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Jeff's 99% Liberty Ship

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  • Member since
    January 2003
Jeff's 99% Liberty Ship
Posted by Jeff Herne on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 5:05 PM
Hi gang,

Just to prove that I am actually building something (and finishing it, which is another matter altogether), here's my Trumpeter Liberty ship...

I decided to do a Navy vessel instead of a Maritime Commission...so I could use Measure 22 camo.

Now, that being said...it's 99% done...the anchors are not on, the rails on the after gun platform are not on, no weathering or decals, and no washes.
The rigging is nowhere near complete, man, this thing is more difficult to rig than a 3-masted schooner!!

This model will appear in an upcoming issue of FSM. Enjoy!



  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by martinjquinn on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 5:12 PM
Hmmm....Jeff has a sudden fascination with Ms 22. Wonder why? :)

BTW - looks good!
Martin
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Jeff Herne on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:37 PM
Originally posted by martinjquinn

Hmmm....Jeff has a sudden fascination with Ms 22. Wonder why? :)

I'll tell ya why....it's EASIER than dazzle and more interesting than Ms21...

Jeff Big Smile [:D]
  • Member since
    November 2003
Posted by richter111 on Tuesday, August 2, 2005 9:47 PM
Been looking for the dazzle, cant find it. Missing turrets, torpedos,


Heyyyyy this aint a Fletcher!!!!!!!!!!
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Penang Isle
Posted by yeapjacky on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 4:13 AM
Hi Jeff,
Very nice built you have there..! Never could afford one though..~

Still, i have a question which i hope you wouldnt mind answering..~

Is this completely OOTB build or other AM/Customized part(s) has been added..? Apart from the rigging, of course. Thanks..!
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: -
Posted by luke on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 6:02 AM
very very nice Jeff!
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Pacific Northwest
Posted by MBT70 on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 9:24 AM
Excellent build and I look forward to the article. Can you say when a certain other article might run?
Life is tough. Then you die.
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Jeff Herne on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 10:36 AM
You mean a certain other article about a certain other plane located in a certain other place? Confused [%-)]

I have no clue!! Big Smile [:D]

Jeff
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tochigi, Japan
Posted by J-Hulk on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 10:53 AM
Looking sharp, Jeff!
~Brian
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 10:53 AM
So Maritime Commission Liberty ships skipped the boot topping, but USN ships did not? I learn so many interesting little trivial facts in here!
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Pacific Northwest
Posted by MBT70 on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 12:26 PM
No ... a certain other article about a certain other ship of dubious lineage and improbable history ..... or sumpthin' ......

BTW ... I keep looking at the Liberty Ship photos and liking more every time. Did you ever build the old Aurora Q-Ship Atlantis? It reminds of that a little ... but yours is so much more detailed ...
Life is tough. Then you die.
  • Member since
    December 2003
  • From: Olympia, WA
Posted by wooverstone8 on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 12:49 PM
Cool build! Are you going post pictures of the finish product, or do we have to wait for the article?
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Jeff Herne on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 12:53 PM
I must confess, I'm not a Liberty ship expert, so I can't verify the boot topping on Maritime Commission ships.

Here's two pics of the actual Sculptor taken in 1944. Again, I'm not an expert in Libertys, but I did notice that the trumpeter kit lacks the mast on the superstructure, which is quite obvious in the photos.

The model will appear in the magazine without this mast, which I'll be adding later on, along with alot more rigging.


  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Jeff Herne on Wednesday, August 3, 2005 12:56 PM
Yeapjackey,

This is an affordable kit, about $40 US, and the Tom's Modelworks fret comes in under $20.

Aside from the Tom's PE set, all I used were some 20mm gunshields from spares box, monofilament for the rigging, and Lycra thread.

The base is an oak drawer face (replacement) with brass lamp columns. Total cost of the base and columns was about $8.

Jeff
  • Member since
    January 2005
Posted by Chris Friedenbach on Thursday, August 4, 2005 12:25 AM
US Navy painting specifications call for a boot topping, but they are not commonly found on merchant ships. Liberty ships followed this pattern- most of those operated by the Navy had a boot topping, while those that were operated by commercial shipping lines (the bulk of the class) did not.

The extra mast is a feature commonly found on Navy Liberty ships. In addition to supporting the radar it allowed the ship to have more halyards, something that tends to be in greater demand on Navy ships than their merchant marine counterparts. These photos show a number of other interesting modifications, including an additional heavy lift boom at No. 5 hatch (it looks to be 15-ton capacity). The gear at No. 4 appears to have been upgraded from a 15-ton to a 30-ton (or possibly even 50-ton) rig- an excuse to clutter up the model’s deck with vehicles if I ever saw one!

Regards,

Chris Friedenbach
Crewmember, SS Jeremiah O’Brien
  • Member since
    May 2004
  • From: Penang Isle
Posted by yeapjacky on Thursday, August 4, 2005 4:19 AM
Jeff,

Thanks alot for the all the useful infos..! Will take the pricing into consideration as well...~ Furthermore, during last few issues on FSM, a review on Trumpeter's Liberty Ship has more good then bad...~ Big Smile [:D]

Thanks again and apart from being a beautiful ship, it's something different from the usual BB, CV, DD or C...~ : )
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Pacific Northwest
Posted by MBT70 on Thursday, August 4, 2005 10:07 AM
I agree ... I even passed over this thread once or twice because it wasn't a combatant vessel, but the quality of Jeff's work really impressed me and the model is quite nice to admire and enjoy. Even us old gunfighters can be turned by real excellence ...
Life is tough. Then you die.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, August 4, 2005 10:14 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Chris Friedenbach

US Navy painting specifications call for a boot topping, but they are not commonly found on merchant ships. Liberty ships followed this pattern- most of those operated by the Navy had a boot topping, while those that were operated by commercial shipping lines (the bulk of the class) did not.


Chris:

Now you tell me UGHHHHHHHHHHH, Dead [xx(] Oh well I will be sprayong over the boot toping today!!!

Seriously, thanks for the information.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 5, 2005 9:46 AM
Guys:

Here is a great link some else posted several months ago which shows the rigging for a Liberty ship biim. Pages 21 through 24 have thye info you will want. Also the other pages have a wealth of usefull information.

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/navy/nrtc/14067_ch4.pdf

I have just finished overspraying my bootop to do a USMC ship. I found a great picture in issue 2 od Steve Whipers mag and it shows a ship with some wonderful weathering on the hull.

Dick Wood
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Jeff Herne on Friday, August 5, 2005 10:58 AM
Thanks for the kind words fellas...now...if you want to see the 'real' beauty shots, you'll have to wait for the magazine! Big Smile [:D]

I must confess, the fellas in our photographic department are some of the best in the business...they sure can make a model look great in photos!

Dick, I downloaded that attachment you sent with the rigging diagram...of course, now that I know where all these cables actually go, I may have to go back and add some lines to this model...thanks 'ole pal!! Angry [:(!] Another 40-50 hours of rigging are ahead of me!! Wink [;)]

Jeff
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 5, 2005 11:30 AM
Jeff:

Being a native New Yorker, and knowing where you are from, I just wanted to keep you honest Approve [^] !!

But seriously, you don't have to go to the extream. She looks great as she is right now. I add the link as I think this pdf has some great info for modelers.

Dick Wood
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Jeff Herne on Friday, August 5, 2005 11:43 AM
Yea, but being a New Yorker myself, you know I can't leave things well enough alone!!

Ferrgittaboutit!!

Jeff
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Friday, August 5, 2005 1:40 PM
Regarding the cargo boom rigging, I am soooooooooo not going to go there with my 1/700th Victory ship. It's hard enough just folding and securing the photoetched block and tackle included with the kit!
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Jeff Herne on Friday, August 5, 2005 1:48 PM
Have you seen that rigging diagram? It's enough to make my hands shake...

Jeff

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 5, 2005 3:52 PM
Jeff:

There will be a written test next week on this. And it is not a open book test!! Evil [}:)]

Dick Wood
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Friday, August 5, 2005 9:43 PM
*slides Jeff his last, his very last, Extra Strength Tylenol* You're gonna need this, buddy ...
  • Member since
    April 2005
Posted by ddp59 on Friday, August 5, 2005 11:26 PM
only a test, i figure a full blown exam should be applied!!!
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Jeff Herne on Friday, August 5, 2005 11:39 PM
Oh boy...I'm gonna flunk this one for sure...lol.

I broke out the monofilament and starting adding rigging tonight. Didn't get much done, but I've got the first set of booms almost rigged...this ship is going to look like a spider's web when I'm fininshed.

Jeff
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 6, 2005 6:50 AM
Jeff and Gang:

When I look at a ship model several things draw my attention, and I don't know why. First are the funnels, are they drilled out and nollow, do they have splitters inside them, and is it nice and bussy with ladders handrails, and has lots of bussy stuff on them.

The second is the rigging. The more the merrier. I think rigging some how adds to the delicaticy of the model. Plus it brings it more towards realism. Maybe that is one reason I don't like building modern ships that much.

Jeff once your finished she will look nice and sharp with all that rigging. And since your going full out, so will I...Darn I have created a monster!!!
As a former comic strip Pogo said.." Weve meet the enamy, and it is us!!"

Dick Wood

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 6, 2005 9:16 AM
This is my 99% Liberty. I just finished the rigging last night. By stowing the booms in their cradles I simplify things. No vangs and preventers etc. I guess I asked the bosun to stow all that stuff for sea Blush [:I]
This is the first model I've done in about 10 years and the first time for using PE parts. I used the Tom's Model Works set.
I tried for a generic Liberty just out of the yard in wartime configuration (name painted out etc)
My dad was on a Liberty, the SS Frank O. Peterson, but it was a specialized "boxed Aircraft transport" and I couldn't find any pics. He recalls it was modified somewhat from standard Libertys.
Sorry about the poor quality pics.



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