Guess I'll take a shot at posting to this forum and see how things go.
Anyway, I'm currently in the early planning/construction stages of converting a 1/350 Gallery Models USS Wasp LHD amphibious assault ship into a "What If" USS Solace hospital/humanitarian relief ship.
A sample pic of what my model may eventually look like when finished is this pic below:
Here's a list of what I'm planning so far:
1. Build the Wasp as a What If hospital ship replacement for the US Navy's MERCY class hospital ships.
2. Paint it all white with a green stripe and red crosses along the hull sides as shown in the linked pic above.
3. Add a selection of either MRC cargo/transport vehicles:
http://www.modelrec.com/search/product- ... p?ID=12472(But only the Humvees & cargo trucks)
........or use "slightly larger" 1/285 and better detailed GHQ cargo/transport vehicles below:
4. Add extra lifeboats/launches/RHIB's to the port/starboard sides of the ship.
3 x 1/350 Veteran Models Modern US Navy Rigid Hull & Personnel Boats, 2 Personnel boats & 2 RHIB's per pkg x 3 pkgs = 6 Personnel boats & 6 RHIB's total.
http://www.freetimehobbies.com/VTM35011/5. Remove all weapons and weapon systems radars.
6. Medium/large cargo crane to be added in place of where the forward Seasparrow missile launcher originally was.
7. Unknown on what to put in the aft area above the well gate where the aft Seasparrow launcher and CIWS guns are normally located.
8. Massive amounts of "humanitarian cargo and supplies" has already been bought:
5 x 1/350 Niko Model Cargo Wooden Boxes Small, 12 pcs per pkg x 5 pkgs = 60 pcs total.
5 x 1/350 Niko Model Cargo Wooden Boxes Large, 5 pcs per pkg x 5 pkgs = 25 pcs total.
5 x 1/700 Niko Model Cargo Wooden Boxes, 14 pcs per pkg x 5 pkgs = 70 pcs total.
1 x L'Arsenal 1/350 Accessory 85 gallon Oil / Fuel Drums (50 pcs)
9. Aircraft already in the Gallery Models WASP kit will be used as well as one extra pkg of MRC aircraft which was bought.
http://www.modelrec.com/search/product- ... p?ID=12471Aircraft for the flight deck/hangar bay to possibly include:
V-22's x 6
SH-60's x 4 (Might add another 2 from my spares box at home)
CH-53's x 6
CH-46's x 6 (Not sure if I will use this helicopter)
10. All flight deck vehicles to be used from the Gallery Models WASP kit as well as 1 extra MRC pkg.
http://www.modelrec.com/search/product- ... p?ID=1247411. Both LCAC's (x2) and LCU's (x2) will be used from the Gallery Models WASP kit.
12. Since the WASP kit does not have a waterline hull option, I will be making a display/diorama similar to this:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... hd1-21.jpg13. Most aircraft, LCAC's/LCU's, cargo/transport vehicles to be painted white unless otherwise noted. Flight deck vehicles to be painted yellow.
14. No LED lighting to be added in the hangar bay/well deck.
15. To make the well deck, hangar bay, and upper vehicle storage deck more "visible", I have decided to cut certain sections out of the flight deck as well as the hangar bay floor, and replace them with clear acrylic sheet similar to what is shown here:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html16. May possibly paint all life raft canisters orange to make them more visible against a white hulled ship.
17. Scratchbuild some 20 ft. hospital cargo containers as shown here:
18. Unknown on how much or if any, photoetch will be used as my eyesight can no longer handle small stuff like that.