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Ice Breaker USS ATKA Model Source - Anyone know of one?

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  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Looking over your shoulder
Ice Breaker USS ATKA Model Source - Anyone know of one?
Posted by 9 Toe Tanker on Sunday, September 2, 2007 7:29 AM

Hey folks...my father served on the USS Atka during the Korean War. He deployed to the Arctic and the Antarctic during his service. Does anyone know of a model offered of this subject?

She was originaly commissioned the US Coast Guard Cutter "Southwind" on July 19, 1944.

Thank you kindly for any response.

TJ.

 

Best Regards Joe
  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Looking over your shoulder
Posted by 9 Toe Tanker on Sunday, September 2, 2007 7:32 AM

Another Pic:

 

Best Regards Joe
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Sunday, September 2, 2007 8:21 AM

Loose Cannon makes a 1:700 scale resin & brass Eastwind icebreaker in WWII appearance

http://home.earthlink.net/~loosecannonproductions/Kit18.html

It could be converterd to a post-war version with a helo deck with justa bit of styrene stock.

White Ensign Models sells some 1:700 scale helos -- Their Bell 47 would look sweet on the deck.

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Looking over your shoulder
Posted by 9 Toe Tanker on Sunday, September 2, 2007 8:30 AM

WOW! ...Thank you very! very! much Sir!

TJ.

Best Regards Joe
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Sydney, Australia
Posted by Phil_H on Sunday, September 2, 2007 8:35 AM
I believe there is also a positively ancient Revell kit of the Eastwind in 1/285. (has been previously released as Burton Island). Not sure about availability though. I'll add a disclaimer here: I know nothing about the kit other than that it exists. Clown [:o)]
  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Looking over your shoulder
Posted by 9 Toe Tanker on Sunday, September 2, 2007 1:26 PM

Wow...thanks alot ...I found a source for that one online as well and it even has the hele pad.

Kool! Thank you so very much guys!

TJ.

Best Regards Joe
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Sunday, September 2, 2007 9:36 PM

Well, out comes my copy of Dr. Thomas Graham's Remembering Revell Model Kits again.

According to the appendix of the book, the Revell kit originally appeared under the name Eastwind in 1958.  It was molded in three colors:  white, brown, and "mustard"; the scale is listed as 1/285.  It was reissued once (in 1968) under its original name, and at least three times as the U.S.S. Burton Island.

As built, and originally commissioned under Coast Guard colors, the-Wind class ships were equipped with propellers mounted on their bows to shove hunks of ice out of the way.  That idea didn't work out well, and the bow propellers were removed.  My (admittedly hazy) recollection is that the original Revell issue had the bow propeller, but that it was left out of the various reissues.

The original design included two twin 5" gunhouses (fore and aft) and handling gear for a Grumman Duck aircraft.  The Revell kit depicts the ships in their 1950s configuration, with the after 5" mount replaced by a helicopter deck.  (The little Sikorsky helicopter was a prime feature of the kit.) 

To my knowledge that's the only American icebreaker ever turned into a mainstream plastic kit.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Looking over your shoulder
Posted by 9 Toe Tanker on Sunday, September 2, 2007 10:37 PM

Thank you JTilley.....My father severed on the Southwind / Renamed Atka and I'm looking to give him a presentable kit for his birthday in late October.

I'm learning alot about this series thanks to you guys!

Thank you ever so much!Cool [8D]

Best Regards Joe
  • Member since
    March 2005
  • From: West Virginia, USA
Posted by mfsob on Monday, September 3, 2007 12:38 PM

I have the Loose Cannon Eastwind kit, and while I haven't started on it, in going through the parts and photoetch, it is up to their usual high standards. I agree with Ed, with a little sheet styrene and judicous application of a chisel, adding the helo deck in that scale should be no big deal, and topping it off with the correct helo from White Ensign Models would be the icing on the cake.

One caveat - if you've never built a resin ship kit before, especially one in 1/700 scale (the model is only 4 5/8-inches long) you may want to look at the plastic Revell kit just because it's going to be bigger, and plastic, and therefor easier to build. I recall seeing that kit quite recently on Ebay, and I'm sure there are other sources.

If you do go with the Loose Cannon kit, check with Hugh at Loose Cannon before you place your order, he didn't have many Eastwinds left; don't be intimidated by the small size; take your time; and remember you have a place to come with any questions. Good luck!

  • Member since
    August 2006
Posted by honneamise on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 9:21 AM

From the photos you have provided, it seems to me that the Revell (reissue) kits of Eastwind and Burton Island match the Atka in her Korean guise pretty closely, in fact more closely than the actual Burton Island that looked quite different from the Eastwind.

What I can see ist that the "Atka" seems to feature a single 5" gun instead of the twin mount provided in the Revell kit so this should be replaced. Revell also issued a CG Cutter as "Roger B. Taney" or "Campbell" that  has the single mount gun and even (almost) matches the scale so this might be a source if you don´t want to sratchbuild. Depends on the availability of the Cutter kit and, of course, if you really want to "slaughter" a nice kit just for the gun.

The Revell kit may be very old but the hull lines are beautiful - no flat bottom here!-  and the whole ship is packed with little details - the resin kit may be more accurate but the Revell kit is still worth building IMO. 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 9:41 AM
TJ- Should you decide to go with the Revell version,be sure to check out the photoetching available for it by Gold Medal. Good luck with the build.
  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Looking over your shoulder
Posted by 9 Toe Tanker on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 1:07 PM

Thank you very much guys! I appreciate it!

TJ.

Best Regards Joe
  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: Looking over your shoulder
Posted by 9 Toe Tanker on Sunday, September 9, 2007 1:50 PM
 honneamise wrote:

From the photos you have provided, it seems to me that the Revell (reissue) kits of Eastwind and Burton Island match the Atka in her Korean guise pretty closely, in fact more closely than the actual Burton Island that looked quite different from the Eastwind.

What I can see ist that the "Atka" seems to feature a single 5" gun instead of the twin mount provided in the Revell kit so this should be replaced. Revell also issued a CG Cutter as "Roger B. Taney" or "Campbell" that  has the single mount gun and even (almost) matches the scale so this might be a source if you don´t want to sratchbuild. Depends on the availability of the Cutter kit and, of course, if you really want to "slaughter" a nice kit just for the gun.

The Revell kit may be very old but the hull lines are beautiful - no flat bottom here!-  and the whole ship is packed with little details - the resin kit may be more accurate but the Revell kit is still worth building IMO. 

Thanks.

From what I've observed...the Burton Island has the single 5'' inch gun mount like the Atka did.

From what you can see how did the Atka differ from the Eastwind and Burton Island? I appreciate you guys help very much indeed!

Like I said I've never been a ship modeler, mainly armor.

Thanks to all.

TJ.

 

Best Regards Joe
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