The Ship Model Forum

Hello everyone! With Tennessee pretty much done I started to work on a new project (or projects maybe). I have two of the IHP USS South Dakota BB-49 kits and one "defect" hull. My plan is to build these three as they would have appeared in late 1941 in a new battleship division (Willow Green Turret tops). The kit depicts the ship in an "as-built" configuration. IHP calls these "Craftsman" kits, meaning all of the pieces necessary to complete the ship are not included, but instead need to be supplemented from other sources (They recommend Trumpeter Tennessee and Colorado class kits). Included in the kits are main gun turrets, superstructure, and funnel. The "defect" hull had a large hole in the bow that was easily repaired with some putty.



Since I was "modernizing" the kits, and one was just a hull, I decided to start by designing a newer superstructure to better represent a 1941 configuration. I used SketchUp to design the superstructure (not the best program, but I know how to use it) and then printed it on my Anycubic Photon SLA 3D printer. The first iteration of the superstructure ended up being too long as I miss-measured and forgot to measure as I designed. The first print also showed some flaws in my print support structure. I shortened the superstructure about 5mm and changed my print support structure. This time the print looked beautiful and was the right length.

Here are pictures of the first iteration that was too long






Here it is after modifying the 3D files


Test fitting on the ship




And finally a comparison shot between my 1941 version and the kit as-built version


Since I plan on building three ships I'll slightly modify the superstructure for each one. The actual plan at this moment is to build two with cage masts and one with tripod masts. Up next I will probably start designing the funnel and main turrets to 3D print, since one hull was just a hull without the other pieces. I am thinking about possibly going with a different funnel and superstructure arrangement for one of the ships, but we'll see.

_________________
-Abram

Looking great! You get some really good looking prints on your Photon, what slicing software are you using?



Yes, However there was a plan that circulated(again, never built so pretty much anything goes) that showed them being completed with a Tripod mast. If we think about when these ships would have been being completed and look at when the other Battleships began their "Tripod conversions", it is possible that these ships or at least some could have been completed with the Tripod.

For the turrets, I have a .stl that I can share with you if you drop me a PM with an email.





Matt

_________________
In the yards right now:
USS Utah AG-16
On Hold
1/350 USS Portland CA-33 1942
1/350 Trumpeter Texas with a twist

Nice work! That looks really cool. 3D printers have completely revolutionized the hobby.

_________________
Martin

"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

Ship Model Gallery

Thanks to Matt for the turret file, saved me a ton of work! I resized it, basing the dimensions loosely on the kit supplied part. I printed 4, but will probably print 8 more for the other two ships. I printed these sans barrels as I'll be using brass barrels instead.

New turrets


Turret comparison

_________________
-Abram

Nice!

_________________
Have fun, Monkey around.™

-Steve L.

Complete catalog: - https://www.model-monkey.com/
Follow Model Monkey® on Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/modelmonkeybookandhobby

A new update on my South Dakota (BB-49) builds. Got some base color down on one of the ships. She'll be Ms1/5 in the traditional 5D/5L. I also modified the superstructure for the second ship and got it printed out.

I've also started my attempt at designing the funnel to print (not pictured). I'm going to attempt cutting a wood deck overlay from one of the generic sheets that are offered online.

_________________
-Abram

Started adding brass barrels to the main guns. I had only bought one set to compare to others I had. I fixed I liked these and ordered more for the rest of the ships.

_________________
-Abram

Nice! They are an improvement over the kit turrets.

_________________
Martin

"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

Ship Model Gallery

Thanks! Another update; as mentioned before I am painting the first ship in Ms1/5 so today I painted the false bow wave. After which I tried weathering the hull a little.








Got a lot of small parts primed today too.

_________________
-Abram

Painted a second hull this week. I thought it'd be fun to post a b/w photo of it with the other ship and my Tennessee. What color is it?



I also Got three of the turrets finished. I needed life rafts and like the ones included in the Trumpeter Big Five kits. I made a mold of a bunch of the rafts and cast my own. Once painted you can't tell the difference. Following the "what if" theme I went with green turret tops for a new battleship division.





I'm kind of at a stalling point on the first ship at the moment as I wait for some parts in the mail

_________________
-Abram

Some inspiration for you, Abe....from Mike Bartel of IHP, on FB:

_________________
Martin

"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

Ship Model Gallery

Looking good!
Keep the updates coming!

Matt

_________________
In the yards right now:
USS Utah AG-16
On Hold
1/350 USS Portland CA-33 1942
1/350 Trumpeter Texas with a twist