Hi, all,

Recently I've begun building WW2 ship models in 1/700 and would like to do some rigging on them. I'm having difficulty finding rigging charts for them, however, and most of those that I have come across are mostly only from a side view, nothing from the front of the ship.

Sometimes a model's instruction sheet has a diagram, but just as often they don't. I've been looking at box covers and paintings for ideas, as well.

Does anyone have any suggestions for reference books I could order or maybe a Web site or two?

While I'm pretty new to ship modeling (it's beena bout twenty years or so since the last one I built), I've been building and scratchibuilding models from various other genres for years, so I'm not intimidated by the process. I'm planning on using tippet line for the rigging (it's very fine fishing line like material.)

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks, Steve

Ahoy, Steve,
Welcome to Model Shipwrights, mate!

Fellow Keystoner, I see, what part of Pa. do you hail from?

I'm in Western Pa., about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh...Anyways, back to your question...as far as rigging diagrams, If I plan to rig out a build that I'm working on, I try to locate an original set of plans for the ship or ship model (helpful in many ways), and 99% of the time, there will be a full rigging diagram involved...

There are many very good websites available that have plans for sale, just type in "ship model plans" in the search bar and take a look...what ship are you working on?

Thanks for info, Gunny.

I'm about a mile south of downtown Pittsburgh itself (Overbrook area). Right now I'm getting close to finishing the HobbyBoss Type VIIB u-boat in 1/700. It's pretty well detailed for the scale (and at a fantastic price--only $6!), but the rails on the hull and tower are wrong and too thick just the same, so I'mm replacing them with some scratchbuilt work. On the hull, I'm using .010 inch brass rod and on the tower Plastruct .010 styrene rod.

I'm also replacing the 20mm on the back of the tower with something froom my spare parts box, since the one supplied with the kit looks more like mounted telescope than a gun.

I also added a pair of styrene "tripods" (for lack of a better word) on the rear of the hull for part of the rigging to be attached to.

For my next project, I have a choice of two:

DD-797 Cushing (US Fletcher class) from Tamiya's 1/700 Water Line series, on which I'll be replacing some details with those from one of Pit-Road Sky Wave's detail sets and adding photoetch from Tom's Modelworks.

Or

Sky Wave's 1/700 IJN Destroyer Shikinami (1944), but converted to the Amigari (both are Fubuki class DDs) and detailed with brass from Tom's Modelworks' IJN Destroyer Set B. I have the new Dragon BB-38 Pennsylvania (nice looking kit but haven't built it yet) in 1/700 which comes with a pair of Elco 80 PT boats, as well. I'd like to convert one and do a diorama of the ramming of PT 109 (complete with figures).

Being so close to Pittsburgh, did you go to the IPMS Region 4 show that was here last year? I'm a member of the Three Rivers chapter and we had a pretty good turn out for both the show and the venders. I even got lucky enough to win the best diorama category for my "Barnstormer" diorama.

Steve

Hey Steve,

I'm building the USS Cushing right now for the "Forgotten Sisters" Campaign. If you have any good pics of the bridge area it would be great if you could post it. I'm running into difficulties finding good pics of the bridge area and the depth charge luanchers(for lack of a better word).

Ahoy, Steve,

Hey, we're just about neighbors, mate! I live in the beautiful backwoods of McConnells Mill State Park, if you're familiar with the area.........
Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to the IPMS show, but there's always next year!

Your projects sound interesting, my friend, please share some photos with us when you have a chance...and feel free to ask any questions you may have here in our forums, we have a great deal of knowledge swimming about in our waters, and a friendlier bunch of salts I doubt you will find elsewhere, and we all love to talk about our hobby!

Cheers,
~Gunny

Steve,
Check out Tom's Modelworks axis submarines fret which includes parts for the type Vii u boat.

mike

Thanks, guys.

Frank,
I know wha you mean about difficulty in finding good pics of a bridge for the Cushing. Most of the photos I've found so far for reference haven't been much help in getting bridge details.

I did, however, find something that may be of help over at Squadron's site: Squadron/Signal's book "Fletcher DDs in Action". I don't have that one (yet) but I do have several of their other books in their "...In Action" series and have found them to be very helpful most of the time.

Go to http://www.squadron.com and search stock number SS4008 for the book.

They also have several other "US Destroyers In Action" books available.


Mike,
I just received my order yesterday of photo-etch from Tom's Modelworks for the US Destoryers and and IJN Destroyer Set B and they look pretty good. I'll have to check for Axis Submarines fret. As I continue to build that HobbyBoss U-boat type VIIb I'm finding a few mre inaccuracies that I'm having to scratchbuild--missing rudders, for one. Also the parts fit on some of it leaves much to be desired. Still for US$6 I still can't complain much.


Gunny,
Sorry to here you missed our show last year. We had a great turn out for it, although the ships category was a little weak. Tons of aircraft and armor, as usual, and more figures than I expected.

We also had a good number of vendors, including one that had come from the UK. I finally managed to get myself a Waldron sub-miniature punch. A bit expensive, to be sure, but having had it now for nearly a year I don't know how I managed to get by without one. I use it for everything from ship details to ruivets for armor to buttons on figures (I sculpt some of my own fro Magic Scupl--great stuff!!!--and Super Sculpy.)

Our next show is coming up at the end of next month. Saturday, March 29 from 9AM-4PM at A.W. Beattie Career Center in Allison Park (9600 Babcock Blvd.)

As far as pics go, I'll try to get some posted soon (as soon as I get get our camera back; my wife lent it to a friend).

Steve

Frank,

I saw a book today at the local hobby shop that may have what you're looking for. I didn't pick it up at the time because they were asking more than I was willing to spend at the time, but I did glance through it and it does have several close-ups of the bridge and the depth charge launchers.

The book is "Warship Perspectives #1: Fletcher, Gearing , and Sumner Class Destroyers In World War Two" by Jeffery J. Herne, from WR Press. I t looks like a great reference, and can probably be found cheaper online than I had seen at the hobby shop. I considering ordering one for myself sometime soon, since I did get Sky Wave/Pit Road's 1/700 Gearing model while at the store.

Steve