Plans for merchant ships and merchant ship conversions

That is my primary source, and thanks for putting the addie up. Another good source is Floating Drydock, where I got the CVE drawings I'm using.

The Smithsonian drawings are configuration drawings and generally are at 1/192, or 1/16" = 1' -0". They also are not detailed enough for the scratch builder as they don't have all of the station drawings, but they sure fit the bill for kit bashing the Revell flat bottomed kits.

My photo source of choice is

http://www.usmaritimecommission.de/

I've gotten lost in there for days.

Well Bondo you've got me scratching my head. The MARAD collection has detailed drawings for most of the ships. For instance for the Haskell class APAs there are 22 drawings. They vary in scale from 1/16" - General Arrangement, to 3" for the propeller. For our purposes the best are the Deck Plans drawn at 1/8", the Rigging Plans drawn at 1/4" and the Lines Plan drawn at 1/4" The Lines Plan has sections taken at both frames and stations. I'm not sure what more you could ask for. You could build the full size ship from these drawings. In fact my daughter, who is a naval architect, used these drawings to take apart an APA in Baltimore a couple of years ago.

Unfortunately the collection only contains plans for commercial ships that were adapted to military purposes. I suppose the Navy still considers some of their design to be state secrets.

BTW the usmaritimecommission site looks interesting although I haven't had a chance to really look at it.

Don't scratch too hard. I hadn't seen those line drawings etc. sounds like the real deal. What's your current project? I'm a little stalled on the CVE because of other projects, but I'd like to get back to it.

The USMC site is a good one, once you figure out how to get around in it. I don't know of any one best way, but generally I start by shipyard; it seems to be the most forgiving search window, and with only a handful of yards to choose from brings up nice long lists of ships PDQ.

Well Bondoman this may come as a surprise.

My current project is rebuilding a 1942 Ford wood bodied station wagon. Sitting and waiting for that to get done is a 2 3/8" scale live steam locomotive entirely scratch built. It's nine feet long, about 18" wide and 2 feet high and about 80% complete. Just needs some piping and odds and ends before we raise steam.

Years ago I built the Montrose kit right out of the box but was never happy with the modified hull. So I bought another kit and put it on the shelf intending to do it right this time. This winter I sat down and redrew on the computer the lines plan and scaled it down to the size of the Revell hull. The hull is done and I am slowly adding the superstructure when I have a half hour to kill. I found the fine build web site and have been enjoying the comments made by others and adding my own when I can. Don't think I'll ever become a dedicated plastic modeller though.

I'm an old model railroader and current railfan. What is your locomotive model?

Bondoman

My loco is a Sandy River & Rangely Lakes 2 foot gauge 2-6-2 #24 being built to run on 4 3/4" track.

Hello,AMPHIB.I do have to say you have stirred a pot here.I found the best way to do ships based on available model hulls is as easy as going to the closest port with your camera and click away.I have seen in my years as a REAL tanker skipper so many oddball conversions to hulls it would take your breath away!. The GREEK and ITALIANS as well as some others were very into this for years.The reason.Well, say you wanted a reasonably cheap basis for an odd flag cargoliner or just small liner?? Where else but the U.S. and the sales of hulls(bottoms,in the trade) are helped along by reasonably well cared for mothball ships.USUALLY, they can be made safe and operational in their new configuration than a NEW keel up build.This means A LOT CHEAPER THAN NEWBUILDS!!! The OIL SPILL command boats I am familiar with started as anchor handling vessels that never saw an oil rig anchor on their decks!! that is the best modern example I can make. Then  there is a container ship company that goes to ALASKAN ports and those first vessels were modified from C-3s and newer marad hulls! that,s it for my input .catchya later   tankerbuilder