USS Helena CA-75 with Regulus missile

peterj wrote:

I am planning to convert Trump's 1/700 USS Philadelphia into USS Helena, as fitted with the Regulus cruise missile.

Phladelphia?  Or do you mean the Pittsburgh? 

peterj wrote:

Does anyone have any plans of the Regulus sponson and equipment?  I've got many good photos, both online and from "Regulus: America's First Nuclear Submarine Missile" by David K. Stumpf.  However, a plan view of the aft deck would be very helpful. Otherwise, I'll just use the photos and my Mk I Eyeballs to guesstimate the details. Thanks! Peter

From photos at the USNHC, it looks to be a rectangular to slightly trapezoidal-shaped deck extension to the port.   The deck extension is faired into the hull side.  The hangar is retained.

Be selective as to your desired date that you wish to model the Helena

USNHC Photo

In January, 1957 the electronics suite was simple and very similar to the wartime appearance.  But by the early '60s her foremast was reworked and now contained a large SPS-43 radar array.  She also got a new enlarged bridge

USNHC Photo

Yup, I meant Pittsburgh.  Duh!

Good point about the period.  I'd like to keep it as simple as possible, so I'll model the earlier version.

Peter 

I'm not much of a scratchbuilder either, but Regulus is a simple shape.  I scratchbuilt one in 1/350 for my USS Grayback, since the kit only included a Regulus II.  Round rod with tapered ends for the fuselage, same for the boosters, and strip stock for the wings and vertical tail.  While I'm at it, I'll build two, since I plan to build a USS Tunny sometime in the future.

From the drawings I have, it's apparent that the hangar door location and size are different from the pre-Regulus fit, so I'm going to start from scratch with a new rear deck.

Here's an excellent reference for the Regulus, including photos and drawings of the Helena:

Regulus: America's First Nuclear Submarine Missile

Peter

Speaking of Baltimore class cruisers, would anyone venture to say that this is one sitting in the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard?  Photo at top is the ship, photo at bottom is aerial of shipyard, with ship located just to the right of the small bridge at the neck of the basin.

Could be.  Sure looks the right shape and arrangement.

I remember during the big 8" gun debate, that there was an argument that recommissioning a Baltimore class was cheaper than developing an entire semi-automated 8" gun system for just shore bombardment purposes.

But, I'm running off memory, and as tools go, that one can be faulty.