The Ship Model Forum

Hello Everyone,

Here are some models of U.S. Navy ships of the 1930s and '40s. Ultimately I hope to build a small representative group from pre-war, early war, and late war. I've been a member and building for several years now but have never posted any photos.

Thank you everyone for what I've learned here, both from seeing excellent models and reading useful techniques. Neither my models or photography compare with most but I enjoy it.

Some destroyers.

http://i46.tinypic.com/95oo3o.jpg Midships USS Mugford
http://i50.tinypic.com/vxn3wx.jpg Dragon USS Laffey
http://i47.tinypic.com/vdedz.jpg Midships USS Bagley

Mac

Some amphibs and cargo ships.

http://i46.tinypic.com/2ls7lnn.jpg Battlefleet USS Capella
http://i50.tinypic.com/woeur.jpg Niko APD
http://i45.tinypic.com/2ngu52p.jpg Skywave LST
http://i46.tinypic.com/1izqtx.jpg Trumpeter Liberty

Mac

Some early war cruisers

http://i49.tinypic.com/2zdvqjp.jpg Dragon USS San Diego
http://i47.tinypic.com/16nix1.jpg Niko USS Helena
http://i48.tinypic.com/ohva4p.jpg Trumpeter USS Minneapolis

And some late war

http://i50.tinypic.com/20tq6gp.jpg Midships (Skywave) USS Miami
http://i48.tinypic.com/slpmj4.jpg Tamiya USS Indianapolis
http://i48.tinypic.com/1j3hpx.jpg Trumpeter USS Baltimore

A pre-war tincan and a couple subs

http://i49.tinypic.com/xl9hee.jpg Midships USS Fanning
http://i46.tinypic.com/35lu9ug.jpg Hobby Boss Gatos

Mac

Cool!

Matt

Good start. This is my modelling interest as well - but I must warn you. It can expand. I originally embarked upon a 1/700 representation of the ships that fought at Guadalcanal. I then expanded it to include several other campaigns. The next step was to add at least one representative of every class of warship - IJN and USN that participated in the Pacific war. The came the auxiliaries. I've completed 219 models so far and expect to do 240 or so before i can declare stage one finished.

Keep up the good work

Lester Abbey

Thank you both for your kind word (Matt) and words (Lester).

Matt, your USS Brooklyn and Tony Bunch's USS Honolulu are my inspiration for converting my Corsair Armada USS Phoenix to a pre-war version. You did a wonderful job with her.

Lester, your words ring true. My primary interests were "Treaty" cruisers and destroyers but there were much more limited offerings (except IJN ships) when I began. The Trumpeter Baltimore was newly released, the Clevelands were available, and Tamiya had the late war Indianapolis, so these started my collection but skewed it to a later war period. When Trumpeter released the New Orleans class and I found the courage, mostly due to what I saw and read here, to try resin models, it opened up the "Treaty" cruisers. Like you, I find the early battles, say Java Sea through the Guadalcanal campaign, and ships most interesting. Now that the Dutch and Commonwealth cruisers are available it gets really tempting ... And, of course, their Japanese opponents. Then there are the very attractive, to me, French and Italian cruisers as well as the Royal Navy's Mediterranean Fleet. Finally, I must say 219 completed models just boggles my mind; you've accomplished more than I can imagine. Well done sir, well done.

Mac

Hi NCMac,

Modelling can be addictive - particularly paired with the concept of collections. I can see from your models that you are in the preliminary stages whereas the disease is much more advanced in my case. I believe it to be incurable - and I offer you a prognosis.

In addition to expanding your horizons you will also end up taking longer on each model; there will be more photoetch, more research to discover the inaccuracies of the kit you are working on and then more scratchbuilding and aftermarket accessories. I see rigging in your future with line so fine that it is almost impossible to see. I can see evidence of this already - some models are made out of the box; I'll be they are the earlier ones. Others - like the Helena have a fair amount of Photoetch. The rigging will follow.

As you spend ever more time on each model your desire to make more and a wider range of subjects will grow. Auxiliaries will be added to the Fleet. Amphibs, Minecraft, Tugs, Seaplane Tenders, Training cruisers, garbage lighters - and so it grows. Other Navies, other eras: the future stretches out endlessly.

I hope that I live long enough to see your collection when you are finished with stage 1.

Best regards

Lester Abbey

Some additions to the fleet.

http://imgur.com/a/pkVFn

Tamiya USS Nassau First carrier build.

Skywave USS Gleaves Pre-war, one from the stash that predated Dragon's release. Have done two of the Dragon models as early war and will complete the other two as late war, so it seemed the one to use for my pre-war version.

Dragon USS Grayson Early war.

Niko USS Mustin Early war, completed about the time the Tamiya Sims class was announced (of course).

Midships USS Cushing The result of my latest battle with Midships models. Not great, but better, I think, than OOB.

Loose Cannon USS Artemis Enjoy the AK, AP, and AOs; late war.

Corsair Armada USS Vestal Ships boats not yet fitted; this will be part of a small diorama with another ship. Unsung hero of the fights around Guadalcanal.

Mac

Looking at the pics.. A few things

1. You're doing a good job on them

2. Seeing no Battleships makes me sad.

3. Seeing that you have the Indianapolis among the cruisers makes me happy again.

Shane,

For the kind words.

Battleships are coming. Have Washington, of course, for my Guadalcanal (early war) ships, West Virginia for the late war group, and waiting for California or Tennessee (non blistered) for my prewar ships. Just waiting for the right models to appear and the courage to tackle large ships (same for the carriers).

I am a huge fan of the "Treaty" cruisers. Have Chicago to do, and hoping someone releases a Salt Lake City or Pensacola (are you listening Corsair Armada?) in the next year or two.

Mac

I have been building 1/700 US Navy late ww2 for 7 years and have built all the plastic and nearly all the resin models. I have turned to kit bashing, shape ways, and starch building to get more obscure ships. Any ideas of obscure kits that I might have missed?

I would guess "scratch" building with some friendly help from a spellchecker...