USS Vestal waterline model

 Thank You for your response. I was confused about the draft.   My diorama will be before the attack. Hank, Support the Troops.  Have a happy and safe Holiday Season

Good morning.  I received an offline notice that there was a question about my response to this question, but could not find a means of responding offline.

The question was,  was the draft depth of the Vestal which I cited pre- or post-damage.

Going back to the original source which I cited in my initial response,  the War Damage Report at the US Navy's Damage Control site

http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/mc/museum/War_Damage/12.pdf

The report gives the drafts before damage of 17' forward and 21' aft.  

The report also gives the draft depth, post damage, while the ship's crew was fighting the fires and leaks.   Paragraph 6 states the draft increased to 27 feet aft with a 7 degree starboard list.   At this point it was decided to beach her.   Paragraph 7 states she was beached with drafts of 11' forward,  18' mid, and 27' aft.

What is best grit belt to use to sand my full hull  resin model to make it a waterline model? Hank SUPPORT THE TROOPS

I reread my response and wanted to make sure that you don't cut off too much and in the wrong direction.    The ship was sitting stern low.  Determine your design waterline (DWL) from the baseline (BL) as noted above, i.e. 1 inch above the bottom.    Forward (at the level of the anchors) you will strike a mark which is 0.42 below the DWL or 0.58 above the BL.   Aft (at the level of the props) strike a mark which is 0.28 below the DWL or 0.72 above the BL.  Connect the marks and you will have a line which slopes upward from aft to forward.  

Thank you EdGrune for your help. Hank SUPPORT THE TROOPS

The math should be (29 feet * 12 inches)/ 350  := 0.994.  One inch is close enough

However, on the morning of December 7th 1941 the Vestal was not sitting on an even keel.  According to the Navy's wartime damage report ...

http://www.dcfp.navy.mil/mc/museum/War_Damage/12.pdf

The draft forward was 17'  (0.582 in scale) and 21' aft (0.72)