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USS Alaska CB-1 now building

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  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
USS Alaska CB-1 now building
Posted by Straycat1911 on Saturday, July 27, 2019 11:29 PM

I’m looking into doing a modernized Alaska with the Trumpeter 1/350 kit and I’m trying figure out what all the junk is on her decks fore and aft.

The gun tubs are obvious but there’s all these what look like buildings all over the place. Vents? Machine rooms? Obviously they had a purpose in WWII but whether they’d be needed in a modern version is the question. I’d like to have an idea before I start chopping stuff off.

And the cable reels are another question. No clue what they were for. I have Warship Pictorial for Alaska but it’s not much help in describing what all the stuff is. 

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, July 28, 2019 10:47 AM

Straycat1911

I’m looking into doing a modernized Alaska with the Trumpeter 1/350 kit and I’m trying figure out what all the junk is on her decks fore and aft.

The gun tubs are obvious but there’s all these what look like buildings all over the place. Vents? Machine rooms? Obviously they had a purpose in WWII but whether they’d be needed in a modern version is the question. I’d like to have an idea before I start chopping stuff off.

And the cable reels are another question. No clue what they were for. I have Warship Pictorial for Alaska but it’s not much help in describing what all the stuff is. 

 

Do you have a photo? Hard to picture what you are describing. Some could be ammo lockers for the smaller guns such as 20mm. 

 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Seattle, WA
Posted by Surface_Line on Sunday, July 28, 2019 8:56 PM

At the very least, there will be cable reels for mooring lines when the ship is underway.  Shoul be something like one forward, one aft and about five on each side.

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Sunday, July 28, 2019 10:44 PM

I’ve looked at a few photos. On the fore deck there are at least four big capstans and two smaller ones.

The big ones are covered in fitted canvas tarps and look like big soft cylinders. They seem to look that way on the model- Trumpeter may not have given them much thought.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    July 2014
Posted by modelcrazy on Sunday, July 28, 2019 11:13 PM

Some of the reels are for refueling or firefighting so they would probably remain. Most of the boxes on the deck would be, as Stik said, ammo lockers or other such storage conatiers. I'm thinking most of them can go along with the AA guns. You may want to add some 50's, CIWS, and it depending how modern you want to go and SSDS system, Sea-Sparrows and/or RIM-67/68 launchers for defence, RGM-84 Harpoon launchers, Cruse missles and depending on how ambitious you are, maybe a VLS somewhere.

sounds like a fun project.

Steve

Building a kit from your stash is like cutting a head off a Hydra, two more take it's place.

 

 

http://www.spamodeler.com/forum/

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Saturday, May 29, 2021 7:25 AM

modelcrazy

Some of the reels are for refueling or firefighting so they would probably remain. Most of the boxes on the deck would be, as Stik said, ammo lockers or other such storage conatiers. I'm thinking most of them can go along with the AA guns. You may want to add some 50's, CIWS, and it depending how modern you want to go and SSDS system, Sea-Sparrows and/or RIM-67/68 launchers for defence, RGM-84 Harpoon launchers, Cruse missles and depending on how ambitious you are, maybe a VLS somewhere.

sounds like a fun project.

 

Arise, dead post! Lol. I'd forgotten about this post with life going on.

When I get home today, I will get a bunch of shots of the pieces I'm looking at removing(if they aren't relevant to a modern Alaska.)

Modelcrazy, my initial thought is a modernized Iowa light; the open center section where the catapults are would be filled in with a missile deck mounting Tomahawk/Harpoon launchers as on Iowa but if there's enough room, I'd like to add a few more. (Can never have too many missiles, ya know!)

CIWS mounts I'm thinking to go on some of the existing 40mm spots or maybe where the fore and aft 5" mounts are but I like the 5"'s where they are so probably won't do that. 
On the stern, I'm looking at installing a helicopter pad but I need to stick a 1/350 chopper on there to see if there's enough room as is or if I'd need to scratch a larger landing area. 


  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Saturday, May 29, 2021 10:19 AM

As I am looking at doing a similar thing, I picked up a set of plans for research. Those little 'buildings' are clipping rooms; sort of like ready storage for the 20mm's and 40mm's. The cable reels are as others have said; mooring line stowage.

With removal of the aft clipping rooms and a few other modifications; vents, hatches, etc., there is space for a one spot helo deck with out much problem.

My version is considering a hybrid partial flightdeck, in either of two versions; one with a deck about 6'-8' above the existing deck and the other with a hanger bay below. but, in either case, there is lots to investigate before the start.

Check out the thread 'Ship Conversions / Modernizations' on page 2 of the 'General Modeling Discussions'.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Saturday, May 29, 2021 11:28 AM

HooYah Deep Sea

As I am looking at doing a similar thing, I picked up a set of plans for research. Thoes little 'buildings' are clipping rooms; sort of like ready storage for the 20mm's and 40mm's. The cable reels are as others have said; mooring line stowage.

With removal of the aft clipping rooms and a few other modifications; vents, hatches, etc., there is space for a one spot helo deck with out much problem.

My version is considering a hybrid partial flightdeck, in either of two versions; one with a deck about 6'-8' above the existing deck and the other with a hanger bay below. but, in either case, there is lots to investigate before the start.

Check out the thread 'Ship Conversions / Modernizations' on page 2 of the 'General Modeling Discussions'.

 

Thanks! I had a very strong suspicion those little buildings had to do with ammo storage given their close proximity to the guns. 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Saturday, May 29, 2021 4:27 PM

The cable reels serve many purposes.  One is to stow wire lines to need--so you need several sizes.  The other is to stow "fiber" line, also in several sizes.

All sorts of "needs" on warships.  Buoy lines for anchors, lifeline repairs, rigging for painting platforms over the side; every possible lashing ro hoist or underway replenishment rigging, too.  On capital ships, the rigging to plumb ammo down to magazines is mde up to order--dropping main battery ammo or powder charges can create Significant Emotional Events, and are thus avoided.

There will be lockers about the deck to stow items like shackles, eyes, shackle pins, tools, mousing lmarline and the like.  Some lockers will have tackle for hoists and the like, too.

And, there's a Division Officer who will have inventoried the lot and is responsible for it all, and have to keep up with all the LPO monitoring how the Deck Apes use (& dispose of) such gear.  The alos fall under the keen eyes of the Department Head, the XO, and the CO, all of whom might randomly stroll the decks and notice anything amiss.

Now, ventilators.

Generally, the propulsion plant stays the same.  It's controls & instruments might change, but, generally the basic thermodynamics do not change.  So the number and location of vents does not much change.  Deleting a vents also typically entails having to fill in the "hole" in the armored decking the vent passes through.  So, such things are generally kept in place.

Any excess in venting gets taken up for increased use as ventilation for crew quarters.

When a/c stowage hangers are displaced, it's usually to serve helo, instead, so the fuel bunker vents and filler are retained--only the machinery for catapaults is removed, typically.

Deck stuff typically remains deck stuff.

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Sunday, May 30, 2021 8:29 PM

 

CapnMac82
Now, ventilators. Generally, the propulsion plant stays the same.  It's controls & instruments might change, but, generally the basic thermodynamics do not change.  So the number and location of vents does not much change.  Deleting a vents also typically entails having to fill in the "hole" in the armored decking the vent passes through.  So, such things are generally kept in place. Any excess in venting gets taken up for increased use as ventilation for crew quarters.

True, But . . . You can't really delete a vent, intake or discharge. But you can relocate it. The vents in question on the aft end of Alaska, primarily service berthing and messing spaces. so, if they can't penetrate the aft deck where they 'are/were', they need to be either relocated (meaning lots of reducting inside the ship), or they need to be rerouted topside (meaning between the flight deck and the main deck.)

This was a point I was trying to make on another thread; one can simply rebuild a model to fit their concept, but the true rebuild also takes into consideration all of the shipboard systems affected by the proposed change, as if it were a real ship.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 6:40 AM

stikpusher

 

 
Straycat1911

I’m looking into doing a modernized Alaska with the Trumpeter 1/350 kit and I’m trying figure out what all the junk is on her decks fore and aft.

The gun tubs are obvious but there’s all these what look like buildings all over the place. Vents? Machine rooms? Obviously they had a purpose in WWII but whether they’d be needed in a modern version is the question. I’d like to have an idea before I start chopping stuff off.

And the cable reels are another question. No clue what they were for. I have Warship Pictorial for Alaska but it’s not much help in describing what all the stuff is. 

 

 

 

Do you have a photo? Hard to picture what you are describing. Some could be ammo lockers for the smaller guns such as 20mm. 

 

 

Sorry for the delay, Stik. I'm a notorious procrastinator.

Heres a picture of the fantail; the circled items are the specific ones I was looking at. I'm assuming the cables are tow cables, so those can go. 
Near the cables, those two boxy things look like vents. 


By it's size and position between the quad forties, I'm thinking that big building is ammo storage, and the item by the turret looks like another vent to me. Pretty sure there's also one to starboard.

I was thinking instead of a helicopter pad on the stern, putting the Tomahawk launchers there. Say, 3-4 to a side and angled out about 20-30 degrees to each side.

Then the old 40mm ammo locker could be labeled as "Marines Guard Shack."

Thoughts? 

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Friday, June 18, 2021 5:15 PM

Okay, as for the photo; circled items, from bow to stern / left to right;

Vent, Mooring line faked out for use, 20mm Clipping Rooms, Mooring line faked out for use, 40mm Clipping room. That round thing near the starboard side 20mm clipping room is a capstan, for handling mooring lines.

The ship is probably about to enter port, otherwise those mooring lines would probably be on the reels or stowed elsewhere.

As for your flight deck, look at the amount of space between the aft turret, if pointed outboard, and the 40mm clipping room. Then get the specs for the rotor circle of your intended helo. See if you have enough room. you dont want anything even close for a possible rotor strike.

Also, with the hatches and other stuff in the area, you will probably have to raise your flight deck above the regular deck level some.

If you are putting launchers back there, look at the blast sweep area for problem items, and do you really want things that big back there? The tomahawks are in those armored box launchers, which ain't small and take up a bunch of deck space.

I'm looking at putting mine in an arrangement more like the Iowa classers, since in 'my' scenario, the modernizations are at about the same time (in theory).

 

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Friday, July 16, 2021 10:32 PM

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Friday, July 16, 2021 10:33 PM

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Friday, July 16, 2021 10:34 PM

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Saturday, July 17, 2021 12:18 PM

Have Fun !!! and keep us in the loop.

I have not ordered my kit yet; still have too much other stuff on my plate.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Saturday, July 17, 2021 1:48 PM

Hull color applied. Plain old Rustoleum Primer red from Lowe's. 

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Saturday, July 17, 2021 5:18 PM

Time to start the modernization process on the main deck. 
40's and 20's tubs taking the first whack. 

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Saturday, July 17, 2021 11:14 PM

More progress tonight. Gun tubs removed from deck and aft deck on the stern that was built lower for some reason is now built up equal to the main deck. 
Launchers and helicopter test fitted to see which would be more likely. 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Saturday, July 17, 2021 11:23 PM

Just remember, the vents have to stay or be rerouted, and there isn't room below decks to do it. So, the rerouting must be above the main deck level.

My issue is trying to find out which ones are supply and which are exhaust, as it makes a difference in how / where they are routed.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 4:39 PM

If you do the VLS thing, the crew will not be happy; the aft launcher cell is right where the ship's store and soda fountain was located .  .  . Now If I were so inclined, I'd go with the cells replacing the No. 3 turret barbette, but a few more tubes than what are on the individual pieces you have there. 

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Thursday, July 29, 2021 6:17 AM

HooYah Deep Sea

If you do the VLS thing, the crew will not be happy; the aft launcher cell is right where the ship's store and soda fountain was located .  .  . Now If I were so inclined, I'd go with the cells replacing the No. 3 turret barbette, but a few more tubes than what are on the individual pieces you have there. 

 

The Admiral would probably reply, "We ain't here to make you mugs happy!" Lol! 

That was a possibility, not something I seriously considered. I shuddered when I heard they were looking at making the Iowa's into missile carriers; these are GUN ships, people! (Smh)

Looking at the pictures again, I'm thinking I might have to cut the launcher decks in half and remove some material to make them a bit narrower. Looks like there's gonna be some serious overhanging the side if I don't. 

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Thursday, July 29, 2021 9:05 AM

The midships ABL deck actually works fine, though you might want to lose the boxy section behind it. The aft ABL deck is a bit too wide, if you use it al all. But the concept is still good.

As for the VLS, that is workable, but figure that 'they' would probably either remove the entire barbette, OR, make the VLS a 'drop-in' module, into the barbette. Of course, if you do that you lose major access to the magazines below. and I don't think you can load VLS launch tubes from the bottom.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Thursday, July 29, 2021 1:46 PM

HooYah Deep Sea

The midships ABL deck actually works fine, though you might want to lose the boxy section behind it. The aft ABL deck is a bit too wide, if you use it al all. But the concept is still good.

As for the VLS, that is workable, but figure that 'they' would probably either remove the entire barbette, OR, make the VLS a 'drop-in' module, into the barbette. Of course, if you do that you lose major access to the magazines below. and I don't think you can load VLS launch tubes from the bottom.

 

Yep, if I use the VLS, it's going into the barbette but as far as reloading, I thought they could only be reloaded in port? 

Not sure if I wanna lose that boxy part; that's where the CIWS mounts go; on an Iowa anyway. And if I leave it as is, the crane towers (original idea for the CIWS Mount) won't fit. 
Now my brain hurts. Lol! 

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • From: Formerly Bryan, now Arlington, Texas
Posted by CapnMac82 on Thursday, July 29, 2021 3:05 PM

HooYah Deep Sea
would probably either remove the entire barbette

Or not--that barbette has 10" & 12" steel in it from memory, and it's closely fitted into the ship's strucure.   And more significanly, in the ship's balance.  That armor is fitted into the entire ramor belt system of the ship, so some of it is supported by the barbette, too.

Turret and barbette on Alaska probably weighs in abou the same as a Benson DD, which is a lot of op hamer to have to replace.

Dunno.

VLS is not very deep, installed--probably could get an installation over the engineering spaces without too much trouble.  The harder part woulf be the overhead clearance for reloads and launching.

Now, something the VLS supplanted was the use of common box launchers.  The ASROC launcher will fit most of the SM-1 variants.  For SAMs the Sea Sparrow and Sea AMRRAM boxes would work.  Those latter will fit in a quad 40 tub (you need director space up in the masts and superstructure tops, though)

  • Member since
    August 2013
  • From: Michigan
Posted by Straycat1911 on Friday, July 30, 2021 6:41 AM

"Now, something the VLS supplanted was the use of common box launchers.  The ASROC launcher will fit most of the SM-1 variants.  For SAMs the Sea Sparrow and Sea AMRRAM boxes would work.  Those latter will fit in a quad 40 tub (you need director space up in the masts and superstructure tops, though)"

 

One idea I had (pictures above) was putting the box launchers for the Tomahawks on the stern 4 each port and starboard, skipping the helicopter pad. 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Friday, July 30, 2021 9:41 AM

Straycat1911

One idea I had (pictures above) was putting the box launchers for the Tomahawks on the stern 4 each port and starboard, skipping the helicopter pad. 

 
"Amatuers discuss tactics, professionals discuss logistics" a quote variously attributed to General of the Army Omar Bradley.
 
While an onboard helicopter asset could help with ASW or over the horizon targeting, an important task of a helicopter (or helo drone) is replenishment.   Yes barrels of fuel oil can be piped over from the AOE,  pallets of beans can be slung over too.   But to replenish the missile stocks and naval artillery rounds your build is going to be slinging downrange you will need a place to land them, the helicopter pad.  To remove that asset would be an amatuer move.
  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Friday, July 30, 2021 9:50 AM

I concur. Look around at ALL other modern / semi-modern ship types and classes. one common is a flight deck or at minimum, a one spot vertrep deck. you just got to have one. And this is especially true on a 'capitol ship'. Look at what this ship (if it were still in existance) would be used for.

By the way, you probably should have put the CIWS in the 03 level 40mm tubs that you lopped off.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

  • Member since
    August 2019
  • From: Central Oregon
Posted by HooYah Deep Sea on Friday, July 30, 2021 10:40 AM

I, on the other hand, am looking at a major 'hybrid' conversion. Weaps elevators will go in the No. 3 barbette, and the hangar bay 'floor' will be about 4 feet above the main deck. This facilitates ventilation requirements and system maintenance requirements. She will have two semi deck edge elevators and the flight deck will extend from abaft the stack structure to just short of the stern gun tubs so they can be used for CIWS / ram launchers.

As you can see, the aft mooring stations will be on sponsons.

"Why do I do this? Because the money's good, the scenery changes and they let me use explosives, okay?"

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