1/72 scale USS California CGN-36

[Ticonderoga]

Hi Bruce,

your skills keep getting better and better, well done mate, she looks awesome. Keep up the good work.

Andrew

[HvyCgn9]

Hi Bruce,

your skills keep getting better and better, well done mate, she looks awesome. Keep up the good work.

Andrew

Thanks Andrew,

I have been very busy since the last set of pix. Have fully assembled the pieces that make up the main sections of the aft superstructure, which required making up some internal bracing to prevent sagging when removing the SS for transport and access. (I will use the methods of bracing California's SS when rebuild the midships section on USS Long Beach). Now I need to finish the bridge interior and paint some crew figures for the bridge.

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Got some work done last Monday and Tuesday on reinforcing the superstructure sections and got the aft section assembled into a single unit and was planning some more work when I got shanghaied by my old company for a few days work........in Perth!! Spent Wednesday on planes (Adelaide to Perth via Melbourne 3600km rd trip!!....the Adelaide to Perth flight was full!) Drove around Perth on Wednesday for 11hours finishing the job (RF Testing for an upcoming 4G mobile network upgrade) at 4.30 pm just in time to be unable to catch the 4.55 flight back to Adelaide! Which proved handy as I was able to cruise up a highway and catch up with TF72 clubmate Rob Ritchee and talk ships!!!

Here are a some pix of current progress.....if the temp in the shed drops below 35 I might get out there and do some more

Cheers Bruce

[Ticonderoga]

Very nice work Bruce.

Don't envy your trip to Perth and back...... Lot's of that to come for me over the next couple of months. My company has just landed two Port Vessel Tracking system projects in the far west.....


Andrew

[Capit�o Norbert]

Hello Bruce
the works on styrene are really very well made - i like to see

[HvyCgn9]

Hello Bruce
the works on styrene are really very well made - i like to see

Thanks Mate

Its great to build something and see it come together as more detail goes on.

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Here are some pix from Todays TF72 Oz Day run, I had CGN36 along for some stability testing with her superstructure and masts on and she was very well behaved even in the slightly gusty winds after lunchtime. A little more ballast fore N aft should bring her a bit deeper on her bootline and make her a bit stiffer in stronger winds.

Need to make up some battery trays so the buggas don't keep shifting around too!!

here are some pix...

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

and a couple more of her at Full speed....

Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

Mucked about on the weekend and test fitted the SPS48 and its geared motor in the fwd mast.

Bruce

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Bruce looking good , By the way Paul is well advanced with his model of the Columbus .
Dave Wooley

[HvyCgn9]

Hi Bruce looking good , By the way Paul is well advanced with his model of the Columbus .
Dave Wooley

G'day Dave,
I saw a pic of her in a recent MB issue! Looking very sweet. Also in another issue I saw a small floating dock a fellow had built I would be very interested in seeing more on the arrangement of pumps and electrickery in it!! I was thinking of doing something similar..... But somewhat wider and longer!!

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

On Sunday 24th Feb' took CGN36 & CGN9 to our TF72 club run, managed to squeeze both models into my van with some creative packing! Gave USS California a good run against my mates Kidd class DDG USS Scott DDG995 for a speed comparison check! She is quicker than USS Scott but a still slower than USS Long Beach!!

No progress of late it has been too hot out in the workshop....

Cheers Bruce

[DrPR]

Bruce,

There has been some discusion on the forum about the expansion of materials when heated. 38C (100F) is pretty hot and the darker gray deck must have been a lot hotter!

Plastics have relatively large coefficients of thermal expansion, about double that of aluminum and much larger than wood. I once calculated that a 1:72 aircraft carrier deck made of plastics might elongate as much as 5 mm (1/4 inch) in the sun! Others have reported similar warping problems for plastics in direct sunlight. Of course, the warping happens when the plastic deck expands more rapidly that the supporting hull (which is lighter colored, not exposed as directly to the sun, and is water cooled).

If you decide to try to remedy this problem please keep us informed, because this is a problem all large scale RC modelers should be aware of and any solution you find will be of interest.

Phil

[HvyCgn9]

G'day Phil,

Yeah the flight deck is attached by 4 screws and expansion causes it to bow up in middle....When I get around to some aft end rebuilding the removable deck will be replaced with a layer or 3 of glass matte then sanded smooth to eliminate the problem one of the lads up in Canberra has a model of the Italian light carrier Garabaldi which has several removable flight deck sections these distort significantly in hot weather!!

Cheers Bruce

[sandy]

Hi Bruce looking good , By the way Paul is well advanced with his model of the Columbus .
Dave Wooley

G'day Dave,
I saw a pic of her in a recent MB issue! Looking very sweet. Also in another issue I saw a small floating dock a fellow had built I would be very interested in seeing more on the arrangement of pumps and electrickery in it!! I was thinking of doing something similar..... But somewhat wider and longer!!

Cheers Bruce

Hi Bruce,

John is rebuilding his floating dock with some improvements. Hopefully it will be ready by the NWW in July. I will try and get some detailed photos.

Both cruisers are looking great.

All the best
Sandy

[HvyCgn9]

Thx Sandy,

Not much progress at the moment, too damn hot lately! out in the workshop it is 36 deg C and 45%humidity for the last 4 days and just plain hot before that! Been doin a little aircraft construction with the A/C cranked up!

Here's my latest Chopper...

Cheers Bruce

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Bruce talking of heat or the lack of it we in the UK has been experiencing our usual cold period which also has issues for building and painting. I heat the workshop but avoid airbrushing and working with GRP resin until the spring temperatures start to rise then I can get out of doors but then we have the spring rain to contend with, you really can't win. Oh for good measure even in the UK summer temperatures can make working in the workshop intolerable. Great shots of your California .
Dave Wooley

[Ticonderoga]

G'day Bruce,

Looking good as always, pity about the buckling issue, but I am sure you will get it beaten. Varyag has all wooden decks, but she has not been tested on a hot day yet..........

I can vouch for Dave's comment on the weather over here, 5 degrees and raining, ugh

Andrew

[HvyCgn9]

G'day Bruce,

Looking good as always, pity about the buckling issue, but I am sure you will get it beaten. Varyag has all wooden decks, but she has not been tested on a hot day yet..........

I can vouch for Dave's comment on the weather over here, 5 degrees and raining, ugh

Andrew

Wood decks are fine mate!! My flight deck is 2mm Styrene over top of Ply! (It will all get sorted during LB's post Wagga refit)

Cheers Bruce

[HvyCgn9]

I was searching the Hannants website in the UK for a aircraft detailing kit when I came across a Photo etch brass barrel kit ($7.40ea) for the M61 Vulcan cannon used in US fighter aircraft and in the mk15 CIWS....So I ordered a couple for Cali... they are incredibly hard to assembly (especially with my fat fingers...) So I borrowed a desk mounted Magnifier and managed to ass...emble one. Its not perfect but after 3 an half hours I no longer cared. If they went together easier I would have upgrade CGN9's units later, but I might try a different idea! I am going to make up the barrel stabilizing brackets found on Block 1B CIWS once I pick up some evergreen in the right size!!

Cheers Bruce

PS Built the second barrel set tonight.....what a PITA!! They are still hard to build even with a magnifier, tweezers and a bucket load of patience! But they do look better!! I am investigating an alternate NON PE solution!!