USS Indiana BB-58 Scratchbuild in 1/96 - 1944

[tweety777]

Looking really great indeed!!

I indeed think the bracing under the conning tower will need some more work.
This is too weak for the real thing, though they might actually be a bit too thick for the scale, but i would keep it this way as it wont be seen so very often.

Greetings Josse

[mark_sch]

SWEET!!!!
Mark

[Richard J OMalley]

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[J. Soca]

That's real neat Bill and it was a real nice touch of you adding the captain's chair do you intend to add any voice tubes?



Jose

[Bill Waldorf]

That's real neat Bill and it was a real nice touch of you adding the captain's chair do you intend to add any voice tubes?



Jose

I'm not sure if there was one there or not, so I don't think so..... Thanks for asking, never really thought about that.....

[rtheriaque]

Stunning work... Makes me lust for a Big Mamie like this... I've been going back and forth with some test work for an RC BB-59, mostly with "firing" the 16" guns. I foolishly did some of the work with the master I was working on and, well, you can probably guess the result. I need to start on a new master

I need to ask, though- what's with "turrent"? I feel like I'm being left out on a joke...

[Bill Waldorf]

Stunning work... Makes me lust for a Big Mamie like this... I've been going back and forth with some test work for an RC BB-59, mostly with "firing" the 16" guns. I foolishly did some of the work with the master I was working on and, well, you can probably guess the result. I need to start on a new master

I need to ask, though- what's with "turrent"? I feel like I'm being left out on a joke...

What do you mean, "whats with turrent" ??? Perhaps I missed something................

[ARH]

Stunning work... Makes me lust for a Big Mamie like this... I've been going back and forth with some test work for an RC BB-59, mostly with "firing" the 16" guns. I foolishly did some of the work with the master I was working on and, well, you can probably guess the result. I need to start on a new master

I need to ask, though- what's with "turrent"? I feel like I'm being left out on a joke...

What do you mean, "whats with turrent" ??? Perhaps I missed something................

Its a misspelling above picture DSC03100.

[Bill Waldorf]

Its a misspelling above picture DSC03100. [/quote]

Thanks Ron......I thought it was clear enough. I edited it anyway! Hope you are well....................

[ARH]

Its a misspelling above picture DSC03100.

Thanks Ron......I thought it was clear enough. I edited it anyway! Hope you are well.................... [/quote]


Thanks Bill, as well as can be expected, is it not TURRETS, it reads TURRENTS.

[J. Soca]

That's real neat Bill and it was a real nice touch of you adding the captain's chair do you intend to add any voice tubes?



Jose

I'm not sure if there was one there or not, so I don't think so..... Thanks for asking, never really thought about that.....

Hi Bill

when i visited the Alabama i remember seeing voice tubes in 2 locations ofcourse i'm well aware of this is not the Alabama but anyways i wanted to show you

on the captain's bridge i believe i saw one please bare with my mind it's been close to 2 years since i was there and on the admiral's bridge i remember seeing another one which was full of cigarette's butts.. i know people got no respect nowadays. there is no reason for you to add any onthe captain's bridge since the place is enclosed, however you might want to dig up more info on the admiral's level. you are doing one fantastic job whether you add voice tubes or not my friend that is a fact.


Jose

[Jefgte]

A Masterpiece Bill
Very high quality of work

Congratulations


Jef

[Bill Waldorf]

Hello again all! Work continues on the superstructure for the USS Indiana. I have now completed all major sections of the structure, and it has been an interesting ,as well as frustrating endeavour! I sure am going thru alot of styrene It seems the more I build and add, there is lots more to build and add. Seems like it never ends. So goes it with a battleship! As I said before, theres lots of "stuff"! There are subtle differences in the four ships of the South Dakota class BB's. Trying to nail one down to be exactly correct is involving much research. I think I have things pretty close to what they should be as far as Indiana goes. I have good plans, and lots of pics but there are still some things you can't see. So in some areas it is a "best guess' scenario. So lets take a look..................

Stb. side here, looking fwd. The funnel has now been completed as well as the forward citadel. I have placed the unfinished twin 5" turrents in their relative postions for reference. Note the mock up of the mainmast, a tapered balsa dowel. Other details have been added as well.

Stb. side again, only now looking aft. There are a total of nine major sections to this structure. Each one was fabricated and somewhat detailed before continuing with the next section. All sections are now permanantly fastened together, with the exception of the funnel cap and the forward citadel.

Port side here, looing aft. Lot's more details to be added. I ran out of railing! There is about 21 feet of railing! Note the unusual shape of the forward citadel. This was a challenge.... Read on...

Port side, looking fwd. The area beneath the funnel cap is where three levels come together. Autobody filler was used to blend the sections together. This was done before final placement to the rest of the structure. Each level is screwed or epoxyed together. It's a pretty beefy structure, and it is getting heavy!

A close up of the forward citadel. As I said, this part was a challenge due to the rather complex shape. It was not possible to carve this out of a balsa block accurately, so another method had to be used. I decided on making a framework of the structure using the plans as a reference. First a center section was made matching a side view pulled from the plans. I then cut out "formers" or ribs and added them at the approriate intervals ( 1") to get the corrrect shape., again using the plans. This framework was made with .040 styrene. I then added balsa blocks between each level, overhanging them slightly beyond the edge of the former. I then block sanded the balsa till it was flush with the formers. The results came out good. I then filled the balsa with spackling coumpound to fill the grain of the wood. Then several coats of white primer. There will be four more levels added to this citadel, as well as the foremast, so, much to be done yet. An interesting shape...........

Close up of the funnel cap here. There are subtle differences between So.Dak. and Mass. caps and Indianas. Closer to Alabama.Steam pipes are formed styrene. Small pipe next to mast is the incinerator exhaust. Grab rails are a bit too thick, so I may replace them. Cap will be painted black, so they may not be so pronounced then. We will see.

Another shot of the cap. Two small platforms are for whip antennas. Note the ladder rungs. I kinked one of the steam pipes, to be repaired!

One of the flag lockers.

More bracing added under nav. bridge overhang.

40 mm tub bracing added.

Perforated steel plate in front of radar room and beneath Mk.37 director,midships, stb side. Same on portside.

Close up of the completed nav. bridge, except for a few details.

Another shot of the nav. bridge.

Last but not least, stb side overall view of the progress.

Well, another update posted! Lots more stuff to add!! I think she is starting to look like a battleship, would you agreee?? More to come, stay tuned................I continue on..........

[navydavesof]

Bill,
You're unparalleled on several levels. One, your attention to detail and two, your progression. The rate you're flying through this project while maintaining your level of detail is incredible. Like others, I really look forward to seeing the finished project. This is really quite awesome.

[Timmy C]

Agree! Given the large size of styrene that you use, from where do you source them?

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Bill "Awesome" Question you state that all the sections are now fastened together. How will this relate when you start painting ?You are not joking when you mentioned that the forward Citadel was a "challenge due to the complex shape" but the method you used for solving the problem is good "lateral thinking" . I had a similar problem with the foremast tower on Sverdlov but solved the problem using a styrene rapped around the balsa former, which drove me to distraction. The other problem I have, is knowing exactly what the interior of the stack is like when looking down into the casing. Have you managed to solve that problem with Indiana? As usual Bill your build even before any paint is applied is clean and crisp with no hint of fillers, which I must confess for me is always on hand.
How right you are about the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, the amount of detail needed seems to grow expedientially but it is all worth the effort in the end . Once again Bill your builds like those of ARH are an inspiration, a delight to see as they take form.
Dave Wooley

[Capit�o Norbert]

Hi Bill really your model is very very well made.. the bridge is so very wonderfull
i agree with Wooley in all aspects
a great model again from you

[russclark]

well done bill ,i to have trouble with styrene,trying to make it conform to compound curves is a challenge. i always get a little on edge when assembling deck levels,i have glued things together then found out somthing is missing, and trying to fit it in without taking it apart.

[Bill Waldorf]

Agree! Given the large size of styrene that you use, from where do you source them?

Hey Timmy, Styrene is by Evergreen Scale Models and I get it from Horizon Hobby.com.......HTH!

[Bill Waldorf]

Hi Bill "Awesome" Question you state that all the sections are now fastened together. How will this relate when you start painting ?You are not joking when you mentioned that the forward Citadel was a "challenge due to the complex shape" but the method you used for solving the problem is good "lateral thinking" . I had a similar problem with the foremast tower on Sverdlov but solved the problem using a styrene rapped around the balsa former, which drove me to distraction. The other problem I have, is knowing exactly what the interior of the stack is like when looking down into the casing. Have you managed to solve that problem with Indiana? As usual Bill your build even before any paint is applied is clean and crisp with no hint of fillers, which I must confess for me is always on hand.
How right you are about the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, the amount of detail needed seems to grow expedientially but it is all worth the effort in the end . Once again Bill your builds like those of ARH are an inspiration, a delight to see as they take form.
Dave Wooley

Hello dave, A word on painting. Since the superstructure will be one big piece, I plan to paint it all at once, minus the guns, radars, directors,lifeboats, masts, etc. Most everthing is haze grey. I'll paint the decks by hand which will be tedious, but the end results are very good albeit time consuming. Don't know whats inside the stack casing. It will all be black anyway so you would'nt see much even if it was there. Thanks for the comments. Your work is an inspiration to me as well!! Bill W.