HNSA also has an informative piece on doors and hatches. I am amazed however that the very detailed info on the MK37 fire control system mentioned the target designators, showed how they integrated in the schematic then never had another word about their operation. Somebody had to learn how to use them, hence a manual exists, or existed, somewhere!
Were there designators on the 011 level?
I just looked at both the 1950 MISSOURI and 1956 WISCONSIN Booklet of Gen. Plans and there were Target Designators (port/stbd) on both ships on the 011 Level at those given dates. I think probably NEW JERSEY also had them, but I don't have an online copy of her BoGP, so can't check that. The TD callouts are not specific so I'm guessing that they are the Mk. 1 models, not the larger units that I am trying to find info about that were loc'd in the after Mk. 37 tub.
It is very strange that there is no info available about this particular equipment. At least, I've found none to date. I think I mentioned that I took a TD class in San Diego on the Target Designator system that was installed on USS STODDARD in 1968 in her CIC - this unit had joy stick operation with mech. dials, but was not the Mk. 1 or unk. unit as installed on the NEW JERSEY. I can't seem to find any USN Fire Control publications that are course manuals and that would give a clue as to what some of these devices did and were used.
Hank
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69
Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48
Ha! I understand. The final conversation I had with myself before cutting into the hull went like this:
"If you screw this up you're going to have to buy another kit."
"Yeah, but I've got too much time invested in this project to stop now."
"You'll have to explain it to [enter wife's name here]..."
"Or I could sneak it in..."
"Yeah right."
In the end, of course, I did it anyway.
The good news is, I'm feeling pretty good about the overall chances for success. I have already created the SW model for the transition piece - it's 1.3" long. I did this by scanning the cut edge of the kit hull, importing the image into SW model of the hull (which is based on the blueprints), then "sliding" the outline back and forth until its outer edge lined up with the surface of the "correct" hull. If I were to print subsequent "editions" of the shells I'd just add this to the current piece (thereby reducing parts count), but for this prototype I'm just going to add it with cement.
RandyM:
I love it when someone has a plan or can figure out a plan in midstream when the paddles seemed to have been left ashore.
Hank
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69
Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48
You probably could have reattached the aft hull, it has been done with more sensitive items.... Looking very good and perhaps a major embarrassment for Trumpy who could have done this in the first place. I don't expect an issue but there could be differential thermal expansion. This is usually not too much of an issue with static models, it's the RC types that can get out in the hot sun and then in cool water and back, not to mention hot cars and who knows what.
When admirers view your ship in ignorance of what you have accomplished you can just smile from the assurance you have gone the extra distance. Much as with the interior modelers who then close in their work.
Admiring your 3-D modelling skills, nice work. Looking at the top of the hand rails, these did not appear as I remembered them on USS Iowa. I was aboard working today and took the attached:
Also took a shot of the periscopes on the top of the citadel. I opened these up and cleaned the silicon from the housing. The four are identical, also presume those on the turrets are the same as well.
Thanks much for posting the photos - re. handrails - they could be updated rails to accommodate the public, just a guess. The periscopes are listed (Mk./Mod.) in available publications (Navsource?)
Fliger747,
Re. the Target Designators: Here's what I found in one of my reference books last night:
From IOWA Class Battleships, Robert F. Sumrall � (Paraphrased) The target designation system (as installed) included Mark 3 target designation transmitter and receiver and Mark 5/Mark 6 target designation transmitters. The target training & elevation information can be exchanged between the Mark 3�s and sent to the Mk. 37 F.C. Directors. Target training data can be sent to the Mk. 40 director via the Mk. 3, Mark 5, or Mark 6 for use with the Mk. 38 main battery directors.
Aboard the IOWAs were the following: (8) Mk. 3s, (1) Mk. 5, and (1) Mk. 6. Mk. 3s were installed one to Stbd and one to Port at the following locations � primary conning station walkway (08 Level), navigating bridge (05 Level), fwd air defense station (011 Level), and after air defense station (03 Level). The Mk. 5 was loc�d on the stbd. side of the conning station and the Mk. 6 to port.
In reviewing the 1967/68 NEW JERSEY Booklet of General Plans, I find that the following locations are still called out as having TD units present � 011 Level (2 units), 08 Level (4 units), 03 Level Aft (2 units). The After Air Defense Station units are confirmed by photos and were subsequently cocooned in 1969 when the ship was decommissioned. I have not been able to find any close up photos of the 08 snd 05 Levels to confirm whether or not that equipment was in place in 1967-69. Having been on the 011 Level during the ship�s one WestPac Cruise in 1968-69, I have a slight recollection that the units were in place. From one overhead photo of NEW JERSEY being maneuvered from drydock to pierside in 1969, I can confirm the location of both Mk. 3 Units on the 011 Level (Fwd. Air Defense Sta.) and both Mk. 3s in the After Air Defense Sta., all 4 units in cocoons. I cannot confirm Mk. 3�s as being on the 08 Level Conning Station as I only visited that station one time during my time aboard and the photo just mentioned doesn�t show this area clearly.
Since Sumrall�s description mentions the Mk. 3 as being the units in place in the After Air Defense Station, I have a pretty good idea now of what they consist of and will probably be able to reproduce them fairly accurately. Why there is no description of any of this equipment in detail in TFD�s MISSOURI Plan Book I find rather strange in that the smaller and older Mk. 1 TD units are detailed with official illustrations quite well. I am continuing my onlline research on this in hopes of locating "something".
Hank
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69
Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48
Also took a shot of the periscopes on the top of the citadel. I opened these up and cleaned the silicon from the housing. The four are identical, also presume those on the turrets are the same as well.
Something I noticed while I was on Iowa is that the periscopes were removed from Turret 2 for repair and were never replaced. Instead, the holes they come out of are capped off.
Periscopes probably not replaced as turret two was not reactivated. I suppose for a certain period Iowa model their omission might be appropriate.
Interesting about the target designators and you have uncovered quite a bit of information. For my purposes I am wondering as to the presence of any of these units into the late 80's? I know they are not currently installed on the navigating bridge of BB63. I can see where they might have been useful against a simultaneous attack by smaller craft.
From walking around Wisky and looking at Jersey's plans I don't think they were there at all in the 1980s. The only missing fittings from the bridges/conning stations are standard nav instruments from the best I can tell.
Drawing Board:
1/700 Whiff USS Leyte and escorts 1984
1/700 Whiff USN Modernized CAs 1984
1/700 Whiff ASW Showdown - FFs vs SSGN 1984
Slipway:
1/700 Whiff USN ASW Hunter Killer Group Dio 1984
-> William
THANK YOU, sir, for these great photos. The periscopes are a bit different than my best interpretation (see below for gratuitous screen shot of my first exploration using sunlight in SolidWorks). The plans I'm working with show a chamfer on the rear face of the tubes which is clearly not there. Also the detail on how everything was held together with the three wing nuts - simple is always best.
-> Hank
I managed to print what I think are the last two pieces I need to complete the modification - the transition shell and the forwardmost frame which sits in the kit portion of the hull. I attached the transition shell to the rest of the piece and it fits perfectly (SW and 3D printers can be wonderful things...). On the forward end, it also lines up extremely well with the hull, and the overall curvature looks VERY natural. I think I'm getting very close. Pics to follow, likely this weekend.
Decided to take a few very quick photos - guess I'm a bit excited... The new transition piece is glossy because it has yet to be sanded. However, you should be able to see how well everything is lining up. The chine is now within a very thin coat of filler of being "perfect." The two high-aspect images should give you an idea of how seamless (no pun) the overall curvature is from kit hull to corrected hull.
What is not shown is that both pieces of the maindeck are inserted/taped, and the new shell meets the stern almost exactly where it should - currently measures maybe 0.030" long. More later.
RandyM - That's really looking Great!! I'm quite impressed with the way it's all fitting together - speaks volumes for your SW abilities.
CliffyB/Fliger747 - Agreed - the IOWAs in the '80s had all the older target designation units removed and more than likely the only equipment that remained (as CliffyB points out) was the navigational aids (pelorus, compasses, signal lamps, etc.).
Re. the periscopes (Mk/Mod #s) - I think Navsource has some info on what Mk. & Mod. the various periscopes were aboard the IOWAs.
Hank
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69
Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48
This article covers the Mk.40 gun director - the standby system within the conning tower (including its spotting glass, periscopes, and later Mk.27 radar). I'm not sure if the internet has any articles on the actual turret periscopes and rangefinders, though - at least nothing I can find!
Wow - great find! There are some outstanding photos in this doc of the various periscopes, and the technical description is quite interesting (for the geek/nerd in all modelers). I do have a question... it appears that the overall system comprised the central 'scope and two peripheral ones. Iowa has the central and four peripheral ones. I haven't read the entire document yet but how are these additional two scopes connected/used?
Glad someone located the doc on the mk 30, I could not find this last night. The scopes do have a chamfer of the back, the confusion may be the covers. The scopes are covered by a brass cylinder, held down by three wing nuts. These are manually removed before the sighting system is used. The outside scopes have lower magnification than the center, power driven scopes. The scopes can be interconnected by a strive rod in the overhead. I presume the outer scopes are used to provide a wider range of view, while the center scope provides exact bearing information. The outer scopes have a trigger to send bearing information to the plotting computer. I also need to read the documentation in full.
This entire system is still intact on the 05 level of the citadel of Iowa. Being a graduate mechanical engineer this whole system facinates me. The feed to the ballistics computer in main battery plot is my next exploration. Being able to demonstrate the calculations to the iPhone generation is a goal. To heck with twitter, this was real computing, pure analog and mostly mechanical. Great stuff!
RandyM wrote:Decided to take a few very quick photos - guess I'm a bit excited... The new transition piece is glossy because it has yet to be sanded. However, you should be able to see how well everything is lining up. The chine is now within a very thin coat of filler of being "perfect." The two high-aspect images should give you an idea of how seamless (no pun) the overall curvature is from kit hull to corrected hull.
What is not shown is that both pieces of the maindeck are inserted/taped, and the new shell meets the stern almost exactly where it should - currently measures maybe 0.030" long. More later.
Wow, that's incredibly awesome! It's no wonder I couldn't fix the Trumpy hull on my build with putty and filing... it really is that off, isn't it! When are you gonna put a modification kit on the market?
