1/350 USS Washington BB-56 (Trumpeter)
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by Roger Torgeson |
This is my attempt to convert the Trumpeter 1/350 USS North Carolina into the USS Washington during April 1944 after she had completed a overhaul and repair period at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. For a plastic kit this must surly rate as the most complex, irritating, and frustrating build I've ever undertaken. Working from a list of corrections that Ron Smith had generated I over a period of 6 months tried to made as many corrections, conversions, scratchbuilt parts and additions to the basic kit that I could Starting with the hull I corrected the contour of the stem, ends to the armor belt, outboard shaft shape, "V" struts, bilge keels, the boat booms were replaced and "Eyebrows" added to the bow. the main deck had all the cast on bits removed and replaced the hawse pipes were deepened with the raised lip added as well as the missing windless drums. The cast on anchor chain was removed and replaced and as necessary the locations for the 20mm were relocated.
The 01 deck was lowered by .060 inch, the four cast closed doors for the incline ladders to the 01 deck were opened with incline ladders added as well as the deck comings. the first 5" gun base ring on both sides (51 & 52 mounts?) were relocated 5/32" forward. New location holes for the 20mm were drilled and new gun shields added.
The Forward superstructure had the tower assembly corners rounded,
bridge shapes corrected and additional cabins and rooms added for Washington.
A new extension was added for the Admirals Bridge with a PE ladder. Steam
pipes to the ships whistle were added or corrected, 20mm mounts added to
the aft signal bridge. Both smoke stacks were scratchbuilt to correct the
shape, I had the advantage of having kept a funnel cap that I ruined years
ago when I built the Classic Warship North Carolina kit, this I used to
reverse engineer two new caps. The support structure/bracing under the
quad 40mm mounts was added along with new splinter shields.
The aft superstructure was raised .060 inch, some deck shapes
were corrected to reflect Washington, bracing was added to a modified mast
and more 20mm guns relocated and a ships bell added. New bracing was added
for the main battery director base.
I replaced the main turrets with resin replacements and used
Tamiya Missouri rangefinders the blast bags were added from the spares
box. the height of the 40mm mount on turret #3 was raised and a new Mk
51 director and tub being added.
An extensive use of L'Arsenal, WEM and Tamiya Missouri
parts were used with Gold Medal Models providing the PE. The ammunition
racks for the 40mm tubs came from both GMM and WEM and when necessary new
gun tubs were made up or kit parts altered so they would except the PE
racks.
I owe a big thank you to Ron Smith and Tracy White for answering
numerous question and to all the guys who posted comments and photos on
the Calling
all Ship Fans, North Carolina and Washington. The willing exchange
of knowledgeable information makes this site "The Best". Photos were taken
by Patti Walden who is the official shutter bug for my model Group.
