The Ship Model Forum

Hello all,

I'm trying to find a source of plans for the America. FloatingDryDock.com has had them listed as "discontinued" for over a year.

I served on the America from 15Jun81 to 14Nov84, in V-2 Division, Waist Catapults.
If anyone knows of another source, please post it or if anyone has a set and is willing to have copies made, I will pay for copying, shipping and a bit more. The America was my first ship and has a very special place in my heart. We used to call her things like the "haze, grey pig" or other not so nice things. But, as many a sailor will tell, their first ship has a tug on your soul that time can diminish.

Thank you for your time and attention regarding this question.

Sincerely,
W. Smith
ABE3(AW), USN(vet), 1980 - 1991
ET2, USCG(ret), 1991 - 1999

[quote="boatman2"]What happening on this build ?
chris[/quote]

What happening on this build ?
chris

[quote="amdownunder"]Hi Micheal, awesome build, I like carries as well, one day, first question is that fiberglass sheeting and other bulkheads are they steyne, my buld I am using 1 mm cardboard sheeting since it is a water line model, being a teething curve if that is the right word.

Second model I could go that way with the second build with a full hull, the bow of my ship sure is a challenge , I am going to have to scratch build the ships fitting , like winches, don't think I be able to buy them in 1/78 scale ( HO scale).

Model ship is a side line to my model trains, in the near future switch to model boats.

Handy to get a book on your project and plans, I have some plans of my ship, have to calculate the plan scale to 87 scale.

Can't wait to you start printing up in 3/D your ships fitting, plans as well.

Keep the good up and pics flowing, have you started work on the bridge yet.

Tony from down under.[/quote]


Hi Tony,

Yes, the hull is sheeted in FG and the skeleton is made from styrene. The hull stations are .040" sheet styrene and the stringers are 1/4" sq. and 1/8" x .080 for the hull sides.
The hanger bay is .040 sheets and the flight deck will be 2 sheets of .040 I think?

I got my 3D printer, the Peopoly Moai, and it is still in the box. I just moved into my new house 10 days ago and am still painting and unpacking and I have not done my office yet where my hobby room will be. I bought the kit version of the Moai for $1250.00 USD plus a couple of extra clear resin tanks and 1 qt. of grey resin and one of clear.

On Shapeways.com I found most of the deck items and the island already made for the America. But they are in 350 scale, not 192, so I will have to see if he can scale them up. I may end up making the island myself, just because.

Hi Micheal, awesome build, I like carries as well, one day, first question is that fiberglass sheeting and other bulkheads are they steyne, my buld I am using 1 mm cardboard sheeting since it is a water line model, being a teething curve if that is the right word.

Second model I could go that way with the second build with a full hull, the bow of my ship sure is a challenge , I am going to have to scratch build the ships fitting , like winches, don't think I be able to buy them in 1/78 scale ( HO scale).

Model ship is a side line to my model trains, in the near future switch to model boats.

Handy to get a book on your project and plans, I have some plans of my ship, have to calculate the plan scale to 87 scale.

Can't wait to you start printing up in 3/D your ships fitting, plans as well.

Keep the good up and pics flowing, have you started work on the bridge yet.

Tony from down under.

I just ordered a Moai 3D SLA printer to print out the airwing and yellow gear and Island and lots of other stuff! Should be here in two weeks. I move into the new house Friday and my stuff will be here Thursday!

I love it when a plan comes together!

[quote="gtbred"]Great on getting your house. I will be retired in July so I have lots of time to see you and your friend builds. :thumbs_up_1:[/quote]

Come on out! I'll have room!

Great on getting your house. I will be retired in July so I have lots of time to see you and your friend builds. :thumbs_up_1:

Quick update:

I close on the new house on April 6th and will be moving in on the 7th!

All of my possessions are currently being shipped from California as you read this including all of my hobby stuff!

So will be resuming my posts very shortly hopefully!

I will also be buying a 3D SLA printer in the very near future to print items for the ship.

I am going to be resuming work on my America very soon! I just put a bid on a large house here in Maryland and I will again have a dedicated hobby room. I will be sending for all my stuff in the next few months and getting my office and hobby room set back up.

I am currently stationed at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, the home of Naval test aviation, and we have a great museum here with most of the birds on our ships. If you need detailed pics of any bird, just lmk and I can go take them.

I am also teaming up with Randy Sleeman and he is going to be starting the same build, a 192nd America, but he is doing a bit older version though. Mid 70's I believe? He and I are going to be collaborating on making working items on the ship like the catapults and elevators, JBD's and the bomb elevators.

Please Michael, let us know when you return to your build of America.

[quote="Capit�o Norbert"]Hi Michael good work the hull is very good
i would like to ask about the width of styrene stanchions. :wave_1:[/quote]

I used .040 thou sheet styrene.

Hi Michael good work the hull is very good
i would like to ask about the width of styrene stanchions. :wave_1:

I am glad to hear about you again Michael. I hope to see new updates in your carrier soon.

jorge

Thanks to everybody for the great and inspiring comments. Due to personal reasons, I have had to put her on hold for about a year, but I should soon be back on her and I will post pics and an update soon.

IDK if I am going to keep the FG on. It was suggested to me by AdmHawk to rip it off and then re-lay it with .40 thou styrene, and I may just do that.

That is some build!!!!

wow, I to have never seen fiberglass cloth put right onto the ribs ,but it seemed to work quite well ,and yes bondo glazing putty is a very good filler easy to sand,i have found though is put lots on and spread it once ,it seems the more you play with it does not help..great work :thumbs_up_1: :thumbs_up_1:

Any progress on the build??

Excellent work Michael. She is taking shape. I like it.

Jorge

Okay, so I decided to dismount the hull from the mounting board to assess where I really was without making it worse by added thickness where it is not warranted. I took scissors and trimmed off the excess cloth and most of the edges are good, but there is some filling needed. Also, there are 4-5 spots that need to be cut out and then I will lay a patch of cloth over the open areas. One thing I noticed is that the FG shell does separate from the plastic frames with a little bit of force. Not so much as to damage the plastic framework. I could probably peel the whole shell off if I wanted to and start over, but I don't think that's necessary though. Luckily, most of the spots that need to be redone are under spots where sponsons go. Most of the bow will have to be cut out and re-formed, not really an issue as I expected that.

[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0551.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0552.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0554.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0555.JPG[/img]

These were the screws I used to hold down the hull while it was inverted.

[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0556.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0558.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0559.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0560.JPG[/img]


The stern:
[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0560.JPG[/img]

Port Side:
[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0562.JPG[/img]

Starboard Side:
[img]http://www.michaelclare.com/America/America_0564.JPG[/img]

That rear starboard side was really wavy so I cut it out and here is what you can see I mean by the sponson will cover it up.. I probably wouldn't need to patch it, but I will.