USS Indiana BB-58 Scratchbuild in 1/96 - 1944

[Bill Waldorf]

Any updates? dying to see some more of your fantastic work..

Simon

Thanks, Simon! I'll try to get more up by the end of this week. Other things keep popping up whenever I want to work on this project! Stay tuned!!

[Jefgte]

Hi Bill,


Did you finish Indiana for the end of the year ?

Hmmmm...Perhaps short...



Jef

[Guest]

Before I say anything else I must say that this thread, the build & obviously the builder is simply outstanding.

Being a newbie here I have just today come across this thread & sit in amazement at the contend, both good & sad.

To Bill, from all I have read you have had a damned hard year mate but you kept on keeping on, making sure that this thread & it's readers are kept informed with the Indiana build.

Thanks mate for keeping at it & showing us what a true & skilled craftsman is capable of. I, like the others, look forward to more updates on this sensational build.

[JPH]

Re, the above post, this posting without logging in is contagious.

[Jose Chaica]

Hi Bill
I know you had your share of problems this year, and coupled with a regular, busy life, I also know that it might be difficult for you to put some updates here regularly....But I just have to let you know that I miss your presence here, because (together with ARH, Dave, Ludwig and others...) you are a source of inspiration to me ! If possible, and when possible, please DO leave some updates on your project(s).....

.

[J. Soca]

Good hearing from you Bill, just don't forget we are still waiting here

[Dave Wooley]

How are you Bill? . Looking forward to hearing from you .
Dave Wooley

[Jefgte]

Come back Bill !!!



Jef

[JPH]

This surely must be testament to the amount of members here who are thinking about Bill & the build. I myself have been looking at this thread every day to see if anything new has been added.

All in good time I guess.

[gtb -red]

What a GEM,I look at your ship and say to myself don't even tried to do that.I new at this thread so I leave you with this Mr.Bill YOU ARE THE MAN!!! scrathbuilding 1/350 FDR.

[Bill Waldorf]

Hello again all!! New update coming soon! Stay tuned!! Been real busy with the day to day routine of life in general. Finally got time to clean the shop and get re-organized. I'm still here, stay with me all!! Bill W.

[Reid]

NO WORRIES BILL!!! WE AIN"T GOIN ANYWHERE

[Jefgte]

[Dave Wooley]

All the best to you Bill and look forward to any future posts.
Dave Wooley

[Sean Hert]

Good to know. We await!

[ModelMonkey]

We've missed you!

[Guest]

Bill
So sorry to hear of your loss. I know we have not traded emails in a while but I think of you and your models often.

I am anxious for an update as I have been SLOWLY working on an Alabama model in 1/87 and your BB is a great help and inspiration to me.

Jim Reese in MO

[Bill Waldorf]

Hello again all! If you've been following this thread, you're probably wondering where I have been. These past Holidays were a bit rough, and I have not been building as much as I should. My concentration level is still a bit screwed up, but getting better. In any event, I am still here and the build continues. When I last posted, I was working on the details for the main deck. I have decided to put those off for now, and get started on the superstructure. A complicated affair, to say the least, with many diffrerent levels. This structure is big, too and will require more time and effort as I originally had anticipated. I have been doing a lot more figuring and studying than actual building! Lets take a look..........

In this first photo notice the first few levels of the structure are "roughed in" and will be wrapped in sheet styrene, with the decks sandwhiched between each level, also made from styrene sheet. Everything is "dry" fitted right now. Stb. side shown here.

A view from portside. I felt that framing all these levels one by one and then covering them would be way too time consuming. I decided to use balsa blocks for the task. The problem was that the size of balsa I needed was not available from any standard supplier. I then remembered that the Guillow's company offers large balsa workboards which are used to build model aircraft on, or any other project that needs a flat, true surface. Interestingly enough, these boards are 1" thick, ( 8 feet in 1/96 ). Each level of the superstructure is also about 1".I was in luck!!

Here's a portside view looking fwd. Each level was traced out on the balsa, using plans from Floating Drydock, then cut out with a bandsaw and scrollsaw, then trued up with sandpaper. If you look at the outside edge of the first deck, you can see I have started to wrap the wood with styrene. Industrial grade contact adhesive used here. I'll continue to "wrap" each level in this way, adding the decks in between as I work my way up. I have noted the first few levels in the photo. Many more to go...... as I said, time consuming if it is to be correct!

A portside view of the twin 5" gun mounts. These turrents are from J.R.Haynes from the UK. They are very nice but a bit pricey. You get what you pay for, and these are worth it as is all his products. I could have made these, but I am already way behind on this project. When dealing with Museums I do not have a lot of luxury such as time! When these are permanantly mounted, I'll have them pointing in different directions. Sure could use Nuttalls barrels! Again note the styrene wrap around the 1st level.

Heres a close up of the 5" turrent. There are 10 of these on board. The turrent comes with the barrels and lots of little details. I'll add a few more! Turrent is resin cast.

Dead on view here. Note #2 turrent in it's correct position. The superstructure is taking shape! Slowly..... The first deck also gets wood planking. The paper patterns you see will eventually become more parts.

A close up of #2 16" turrent. The structure on deck in front of the turrent is the deck office. Once other details are added, this should look pretty good! Hope so, anyway!

#1 and #2 turrents from portside.

Here's a better view.

I have managed to make a few other things, such as these vents that are way aft on the main deck. Small items like these are time consuming too! Theres alot of 'em on a BB!

Another view of the aft vent.

Well, that's it for now. Much more work is coming on this. I've got another Carrier to start on, too! The USS Santee, a Sangamon Class Escort Carrier being built for the Hampton Roads Naval Museum in Virginia. It's due this summer! Heres a photo of her.........
She will be in 1/96 and my first large waterline project. I been bugging Jim Baumann about his great water effects. Hope I can do as well. So...... More to come!! Stay Tuned...... I continue on..................

[DrDull]

Bill - Great to have you back. Hang in there. Barry

[Reid]

IT IS GREAT TO SEE BACK POSTING!!!! WE really missed you... it is understandable and we respect that. By the Way great job the Indy