USS Spruance 1/200th

[barry]

Hi All

Butterfly time again I keep getting bogged down on the last difficult bits on Norfolk (the sonar) so I thought I would play with this while my brain and hands catch up. Also I hate trying to remember which file goes with which I'm not very organised

@Jim

As you requested old friend hope it works



about a quarter of one anyway.

 

[barry]

Waterline version

Looks a bit more purposeful with some hull sides I think. This time I tried a different way of designing the hull I drew the formers with as many points as necessary to give a reasonable curved line and then let the hull sides take care of themselves it seemed at lot faster method. The deck houses are all made up of "primatives" even better

 

[eibwarrior]

Barry,

Another project? Already... Wow, you're like a machine.

The Spruance is a nice subject. I can't wait to see what you do with her. Don't forget the Norfolk... You know two projects at once is not healthy.

 

[barry]

projects

Hi Elb

It's only because my fingers are having rolling and folding problems at the moment. Having to sort out all the scruffy filing on Norfolk. Wish I could organise myself better.

regards

barry

 

[barry]

Spruance masts

Not a pretty picture but it's easier to do the lattice in Photoshop, a bit more on Spruance

 

[Jim Krauzlis]

Wot Ho, bazzer!

You are really moving along briskly on this design, mate.

She looks great...I gather you are using a solid structure for the foreward and after masting/lattice, which is an interesting and insightful technique.

I wonder, just looking at the plans I have of Spruance, whether the after mast should have a bit more angle to her shape than what appears in the photo. The foreward surface seems vertical, but the after part seems to have more of a slant to it, and is wider at the after section than the foreward part.

The after section also seems to have a platform with support beams, which I did not see in the 3D pic...I do appreciate, of course, you are just starting out and such details will be added as you go along, but I figured I would just mention it so you could tell I was really paying close attention to this thread.:grin:

Keep at it, mate, she's looking brilliant!

Cheers!
Jim

 

[barry]

Aft mast

Hi all

Yep Jim you are right I deleted the wrong bit, that is just a square dammit never mind a few quick pulls on a primitive should work. Luckily the platforms up there look right up there still. It does indeed get wider aft.

regards

 

[barry]

Spruance ready to unroll

Hi All

More or less ready to unroll and then the real fun will start.

Jim I think that puts us right on the aft mast. Do you by chance have any info on the boats used on these ships. If anybody knows of any close up shots of any part of the ship I need some more.





barry

 

[eibwarrior]

Hello Barry,

Looks like you're just about ready to move from virtual reality to reality...

Have you tried www.navsource.org?

Here's a shot of a 26-foot motor whaleboat being lowered over the side of Spruance in 1975.

 

[Jim Krauzlis]

Wotcher, bazzer!

Indeed, she is looking better and better with each update.

You want some links to photos and info...well, here are a few...:grin:

http://united-states-navy.com/dd/dd963.htm

http://united-states-navy.com/dd/dd963gallery.htm

http://www.navysite.de/dd/dd963class.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/dd-963.htm

And from that last site, you can find more photos:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/dd-963-pics.htm

That should keep you busy a while, huh?

As you already know, the fore and aft masts are lattice on the upper portions for the most part, and I assume you have it solid for the time being to get the correct shape...I also know that you are going to add those sensor platforms later as well. Must be my eyes, but the upper photo seems to show a squarish front to both the fore and after masts; I think it is more of a triangular shape when viewed from above, just a little surface caused by the two forward support legs on each mast, with the after part wider and with a bit of a rake from top to bottom to the after support legs. Since my decribing it is not too good, please take a look at these photos:

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/dd-985-cushing-unrep-01.jpg
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/dd-965-kinkaid_1.jpg
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/dd-985-cushing-01.jpg
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/dd-963-shippic.jpg
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/dd-997_02.jpg
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/dd-989-image1.jpg

They are the enlarged photos from the prior webpage I mentioned...maybe this schematic shows what I am trying to describe best:
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/images/ddg-963-ship-line.gif

Hope this helps, mate.

Keep at her, she is coming along superbly!

Cheers!
Jim

 

[barry]

Masts

Thanks Jim there are couple of really good ones there that I had not found.

The picture I have attached is a bit of an optical illusion somewhere Spruance seems to have got several feet longer on the bow. I am pretty sure the later vessels had a longer bow but did Spruance get a nose job done.

Just as an aside there is little point in putting in the individual crossbeams and uprights on a card model drawing as they will be drawn onto the resulting full face as in the current design. The interior of the lattice is beginning to look quite complicated from the pics you supplied, which leads to the question how far do you go with it. I also note that the hanger & associated decks seem to vary from ship to ship. The RN Type 23's also vary in detail with extra platforms etc.

You could of course build the whole fleet.

So while I am on the scrounge has anybody got the colour swatches for USN ships. Also any plans or pics of the ships boats for this class.




Top Starboard view genergenerated by Metasequioa

Middle Jims Spruance

Bottom Metsequoia overlay of the current plan being used

regards

 

[Jim Krauzlis]

Wotcher, bazzer!

It seems to my bad eyes that if you back up the lower overlay a tad to line up evenly, the bow of both seem to line up just right, actually. The top 3D depiction would seem to be at a slightly smaller scale, using my Mk1 type eyeball measuring device. If the top one is put to the same scale I would be surprised if it didn't line up just right as well...the only question being whether the waterlines on all three are identical for comparison's sake.

I hear what you say about the lattice details, and that is exactly what I figured you were about; that's a texture added after the parts are unfolded, much like any lights along the bridge deck, hatches and entrance ways, etc.

As to colors, take a look at these web pages with color references and charts:
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_us.htm
http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_fs.htm

Hopefully they will give you some ideas about the color schemes in use.

I'll have to look into the ship's boats a little more, but hopefully some of the photos will give you some assistance.

Looking forward to more, mate!

Cheers!
Jim

 

[barry]

scaling

Hi Jim

Couldn't resist seeing how good your eyes are mate......not bad actually. I scaled the upper metso and overlaid it on the middle pic you can see the result.

Thanks for the swatches !!!



best regards

 

[Jim Krauzlis]

They don't call me squinty for nuthin!:grin:

Some interesting things come out of the overlay you did...
I noticed the forward house has a slight rake, which I didn't notice from the photos...and probably is not as pronounced in the plans, but looking at the overlay, there is, indeed, a slight rake, rather than a straight, plumb, front.

The after gun seems to be located a bit further aft in that schematic than what the plans...and your design...show. I would go with the plans over the schematic on this...but check out the photos to be sure. Look at this overhead view:
http://united-states-navy.com/dd/dd963_4.jpg
I think the plans are more accurate than the schematic.

And take a look at the forward edge of the foremast...it is apparently more square than I originally thought...whereas you can see the after rake is more extreme on the after mast...and not as wide going fore and aft. The lighter areas of your overlay extend a bit beyond the schematic shows in the front, but the lower end of the after mast ends further aft than your overlay.

A very interesting technique to check the lines, shapes and arrangements, eh? Good one, mate!

Glad the color swatches are helpful...I had a bit of trouble figuring out exactly what colors relate to what part of the ship, but perhaps the photos show the different shades between the sides and the top sides, particularly in the photo taken from above.

Whew, this is a lot of work, isn't it?:grin: My admiration for what you and other designers do to make these models is always increasing, that's for sure.

Cheers!

Jim

 

[barry]

masts

Here we go then squinty does that look more like right old mate.

regards

bazzer

 

[Jim Krauzlis]

Wotcher, bazzer!

Yeah, that looks spot on, mate.

Did you notice what I thought I saw about the forward face of the bridge house...how it seems to have an ever so slight rake? I hadn't noticed it before you super-imposed the images...I always assumed it was plumb, not slanted...just want to be sure it's not my old eyes playing tricks on me.:grin:

Super job, mate, and look forward to seeing more.

Cheers!
Jim

 

[barry]

Bridge front

Hi Jim

I think the bridge windows angle inwards the same as Norfolk and the lower bridge front angles back to meet them. Looks logical anyway and that part of the plans is a bit smudged. See what you think, it is a very slight angle probably gives a scale foot of lean back.

regards

 

[barry]

LAMPS heli

Hi All

Does this look anything like the back end of an SH 60B LAMPSplease

regards

 

[rickstef]

yes it does barry

looks good

Rick

 

[barry]

heli

Thanks Rick it just looked weird on the 3 view

regards

barry