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 Post subject: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Sun Jul 05, 2020 10:45 pm 
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Location: Tempe, Arizona
Hi everyone! It has been quite some time since I've posted a build here; it's been quite some time since I've built a ship model. (I determined its been 4 or so years :eyes_spinning: ).

This past week I got the itch to build something after seeing an excellent build on a Facebook group I'm a member of.

I decided to start building my 1/700 1941 USS Tennessee. I'll be trying to build her to the same standard as my USS West Virginia built years ago. A major issue I've run into is that I am terribly out of practice assembling/applying photo etch :oops:

Enough of my babbling. I am using the Pitroad(Trumpeter) plastic kit. For details I have master brass barrels, five star (Colorado class set, since they didn't seem to make a Tennessee class set) photo etch, blue ridge models wood deck and cage masts, 3d model parts fighting tops and AA guns (all bought years ago). Paints will be Tru-Color USN colors. (A note, the Tru-Color paints are darker and bluer than the Model Master paints I've normally used. They seem to match the paint chips reviewed on the main site here better than the Model Master do [the Model Master being lighter and more blue- gray])

I started by putting the hull together. Then I built some of the major sub-assemblies followed by brass barrels in the main guns and the turret mounted catapult.

Attachment:
Tenn1.jpg
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Attachment:
Tenn2.jpg
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Tenn3.jpg
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Tenn4.jpg
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Tenn5.jpg
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That's all for now. Hopefully I can get it built to look as nice as my WeeVee
Attachment:
Finished1.PNG
Finished1.PNG [ 198.75 KiB | Viewed 2383 times ]

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 8:08 am 
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DavidP wrote:
you do realize that the Tennessee's main guns are 14" compared to Colorado's 16"?


Yes...which is why there are three barrels in the turret as opposed to two; Also why I purchased master's 14" barrels separate instead of using the 16" ones supplied in the five star set...

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:38 am 
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Location: New Jersey
Off to a good start!

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 11:34 am 
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Location: Clovis, CA
Nice start. One thing missing from the Trumpeter kit of Tennessee is the 3 inch AA guns. Tennessee had 4 tubs with 3 inch guns on December 7, 1941. One on each side of the No 3 turret like California and West Virginia and two high up in the forward superstructure at the same level as in California, but configured differently since the layout of this level was different between California and Tennessee.


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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 1:06 pm 
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Frank Fowler wrote:
Nice start. One thing missing from the Trumpeter kit of Tennessee is the 3 inch AA guns. Tennessee had 4 tubs with 3 inch guns on December 7, 1941. One on each side of the No 3 turret like California and West Virginia and two high up in the forward superstructure at the same level as in California, but configured differently since the layout of this level was different between California and Tennessee.


Frank, thanks for bringing that up as its something I've been trying to figure out. I knew she had the aft tubs, but for the life of me couldn't remember if she had the superstructure tubs. I'd looked at pictures and didn't see them in the 'normal' spot (blue box in photo), but now that you mention them being higher up I looked again and there they are (red box in photo)

Attachment:
Screenshot_20200706-105838(1)~2(1)(1)(1).png
Screenshot_20200706-105838(1)~2(1)(1)(1).png [ 374.99 KiB | Viewed 2286 times ]


Now I need to figure out the shape of the tub and supporting structure

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Mon Jul 06, 2020 3:49 pm 
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You are welcome. Yes the California and Tennessee had these tubs in the forward superstructure one deck higher than the three Colorado class ships. I know the Trumpeter kit has a small tub at or near the location on the deck piece for the Tennessee, but I don't know if it is big enough or in the right spot. Looking forward to seeing your finished model.


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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:31 pm 
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A more digital update today. Since I needed to add gun tubs in the superstructure I decided to be a little crazy and 3D print a replacement part. I haven't printed the piece yet, but thought I'd share here first to get some opinions before I use the resin. I measured the Trumpeter part best I could (I ordered some digital calipers today, so I may need to completely re-draw the piece after they come and I can measure more precisely) and drew it in Google Sketchup (not the best 3D program, but I'm relatively proficient).

Attachment:
TennesseePrelim1.jpg
TennesseePrelim1.jpg [ 43.76 KiB | Viewed 2191 times ]


I feel it matches the kit part pretty well. Looking at the pictures again, though, it seems the tub was smooth and didn't have ribbing like I have, an easy fix luckily.

Before I print the part I need to clean and tune my printer as I haven't used it in some time (home projects took priority over model projects for a while). Hopefully I can have a printed prototype this weekend.

Thoughts and ideas are welcome

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:51 pm 
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Great progress! The digital calipers are a must for precise fit. The overall shape feels right, but based on Tennessee’s aft 3in tubs and 5in shields not having ribbing These probably would not have either.

Eager to see how it comes out, 3D printing has changed how I approach projects and takes some of the tedium out if scratch building.

Matt

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 3:50 pm 
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DavidP wrote:
thin the bulwarks down to .02" or .01" thickness as yours appears to be too thick for that scale.


It may be a slight optical illusion, as the thickest bulwark is 0.75mm (almost 0.03"). If they look too thick after my test print I'll change them.

taskforce48 wrote:
Great progress! The digital calipers are a must for precise fit. The overall shape feels right, but based on Tennessee’s aft 3in tubs and 5in shields not having ribbing These probably would not have either.

Eager to see how it comes out, 3D printing has changed how I approach projects and takes some of the tedium out if scratch building.

Matt


I've never been so great at scratchbuilding, but several months ago I got a 3D printer (Anycubic Photon) and have been using it to print N scale (1:160) things for trains. This will be the first 1/700 related project I'll print, but I know the printer can handle it. It's amazing how detailed you can get and still have it transfer to your 3D print using a resin printer.

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 5:36 pm 
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Look forward to seeing how this comes out. 3D printing has indeed changed the hobby.

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"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 9:06 pm 
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Well, I decided to get the printer going earlier. The print doesn't look too bad. It ended up being slightly wider at the widest part and I need to reconfigure the printer support structure. It doesn't look half bad. I'll need to make some tweaks, but that was expected.

Attachment:
20200707_183242_HDR(1)(1).jpg
20200707_183242_HDR(1)(1).jpg [ 387.99 KiB | Viewed 2136 times ]


Attachment:
20200707_183623_HDR(1).jpg
20200707_183623_HDR(1).jpg [ 283.1 KiB | Viewed 2136 times ]

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Tue Jul 07, 2020 11:36 pm 
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Not bad for a dry run :thumbs_up_1:

Not sure what resin you are using, but both of the Grey Resin's I used on the Photon had a mean tendency to warp if you didn't put some ribbing supports on it. Also, try Chitubox if you haven't to allow you more control on settings and supports.

Looking forward to seeing more,

Matt

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 1:38 pm 
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Very nice work.


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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Wed Jul 08, 2020 2:00 pm 
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Thank you all. Print #2 after some tweaks, it looks very good now, I may need to make the ribbing bigger, but we'll see how it looks after some paint.

Attachment:
20200708_114852_HDR(1)(1).jpg
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Attachment:
20200708_114832_HDR(1)(1).jpg
20200708_114832_HDR(1)(1).jpg [ 356.06 KiB | Viewed 2078 times ]

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Sun Jul 12, 2020 10:33 pm 
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Another update. (Purists and rivet counters may want to look away). I started painting the ship. I decided to go with a modified Ms1 camouflage and used 5N instead of 5D. Is it accurate, probably not, but I wanted a little variety in my ships. I figured since the USN was experimenting with camouflage at the time it might have been possible. Like mentioned before, I am using TruColor paints. I modified their 5N slightly by adding 5L and 5U to lighten it a little and make it a little less blue. Remember I mentioned the TruColor paints looked to match the real paint chips rather well, but were bluer and darker than the ModelMaster paints I've used in the past.

Main hull painted
Attachment:
Tenn6.jpg
Tenn6.jpg [ 104.9 KiB | Viewed 1973 times ]


After a light grey dry brush
Attachment:
Tenn8.jpg
Tenn8.jpg [ 40.54 KiB | Viewed 1973 times ]


I also painted the wood deck overlay. I may have put the coats on too heavily as it was a pain to apply to the deck.
Attachment:
Tenn7.jpg
Tenn7.jpg [ 103.54 KiB | Viewed 1973 times ]


Turrets painted up
Attachment:
Tenn9.jpg
Tenn9.jpg [ 72.31 KiB | Viewed 1973 times ]


5"/51 guns installed
Attachment:
Tenn15.jpg
Tenn15.jpg [ 100.39 KiB | Viewed 1973 times ]


Various Superstructure decks
Attachment:
Tenn16.jpg
Tenn16.jpg [ 289.15 KiB | Viewed 1973 times ]

Attachment:
Tenn17.jpg
Tenn17.jpg [ 269.99 KiB | Viewed 1973 times ]


And finally some dry fitting of the parts
Attachment:
Tenn18.jpg
Tenn18.jpg [ 138.34 KiB | Viewed 1973 times ]

Attachment:
Tenn19.jpg
Tenn19.jpg [ 221.81 KiB | Viewed 1973 times ]


My 3D printed piece looks pretty good painted up with the rest of the superstructure. I noticed that the ribbing on the splinter shielding is hardly noticeable compared to the actual kit parts. I'll probably modify the file some more to make it look more like a direct replacement piece. I primed the rest of the parts (I think) earlier today and will get them in paint this week. I am waiting on an order from Freetime Hobbies with new cage masts, I was a little too heavy handed with the main mast when I went to attach it to my paint board and smashed it :oops:

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 8:56 am 
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That looks really good.

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"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Mon Jul 13, 2020 11:36 am 
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Agreed.


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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Fri Jul 17, 2020 7:16 pm 
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Thank you both!

Another update, installed the boat deck and 5"/25 guns (3DModelParts). Printed, painted, and installed my replacement deck piece. This is the 4th or 5th iteration now. It's still not a 100% direct kit part replacement like I'm shooting for, but I felt it was good enough for my personal model.

Attachment:
20200717_164133_HDR(1)(1).jpg
20200717_164133_HDR(1)(1).jpg [ 344.9 KiB | Viewed 806 times ]


Where I'm at now: time to put together all of the smaller kit details and add photo etch details and railing. She's getting close to finished!

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Thu Jul 23, 2020 9:58 pm 
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Tried my hand at some rigging this week. Not 100% sure what all I should be adding rigging wise to the main mast, but added what I could definitively see in pictures.

Attachment:
20200722_155523_HDR(1).jpg
20200722_155523_HDR(1).jpg [ 212.05 KiB | Viewed 743 times ]

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 Post subject: Re: 1/700 USS Tennessee
PostPosted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 3:43 pm 
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I haven't posted in a while, but I have been working on the Tennessee. She's actually pretty much finished now. Just needs a few .50cals and (if I'm brave enough) some rigging (anyone have a rigging diagram?)

Attachment:
Tenn20.jpg
Tenn20.jpg [ 309.82 KiB | Viewed 631 times ]

Attachment:
Tenn21.jpg
Tenn21.jpg [ 277.29 KiB | Viewed 631 times ]

Attachment:
Tenn23.jpg
Tenn23.jpg [ 379.67 KiB | Viewed 631 times ]


I used 3DModelParts fighting tops. I modified the forward fighting top to better represent the ones found on Tennessee and California with the .50cal gun tubs. Unfortunately there isn't an aftermarket option for this version of the fighting top in 1/700. The Trumpeter gun tubs for the fighting top don't seem quite round enough based on prototype photos, but after paint they don't look too bad.

Attachment:
Tenn26.jpg
Tenn26.jpg [ 139.05 KiB | Viewed 631 times ]

Attachment:
Tenn25.jpg
Tenn25.jpg [ 183.01 KiB | Viewed 631 times ]

Attachment:
Tenn27.jpg
Tenn27.jpg [ 285.13 KiB | Viewed 631 times ]

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