Question for Some Older Ship Modelers

I rember seeing a kit of a floating dry dock kit in the late seventies (@1978-1979). I remember that I wanted to build it and was saving up to buy it, but ended up buying Revell's 1/72 B-52D.

My memory of such things is generally fairly good but spotty. I have to say I have no recollection of a floating drydock from Aurora - or anybody else. I'm not suggesting for an instant that my memory is a definitive arbiter for such discussions. It may well have missed something.

I'd be particularly surprised, though, to learn that such a kit came out in the late seventies. That's when I was working part-time in a hobby shop, and I was keeping up with new kit releases pretty carefully. If I'm not mistaken, it was at about that time that Aurora went out of business.

The bible on Aurora kits is the history of the company by Thomas Graham, which, I believe, contains a complete list of all Aurora kits. I don't have a copy and I think it's out of print; maybe another forum member has one.

I just had a memory flash that just might be relevant. Is it possible that the kit you're talking about was a 1/700 one from Skywave? One of the very first kits that company made was a Fletcher-class destroyer. It was, of course, a waterline kit. I think it first appeared in about 1977 or 1978. Shortly thereafter Skywave released a "drydock set." It wasn't a floating drydock; it was a set of diorama parts - including one or two underwater hulls to fit the waterline destroyer kits. The box, I think, was roughly square-shaped, and the picture on top was a bow view of a destroyer from the vantage point of the bottom of the dock.

My memory is a weird thing. Sometime in the middle of the night it may recall another kit that fits the description better. At the moment, though, that's the best it can do.

jtilley, thank you for answering. I was hoping that you would see this and offer your vast knowledge. Good point on the Skywave drydock; however, that is not it. I have the Skywave drydock already, and have it built. Again, my memory isn't the best either anymore, but I do remember it was around the time of 1976-78 or so, give or take a year. I remember holding the box; it was about a foot to a foot and a half long, so I believe it was bigger than 1/700 scale. I also remember that the box art showed the drydock in the middle of the ocean, not against the shore, and that the box had said 'floating drydock'. I cannot specifically remember the name of the ship, but USS Oak Ridge does have a familiar ring to it.

Also, I can't be sure it was Aurora who released it; that was just a guess based on the fact that I remember most ship kits seemed to come from Aurora. It may well have been a different company. I'd still love to get the Aurora book, as well as the Monogram one that is supposed to be out there too to go with my Revell book.

Thanks again for the replies everyone, I appreciate hearing this. If there is anyone else who may know something, I'll be watching this Thread with all eyes.

There is a 1/700 resin floating drydock from Corsair Armada that is out of production.

Thanks seasick. That wasn't what I had in mind, as the drydock I remember was definitely styrene. Still, it is good to know about. I can keep an eye out for one on E-bay or somewhere. I appreciate the info very much.

The ship you're looking for is most likely an ARD, ABD, ABSD, or ARDC. These were all capable of lifting a DD-sized vessel (or larger) out of the water.

I've combed through John Burn's KIt Collector guide and have found nothing about the model you're looking for however.

I don't ever remember seeing one in styrene, but if I stuble across something I'll let you know.

Jeff

i wonder if it might be a lsd- dock landing ship

Nah, LSD are pretty conventional looking vessels. I'm still looking...

Jeff

Thanks Jeff! I really appreciate your help. I only wish I'd been able to get it while I had the chance! I'll be watching to see what you come up with.

USS Oak Ridge, ARDM-1 was a floating drydock. Classified as a Medium Auxiliary Repair Dock she was launched in 1944. At 536 feet in length and 81 feet in width with a capacity of 3500 tons she could easily have handled a Fletcher Class destroyer. Sorry, don't know where you could get a model.

Al Blevins

Do you mean people who are older and build ship models or people who build models of older ships? Or maybe older people who build older ships ...

MBT70, yes!

Actually, I was referring to older people who build ships because they would be most likely to remember the kit I had mentioned. However, anyone with helpful information is definitely welcome to add to it.

Someone once started a thread called "What is Your Holy Grail of Modeling?" I think I found a new 'Holy Grail'!