The Ship Model Forum

A post on the Liberty/Victory thread resulted in a reply by joedunlap, a link to a one hour color documentary on the Permanente/Kaiser yards in Richmond CA . If you are interested in shipbuilding during WWII, it is worth your time. One interesting fact was the paint sequence, red lead (red), zinc chromate (yellow) and a finish of "war gray" (light gray). I guessed right (for a change) with the Boulder Victory colour.

The link http://archive.org/details/cubanc_00004

The documentary got me interested in the Richmond yards and the Gen G O Squire class of transports in particular. Richmond built 30 of this class. They were based on the very nice C-4 hull (523" loa 71.5' beam) with a superstructure that at this time I will charitably call unusual (I will save ugly until I have finished the model and have a good base for a definite opinion). One example is the use of 3 different davit designs for the 4 sets used on each side (one has to guess a committee did this).

Pic 1 is the ship in 5N meas 21 (which is the scheme I will use).
Pic 2,3&4 are the hull to date.
Pic 5 is a close-up of the prow which changes from a rather steep angle to vertical. This caused me to make the centerline insert in 2 pieces, the upper 2/3 .020" styrene as usual and the lower 1/3 .020" brass to survive the aggressive sanding that had to occur in this area.

This build posed some challenges, the rafts and the lifeboats. The rafts are LARGE (.30" x .50" in 1/350) and the lifeboats are also larger than I could find commercially.

Pic 1,2&3 show how a homemade vertical mill made the blanks, only the top of 3 pieces needs the center milled out.

Pic 4 shows the patterns made for the nesting lifeboats, I hope to get a result from vacuum forming, if not then try to lay up a hull with paper and glue.

Hello Jim

your thread is always a great lesson in model making
thanks for your sharing
regards
Nicolas

Most major parts roughed out. The easy portion of the build is done. When I dry fitted all the pieces for the first time my first thought was ..she did not look as bad as I thought.

She is being built with HSNA plans and I do want to say "Thank You" to that organization. The capability to print out "on scale" plans with my home computer eases a build considerably.

I will be quiet for an unknown time. The next post will show completed and primed lifeboats, which right now I do not know how to make. A challenge makes building interesting.

Wonderful craftsmanship.

Ahhh, wonderful!!! An AP-130 class!!!!! Please continue sir

Nicolas, Devin...Thanks.
Cliffy, glad this ship has a fan, will try to do her proud. Thank for posting the hull #, I seem to always omit some important information.

No problem man I've liked these ships ever since I found their plans on the HNSA site. They have really nice lines to them. Will she be getting a Ms. 32 scheme maybe?! Check here for ideas if you're unfamiliar http://nautilusmodels.com/camouflage.htm

Pic 1 Surprise...Surprise...my first try at vacuum forming ended up with a usable part. Still cannot believe it, I really was expecting a grinding learning curve.

Pic 2 Modifications to an ordinary vacuum nozzle. The black brush was popped out, the new plate is .080" thick and the wood block is 2.5" x 1.5" x 1" with 45 .120" holes.

Pic 3 The production line from right to left, 400F toaster oven (.010" styrene 35 seconds - .015" styrene 50 seconds), finger protectors, clock, damp paper towels, vacuum set up in vise.

Pic 4 3" x 4" styrene blank, blank holder and clamps, the finished product.

I am fairly confident that I can make a finished lifeboat from this point.

The lifeboats are roughed out and primed. They show my usual lack of perfection but hopefully will be OK from one foot. Made a few extras and left some notes, the idea to do a AP-110 class (10 pairs total) is gestating and at least I will NOT encounter the "how did I do that ??" problem.

Pic 1 Hull sheer sanding guide, "thwart deck" blanks (cheated ion the large boat - all is hidden by the small one), mounting spacers for both sizes.

Pic 2 Gunwale production.

Pic 3 Lifeboats as modeled.

Pic 4 Lifeboats as they were.

It has been a lazy summer, I had to go to page 5 to update this thread!

Pic 1&2 show the ship as she is now, getting close to being ready to paint.

Pic 3&4 shows wire bending and the "finished" davits and raft supports. There was a LOT of wire bending.

Pic 5 is the rafts, more sanding than I would care to repeat.

Hello Jim
A unfailing patience !a true monk work still also impressive
cheers
Nicolas

Sir,

I can only echo the many fine comments of others regarding your work. Your individual models are exceptional but I think it is your collective body of work that truly sets you apart from other fine modellers. The U.S. Navy in the Pacific is also my primary interest which makes your work all the more impressive to me.

A question, if I may? I've tried to examine your method for constructing davits for landing craft. I see the formed wire base and the card or plastic sides you attach to the wire. Have you developed any technique for producing the sides (and the movable "arm") more efficiently than cutting each individually?

Thanks again for this thread. You've built two of my favorite transports (and the only two models of them I've ever seen - bless you) and I always look forward to seeing what's next.

Best Regards,

Mac

Jim that poor man's vacuum form setup is awesome!

Truly impressive!
This is really teaching me new ways of thinking/constructing in modeling!

Stein

Nicolas, Always appreciate a compliment from someone who's ability to do detail is something I cannot get close to. The monks at least had the belief that their tedium was for the greater glory of God, my only motivation is that the ship will not get done unless I do this ****.

Mac, thanks for the compliment, there must be something to the adage that "quantity has a quality all its own".
The sides and arms are indeed made individually, but they are actually "easier" than the formed wire base.
If you want, the next ship will have Welin davits. I can document how to do these parts.
I am interested in which two ships are your favorites, mine tend to be a moving target.

Shane, To be trite, "necessity is the mother of invention". There were plenty of "how to" tutorials on YouTube. I was able to glean the "core concepts" and got lucky.

Stein, we all learn from others, that is the attraction of this board.

Sir,

I can document how to do these parts.

Thank you; I'd very much appreciate seeing this.

I enjoy the looks of many between wars passenger-cargo ships and Heywood and Harris classes are among my favorites. The low, sleek lines of the Baltimore Mail "City" liners (Heywoods) contrast well with the tall, square looks of the USSB "President" liners (Harris').

Your "moving target" phrase is understandable, I like far more ships than I'll ever be able to model. That you scratch build better models than I can assemble from kits and do it faster just keeps me in awe.

Thanks again, sorry to bend your ear for so long.

Best Regards,

Mac

Excellent work!!!!!!
Mark

The General G. O. Squier is done.

Enjoyed the build although it took longer than normal, a combination of lazy and lots of parts. My impressions are, love the hull - best of the merchant hulls, hate the forward superstructure - off balance and added on. The aft superstructure seems to be an art deco sculpture. Cannot understand why the USN wanted four 5"-38 for this class but did not provide adequate fire control, a mark 37 director. Five shrouds per side on the mainmast seemed to be a reversion to the age of sail, I checked the photos closely for ratlines.

Pic 1 The goal.

Pic 2,3&4 The model. I know it is missing all the little people, but what is left of my sanity is still intact.

Pic 5 Always looking for comparisons, but this was my first transport. Then I remembered that the Leonard Wood was built to be a transport. A DE and a Gato added for size.

The next project will be the last APA and AKA in this "campaign". They were in my opinion the worst auxiliary ship designs made by the USN in WWII, therefore I have to build them.
Anyone interested in puzzles is free to guess their identity, the clue is that initial work will be done on both hulls at the same time.

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