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

[JIM BAUMANN]

Excellent and determined work!

As you say--there is just SO much ' stuff' on a BB....


JIM B

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Bill Now that crane is a work of art. I guess this model could be the best yet from the Waldorf ship yard . I like the idea of using existing part such as those davits and mushroom vents , as they say Bill waste not want not !
Dave Wooley

[Bill Waldorf]

Hi Bill Now that crane is a work of art. I guess this model could be the best yet from the Waldorf ship yard . I like the idea of using existing part such as those davits and mushroom vents , as they say Bill waste not want not !
Dave Wooley

I'm a packrat when it comes to saving parts. Got lots of them. Never throw anything away!!! You never know when you'll need it.................

[Jefgte]

Happy to see Bill 's Shipyards in progress

Always nice & clean work


Jef

[Chris E.]

Never throw anything away!!! You never know when you'll need it.................

That has been my battle cry since I was about six! I've held on to seemingly worthless bits and used them several years later... Used to drive my Mom nuts... It still does and I'm 36 and live on my own...

Looking great, Bill! Looking good!

[J. Soca]

SImply amazing i gotta give it to you on the crane Bill it looks real well done!!


Jose

[tweety777]

Looks really great!!!!!!!!
I'm going to follow this thread as well!

Greetings Josse

[Bill Waldorf]

Anybody ready for an update?? Here's a sneak pic of what I've been up to...... More to come soon. Stay tuned!! Trying to get as far as the Nav. Bridge before I do a full posting. Perhaps the photo will spark an interest...Hee,Hee......Just kidding Seriously, lot's of stuff on a BB. Hundreds of small details. I have only scratched the surface. It is rather complicated, but I am having fun!! Just a big puzzle if you will. Couple more days, I'll be back.............

[navydavesof]

Anybody ready for an update?? Here's a sneak pic of what I've been up to...... More to come soon. Stay tuned!! Trying to get as far as the Nav. Bridge before I do a full posting. Perhaps the photo will spark an interest...Hee,Hee......Just kidding Seriously, lot's of stuff on a BB. Hundreds of small details. I have only scratched the surface. It is rather complicated, but I am having fun!! Just a big puzzle if you will. Couple more days, I'll be back............. :wave_1

Wow, Bill, you're not kidding when you say there's a lot of $#!t on a battleship. That baby is loaded heavy.

Do you photo etch your own pieces as well or do you individially assemble them, such as the arms on the cranes and the radar surfaces?

How do you cut circular pieces like the bases to the 40mm gun tubes? I can tell a compass is involved, but do you simply put a blade on the end where the lead usually goes or do you lay the lines down with marker or lead and then cut with an exacto?

Thanks, Bill! I cannot wait to see more.

[Bill Waldorf]

Most of the photo-etch is premade, have not got into doing my own as of yet. The gun tub bases are .040 styrene and are laid out on the material with a compass and then cut out with an exacto knife. After which they are sanded to true up the circles. The sides are then added. HTH.....

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Bill Good to see more of your Indiana build . I know what you mean about one big puzzle.
Dave Wooley

[J. Soca]

That's mouth watering Bill.. keep up the awesome work



Jose

[Sylvain Auger]

Bill, that's one helluva sneak peak you gave us The Indiana is coming along beautifully! I think I prefer seeing the "in-progress" pics better than the ones displaying the finished model. There is a kind of charm in seeing unpainted PE parts and the various other parts left in their natural state.

Cheers

Sylvain

[Bill Waldorf]

Bill, that's one helluva sneak peak you gave us The Indiana is coming along beautifully! I think I prefer seeing the "in-progress" pics better than the ones displaying the finished model. There is a kind of charm in seeing unpainted PE parts and the various other parts left in their natural state.

Cheers

Sylvain

Yes, My intention here is to show the various materials used to construct this ship. It is a varied mix of P/E, cast metal, cast resin, vac-formed parts and scratchbuilt items. Along with alot of styrene! I feel this is a better approach to show how these various materials are used, rather than showing a big superstructure in dark grey primer. Finish paint will be a challenge, to say the least. Big update coming soon.......Stay tuned!

[Reid]

oh boy... i have been drooling all over the preview pic u posted... can't wait!!!

[Bill Waldorf]

Hello again all Well, I have finally made some more headway on the superstructure. It is turning out to be more involved than I had anticipated!! I am as far as the Navigation bridge. I have delayed this posting as I just can't put this thing down!! I have spent many hours to get this far, and still lot's of details to do. They sure crammed alot of stuff on these ships. So without further delay......Let's take a look........

I'll start with the stb. side. I have finished the base of the conning tower, and added the very top of it. The level just behind it is the house top. There will be a deck on top of this, then the funnel starts.

A close up of the top of the conning tower and the enclosed bridge. Bridge was not enclosed until 1945. I have not added the glazing to the window openings as yet.

Just aft of the conning tower. Note the alidade and the 24" searchlight on the Flag bridge. Cast metal parts.

A little farther along here. Note the extensive use of P/E. Note the tube supporting the small platform. This is the stb. side radar room. One on port side too, same location. A 5" gun director then goes atop that, after the house top deck is installed. This also a location for one of the 5" twin turrents.

A view of the crane and the aft 16" gun director.

Aft view looking fwd.

A 3/4 view here, looking aft. Note the armor belt.

I'll move down the port side now. Again, the conning tower and enclosed bridge area.

Port side flag bridge here. Note the captain's chair.

A little farther down here. Note the recessed opening between the two 5" twin turrent locations. The practice loader machine will go in the opening.

3/4 view here, looking aft.

Another 3/4 view, this time looking fwd.

Portside again showing the armor belt.

Some close ups of the conning station here. Note the details on top. Periscopes and spotting glasses. Small part on the front is a light. The little "ears" on either side are locations for whip antennas.

A rear view here. Note the scuttle hatch.

Good shot of the conning tower base. Note the bracing I have added beneath the Nav. bridge. There are diagonal braces that go here also, not added yet.

Another view here, this time with one of the main turrents in place.

On to the gun directors. Here is the Mk 37 director with the MK 12 radar antenna. A Mk 22 and a Mk 12 will be added to this. There are four of these directors, one fwd., one aft, and one port and stb. From JR Haynes of the UK.

Heres the rear of the Mk 37.

Here's the Mk 38 main battery director with the Mk 8 fire control radar. Again, from JR Haynes.

Rear view of the Mk 38.

One of the cable, or hawser reels. Brass p/e from Tom's.

A larger reel here, this time cast metal.

Last but not least, one of 10 twin 5" gun turrents. Lots more to add to these, but you get the idea.

Well, there you have it!! Things are coming along but it is a slow process. Next I'll add the funnel and the forward citadel, two more involved shapes. Things will really take shape then. Stay tuned..................More to come!! I continue on!

[russclark]

hot darn,that is just too stunning for words,simply excellent styrene work.

[GTDEATH13]

Another masterpiece coming together... Simply amazing...

I wish I had the space to start building in this scale...

P.S. I had the impression that both sides were identical... But have not done my research yet, although I have two Trumpy 1/350 kits to build...

[Bill Waldorf]

Another masterpiece coming together... Simply amazing...

I wish I had the space to start building in this scale...

P.S. I had the impression that both sides were identical... But have not done my research yet, although I have two Trumpy 1/350 kits to build...

According to my research, both sides are not indentical, at least in 1945 timeframe...........Thanks for the post.

[Dave Wooley]

Hi Bill what a wonderfull piece of craftsmanship .The detail is top draw, sharp and very neat and that's befor painting!
Dave Wooley