3D Parts Development for possible T-3 Tanker Project - 1/144

[Fliger747]

Hank:

What are you painting with?

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Hank: What are you painting with? Cheers: Tom

Tom,
I'm using Mr. Color gray primer spray (lacquer) and Mr. Color bottle paint for the deck gray (black/gray in this case) and other colors. I've found that Testors rattle can enamel spray (for the deck gray areas) works well in areas that can be taped off to keep from messing up adjacent surfaces.

This is the same brand I'm using on the LSM/R model.

Hank

[BB62vet]

The last couple days or so have been a combination of working on hull section bulkhead drawings (2D CAD) and design & printing of more parts. Here are a couple pix of the design files for some of these:

After single 3"/50 Gun Tubs

Long Range Binoculars mtd to Sky Lookout Chair & Pedistal (Binos modifed from Tom's std. model 7x50)

Printing was mixed - some worked well, others req'd more design, etc. and 2nd or 3rd print runs. But, things are now drying and will hit the assembly area soon and then the parts locker.

I've also been granted a lend-lease license from T. Falley Gun Works for his single 5"/38 designs as well as his single 3"/50 designs. That was almost a small disaster as I had to get The Admiral's signature on that paperwork and had somehow forgotten that her afternoon Hallmark Movie crap (oops, did I say that???) was on when I brought her the paperwork and I'm now having to handle the KB with one hand - must be The Alshnowzer's catching up w/me!!! She keeps The Cat ready and waiting - I just happened to be the poor SOB that was close at hand.

Happy New Years????

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank:

The title of you new sea shanty? 50 Years before the mast? With chorus from the "Volga Boatman's Song"? When printing close to the limits of our current equipment detail some trial and error is often the case to arrive at a (pretty) perfect result. As we are working in slightly different scales some adjustment is sometimes needed when one moves to a finer object. Occasionally not, in that a number of weapons form 20 mm Orlikons to Quad Bofors quite successfully printed in 1:192 from 1:120. Ya never know till you try.

Cheers! Tom

[BB62vet]

Hank:
The title of you new sea shanty? 50 Years before the mast? With chorus from the "Volga Boatman's Song"? When printing close to the limits of our current equipment detail some trial and error is often the case to arrive at a (pretty) perfect result. As we are working in slightly different scales some adjustment is sometimes needed when one moves to a finer object. Occasionally not, in that a number of weapons form 20 mm Orlikons to Quad Bofors quite successfully printed in 1:192 from 1:120. Ya never knows till you try.
Cheers! Tom

How many verses???

Lately I've been designing/printing a few more parts - here's a pic of the fwd catwalk from the nav bridge superstructure to the fwd deckhouse -

Fwd Catwalk prior to Separating

I've now separated this into 2 parts with connection tabs for reassembly after printing (too large for the printer). Once this is assembled and painted, I'll cut to size PE sheet grating that I have stashed for just such purposes. Also designed & printed the towing hook & plate that resides INSIDE the after 5" gun tub -

As well, here's the 5" gun tub with stern chock & wake lights -

Lastly, I modified Tom's battle helmet rack for this build as well as my STODDARD build -

Will attempt to print the helmet rack and the catwalk parts tomorrow.

Hank

[BB62vet]

Well, a couple of the parts in the prior post did not come out so well, which isn't entirely unexpected. I've since been modifiying the catwalks and the helmet rack so the 2nd edition of those may turn out better.

The tow hook/baseplate and the after 5" guntub are painted and almost finished. I've also completed the after 3"/50 single mount guntubs using Tom's single 3"/50 mount. Here's a photo of this assembled:

After 3in50 mount & gun tub w/R.S. Lockers

No shop work today - temps rather cold and I didn't feel like going out there today. So, did a bit more designwork inside .

Hank

[bigtodd]

Wow that looks great!

[BB62vet]

Wow that looks great!

BTodd - Thanks, I appreciate your remark!!! And, while we're commenting on the WepsDept, here's a couple shots of my after 5"/38 open mount in the gun tub:

After Open 5"/38 in gun tub

After 5"/38 Sgl Mount in Gun Tub

The only remaining item to add is the towing hook & plate which is currently drying after I did a reprint earlier this afternoon. As with the 3" mounts, the 5" gun & mount assemblies were Tom Falley's creations which saved me a Hell of a lot of time and duplicate effort!!!

I reprinted the Forward 3"/50 gun mounts & Mk. 51 GFCS Tub after making a couple structural changes from my first edition. Here is a pic of that fairly large item:

I'm now in the process of painting and will then add the Mk. 51 director unit and the two 3" single gun mounts, as well the triple 3" R/S Lockers in each of the tubs.

While many photos are too far away to capture details, I have taken a bit of license and added what is usually present in most gun tubs - tools boxes, sound powered phone and elec. boxes. Looking closely you'll see these items inside the tub walls. If you don't see these, you'll need to disable your cloaking devices and view them under natural light.......

Hank

[Fliger747]

Hank: Your "Bronziness" along the rammer assembly looks good!

Cheers: Tom

[DrPR]

Was the 5"/38 drawn from blueprints? I have been trying to find drawings of the 5"/38 and 6"/47 guns.

Phil

[BB62vet]

Hank: Your "Bronziness" along the rammer assembly looks good!
Cheers: Tom

Tom - thanks! I guess my "brassness" finally paid off! That photo of HORNET's open 5" mount was a good guide for that exercise.

Was the 5"/38 drawn from blueprints? I have been trying to find drawings of the 5"/38 and 6"/47 guns.

Phil - I believe that Tom did use the Ord Pamphlet drawing to fashion his design for the 5"/38 gun barrel assembly and open mount assembly. Those were the Naval Ord. Pamphlet from HNSA website. I can't recall which Mk. & Mod. he referenced, but possibly Mk. 30, Mod 51 (pg. 352).

There are also sheets referencing the 6"/47 gun turret drawings.

Hank

[Fliger747]

Phil:

I used the drawings in the "Intrepid AOS" book of the mark used in the gallery on the carrier. This seemed quite similar if not identical to the ones used on the auxiliaries. From looking at photos the one's on the stern of AO's and APA's appeared to be close, possibly identical. There is also an Ord pamphlet available on line which has many 3d if not scaled drawings of many components. I think the Ord pamphlet was on an independent site founded by a now deceased sailor.

Good luck! Tom

[BB62vet]

Tom - Thanks for correcting me! - you DID tell me that you had used the AOTS INTREPID drawings for designing the 5"/38 open mount.

David P - Correct Manual, WRONG Reference!!! I gave the correct information in my last reply above.

Hank

[ModelMonkey]

Lovin it.

[BB62vet]

Steve,

Thanky, thanky!!! BTW....I think your stogie went out, pardner!!!!!


Tonight, I drew up a sounding boom which was called out on the Nav Bridge plan detail (P/S) -

May do a print run tomorrow (or not )

Hank

[DrPR]

Thanks for the links. I already have the Ordnance Pamphlets from Floating Drydock. I also have Navpers 10111 that has many photos of the 5"/38 gun assembly and OP 805 "5-Inch twin Gun Mounts" with lots of detailed drawings for disassembly and maintenance. However, none of these give accurate dimensions for the guns and the parts of the guns.

I have the blueprints for the triple 6"/47 turrets, but these do not give many dimensions for the gun mechanisms.

I also have a bunch of photos I took on the USS Little Rock CG-5 museum ship of the 5"/38 and 6"/47 guns inside the gun mount and turret. I placed rulers in the photos to help with determining dimensions.

But all of these things give only approximate dimensions. What I really would like to find is the construction blueprints for the guns. I would like to make very accurate CAD models of these guns.

Phil

[Fliger747]

Those items probably hide in the archives the Bureau of Construction and Repair given the design era. Maybe BuShips has them in some moldy basement, somewhere? Perhaps good subject for a History PhD?

[BB62vet]

Those items probably hide in the archives the Bureau of Construction and Repair given the design era. Maybe BuShips has them in some moldy basement, somewhere? Perhaps good subject for a History PhD?

That's very true - and until NARA is again open to the public (who pays for it to be open in their taxes!!!) we'll never know!!!

Phil - glad the links help.

David P - your first link was incorrect - it takes you to Mk. 30, Mod. 8 - which has no fuze setters. Whether or not one chooses to use the data sheet for Mod 33 or Mod 51 is a matter of semantics - for modeling purposes either would work as the applicable dimensional differences are hardly worth quibbling about. I certainly don't intend to get anal about any of this stuff. When you can produce a better effort - do so!

Hank

[Fliger747]

This matter was thrashed out before, the AO's such as Pascal's project had MK51 directors if not MK 37 units and to be employed for AA work would need fuse setters. As valuable fleet units (A whole operation could hinge on the tanker's availability) AA capability would be essential. The tendency was to continue to up arm these ships. For my APA for which this 3D design was originated, I have stills taken from the movie aboard Randall showing the mount. It's not perfect but as good a representation asI can concoct.

Regards: Tom

[BB62vet]

It's not perfect but as good a representation as I can concoct.
Regards: Tom

Tom:
And I applaud your concoction!

It works for me

Hank