I have the Dragon USS Hancock (CV19). Is that eligable?

Neil,
Yes the USS Hancock is eligable. She is a Essex class carrier and the 11th built if I counted right. She was one of the long hull types "Beginning in March 1943, one visually very significant change was authorized for ships then in the early stages of construction. This involved reshaping the bow into a rather elegant "clipper" form to provide deck space for two 40 mm quadruple gun mountings, thus greatly improving forward air defenses. Thirteen ships were completed to this "long-hull", or Ticonderoga, class. Four of these were finished in 1944, in time to join their short-hull Essex-class sisters in Pacific combat operations. The rest went into commission between early 1945 and late 1946."

A very good and interesting choice, can't wait to see her built.

Excellent [/Monty Burns]

I recently added myself to this campaign. I am going to build Trumpeter's USS The Sullivan's (DD-537), a Fletcher class destroyer. I realize this is not a stretch in terms of rarity, but this is my first ship and attempt at photo etch in this scale (GMM product). I also am going to try Gator's glue. Thanks for the quick shipment Gator! I don't know much about Navy builds (23 years USAF) and will have questions I'm sure. The first thing I cannot get a handle on is the "rigging" attached to the mast. Is this primarily support for the mast? What about signal flag lanyards? Do these attach to the deck or to the part of the rail? The Squadron book is not much help in this regard. Any words of wisdom or link to prior build or photo would be appreciated.

Tom

I'm in. My entry will be Tamiya's new HMS REPULSE from the Renown Class Battlecruisers. Rich

Glad to have both of you on board (rich and tom). Tom have you tried a quick search through the data base? I believe someone was building that ship there might be some useful info within the data base. Also a member just posted this link the-blueprints.com it's a pretty neat site for reference. I don't know if they have the "Sullivan’s" but you could give it a shot.

Prinz Eugen was an improved Hipper class. I think Blucher or Hipper would be the "Forgotten Sister", as Prinz Eugen was the most famous of the class.

I'm going to do one of two 1/700 HP kits - either the USS Wyoming (AG-17), sister to the Battleship Arkansas, or the late war USS Colorado, sister of West Virginia and Maryland. Wyoming was used as an artillery and AA training ship. The 1942 version that just arrived in the mail has several of the 12 inch gun turrets removed for extra AA guns. It's a very unique looking ship, with AA guns stuck everywhere! Colorado, having missed Pearl Harbor due to a refit, never got the attention her sisters did.

I WON'T be using a PitRoad kit this time around, as the last two campaigns I was in I wasn't able to finish, due to various problems with the kits. Yeah, that's it - it was the kits fault!

I think I am going to switch kits I am going to build for this one. I was going to do the Scott for this build and the D182 Schleswig Holstein for the Cold War build, but I am swapping them around.

I don't have all the AM stuff for the Scott and the Holstein is just begging me to build her first.

Martin,
I have never built a pit-roads kit so I can't commit on that but I can't wait to see your build.

Jim,

I've had that problem....had a kit getting ready for a build but I have another kit that I'm just itching to start....so many choices and so little time.

Tom, welcome to the site! I'm also going to do a "square bridge" Fletcher, but I'm getting there by using a conversion kit on the Tamiya kit, both of which preceed the release of the Trumpeter kit.

As far as the rigging goes, it appears that there are three basic types of lines you'll find. The first is as you mentioned, the support lines which hold the mast in place. These will typically be secured to the deck or a bulkhead someplace to provide the required strength to hold the mast up.

The signal halyards will usually run from a yard arm at angles to the mast, and will generally end up secured to the railings on a flag locker on the deck.

The last type of line you'll see are the various antenna lines used for communication. Many of these seem to go horizontally and a number are secured to the stacks, and some seem to have downward leads.

I'm also struggling with coming up with good references to locate all the lines as well.

One concern I have looking at photos is that to have ALL these lines on the model is going to make it very busy, not to mention difficult to do. Even though 1/350 is a pretty reasonable scale (and my hat is REALLY off to those who do 1/700!!! ), the Fletcher class model does seem pretty small to pack all those lines into.

I can absolutely predict that I'm going to WANT to try and put them all in and I'm still trying to get enough documentation so I can figure all the lines out. But I'm prepared to simplify if required.

One problem is that since there were so many different arrangements of electronic gear on these ships over the years, that almost every ship looks different, so trying to find enough information by using multiple shots from different angles isn't that helpful, because the arrangement is different.

Since we'll be working on similar projects, I'm certain we'll be able to figure it out

Tom H

Frank and Tom,
Thanks for the notes, links, and words of encouragement. I'm looking forward to learing a lot on this build. One useful photo of the USS Young mast and fire control is here: www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/i02000/i02859.jpg

Tom T.

IM in
Mine will be TBD

Excellent! This might help me actually finish the 1/700 Dragon Tirpitz I have in the closet.

(Hopefully this one will end up looking better than the one I built when I was 10...and then shot rubberband 'torpedos" at it.)

hello Frank,
i have not heard for the chinese,so i am going to wing it on the colors.i hope they are going to be close to the real thing.
cheers,
Bruce

My 1/350 I-401 is waiting in the slipway. Research shows that, for the planned attack on Ulithi, they painted the aircraft silver with US markings.

Gator

hello Frank,
change in plans.i am doing the Kai-Feng instead of the Zhu-Hai.the Kai-Feng is a type 051 guild missle destroyer.the Zhu-Hai is going to be used for the Cold War tin can campaign.
i am ready for the Jan.6 kick off,hope everyone is also.
cheers,
Bruce

Bruce,

Sounds good I can't wait for the start so we can all get a look at some great builds.

I almost messed up big time yesterday on my build. I took the ship out of the package for the first time and cleaned the parts off. I had planned to start putting them together and start a build blog for the ship, and then I noticed something very important, Jan 6, not Jan 1.

Makes a person want to slap themselves for not paying attention. Anyway, I did get some nice pictures of the parts and will get things ready for the build blog. I plan to get a few parts added on the 6th or 7th, then will have to be off for a few days.

One thing I do need is some railing for my kit, it’s a 1/700 D182 German Destroyer. I wasn’t sure if I could just use a generic modern railing set for someone, or if there was a certain one I could get and add.

Jim,

I'm not any where close to being an expert on models but as long as the railing looks like the railing the ship had then go ahead and use it. Im doing that with my "No Guns" build. I couldn't find anything that was made for a Hospital sip so I went with genieric USN naval stuff. Try GMM or Tom's they both make generic naval PE, I think WEM makes it also just allow for the conversion rate.

hello Frank,
tomorrow is the Big Day,hopefully every one is ready.can i start at 0001 zulu,or do i have to wait till 0800 zulu.
cheers,
Bruce

Mister bruce you may start at 0000 zulu if you wish. I my self will wait untill I arrive home after work.....

I've got a couple of loose ends to wrap up before I can start. But I'm really looking forward to this build.

Gator

Hello Mister Frank,
my sleep pattern is up till 0430 and in bed till 1200.since i am retired, i came sleep and be awake any time i want,which is a pain to Miss Mary.
i am still working on the lifeboat for the "no guns allowerd"campaign.
cheers,
Bruce