Model Boat Mayhem
The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Navy - Military - Battleships: => Topic started by: TailUK on January 22, 2015, 06:58:58 pm
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"Bodega Bay" was a free plan with Model Boat magazine. A semi scale model of the Casablanca Class escort carrier to 1/144th scale, designed by Glynn Guest. I've wanted to build a carrier for a while and after seeing the design written up in an Model Boat Warship Special I decided to give it a go.
Through the good offices of Stan Geffin and Larry "thelongbuild" (Many Thanks to both these gentlemen) I got hold of the plans and sorted through the plywood I had to hand.
At first sight the design is pretty simple but after going over the plans with a ruler some small discrepancies presented themselves. but working around those was relatively easy.
The build article calls for Balsa, which I don't really get on with so I'm going with similar thicknesses of ply. This will make the model slightly heavier but I can live with that. Work began at the bottom and adding the bulkheads. (See G001 and G002).
I've also given some thought to the actual ship. I'm going to deck it out as USS Guadalcanal. The Guadalcanal operated in the Atlantic, one of only a few Casablancas that did, ranging as far as West Africa on Anti Submarine duties in company with 5 Destroyer Escorts, carrying over 20 Aircraft (FM2 Wildcats and TBM Avengers).
She was one of 50 Casablancas built and was renamed from Astrolabe Bay to commemorate the victory over the Japanese in the Solomon Islands.
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HI TailUk You have been busy you only got the plan yesterday. On doing some checking I found a picture showing U S S Mission Bay and Guadalcanal under tow to a Japanese scrap yard many years after the war ended both these ships served in the Atlantic. Good luck with the build.
Stan Reffin
Kirklees Model Boat Club.
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Despite not being one of them big fleet types, she still has lots of detail to get stuck into even if the model will become a stand off one.
Another interesting project to keep an eye on:O)
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Good choice - it will make a lovely sailing model :-)) O0
Dad built a version of this plan as the Gambier Bay when the original article was first published. This was the result:
(http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/GambiaBay1_zps79778248.jpg)
(http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/GambiaBay4_zpsfee95b35.jpg)
(http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/GambiaBay3_zps2c686a45.jpg)
(http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/GambiaBay2_zps85972964.jpg)
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Pictures re posted on request from TailUk. Model in grey primer about 60% complete and painted almost finished.
Stan.
(http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Gallery/StanR/images/Stan072.JPG)
More photos: http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Gallery/StanR/index.html
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Looks like we lost a couple of posts in the outage. Carl's dad did some nice work on his Casablanca and Stan's is just superb. More pics of this great build can be found here. http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/index.htm
My own efforts continue with transom and decks fitted and rudder tube installed. (see pics G006, G007 and G008). The bottom plate and decks have been shaped to allow the skinning in 2 layers of aeroply. I'll then either GRP with light tissue mat or epoxy with model aeroplane tissue.
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I love the look of birch ply and this is a pretty looking model.
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Woodwork was on hold while I'm waiting for glue. Turns out the stuff I'd intended to use had gone off. So a little ironmongery was in order.
Made the rudder and tried my hand at a prop tube, first one I've ever made myself, very pleased with the result. 4mm stainless steel shaft in a 6mm brass tube. Phospor bronze bearings, reamed and lapped in. (see G009)
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HI TailUk looking good. Looks like I will have to leave mine locked away from now on . I look forward to seeing the completed model in the near future all the best.
Stan. :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
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That's the good thing about model boating, there is a mix of light model engineering as well as traditional woodworking skills and modern materials and technology. Lovely stuff. I like that rudder, is it made from sheet wrapped around the shaft?
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I scored some thin copper that was left behind by one of our students. I marked out the shape twice either side of the leading edge and folded it around a piece of 2 BA brass studding. I got the 75W soldering iron out to fix the copper and brass, the copper runs the heat off really quickly so you need a biggish iron or a small torch to solder it. I'll leave the top and bottom of the rudder open to allow water in and out. The brass post fitted nicely into a piece of the 6 mm tube I made the prop tube out of. The steering yoke will screw onto the top of the rudder post and be secured with a grub screw.
The prop tube was even easier I solder the phos bronze into the tube then skimmed and center drilled the ends on a lathe. I reamed them out to 4mm with a hand reamer. The stainless was threaded for the prop and I threaded a small brass disc to help lock the prop in place. I left the inboard end of the shaft plain as I'll use a Huco coupling to connect the motor.
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I saw the disk and thought it an attractive addition to the shaft. Lovely work 8) Thanks for the description of your build process, most interesting.
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Hi Guys I have posted a third picture of Gambier Bay looking at the flight deck enjoy.
Martin thanks for your help. See above pictures.
Stan.
(http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/Gallery/StanR/images/Stan072.JPG)
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Hello Stan
I too have been planning on building this. Can I ask you, is yours in 1/144 scale? If so, where did you get ALL the guns for it?
Again Thanks for posting pictures, VERY inspiring.
George
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Hi George My model is built at 1/96 or 1/8 to the foot most of the fittings came from John Haynes fine Scale Models. Model details length 62.5 in long 15in across the flight deck and 18 in from the keel to highest part of the mast. Total time to paint 8 months lots of masking off. White Ensign in the UK did weapons at 1/144 sadly they have closed but Tomsmodelworks in the U S A are going take over the range. E/mail tomsmodelworks@aol.com
Stan. :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
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Lots of masking on the hull and on the flight deck by the looks of it Stan.
Lovely work, Is she a working model? (Asks he looking quickly back through old posts to see if it has been asked before!)
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HI the model is fitted with 6 channel radio and is fully working. But due to the delicate parts fitted to it I decided to use this model as a static display model. If any one out there wishes to build a working model then I would suggest that lots of minor detail be left off. In the flight deck picture so can also see a Liberty ship and part of a Fletcher Class Destroyer all at 1/96 scale. Re masking you are right I thought I had shares in TAMIYA but well worth the cost. Finally I have been asked many times about the number on the F/deck this is not vinyl it was masked and sprayed on
Many thanks on all your comments it is nice to know that a model that was finished in 2009 can still generate a lot of interest.
Stan Reffin . :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
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It is always good to see a 'new' model, as even if it was built a few years back, this is the first time we have seen it so the model is fresh to us, so interesting and inspiring.
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Not a great deal to report at the moment as we're just coming out of exam week so I've got a lot of marking to do. The power train is sorted and has been test fitted. the servo obliged by turning in the right direction for it's position. There a photo of them in position but I can't post it just yet.
If important thing today is that the last of the Air Wing has arrived. (see pic G010)
The Guadalcanal was home to Navy Composite Squadron VC 36. Composite squadrons were unusual in that they comprised different types of aircraft in the same squadron. VC 36 was deployed on board Guadalcanal with a total of 23 aircraft, The Grumman FM2 Wildcat and the Grumman Avenger. I plan to display 10 aircraft on the flight deck 4 Avengers and 6 Wildcats.
The Revell Wildcat is a F4F type not the FM 2 which had very minor differences and I'm not adding 0.5mm to the tip of the tails just for accuracy's sake. %% Most people wouldn't be able to tell a Wildcat from a Hellcat any way {-) .
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As I mentioned I test fitted the motor/prop shaft and rudder servo. The pictures are not quite as good as they were taken with my old camera. The motor was fitted into a custom made plastic mount and fixed wooden bearers. The servo is up on wood blocks and brass strips act as push rods. It's a little bit heavy but I think I'll be ok for weight. (see pics G011, G012 and G013). I removed it all to prepare for hull plating and sealing.
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Good lateral thinking with the custom made engine mount :-)) :-))
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I started plating the hull with 1mm aero ply. I only had smallish pieces so couldn't manage one piece per side the first layer will use up the small bits (see pics G014 and G015)and then the next layer will re-enforce the first. I'll resin and mat over this later.
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It looks so heavy handed using drawing pins, but when you think the process through, you realise that the glass matt and resin will bond everything together and the holes will even provide some key as well.
Tidy build.
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HI Tail uk looking good will make contact when i get back home
Stan. :-)) :-)) :-)) :-)) :-))
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It looks so heavy handed using drawing pins, but when you think the process through, you realise that the glass matt and resin will bond everything together and the holes will even provide some key as well.
Tidy build.
Maybe a little but the ply is harder than balsa so ordinary pins wont go through easily. I'll get a little filler in the pin holes before putting on the next layer and as you say, the Resin coat and tissue will tie it all together. I'll resin the inside too.
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Brilliant project! I fancy doing a carrier sometime in the future.
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There's the last pieces of the first skin in place I added some softwood pieces to reinforce the stem. (see G016) Pins and tape to pull the forward edges down. (see G017)
When the glue sets I'll clean the edges up and start adding the second skin.
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Cor, that is one hell of a workshop! It looks like a college or school workshop.
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It is a big workshop especially when you've got to tidy it. We're pretty well set In the main shop I've got engineering lathes, Pillar drills, 3 Vac forming machine and 40Watt laser cutter. In the small side workshop I've got full sized band saws, sanding belts and discs, as well as 2 small milling machines and a wood turning lathe. Off that workshop is my spray booth and GRP room. I say "My" it actually belongs to the University but I'm responsible for it so it's mine. It's a good set up except those pesky students will keep coming in to use the kit.
I'll post a picture tomorrow.
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I feel the need to enroll!
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Grumman changed production of the F4F Wildcat over to the much more advanced F6F Hellcat in 1943. General Motors were already making the Wildcat as the FM-1 and FM-2 and carried on doing so as the smaller and lighter Wildcat was more suited to escort carriers.
As you say, the differences were so small as not to matter in this scale. USN camouflage and markings changed a lot during the war, and will need a little research for the correct period. The red-bordered markings shown on the box, for instance, were used only for short period early in the war.
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The scheme used on the USS Guadalcanal's aircraft was the North Atlantic scheme of pale grey over white. The marking used were the dark blue/white "stars and bars". no squadron emblems were carried just simple numbers on the tail and in some cases along side the cockpit.
I'm portraying the ship while she carried the Measure 32/4A camouflage scheme.
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As promised a couple of pics of my workshop. The big shop is about 20 metres long. The small machine shop is fully extracted with a state of the art system that operates automatically when a machine is switched on and off when all the machines are at rest.
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What a joy to behold and all yours to keep nice and tidy and teach in I assmue? Thanks for sharing:OD
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A quick update during lunch. The hull skinning is complete and the coaming added. It's time to try and get it watertight. Starting with the deck a layer of resin and tissue mat, followed by some more resin. (see pics G018, G019).
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It only goes to prove that you should stick with what you know. It's definitely gone pear shaped. I'm using a GRP tissue mat that I'm not familiar with and it seemed to go down well on the decks but as soon I tried to get it to lay down on the curves it steadfastly refused to play ball. After much snipping and vigorous brush work I manage to get it fairly even but I'm not really happy with it. So it's on to Plan B. A complete coat of chopped strand mat and break out the filler. Not a happy camper!
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Do YOURSELF a BIG BIG favour bin the P38 filler that is on your desk...go to Halfords and buy some EASYLIGHT FILLER trust me yuo will NOT regret it ............P39 is so so hard to rub down ........your choice
Dave
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I might do that but I do get the P38 for free so that's a big plus in it's favour!
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I am busy 'Isoponing' my destroyer hull this week and while costly in elbow grease, it does come off with 80 grade abrasive.
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HI Tailuk I am now back home any further pictures of this build?
Stan.
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More pics soon. Work keeps getting in the way of boat building. but I'm almost finished glassing the hull. A little filler, sanding and paint and I'll be ready to try a test float and see to the trimming. Once the filling is finished I can start the upper hull and flight deck.
One thing that has occurred to me is the number of figures I'll need to crew this flat top. With 8 twin 40mm and around 20 Oerlikons, 10 sky lookouts and about half a dozen gun directors, there nearly a 100 crew in the gallery alone plus about a dozen or so on the bridge and about 50 on the flight deck. That's a lot of figures. Especially when you buy a set of 1/144th scale people half of them are women or children.
As for the weapons White ensign couldn't have closed shop at a worse time. Might have to wait til Tom's Modelworks starts trading the WEM gear.
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Has Toms Modelworks bought the range?
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Suggest that rather than crew your ship at full Action Stations you just use a representative dozen, as many as might be seen topsides on a regular day at sea.
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Has Toms Modelworks bought the range?
Apparently so! Tom's has acquired WEM's Photo Etch range and I'm given to understand their resin stuff as well.
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Suggest that rather than crew your ship at full Action Stations you just use a representative dozen, as many as might be seen topsides on a regular day at sea.
At General Quarters there would be hundreds of crew on deck. At Flying Stations there would be about 5 crew for every A/C on deck usually more. I have to confess big warships models without crew figures tend to be unsatisfying. It's my own fault. I should have gone with Trumpeter's !/200th scale Hornet. You can get photo etched pre-painted crew figures for that.
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A few shots of the Old Man's carrier:
(http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/DSCF0744_zpsss8ffha4.jpg)
(http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/DSCF0746_zps5i1pwcfc.jpg)
(http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/DSCF0748_zpsasdno3o4.jpg)
(http://i513.photobucket.com/albums/t339/carlmtflo/DSCF0752_zpsdickepvd.jpg)
Nearly all the aircraft are card kits reduced on the printer (saves weight) and the figures are Preiser railway workers suitably painted and modded.
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Very impressive work. The aircraft look to curvatious to be card models!
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I'm back! Finally finding time to work on the boat so it's been filling and sanding for a couple of days (See pics G020, G021 and G022). Guadalcanal is almost ready for paint, just need to add the sponsons on the hanger deck level.
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Reminds me of your Old Herald.
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HI tailuk the build is taking shape look forward to the paint work. I have posted some shots of the detail under the flight deck of Gambier Bay this area is never seen when the model is on display.
Stan
Kirklees Model Boat Club
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Thanks Stan, the GG version doesn't have the same curve on the bow but the shape's not unattractive.
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Reminds me of your Old Herald.
There was never that much filler in any of my Heralds. Now that old Mini van of mine was 20lbs of filler and 4000 pop rivets flying in formation!
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Ah yes the mini, I mis-remembered.
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A red letter day as I've finally started painting the hull. I needed to fit four sponsons which are a distinctive feature on the Casablanca class. I used a Polyurethane block material that we use for model work. We know it as Prolab but it's also sold as Modelboard or Urial. (see pics G023, G024) These attached, I had at it with automotive filler primer. I was quite pleased with the finish on the Resin coating, there are a few defect in the surface which I'll catch with a glazing putty by 3M. When this is rubbed down with Wet & Dry paper I'll continue priming with regular grey primer. Hope fully I won't need many coats to get a decent finish. (see G025, G026).
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Lookin' good :-)) .
Mark
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Sorry about the delay in up dates. The last couple of weeks have been so busy that my spare time was getting to feel like my day job so I've not been hard at it the way I should. I added 2 coats of Halford's grey primer and used the knifing putty to repair any little dings. (I've been using 3M's red glazing putty, which works really well. I'm used to the grey Holt's putty but I think the 3M is superior,. Just my opinion, other knifing putties are available!) Then rubbed it down using 600 grade wet and dry. After that I added another coat of grey primer (See pics G027 and G028) which will get rubbed down with 1200 or 1500 grade W&D. I hoping to have the upper superstructure and flightdeck started soon, hopefully in time for Whitwick. If it's ready I'll put it on the club stand as a WIP. So have a butcher's if you're passing!
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That is beautiful work.
The hull looks smooth as glass.
:-))
Best Regards,
Frank
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That is beautiful work.
The hull looks smooth as glass.
:-))
Best Regards,
Frank
Thanks Frank! It isn't, I assure you but it's not bad. I got quite a complex Camo scheme to put on and it'll help if the hull's good and smooth when you mask off.
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Hi tailuk. The scheme applied to these carriers does take some time to apply speaking from experience. I am sure you will do the model proud. Have started to build the U S S Whitehall a Patrol Craft Escort in the same scale has Gambier Bay it only measures 23in long and 4in beam. I have two posts running at the moment one on the Whitehall and the German Minesweeper if you wish to take a look. Take care look forward to more pictures.
Stan
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I've been asked about a feature on Guadalcanal's bow showed below in the model and from a GA drawing of CVE 90 Thetis Bay. I believe it's some kind of cutwater but I'm prepared to stand corrected.
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Here's a picture of USS White Plains CVE66. Which shows the feature fitted to a Casablanca class. It's difficult to tell from the available photos of the class how many ships that were fitted this way. I'm beginning wonder if it was some kind of remedial strengthening, that means it may not be on all the ships in the class.
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I'm back! The students are winding down in the workshops and setting up their Final Year Degree Show. Not as much call on my time now so it's back to the Casablanca.
When we last heard from our hero he was sitting in the spray booth sporting a coat of Halford's grey primer. As I sat down to ponder the next move I realised I hadn't added the bulwarks at the bow. Making sure that it would stick properly meant sanding back the primer, so much for the careful rubbing down. I transfer the profile onto thin card and super glued it into place then and another layer behind that and saturated the whole thing with superglue. When that was set I found the card to have stiffened considerably and I'd estimate it's almost as strong as a thin piece of plastic sheet. The anchor hawse pipes were drilled out and lined with plastic drinking straw. when the chain stoppers are fitted to the decks and the raised surround fitted to the outside, the straw will be complete invisible. I laser cut the surrounds of the freeing ports which are prominent on the Casablanca and glued them with superglue (later I'll open them up with a Dremel tool) See G029.
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One of the things that has me concerned is that when the upper works and all the detail, the flight deck and aircraft are added that The Guadalcanal will be a teeny bit top heavy so I'm trying to keep the weight down as much as possible. I came in to some 0.8 mm ply which was in big enough pieces to be useful. I constructed a "sandwich" with ply and blue Styrofoam insulation. This was fitted around the raised coaming and tall enough to come up to the flight deck level. Glued together with epoxy this made a surprisingly stiff assembly I made this a loose fit and then used small ply strips to "space" the sides to fit to the top of the hull. ( see G030, G032) the second photo shows the superstructure lifted away which will allow access to the gubbins. With the appropriate bracing it will possible to lift it off using the underside of the forward and stern parts of the flight deck.
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Glad to see you back and at it again!
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The superstructure needed one or two additions before I could stick it down to the underside of the flight deck. These were shaped from Styrofoam and clad in the thin ply, all stuck with epoxy. I was amazed how rigid the structure is. I cut the first layer of the flight deck and added some holes to this layer to save weight and assist with gluing. The ply was "tacked" down to a piece of 25mm MDF with a light zizz of Spray Mount, to ensure it was flat and then a liberal dose of epoxy and the superstructure was positioned and weighted down. (pic G034) When the glue was set (24 hours) I Laser cut the support pieces for the front and back edges of the flight deck. (see pics G035, G036) These are somewhat simplified than the prototype but they stiffen the thin ply at that point (where it will be lifted on and off) and gives the impression of the original. They are mostly unseen when the flight deck is in place! While I was on the laser cutter I etched a couple of pieces of the top layer of the flight deck. These two sections have the A/C elevators on them ( see pic G037) This is the stern lift!
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The deck detail is amazing! I can see aircraft being tied down on that like the real things.
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Thanks for the comments. the flight deck came out pretty well despite being a faff to do. I've posted a close up. (see pic G041)
I started the bridge while I was waiting for glue to set. The same thin ply was used assembled with super glue (see pic G040) I also began to fit the "galleries" The catwalks that ran down either side of the flight deck. I cut a small square section of Styrofoam and once that was glued in place I've begun "skinning" it in thin ply. (see pic G039) I'll laser cut the actual catwalks and they'll fit on the underside of the foam sections
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Does the actual cutting take place in a Co2 atmosphere? I ask because the tie down strips are so finely cut that I am surprised the fine bits actually survived the heat! I assume they are etched and not burnt right through?
Lovely work.
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The low powered cutters work on room air. There's a compressor blowing air at the contact point which does help cool the cut. The tie downs actually didn't come out as good as I would have hoped as I forget to designate the line around them as invisible and the laser traced it in. The detail is engraved (it's about through the first ply) so losing the bits isn't a problem. The cutter we have has 2 settable values, speed and power. The slower the speed and the higher the power means the laser will cut deeper. For example at 1% speed and 100% power it would cut right through. For my job I had the speed at 35% and power at 90%. It did still take an hour to engrave 1 section and there were 5 to do!.
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Look on the bright side, you can say you were testing the machine before the start of the new year to make sure it was working properly!
TTFN, Ian:O)
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Here's a link to a description of USS Guadalcanal's career, including an account of the capture of U505: http://www.hazegray.org/danfs/carriers/cve60.txt
Tom
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Back to work on the boat today, after a week of scene shifting around the school. We're preparing for graduation and our keenly honed and multi skilled technical staff are turned into porters for every academic who can't figure out how to move a table. {:-{ {:-{ {:-{ Best paid removal men in the business. >>:-(
I've been back on the laser to cut the galleries. These catwalks were a feature of American carriers, long walkways just off the edge of the flight deck usually loaded down with 20 and 40 millimetre AA guns. In the case of the Casablancas, 8 twin 40mm Bofors and 20 single 20mm Oerlikons.
I manage to squeeze them onto my last big piece of 0.8mm ply.(see pic G0042)
Once cut these are glued onto the underside of the foam spacers added previously. (see pic G0045)
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....& Tailuk says....."every academic who can't figure out how to move a table"....but can they tie their shoe laces? :o
Progress is good on the carrier......have just re-read the build, I see mention of different glues, but what type of wood glue are you using?...Derek
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I mostly use what readily available.
Where there is no possibility of contact with the water, White P.V.A.
Where there might be contact with water Polyurethane wood glue.
For small details and awkward joints various thicknesses of Super Glue.
And where there is Styrofoam involved, what ever kind of Epoxy is in stock!
That may be a bit dogmatic, I tend to grab whatever is to hand, plus whatever the students haven't used up or taken away.
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....& Tailuk says....."every academic who can't figure out how to move a table"....but can they tie their shoe laces
It's interesting that slip ons are popular with our academics and those trainer that have Velcro on them. Suffice it to say They could run a p**s up in a brewery if we were there to open bottles for them!
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Hi TailUK,
My compliments on your build, this is going to be a nice ship!
Something that caught my eye, is your motormount; the motor is completely 'surrounded' by plastic and wood, covering almost all cooling slots.
If you're running longer distances, things will start to warm up, with no slots free, the heat has nowhere to go and the magnets will heat up to the point of destruction.
If you free the cooling slots on the front and sides, the air can circulate around/through the armature, keeping the heat down.
Regards, Jan.
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Thanks, Jan.
That motor and I are old friends and it's actually been in 2 other boats. It doesn't get that hot, ever. I don't know why. It used to be in a Wavemaster 25 but even when it'd been given "the beans" it was never overheated. In the Casablanca it's running at lower voltage and wont be pushed as hard so I'm not too worried.
However, if it'll make you happy I'll clear out the cooling slots.
Thanks again.
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Did you get her finished ?
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Thanks for asking. It went on the back burner until A) I finished having my heart attack and B) The detailing parts I needed turned up on Shapeways. As it happens I'm closing in on the end of another project so may be able to get back to it.
I have had her on the water and she didn't look to bad, performance wasn't startling but top speed of the original was only 19 knots.
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Hi Tailuk nice to see this project back in the building stage.
Stan.
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HI ian had my model at St Helens Open Day. It still gets lots of interest even though the model was finished way back in 2009. I have included some pictures taken at the Mobile Marine Open day last year hope you like them.
Stan.
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It is good to see you back and at it!
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Thanks for asking. It went on the back burner until A) I finished having my heart attack and B) The detailing parts I needed turned up on Shapeways.
Hi TailUK,
I've got the following parts for mine from Shapeways.
4 x Twin Bofors 1/144 in Frosted Ultra Detail
4 x Twin Bofors Elevated 1/144 in Frosted Ultra Detail
1 x US Navy Water Tight Door 1/144 in Frosted Ultra Detail
7 x Oerlikon Depressed Mk4 Base USN STL 4 X 1 144 in Frosted Ultra Detail
Still plan to get some searchlights and life rafts as well as a 5" gun. I've also been looking at the Bofors directors.
Cheers
Bruce
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TailUK:
I just dicovered this build-- I really like what you've done so far!
I am building the same model, from the GG plan. I started the model back in 2013. Progress was slow, as I used it as the subject for my first-ever fiberglassing of a hull, plus I didn't work on it in the winter because my basement workbench was cold. I then put it on the back-burner when we moved in the summer of 2015. It sat there there until earlier this summer, when I started working on it again....
I have just started work on the flight deck-- I am very jealous of your wood deck! I am trying some new materials for the hangar and flight deck-- the sides are made from 3mm Sintra, and the deck is 1/4 inch UltraBoard (foam core with a thin styrene covering). The flight deck is then getting covered with pre-scribed styrene sheet to simulate the planking.
One comment on your airgroup: I think you have a typo in your post about the embarked squadron. VC-36 never sailed on Guadalcanal.
VC-6 and VC-42 are the first two squadrons that embarked on the Guadalcanal after she entered service, and later VC-69 came aboard. I'm building mine as she looked in June '44, during the U-505 capture. I think VC-42 or VC-69 was embarked then.
References: http://candotg.org/ (http://candotg.org/) (Web site of TaskGroup 22.3, which includes CVE-60 and her accompanying units.)
I also found this list of aircraft losses, which lists a VC-69 aircraft loss on CVE-60 in October '44: https://books.google.com/books?id=nV1IAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=VC-69+uss+guadalcanal&source=bl&ots=UawPPndg0G&sig=dnpOxuHJJ03nfJHX1Bo1iD9vOQc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwim8OyFsafWAhVERiYKHeiFCZwQ6AEIXTAL#v=onepage&q=VC-69%20uss%20guadalcanal&f=false (https://books.google.com/books?id=nV1IAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA135&lpg=PA135&dq=VC-69+uss+guadalcanal&source=bl&ots=UawPPndg0G&sig=dnpOxuHJJ03nfJHX1Bo1iD9vOQc&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwim8OyFsafWAhVERiYKHeiFCZwQ6AEIXTAL#v=onepage&q=VC-69%20uss%20guadalcanal&f=false)
Another option for the Wildcat kits are the 1/144 scale Sweet kits-- they come two to a box, and are actually models of the FM-2. They are nicer than the 1960's-era Revell kits, though they are more expensive. https://hlj.com/product/SWT14103 (https://hlj.com/product/SWT14103)
Hope this helps....
-Bill
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Correction to my post above--
I had the wrong squadron and aircraft count.
A fellow on one of the plastic modeling forums pointed me to a fabulous reference: a listing of US Navy Aircraft Locations, on a weekly basis. The listing for USS Guadalcanal the week of 6 June 1944 says that VC-8 was embarked with 9 Wildcats and 12 Avengers.
This is a great resource- the location of US Naval Aircraft on a by-week basis, by theatre.
https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1944/6-jun-1944.html (https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/location-of-us-naval-aircraft-world-war-ii/1944/6-jun-1944.html)
-Bill
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Hi TailUK,
I've got the following parts for mine from Shapeways.
4 x Twin Bofors 1/144 in Frosted Ultra Detail
4 x Twin Bofors Elevated 1/144 in Frosted Ultra Detail
1 x US Navy Water Tight Door 1/144 in Frosted Ultra Detail
7 x Oerlikon Depressed Mk4 Base USN STL 4 X 1 144 in Frosted Ultra Detail
Still plan to get some searchlights and life rafts as well as a 5" gun. I've also been looking at the Bofors directors.
Cheers
Bruce
Bruce,
I bought enought twin 40s and single 20mms to outfit my model from shapeways, too! I also got the 5 inch gun-- it is a real nice looking piece!
I also have a pair of USN motor whaleboats from the Revell 1/144 scale USS Fletcher-- the owner had upgraded his to resin replacements.
I have two dozen old resin rafts meant for a 1/96 sclae DD size model-- I'm hoping those will be close enough to look OK....
-Bill
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I also got the 5 inch gun-- it is a real nice looking piece!
-Bill
Hi Bill,
Did you get the 5" on Shapeways?
Cheers
Bruce
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Yes, I got the 5" gun from shapeways.
https://www.shapeways.com/product/6P5ZDQJ28/5-quot-38-cal-open-mount-1-144?optionId=62370090
I was surprised at how nice it is.
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Yes, I got the 5" gun from shapeways.
https://www.shapeways.com/product/6P5ZDQJ28/5-quot-38-cal-open-mount-1-144?optionId=62370090 (https://www.shapeways.com/product/6P5ZDQJ28/5-quot-38-cal-open-mount-1-144?optionId=62370090)
I was surprised at how nice it is.
Looks good - from memory there weren't any 5" available when I bought the 20mm and 40mm.
B