Hi David,
Sorry for the late response. Could I please get a copy of the rigging plan off you. I thought mine was sufficient but its hard to read.
I keep finding new details I have never seen before, like the fighting lights on the forward mast (2 pairs of 3 sets), and paravane cranes. A lot more detail questions have come up that I've not been able to find an answer for looking through forums, photos, or watching Away All Boats. And that movie has been a great resource, but it still surprises me how hard it is to find onboard pictures. I do have photos of the USS Gage but that was towards the end of her life. I'm using ships like the Lane, Red Oak, and American Victories to fill in the holes, but there were clearly some real differences between them and Haskell class ships.
1. Is there a ships wheel above or near the wheel house? Most of the Victory ships have a flying bridge, and in the plans for the Latimore I see a binnacle, but no wheel or Engine Tell tale. Where the Wheel would have been is a rangefinder.
2. What type or size the rangefinder is on the Haskells?
3. Besides the radars, anyone know any specifics on aerials / antennas that would have been mounted on the masts?
4. Whats the difference between a streamline and Hawser reel?
5. Anyone have any pictures or able to describe what a fire station would have consisted of?
6. What is a bending slab? I see mention of this aft next to the engine shop.
7. Anyone have any drawings or pictures that show the seawater intakes or other ports below the water line? I have found very few drydock pictures of Victories to work them out.
I started the build and just finished gluing down the keel to the frames. As soon as my shop warms up a bit I'll be adding the strakes and then start laying down the basswood strips.
