Calling all USS Barnegat-class seaplane tender (AVP) fans

[NukeMM]

Thanks, Nektarios!

I worked on some more details, today.

Besides the stays and shrouds, I added some sky lookout stations, perolous, torpedo handling booms, and ladders on the twin 40mm tubs.

[orb]

One major advantage when building in 1/350: the figures. They really breathe life into the ship. Overall verdict: amazing!

[NukeMM]

Over all progress, so far.....................

I've yet to rig the crane and assemble all of the 40mm and 20mm guns. Some floater net baskets remain as well as boat booms (some will be rigged out for the diorama) and an accommodation ladder for the starboard side. Then I think she'll be done and awaiting the PT Boats.

[GTDEATH13]

Carl I have been watching your build here every time you post... But I think it is boring to others to see all those messages of admiration and praise...

So I will stick to this one and keep watching this build with awe ...

Awesome job and fantastic detailing...

No go on and explain to Nektarios that the divine scale is not 1/700 and what he is missing by building in this scale...

[Nektarios]

Carl knows that the divine scale is 1/700. He is just a little bit deviated for the moment.

[NukeMM]

Carl knows that the divine scale is 1/700. He is just a little bit deviated for the moment.

There's no talking Nektarios out of 1/700, Nikos. And I'm the wrong one to try it. I favor 1/700, myself, but there are no 1/700 AVP kits. Although, I'd love some 1/700 AVP/AGP/WAVP models.

Thanks for chiming in with a comment for this thread, Nikos. They are always welcome, as well as any constructive criticisms and suggestions. I hope everyone who reviews this thread enjoys what I'm doing and finds an interest in this class of little ships.

I have plans to build two more of these when the Oyster Bay is finished and while I'm working on the PT Boats for that diorama.

I have two more ISW USS Mackinac kits in my stash and intend to use them to build the USS Greenwich Bay AVP-41 and USS Valcour AVP-55 which swapped duty with the USS Duxbury Bay AVP-38 as flagships for COMIDEASTFOR in the 1950's and 1960's. I'll make these two as full hull models and maybe in their 1960's configurations with tripod masts, modern radar and communications antennas and extended superstructure aft. More modifications on the way on those builds.

These three ships were painted white and were called "The Little White Fleet" by their crews. I may make another Duxbury Bay, later, and mount all three on the same display base. The first Duxbury Bay that I built is my Dad's model. I want one for myself.

[NukeMM]

I finished up and attached the crane and finished the antenna rigging fore and aft.

[GTDEATH13]

Carl I have a question for you:

Did those ships take on landing craft instead of the boats you are using?

I noticed a picture in Norman Friedman's book on US destroyers that had a ship resembling yours and had a landing craft aboard... I think it was an LCM...

[NukeMM]

Carl I have a question for you:

Did those ships take on landing craft instead of the boats you are using?

I noticed a picture in Norman Friedman's book on US destroyers that had a ship resembling yours and had a landing craft aboard... I think it was an LCM...

Good quesiton, Nikos!

Before answering, I had to think really hard and review all of the ships of the class on Navsource.org.

No AVPs of the Barnegat class were used for handling landing craft. I don't think that they would have had room for the landing craft, especially if the craft are longer than a 40' launch boat. It would have taken a huge shipalt and conversion to make landing craft possible.

They certainly could have re-fueled them, however.

[NukeMM]

I spent all day assembling, painting, and attaching the 6 floater net baskets (WEM baskets and L'Arsenal nets) as well as the accommodation ladder.

[Nektarios]

Looking great as always Carl. The level of your builds is truly incredible

[NukeMM]

Thanks, Nektarios! I like to think that I've been improving over the last two years.

I added hull fenders to the Oyster Bay.

[NukeMM]

I've added a canvas cover to the 5" Open Mount with black decal striping. It still needs a flat clear coat on it. I used Navy Gloss Gray paint for the final color.





Also, I've added a Jacob's (Drunk) Ladder to the stern along with the ship's name.

[NukeMM]

I'm glad that I came across the L'arsenal 20mm Ultimate set with the deck rails in it. They are a great detail for my build even though it had semi-circular rails around the guns. Thanks to Tony Bunch for the fast service! He spoils us, doesn't he?

Does anyone know what purpose these shin-killing, ankle-breaking deck rails served?

[Russ2146]

Carl,

I ran across this and wondered if there any info on it. Were they experimenting?

[NukeMM]

Russ,

I feel that you are getting the itch to build one of these Barnegats. I hope I'm right.

The USS Absecon was a one-of-a-kind variant of the Barnegat class. It had a cruiser catapult and cruiser cranes for training new seaplane pilots. It was stationed mostly around Florida in the Gulf of Mexico and on the East Coast during WWII.

It is on my list to build, someday. I have drawings of the details of the Absecon. Richard Sliwka didn't. But after studying the drawings, Richard got his depiction of her dead-on, and mostly just from photos. Check out Richard's Absecon in his MWS Gallery. It is definately one of my favorites of Richard's builds.

Check out the Absecon's history on DANFS:
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/a2/absecon-i.htm

[Russ2146]

Carl,
Yeah, I'm starting to get the itch but I'm still working out a conversion of a Dragon Gearing to a 60's Sumner and converting a Trumpy England to one of the up-gunned Buckleys, DE219. But yeah, I'm getting the itch and I blame you.

Russ

[NukeMM]

Carl,
Yeah, I'm starting to get the itch but I'm still working out a conversion of a Dragon Gearing to a 60's Sumner and converting a Trumpy England to one of the up-gunned Buckleys, DE219. But yeah, I'm getting the itch and I blame you.

Russ

I'll gladly take the blame for that. That's part my intent behind starting this thread.

I'd like to see your work. Have you posted anything here or in the Gallery?

Since the ISW USS Mackinac kit is the only one out there, if you get that kit and want to make it a waterline model, I have a jig made up to cut these kits' hulls down to the waterline on my band saw.

I'll gladly do this for anyone, out there, by the way.

[NukeMM]

Well, I'm going to call the USS Oyster Bay finished; less the details that will be added when the rest of the diorama features are completed. (i.e. boat booms, jack and ensign staffs, anchor chain, more figures and of course the PT Boats)

[NukeMM]