I started with the sheet plastic to determine the new metal deck, cut two panels and taped them into place.  Next I found something to use for this ship's different engine and cut the stern off.  I fetted the engine housing in and have started to modify the back deck section to accomidate it.  I cut off some of the rudder parts  that aren't needed and was starting to do some more of this when my faithful Dreme died.  Hoping this is not a sign of a oncomming curse, I went to harbour freight and bought a new generis drill that takes al the same collets and other necessary items I have at hand.  I've started to fit the top of the engine housing to the raised rear section of the hanger deck. We'll see how this works out.

Fortunately I didn't spend much on this kit.  For about 30.00 I got a complete kit, with a motor, and another box with a lot of left over parts.  I sometimes wonder what happened to the rest of the kit since the main turrets, superstructure, hull, and deck are gone.  I have plenty of spare parts to work with considering the Akagi's 37 sets of sprue left several full sets left over from the battlecruiser version.  Add that to the large amount of things I have collected over the years from kits and just by noticing things in packaging and so on, I'll most likely find what I need for this project.

Even though the jeeps aren't finished yet I decided to try a few early starting arear.  I just cut a new forward deck and fitted it to the hull, the center section is next.  I'm just taping things into place for now because I may have to do some modifiations to the bow.  Even though it won't have the main gun of the battleship, I was thinging about some sort of sensor array or a very enengy cannon under the deck level or lined up on the forwqard deck nd having it fire through the round opening in the bow plates, then have the plating form a cover over most of the weapon and the spray shield in front of the first turret would be modified to shield a small turret on each side that would have a limited field of fire as they shot through the shield or also possibly above it.

I need to get some film and document this.

ikar01

flat deck but in line with the restof the hull and maybe launching the fighters out the sides through the gap on each side just under the main deck.

Which would be cool.

Hmm, it's space, you are not committed to any fixed up/down, left/right at all.  You could sweep the flying off surfaces from the stern up and over to be flat against the hull sides (which would be one Disney of a catapault launch).

Oh, and I'm still picturing landing struts on Yamato--something B-52ish with, say, three big (like 2cm square) centerline struts and a pair or two of skinny outriggers.

Oh, and a Forbidden Planet drop-down telescopic circular elevator or two to reach the surface.

Yeah, I've got too many ideas and only 2¢ to spend

the Baron

Do you mean the proposed plan for the Kentucky?

Not sure that got much beyond jawing about.

I do remember seeing some middling detailed drawings for converting Iowas by pulling the aft turret and giving them an Ise flight deck for Harriers.  As I remember, the structural changes to remove the after barbette to make hangar space were just too complicated (and no one really wanted to Ise any of the Iowas).

PFJN

Maybe something like this? Hook Add Quote to your Post

Exactly like, actually.

I remember the concept being advanced that freighters could have all-weather VTOL jets for protection at sea during wartime using a fly-up-and-grab system.

Nothing came of it.

In space, would be even easier to do, as the Shuttle and ISS arms have demonstrated.

I have never hear dof the Kentucky proposal.  I have seen some drawings of the three different conversions suggested for the Iowa class and am leaning toward something with the flat deck but in line with the restof the hull and maybe launching the fighters out the sides through the gap on each side just under the main deck.

At first when I heard of the arm idea I thought one arm that might rotate over the top half of the hull.  With the two arm concept you could have them retract and lay against the hull when not needed. This should be considered.  I just don't want them to stand out too much until they are needed.

Where can I get some in scale fighters and/or utility craft that look lith they belong with the story line??

ikar01

...Since the I.J.N. had a tendency to convert various warchips into hybrids that were part carrier, and the U.S. considered doing this to a Iowa class ship...

Do you mean the proposed plan for the Kentucky?  Have you ever seen any drawings from that proposal?  I just learned about that idea last week, and I thought it might be fun to try with one of my 1/1200 Iowa kits.  But I haven't yet found any drawings, or any more details about what the converted ship would look like.  I suspect, given where construction was on the Kentucky at the time, that she would have looked like an Essex, basically a conversion like the Lexingtons were.  But if there are any drawings anywhere, it'd be interesting to see them.

CapnMac82

..

Hmm, just a thought--in space you don't much need a flight deck for flying and landing.  A simple articulated arm to "catch" (or put overboard to launch) would suffice.  So, the flat deck surface would be more for 'parking' as it were. 

Hi,

Maybe something like this?

Hey ! 

 You have your prescription . Now start the therapy ! Build It ! T.B.

I'm still working up possible drwings for this and probably will start soon after I finish a couple M-151 Air Force Security Police jeeps for our club's Vietnam display at this years Modelpaloosa contest in September.

The retriever arm is not something I had considered, it could be used for emergency recoveries.  Deffinately will think about that one.  I was planning on a in progress build, but it might take some time.  I'll keep you posted.

littletimmy

there is NO cure.

Like Tim said, no cure. Break out the plastic and get started. If you do it as a W.I.P., we'll be watching. 

Color me intrigued.
Something cool about replacing the main arament with clear rods in metal tubing, ramp up to around 50cm in scale . . .
Rail guns with square tubes for secondaries . . .
Nifty multiple rocket launchers . . .
Yeah, would be cool.

Hmmm, wondering, now, which would be more work:  1/350 Space Fighters; or 1/350 Mecha?  Or, just go full Gundam?

Hmm, just a thought--in space you don't much need a flight deck for flying and landing.  A simple articulated arm to "catch" (or put overboard to launch) would suffice.  So, the flat deck surface would be more for 'parking' as it were.

So basically Space Hybrid Ise???

Sounds like a cool idea to me! Please post photos or her when done. Actually in progress ones would be cool too!

They called me crazy at the institute.

You don't think I'm crazy......do you?

Crazy would be taking the model of the Akagi and doing the same thing....Nah.  Besides there's always the Bismark.

jsut settelin' in for a good time ahead.

Hi,

That sound like it could make for a fun build.  And since you aren't trying to replicate a specific vessel it can give you alot of freedom in trying different things.

Pat

You have a "Sickness"..... there is NO cure.

I'm afraid your going to have to build it.....

( it's your only hope of surviving the deadly virus known as "Plasticserosis")

I will "prescribe" you a year's supply of Gluemotoron pill's.