Lake Class Coast Guard Cutter

This model started out as the HAWK model of the  USCG BIBB circa 1957. The HAWK plastic kit is similar in appearence to the Revell USCGC CAMPBELL/TANEY but in a smaller scale(1/600 I think). Released in the 1960's this  HAWK was a low quality model even for it's time, along with a HAWK PT Boat, Fletcher Class destroyer and LST, all pretty low end kits. I've had this model for years but on a whim I decided to slap it together over a weekend and I did. It's no world beater but I feel it looks a little better than "out of the box" effort.   My model depicts a proposed "Lake" class of ships(1937) as a follow on to the earlier 1930's Secretary Class cutter(Revell version is an example).  The ships were to outfitted with 4-5"/38 guns, 3- 40mm antiaircraft weapons,  as well as sonar and  depth charge. In addition the cutter would carry a float plane for recon work as well as a boom for handling the plane. As for the kit  modifications I added a real wood deck, PE out of the scrap box, propellers, bilge keel, portholes, scratch built float plane,  wt doors, boom, small boats, life rafts, propeller guards, gun director and a few other odds and ends(all out of the left over parts box)!  WWII broke out and the Coast Guard scrapped plans to build this class instead building 12 255" cutters named the "LAKE" class. The original 327' class, built in 1935-36 out lasted the WWII 255's by 10 years. The Pearl Harbor veteran, USCGC TANEY(327' class), was decommisioned in 1986 and is a museum in Baltimore, Maryland.