Calling all USS Indianapolis CA-35 & USS Portland CA-33 fans

[Gilbert]

Hi

I am not sure but I think this SN post was about Loose Cannon conversion kit in 1/700

cheers

Gilbert

[MartinJQuinn]

Portland, from a photo won recently at auction

[Steve]

Any indications if the upgrade kit for the Portland (by Loose Cannon?) from the Tamiya Indy is still in the works?

[MartinJQuinn]

Any indications if the upgrade kit for the Portland (by Loose Cannon?) from the Tamiya Indy is still in the works?

Niko just came out with a 1944 Portland, and Midship Models is supposed to re-release the 1942 CW Portland in 2009. Dunno if there's a market for the conversion anymore...

[Quincy]

Instead of Portland, Loose C annon could (or should do ) a 1943/44 INDY conversion for the Tamiya kit. This would make the most sense IMO.


Bob Pink.

[Quincy]

Instead of Portland, Loose C annon could (or should do ) a 1943/44 INDY conversion for the Tamiya kit. This would make the most sense IMO.


Bob Pink.

I forgot to add , Indy with her more glamorous forward tripod, not the ungainly 1945 kit look. Just my opinion.

[MartinJQuinn]

A photo of Portland pre-war, from a period postcard.

[Steve]

Any advice on whether I should sell or hold my two "extra" Indy kits that are being saved for the Portland upgrade?

[MartinJQuinn]

Portland at Mare Island, February 15, 1942

[Sr. Gopher]

I love pictures like these. They show even more than what you expect. Thank you for this Martin.

[Seasick]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Matchbox 1/720 USS Indianapolis is much closer to the USS Portland in appearance and can be bashed into one fairly easily. Has anyone ever offered to purchase those molds from Matchbox and try to reissue some of the old ship kits? The Matchbox kits while having coarse detail are fairly accurate and are unusually well engineered for their time. A perfect kitbash start point.

[Dick J]

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the Matchbox 1/720 USS Indianapolis is much closer to the USS Portland in appearance and can be bashed into one fairly easily.

I have worked with that kit, and I didn't find it any easier to convert than the Tamiya. Both need the same major changes.

[Sr. Gopher]

I realize this is off topic, but in the picture, the ship behind the Portland, is that an Omaha?

[MartinJQuinn]

I realize this is off topic, but in the picture, the ship behind the Portland, is that an Omaha?

Yes

[JTninja]

Any ideas on what changes would be needed to convert the Tamiya 1/700 kit to a '44 Indianapolis? Not sure what era the kit is supposed to be, but if its prewar, thats a lot of work...

[Dick J]

Any ideas on what changes would be needed to convert the Tamiya 1/700 kit to a '44 Indianapolis? Not sure what era the kit is supposed to be, but if its prewar, thats a lot of work...

The Tamiya kit is the '45 config. Major changes made from the '44 rig to produce the '45 config include the removal of the starboard catapult with its base (you will need to add them back), the replacement of the single 20MM with a reduced number of twins, and replacement of the MK-4 radar on the MK-33 directors with the circular (MK-28?) dish. There were also additions to the ECM and director control for the 40MM. But the basic shapes were unchanged, so backfitting should be "relatively easy".

[MartinJQuinn]

Any ideas on what changes would be needed to convert the Tamiya 1/700 kit to a '44 Indianapolis? Not sure what era the kit is supposed to be, but if its prewar, thats a lot of work...

Joe World (From Japan) makes a conversion set to backdate this to a '44 Indy.

[JTninja]

Thanks guys!

[Atma]

And any ideas on what changes would be needed to convert the Indianapolis to a Portalnd 1945 from the Tamiya's Indianapolis kit ?

[Dick J]

And any ideas on what changes would be needed to convert the Indianapolis to a Portalnd 1945 from the Tamiya's Indianapolis kit ?

The biggest change is the forecastle deck. It has to be shortened and the well deck extended forward. The base supporting the forward stack will need to be built from scratch. Portland retained 40MM twins on the fantail, and had two more twins aft of the 5", where Indy carried her cutters. Sweet Pea's cutters were under the forward part of the cats. A second catapult base and cat will need to be added and the 20MM all replaced by a larger number of singles. If you are really picky, Portland's forward tripod was slightly higher than the one on Indy. Also, the electronics will have to be rearranged. (Portland's main air-search set was forward.) Those are the major changes.