Calling all USS Barnegat-class seaplane tender (AVP) fans

[nick]

Wow! so real!!


I'd be guessing that the hanging stuff are clothes?

Nick

[kidcurrie42]

Superb work Carl, i love that detail that you have got into it
I am looking forwards to seeing it progress.

Happy Modeling

John

[NukeMM]

Here is a great close-up of a PT Boat Tender's bridge area. This is the USS Wachapreague AGP-8. This image was in the PT Boats, Inc. 2009 Calendar.

[Sr. Gopher]

Honestly, I can't really say anything. But what I can ask is, is there any way you can teach us to do this in 1/700! I mean, if its not too much trouble.

[NukeMM]

Honestly, I can't really say anything. But what I can ask is, is there any way you can teach us to do this in 1/700! I mean, if its not too much trouble.

Hello Senior! (I'm assuming that's what "Sr." means)

Thanks for browsing my thread and chiming in!

What exactly is it that you'd like to see done in 1/700?

If its the PT Boats, I don't know if I, myself, would be able to do that. We are all students of Jim Baumann's 1/700 masterpieces. He might have to be the teacher for such things.

[Sr. Gopher]

Oh, and Carl, covering the open 5 inch mount, that is a waste of perfecctly good detail! Just kidding. I really wish they had made this ship in 1/700, I really have an urge to try this.

[NukeMM]

Oh, and Carl, covering the open 5 inch mount, that is a waste of perfecctly good detail! Just kidding. I really wish they had made this ship in 1/700, I really have an urge to try this.

Sr.

All I can say is wait a few short years and I have a feeling that a 1/700 version may be available. I would love this, too.

Since the Oyster Bay will be in a diorama, covering the weapons is an authentic thing to portray. It was HOT in the Philippines in November, 1944. All that metal got really hot, just sitting there in the sun.

Another "waste of detail" might be the 40mm ammo racks that I covered, as well. I'm hesitating covering up the twin 40mm mounts. Maybe just one or two.

I saw that you're working on some 1/700 PT Boats. All that I can advise as far as the weapons is to try and find some 1/700 20mm from some plastic kits, as I have done with my 1/350 PT Boat modifications. There 1/700 PE 20mm gun sets, out there. Even one of these could be used for a 37mm gun and you wouldn't tell the difference at this scale. The ammo belt atop of it would be the tricky thing to portray.

[Sr. Gopher]

Thanks Carl, I haven't thought of that. I might try using scrap PE for the Magazine. Now, just a few more weapons to go.
-twin 50 caliber MGs
-5 inch rocket launchers
-60mm Mortar

[bwross11]

Greetings all,

Its been a while since I've shown any progress on the Cook Inlet, so here for your viewing pleasure is where she stands. The hull is pretty much painted, just need to go back and make some paint touch-ups.





I have now moved into the detailing phase of the project; unfortunately for me this means that visible progress slows way down! If you look real close on the forward 01 bulkhead you'll be able to just see the lower torpedo boom crutches that I fabricated to the shipyard drawings. Those little details took 1-1/2 hours each and are comprised of 8 pieces each. I'm beginning to think that 4 foot stand off scale would allow for a quicker build!

Anyway, good modeling all,

Bruce

[Cadman]

Love the hull. The tapering radius on the edge leading to the bow, looks correct.

[Sr. Gopher]

That will grow to be a very handsome ship.

[Sr. Gopher]

Okay, okay, I know this isn't a Barnegat thing, but it has to with the PT Tenders. Does anyone know of any pictures of the converted LST PT tenders? Any help would be much apprieciated. I have a handful from Navsource, but they won't help too much.

[NukeMM]

Okay, okay, I know this isn't a Barnegat thing, but it has to with the PT Tenders. Does anyone know of any pictures of the converted LST PT tenders? Any help would be much apprieciated. I have a handful from Navsource, but they won't help too much.

The only thing that I can suggest is to visit http://www.ptboats.org/index.html and join the Message Forum, there.

Post an inquiry about photos and info about those types of PT Boat Tenders. Several of the members, there, have helped me with my USS Oyster Bay AGP-6 model.

[MartinJQuinn]

I'm late catching up to this thread. Very nice work by both Carl and Bruce.

One thing I would ask, however: Since this is a thread about Barnegat class ships, please try and the photos and info related to just those ships. Feel free to start a WIP thread for anything else and post the link for those updates on this page.

[Russ2146]

Ray Allen brought up an interesting question in reference to this class in another thread. How many configurations of this class were there?

AVP

Catapult Training Vessal
Absecon
AG
Humbodt
Matagorda
Rockaway
AGC
Biscayne
AGP
Oyster Bar
Mobjack
Wachapreague
Willoughby
AGS
San Pablo
Rehobeth
AGF
Valcour
AGOR
San Carlos
WAVP

WHEC

Not to mention the various uses that foreign navies had for them.

[NukeMM]

Russ2146 seems to have beaten me to the punch with Roy Allen's question in another message thread.

To add to Russ' list of Barnegat class AVP variations................

Hi Carl
have just spent a very pleasant two hours going through the "calling all" of this class of ship. you certainly know your stuff i must say, if i ever get my hands on one i'll know who to call.
How many variations can you work from the one kit

Roy

Roy and Russ,

I'm sure that any variant of the Barnegat class of small seaplane tenders can be represented with the ISW USS Mackinac AVP-13. The basic hull and decks are the same and other areas of the kit can be converted by scratch building the modifications and use of after market parts. There are also differences in the number of portholes around the bridge varying from 7 to 9 to 11.

To make a list of the numerous variants of the Barnegat class AVP, I'll try by starting with this list:

There were a few "flights" of these Barnegat class AVPs.

AVP-10 thru 13 and 21-22 are pretty much the same at the time of their launchings/commissionings just before WWII. And each underwent modifications early in the war. Modifications being the boat crane, armament, addition of torpedo splinter shields p&s, radar and mast changes, and the elimination of the need to hoist planes aboard on the fantail.

AVP-23 USS Absecon was a one-of-a-kind variant. It was designed and built to be a platform to train seaplane pilots for cruiser and battleship catapult launching and retrieval. The Absecon had a cruiser size catapult and two cruiser cranes. Checkout Richard Sliwka's model in the Gallery, here on MWS.

AVP-24, 25, and 26 were another flight of the AVP and the differences being mostly in armament and small boat arrangements along with a modified superstructure around the bridge.

AVP-27 & 28 became AGP-7 and AGP-6, respectively, and were PT Boat Tenders and came with extension of the aft superstructure for additional repair shops for torpedoes and engines as well as different configuration of armament and bridge area. AVP-56 and AVP-57 became AGP-8 and AGP-9. AVPs 6,8,&9 were very similar to each other but AGP-7 USS Mobjack had noticable differences from the other three. USS Mobjack became C&GSS Pioneer, a geological survey ship.

AVP-29 thru 32 were built all of the same configuration. AVP-30 later becoming a survey ship.

AVP-33 and 34 were built as another configuration. (USS Bering Strait AVP-34 being one of them.)

AVP-35 thru 41 were another flight of AVPs. Radar, weapons arrangement, small boat arrangement, and fire control being a few of the differences. (My father's ship, USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38 being one of these.)

AVP-42 thru 47 were cancelled.

AVP-48 thru 55 were yet another flight of AVPs. AVP-55 USS Valcour later becoming a flagship for COMIDEASTFOR in the 1950's and 1960's along with USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38 and USS Greenwich Bay AVP-41. These three later received superstructure extension towards the stern and tripod masts and additional antennas for advanced communications and were painted white. USS Valcour was later designated as AGF-1.

In 1948 and 1949 18 of the USN AVPs were loaned to the USCG and were designated WAVPs and later WHECs. These 18 ships came from the various flights, listed above, and were modified, still, for USCG service. Some armaments were removed or changed, a weather balloon hangar was added, some had their cranes removed and replaced by an aft mast or antenna or radar. Also a towing rail was added around the perimeter of the fantial. Later on these WHECs were modified again with changes to their aft superstructures and removal of 40mm gun tubs and foundations.

In addition to the above listed variants, several of these AVPs went to foreign navy or maritime service in contries such as Norway, Greece, Thialand, South and North Vietnam, and the Philipine Navy. The USS Barnegat, herself, became a Greek cruise ship.

[Russ2146]

Sorry, didn't think you were up yet.

So how come Valcour's designation was changed while the other two stayed the same?

Russ

[NukeMM]

Sorry, didn't think you were up yet.

So how come Valcour's designation was changed while the other two stayed the same?

Russ

Without checking, for sure, I think the Greenwich Bay and Duxbury Bay were decomissioned and the USN went with just a single flagship. The USS LaSalle relieved the Valcour, later on, and the Valcour was decomissioned in the 1970's.

[aleishma]

Love the hull. The tapering radius on the edge leading to the bow, looks correct.

I served aboard the Duxbury Bay from 62 to 65 / 66. Alan

[NukeMM]

Love the hull. The tapering radius on the edge leading to the bow, looks correct.

I served aboard the Duxbury Bay from 62 to 65 / 66. Alan

Hello, Alan!

Do you know about the Dux Renunion in St. Louis on the weekend of September 17th? I plan to atttend on Sunday and bring my model with.

Are you a member on the Dux veteran page at MyFamily.com? If not, I can get you in contact with the person who can give you a username and password for it.