Calling all USS Vestal AR-4 fans!

[ModelMonkey]

Hoping some of our resident subject matter experts can help identifying this winch aboard USS Vestal AR-4 and have better photos and/or dimensioned plans of one.

[NelstoneB]

Dear Folks,

I recently obtained drawings for the USS MEDUSA (AR-1) from the National Archives. A fellow modeler wants to build a 1/96 scale, wooden hull. I have created a wireframe for the hull and will eventually have a superstructure in CAD also. If anyone else has any interest, I will be happy to help out.

Sincerely,
Nelson Petteys

[Mike C]

...I recently obtained drawings for the USS MEDUSA (AR-1) from the National Archives...

You found drawings? I had to make my kit from microfilm and selected blowbacks and photos. What year will his model represent?

[NelstoneB]

Pardon me for not responding sooner. The drawings I obtained show her as-commissioned. There were some deckhouses added aft for berthing before Pearl Harbor. Navsource.org has pictures that would help.

Nelson

[harristotle]

Are there plans available anywhere for the Vestal? I'd like to do one up in CAD to print with my 1/1200 AZ.

[Jeff Sharp]

Judging by the lack of activity in this forum I have a feeling I won�t find an answer to the following question but it�s worth a shot.
I�m trying to figure out what decks on Vestal were wood covered on 12/7/41. I know that by this photo http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/25/09250430.jpg the forward deck had wood but what about the other decks? The photo of her stern that Steve posted above suggests that her stern did not have wood but that pic is also later in the war.
I�m also struggling with whether or not her wood decks were still unpainted at the time of attack. We know for sure that Nevada, Tennessee, Helena had painted decks as part of an experiment but nothing on any other ship has been discovered yet. I�m leaning towards unpainted for Vestal.
TIA

[Mike C]

Based on the plans, all the main weather decks were planked. The Bomb Damage Report even mentions the penetration of 3-1/2" of wood on the fo'c'sle.

Deck color is inconclusive. If you look closely at the picture in the following link, it almost looks like forward of the bridge is unpainted wood, the center is something a little darker and the stern could be painted metal. I have no idea what's right, but I lean toward faded MS.1 with unpainted decks. Maybe John Snyder has more info.

https://visitpearlharbor.org/wp-content ... -Photo.jpg

[Jeff Sharp]

If you look closely at the picture in the following link, it almost looks like forward of the bridge is unpainted wood, the center is something a little darker and the stern could be painted metal.

Initially I thought the same thing about her forward deck looking lighter than the rest of the ship but we have to keep in mind that she had an awning on the bow that extended back to the elevated gun tub. That explains THAT portion of the deck being light. Right after the gun tub, this picture captured the smoke from the bomb that just exploded on the bow (blue dot shows where bomb hit) so I think we are seeing smoke there, not the deck for the most part.

[Jeff Sharp]

Well, it took over a year but the answer to my decking question finally was answered by Vestal's plans. Only her upper deck and her Forecastle had wood decking. The deck between the forecastle and the upper deck did not have wood. The aft deck also did not have wood decking. This gives her an interesting look.

[crashTX]

Anyone direct me to where I could find plans for USS Vestal?

Modeling in 3D

[ModelMonkey]

Here you go:

https://www.model-monkey.com/ship-plans

Scroll way down, she's there.

Cheers!

[crashTX]

Awesome Awesome!! Thank you!!!