Calling all Iowa-class (BB-61) fans

[Thomas E. Johnson]

The stairways for Entering/exiting The main gun turrets through the lower hatches would not be in place unless those hatches were open and in use correct?

[Fliger747]

Stairways? There are/were variously platforms suspended from the turret overhangs such that one could easily bail out or swing oneself into the turret officers booth.

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Stairways? There are/were variously platforms suspended from the turret overhangs such that one could easily bail out or swing oneself into the turret officers booth.

Ah ok. The MK1 detail set has platforms for turret 2, and ladders for turrets 1 and 2.

[Fliger747]

A removable short ladder could have been used. I have never seen them installed. Easy enough to pull up into the turret when not in use. When I chepped a litle paint on her in the 60's these hatches were never opened. Hank Stub migh know.

T

[Thomas E. Johnson]

A removable short ladder could have been used. I have never seen them installed. Easy enough to pull up into the turret when not in use. When I chepped a litle paint on her in the 60's these hatches were never opened. Hank Stub migh know.

T

I installed the hatches so they are closed. They look to be to small to pull up a ladder inside.

[Thomas E. Johnson]

I would be to afraid any ladders might get knocked off from the underside if the turret rotates, if I did install them.....

[BB62vet]

Flinger747 wrote:

A removable short ladder could have been used. I have never seen them installed. Easy enough to pull up into the turret when not in use. When I chipped a little paint on her in the 60's these hatches were never opened. Hank Strub might know.

Turret one is too close to the deck for ladders. Turret two (as already mentioned) had a small platform hanging under the entry hatch, and turret three has a short ladder that is lowered when the hatch is opened. I'll provide a photo showing this ladder from our '68-'69 cruise book next weekend when I'm home - the book is at my shop and right now I'm unable to post from my work computer during the week.

Here is Turret Two's hatch on IOWA taken by an acquaintance prior to becoming a museum at LA Ports, etc.:

Hank

[AluminiumCloud]

As of last fall the short answer is - NO - his mod proved to be extremely expensive and he did not pursue it. I also was hoping for a positive turn on this, but it hasn't happened.

You'll have to do it the old fashioned way like I'm having to do also - modifying it by hand!

Hank

Thank you for your reply. It's hard to move forward on the model knowing how much work I will be putting in, only to neglect the hull. But I am also conscious of messing it up! AH!! Tough choices ahead!

[Thomas E. Johnson]

As of last fall the short answer is - NO - his mod proved to be extremely expensive and he did not pursue it. I also was hoping for a positive turn on this, but it hasn't happened.

You'll have to do it the old fashioned way like I'm having to do also - modifying it by hand!

Hank

Thank you for your reply. It's hard to move forward on the model knowing how much work I will be putting in, only to neglect the hull. But I am also conscious of messing it up! AH!! Tough choices ahead!

I'm thinking about trying a fix with some Aves Apoxie Sculpt.

[BB62vet]

Alum Cloud wrote:

Thank you for your reply. It's hard to move forward on the model knowing how much work I will be putting in, only to neglect the hull. But I am also conscious of messing it up! AH!! Tough choices ahead!

Glad to have answered your question, sort of. Well, all of us have that on our minds, but it has to be done IMHO. I've been procrastinating now for 4 years while I've worked on the superstructure. Now, it's time to bite the bullet.

You'll need to come up with a method that is structurally sound, i.e. - materially strong. Either a POB (plank on Bulkhead) as Jason Channell has done or something else to give the hull internal bracing where you are removing the actual hull (and its only structural strength) will work.

I have my own plan in mind and hope it works. Stay tuned...

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Alum Cloud wrote:

Thank you for your reply. It's hard to move forward on the model knowing how much work I will be putting in, only to neglect the hull. But I am also conscious of messing it up! AH!! Tough choices ahead!

Glad to have answered your question, sort of. Well, all of us have that on our minds, but it has to be done IMHO. I've been procrastinating now for 4 years while I've worked on the superstructure. Now, it's time to bite the bullet.

You'll need to come up with a method that is structurally sound, i.e. - materially strong. Either a POB (plank on Bulkhead) as Jason Channell has done or something else to give the hull internal bracing where you are removing the actual hull (and its only structural strength) will work.

I have my own plan in mind and hope it works. Stay tuned...

I thought about doing a general reshaping/correction of the skedge Area with some Aves, but now I'm not sure if I want to bother. It is something that most people will never notice, and even the Tamiya hull is wrong, and few people notice or complain about it.

[Fliger747]

The main issue with the Trumpy hull is that a lot of material needs to be removed, not added.

As to the platform below Turret Two, remember that this turret can have the aft end overhang the main deck, which is a ways down when the turret is trained outboard.

T

[Thomas E. Johnson]

The main issue with the Trumpy hull is that a lot of material needs to be removed, not added.

As to the platform below Turret Two, remember that this turret can have the aft end overhang the main deck, which is a ways down when the turret is trained outboard.

T

With that in mind, I think I'm just going to leave mine as is. I already have the main deck glued down and rudders and propeller shaft brackets installed anyway.

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Flinger747 wrote:

A removable short ladder could have been used. I have never seen them installed. Easy enough to pull up into the turret when not in use. When I chipped a little paint on her in the 60's these hatches were never opened. Hank Strub might know.

Turret one is too close to the deck for ladders. Turret two (as already mentioned) had a small platform hanging under the entry hatch, and turret three has a short ladder that is lowered when the hatch is opened. I'll provide a photo showing this ladder from our '68-'69 cruise book next weekend when I'm home - the book is at my shop and right now I'm unable to post from my work computer during the week.

Here is Turret Two's hatch on IOWA taken by an acquaintance prior to becoming a museum at LA Ports, etc.:

BB61 Turret 2 Main Hatch Service Platf.jpg

Hank

Would any of these ladders be in place or in a stowed position when the hatches are closed and secured?

[BB62vet]

Johnson wrote:

Would any of these ladders be in place or in a stowed position when the hatches are closed and secured?

The only ladder (Turret 3) would have been stowed in the turret, as far as I can recall.

Hank

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Johnson wrote:

Would any of these ladders be in place or in a stowed position when the hatches are closed and secured?

The only ladder (Turret 3) would have been stowed in the turret, as far as I can recall.

Hank

Ok. Since I've modeled her with all the hatches closed and secured, I'm proceeding with the mindset that none of the ladders would be in position and visible. I did mount the platforms under the hatches on turret 2.

[steinerman]

Greetings Friends,

I have The Floating Drydock's BB63 USS Missouri Plan Book on CD and in studying it, I ran across something I'd like to know.

In several places this document makes reference to "Cooling Tubes" which from their locations, I assume are for the 20mm guns.

Does anyone know the dimensions of these items? The plans show details of the spare barrel tubes for the 20mm guns, but not for these tubes. Any information on them would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Plastic Habit]

Hey Larry,

I don't have exact dimensions, but here is a pic of them on the SS Jeremiah O'Brien.

[Thomas E. Johnson]

Greetings Friends,

I have The Floating Drydock's BB63 USS Missouri Plan Book on CD and in studying it, I ran across something I'd like to know.

In several places this document makes reference to "Cooling Tubes" which from their locations, I assume are for the 20mm guns.

Cooling Tubes1.jpg

Cooling Tubes2.jpg

Does anyone know the dimensions of these items? The plans show details of the spare barrel tubes for the 20mm guns, but not for these tubes. Any information on them would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I've never noticed those details before..... Now I will have to look closer at the blueprints and onboard photos.

[Channell]

Greetings Friends,

I have The Floating Drydock's BB63 USS Missouri Plan Book on CD and in studying it, I ran across something I'd like to know.

In several places this document makes reference to "Cooling Tubes" which from their locations, I assume are for the 20mm guns.

Cooling Tubes1.jpg

Cooling Tubes2.jpg

Does anyone know the dimensions of these items? The plans show details of the spare barrel tubes for the 20mm guns, but not for these tubes. Any information on them would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Yeah, they are for dumping hot 20mm barrels into after changing them out to keep the guns from overheating; I'd say just pick a piece of styrene or brass tube/wire that looks thick and long enough to match the (assembled) pontos brass gun barrels...