do have a question for you though...based on all the photos of the wreck as well as a great article by Anthony Tully, it's clear that the deck where the 1.1 inch mounts were located was covered in a layer of concrete to lessen damage from the dummy bomb hits while acting as target ship. Have you decided how you're going to portray that texture/color etc.?

Here's the article I'm talking about, if you haven't seen it: https://www.oocities.org/historypost/Utah/utahpage.htm

NavyDave,

Sorry for spacing out a response. I have a feeling that some sort of deck covering was in place while she was operational. The wreck does show concrete patches on the deck, however these are mentioned as being added during her salvage as anchor point for the righting cables.
I had not read that linked article before. It's not the first one that references that she had 20mm's aboard when lost, but after scanning the last high resolution image of her under refit I can't locate them. With that being said, doesn't mean they weren't added after that image. Hope you post some pics of your 1/700 version.

Awesome find Jeff! almost identical to the image that showed the MK33 but with the dog houses in place. Indeed it was a large one, would really love to find documentation on those things. I know that the deck timbers were secured(however haven't read how) and the yard would remove them. The dog houses were similar but they must have been quite the heavy affair to hold up to the 100lb water bombs.

Unfortunately I have not progressed any on the Utah, too many other distractions. I was actually looking at her today and pondering what I need to do to get back to work on her. Need to track down some 1/350 anti slip mat decals before I can start gluing down the forward guns. Also trying to figure out what her boat situation would have been while underway as a AA training ship. Hopefully more to come after the New Year.

Matt