Calling all South Dakota-class (BB-57) fans!

[MatthewB]

I have plans for the 1944/45 South Dakota.

But I think that The Floating Drydock has plans for the 44 Indiana or Massachusetts, but either the Mass or the SoDak would give some details that would be similar across ships (such as the tower lookout stations).

http://floatingdrydock.com/Bu.htm

MB

[mister me]

Yeah but Floating Drydock postal fees are far too expensive for foreign shipping : largely more than the price of one plan...

[Atma]

Does the big 5 had larger float plane's crane than the USS South Dakota class ? Trumpeter's kit in 1/700, the Big 5 have a larger crane and the USS South Dakota class smaller, is that a scale inaccuracy ?).
Thanks in advance

[MAJOR-B]

I came across the old Yankee Model Backdate kit for MA/AL. Question Is the kit really need to do her post 44. I grew up in the shadow of the MA and went to her numerous times as a child. Just would like to build her as they are now. One for me and one for my CC at home (She is from AL). Also which deck to use blue or teak?

[MatthewB]

Well....

As BB-59 is "Now" it has teak-decks, with the metal decks painted Deck-Blue.

But as she was in 1945, those decks would have been completely Deck-Blue.

MB

[rtheriaque]

Unless something has changed since my last visit, Big Mamie's steel decks are gray.

[pequa1]

Building the Trumpeter 1/350 USS Alabama with Alliance p/e. going with the 1942 config ( I think lol ) Is there a boat crane on the port side to the rear of the last dual 5inch mount ? Thanks !

[MatthewB]

Building the Trumpeter 1/350 USS Alabama with Alliance p/e. going with the 1942 config ( I think lol ) Is there a boat crane on the port side to the rear of the last dual 5inch mount ? Thanks !

When in 1942?

Because her shakedown cruise didn't start until December, 1942, and she had both Boat Cranes landed by that time.

She was outfitted with the cranes, but they were removed shortly afterwards.

I am trying to find my other South Dakota-class book, because the Warship Pictorial only shows the Alabama in July of 1942 (being fitted out - with the king posts for the cranes, but no cranes), and after Dec. 1942 (No cranes or king posts) during the shakedown.

It looks like she has quad-bofors and a couple of 20mm Oerlikons where the cranes would be on each side.

MB

[pequa1]

thanks Matthew, that's why I asked here, always an expert ! Tom's Modelworks included one crane in PE but every picture I could find had none. And you are correct, the crane would have been in the way of the quad 40 and even the 5inch mount. I guess they just used the aircraft crane. That said, is there any preferred placement of hose hangers from the P/E ?
I did find a picture of the USS Massachusetts. it has a boat crane on the starboard side, behind aft 5inch mount.

[MatthewB]

thanks Matthew, that's why I asked here, always an expert ! Tom's Modelworks included one crane in PE but every picture I could find had none. And you are correct, the crane would have been in the way of the quad 40 and even the 5inch mount. I guess they just used the aircraft crane. That said, is there any preferred placement of hose hangers from the P/E ?
I did find a picture of the USS Massachusetts. it has a boat crane on the starboard side, behind aft 5inch mount.

The Massachusetts kept one of her Boat Cranes (for a while, at least).

For the hose-hangars.... That is a good question, as I have not yet got to that part in the USS South Dakota I am building (as well as it being in 1/700 scale), and I have not yet started looking where Fire-hoses went.

I will look through some books, but I am betting one of the guys who regularly gets out to NARA will have more information.

MB

[Tracy White]

Definitely do the book route first. If we took on every question we'd never get any of our own research done.

That said, it's not a ton of help in this case, but I have South Dakota's 1946 Booklet of General Plans posted and the BOGPs generally have information that can be used to zero in on the hoses. The General Information sheet for a ship will list the number and location of fire plugs; and where there's a fire plug, there's a fire hose. In South Dakota's case, it only lists the number per deck. If you compare it to Arizona's 1941 BOGP you will note that they were typically more useful. But hopefully this will be of some use to someone in the future....

[Guest]

How different was the Alabama after her 1945 refit from 1942 which to my knowledge is when the trumpeter kit is supposed to be modeled after from the box.

[task force 58]

http://navsource.org/archives/01/060/016043a.jpg

How different was the Alabama post-1945 refit mainly this picture from September 1945 from the kits of her or Massachusetts in 1/350?

[MatthewB]

The only things that I have cataloged on the Alabama are:

� The Bridge structure being "squared-off" and enclosed from the open, rounded bridge of the 1942 Alabama.
� The platforms on the Pyramid Mast being shaped differently (especially the top one and the level corresponding with the "Striker's Bridge" on the Washington/North Carolina-Class). The top level was more "squared off" in 1942, and more rounded in 1945. And the searchlight platform on the Aft of Pyramid Mast is shaped differently.
��The Mainmast is removed from the pedestal and attached to the aft of the stack.
��More light AA guns (don't know where on the 'bama).

MB

[chizon76]

hello everyone

I try to designs uss alabama in scale 1:100. I would like to ask You about photos of underwater part of hull one of this battleship class. Maybe someone have sets of photos undewater hull from dry docking of uss massatchusets od drawing od shell expansion (shell plating).
thanks for help.

best regards

[Betelguese90]

hello, been a while since I have been on. recently got the Trumpeter 1/700 South Dakota and I noticed a big detail missing; the mast Yardarm is not present in the Trumpeter kits (have a Alabama as well and it was not present there either) curious on why such a prominent detail would be absent. But anyways, searched through the thread to no luck, but was is the best diameter and length of brass rod to use to craft the missing yardarm?

[MatthewB]

I have seen a couple of different solutions.

I am using a brass rod, personally.

But styrene also works.

MB

[Betelguese90]

I have seen a couple of different solutions.

I am using a brass rod, personally.

But styrene also works.

MB

settled on scratch building it from styrene.

Trumpeter seems to have goofed on another detail. Does anyone have any blueprints of USS South Dakota that shows the "supports" for the 40mm in the picture I added? When I say trumpeter goofed on this, they basically made that 40mm overhang unsupported and the flagship quarters that are supposed to be there, are not.

[MartinJQuinn]

Added a list of available SoDak class kits and gallery entries to the first post on Page 1.

[Betelguese90]

Progress on a 1/700 Trumpeter USS South Dakota I am currently working on. Used brass barrels, scratch built blast bags from putty, using small brass chain and Tom's photo etch sheets.