Jessie The Jeep Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 (edited) Here's an interesting little work project I've got on at present. I've been commissioned to build a large N scale railway set during World War 2. Part of the layout will be a quayside with a Destroyer in dry dock and a Liberty Ship unloading goods. Since no suitable Liberty ship kits were available, I decided to kit bash the Revell 1/144 scale Fletcher class Destroyer. The customer was happy so long as it looked the part, it didn't need to be millimetre accurate. Using the kit allowed me to use the hull, props, anchors, guns, railings and funnel, saving me a huge amount of time by not having to scratch build them. I've also added a 'Hurricat' on the bow for added interest, using the Sweet Hurricane kit. My thread title says it was all done in two easy steps. They were:- Leave off everything that wasn't Liberty Ship shaped, and make all the bits that I needed to make it Liberty Ship shaped! Here's how it all began, with the Destroyer kit. Edited April 2, 2011 by Jessie The Jeep Thread Title Change to reflect ongoing content Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 16, 2011 Author Share Posted January 16, 2011 Since Destroyers are fairly narrow, the hull needed bulking out a bit, so a 1 1/4 inch strip was added along the centre line, and the bow and stern pulled in. The remaining triangle space was then filled with styrene. The sides of the ship were also raised in height by 3/4 of an inch. Most of the basic structure done. A couple of close up pictures of the Hurricat and launch ramp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 16, 2011 Author Share Posted January 16, 2011 Here's an interesting comparison picture, the converted ship together with the original Destroyer Hull from the next kit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chevpol Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 :wow::wow: that is nice! :clap::bow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 16, 2011 Author Share Posted January 16, 2011 Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
private mw Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 great work . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Outstanding work. Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morris c8 fat Posted January 16, 2011 Share Posted January 16, 2011 Looks Good well done David:cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joris Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 Great stuff indeed! Are there any liberty ships still running or have they all been made into razorblades? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pzkpfw-e Posted January 17, 2011 Share Posted January 17, 2011 SS John W Brown & Jeremiah O'Brien still exist as running "museum" ships. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_ship Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lssah2025 Posted January 18, 2011 Share Posted January 18, 2011 Very nice, I like to see modified kits... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 (edited) I've been around the SS Jeremiah O'Brien in SF, great experiance, the engine room was a wonder, just down the pier they have a WW2 US Sub that has been in a few movies, it is still floating so when you're inside and a boat goes past it rolls, that was much more atmospheric than the British WW2 Sub in Portsmouth (forget the name) on a concrete plinth that we visited a couple of years before. Excellent Ship by the way, it will be nice the see it in the diorama setting. Edited January 24, 2011 by ajmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diver99 Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 I've been around the SS Jeremiah O'Brien in SF, great experiance, the engine room was a wonder, just down the pier they have a WW2 US Sub that has been in a few movies, it is still floating so when you're inside and a boat goes past it rolls, that was much more atmospheric than the British WW2 Sub in Portsmouth (forget the name) on a concrete plinth that we visited a couple of years before. Excellent Ship by the way, it will be nice the see it in the diorama setting. Hi there, where is the US Sub, UK? I went aboard the U-Boat In Birkenhead before it was cut up, and three U-Boats in Germany. (HMS Alliance in Portsmouth). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajmac Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 The US sub is on the same pier as the Liberty ship in San Francisco. IIRC it can and does still move under it's own diesel power, possibly just in SF bay though. Also went around the USS Hornet which is or was back in 2000 in long term storage the deck was covered in tar and plywood, all the hatches were sealed shut and painted with the date they were sealed. Some areas had been opened up and you could go down on the hanger deck and see where the apollo guys stepped aboard back in 1969 when they were picked up. Well worth a visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sands Posted January 28, 2011 Share Posted January 28, 2011 (edited) excellent bit of kit bashing. my friend has one of those destroyers, bought when it was the old lindberg model, it is still unopened. wonder if he will sell me it. Edited January 28, 2011 by sands spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 Thanks. I'm well on with the Destroyer now that will go along with the Liberty Ship in the dockside scene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrettkitt Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 (edited) The US sub is on the same pier as the Liberty ship in San Francisco. IIRC it can and does still move under it's own diesel power, possibly just in SF bay though. Also went around the USS Hornet which is or was back in 2000 in long term storage the deck was covered in tar and plywood, all the hatches were sealed shut and painted with the date they were sealed. Some areas had been opened up and you could go down on the hanger deck and see where the apollo guys stepped aboard back in 1969 when they were picked up. Well worth a visit. One to visit in the future when I win the lottery or stop spending on military junk (the missus words). http://www.uss-hornet.org/ excellent bit of kit bashing.my friend has one of those destroyers, bought when it was the old lindberg model, it is still unopened. wonder if he will sell me it. I have one of those I do a bit put it back in the box for awhile when I've had enough and then bring it out again when I feel like it. I have a Corvette HMS Snowberry to build as well not started that yet though. Edited January 29, 2011 by ferrettkitt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ford 369 Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 really nice ,particularly like the worn finish with the rust stains rather than the factory fresh look Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 (edited) A few more recent pictures as the quayside scene comes together. Dry dock scene almost complete. Balloon defenses, just needing the tethering cables making. Edited March 19, 2011 by Jessie The Jeep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted March 19, 2011 Author Share Posted March 19, 2011 Some goods stored under railway wagon tarpaulins. A load of shipping crates made from small blocks or wood, wrapped with thin strips of masking tape for the bracing on the boxes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted March 19, 2011 Author Share Posted March 19, 2011 Crates in hold number 3 on the ship. A number of MV's stored and being collected from the dockside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted March 19, 2011 Author Share Posted March 19, 2011 A general view showing the scene filling up nicely now. Just a few more details, figures and water to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 I hope you have some Dodges in there ! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessie The Jeep Posted March 19, 2011 Author Share Posted March 19, 2011 None! All of these vehicles were bought second hand, relitively cheaply, so I didn't get any choice on the vehicles. Don't worry, there will be some Dodges on the airfield section of the layout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted March 19, 2011 Share Posted March 19, 2011 So I should think! Where do the small vehicles come from? Are they models or die cast? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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