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Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:58 pm
by Bill Waldorf
Hello again all.......
Well, you got me going again. Bet everyone thought I went to the moon. I kinda have. First off, the Indiana Project is on hold for now, due to this new project. The USS Santee was a Sangamon Class escort carrier. They were the largest and most heavily armed of all the escorts. Converted from tanker hulls. The Sangamons still retained their ability to carry a lot of fuel. This new project was requested by the Escort Carriers Sailors and Airmens Assn. (ESCAA) and will be bound for permanent display at the Hampton Roads Maritime Museum in Virgina. Due date is coming soon and I am behind! Another twist on this one is I will attempt a waterline model. Hope I can do the water as good as some of it I have seen on this site. It will be a challenge in 1/96. Anyway here goes.......

- The USS Santee was the only escort carrier of the Sangamon Class to use Measure 17 camoflage, a scheme that was the same on both port as starboard. Santee was converted from the tanker Esso Seakey in 1942.

- Another view of the ship. SBD's, F4F's and TBF's on deck. Note the openings on the sides of the ship. This was the main deck of the tanker. Also note the weathering. Photo was taken enroute to North Africa during late October 1942.
Here's some shots of the model. I've come along a bit since these photos were taken. The hull is now sheeted off with one layer of 1/16" balsa, and awaiting another.
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:34 pm
by Bill Waldorf
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:35 pm
by MartinJQuinn
Welcome back Bill - good to see you here. If you use the "place inline" button for attachments, you can upload 5 pictures per post.
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:38 pm
by kennylibben
Looks great, I forgot how nice of a shop you have!
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 6:40 pm
by Bill Waldorf
Hey Kenny, I forgot how to do this. It'll come back..... Thanks! Bill W.
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:42 pm
by TommyL
Hey Bill,
You don't know how nice it is to see you post on the forum. I have to ask though about the Indiana build. I assume you finished her off to do this new project.
Post some pictures of her. I really liked the detail on the 16"MK3 50.Cals
Anyway, its nice to see your posting.
TommyL.
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:53 pm
by Bill Waldorf
No, Indiana not finished. I wish it was......it stares at me every night saying ...work on MEEEEEE. One thing at a time. This carrier is important to the WW2 boys as they are getting older. We lose many as each year passes. Soon they will all be gone. They are a hell of a group of fine men. I was proud and will be proud to meet more of them.
I continue On.......................
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 7:55 pm
by TommyL

Good.
TommyL.
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:46 am
by ARH
Thats a great start Bill, good to see you back were you belong.

Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:35 am
by bismarck builder
hi bill
long time !
what ever you build we all can learn something from it glad your back
gary
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:01 am
by JPH
Welcome back Bill
Looking forward to seeing the Santee built up.
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:14 am
by Reid
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:00 pm
by J. Soca
Good to see you back Bill

, I see you have your hands more than full now...
keep it up
Jose
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 6:35 pm
by Propman
Bill , Good to see your building again. I know this will be a beauty, just like the rest of your collection, Keith
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 4:18 am
by Ludwig
hallo Bill,
Glad to see you back Bill ,

could you tell me(us) which plans do you use to build this beauty? A carrier build is one of my future projects.
regards,
Ludwig
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 2:31 pm
by Dave Wooley
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 10:23 pm
by Bill Waldorf
Ludwig wrote:hallo Bill,
Glad to see you back Bill ,

could you tell me(us) which plans do you use to build this beauty? A carrier build is one of my future projects.
regards,
Ludwig
Plans from Floating Drydock..... See main page,,, HTH... Bill W

Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:31 am
by Rene
Hello and good to hear from you again!
I have always followed your projects so all I would like to saay is glad to have you back again my deepest respect is with you!
Glad to see that you have chosen to build one of those Sangamon class CVE's. You might not remember me, but I'm the one who has build the USS Sangamon in 1:72 (and meanwhiloe I have finished her)I still have lots of material about that ship you if you are looking for something specific, let me know, perhaps I can give you some help. Besides the plans from Floating Drydock the fromer crewmembers provided me with some additional "original plans" so they are not the best quailty they are good enopugh to show several details you cannot find on the plans from Floating Drydock. Besides of that dozens of pictures and some other pretty useful documents.
As I have already said, if you need some informations let me know and I would gladly give you any help!
If you want to take a llok at my model here is the Link:
http://usns.biz/index.php?option=com_co ... Itemid=124
Keep up your fantastic work and your faith
Ren� Hieronymus
www.usns.biz
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 4:22 am
by Jose Chaica
Hi Bill...Nice to see you are back....
What will the time frame be for Santee ??? If you�re going to build an early war Santee, You�ll have to backdate Floating Dridock�s plans, as they are supposed to be for a 1945 version, right ??? I know that the island configuration was different, as well as the radar and they had less AA.
Anyway, I�m really glad to see you (and your work) back.
Best Regards.
Re: Scratchbuilding the USS Santee (CVE-29) in 1/96
Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:04 pm
by JIM BAUMANN
Hi Bill
GREEEaaat! Glad you have a new focus--I like those wee carriers!!
Wish you all the strength and determiantion you could bneed to see this model thru!
BTW
Rene's model is also a waterline model--text is german--but pics are selfexplanatory
here is a link to the blow-by blow build report
http://usns.biz/index.php?option=com_po ... ry&catid=3
JIM B