USS California 1/200. 3D printed.

Bryian

Bryian

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Hello friends,
I have just purchased the latest 3D printed resin kit in 1/200 scale. This is the USS California (circa 1944) after being refitted from the damage sustained at Pearl Harbour.

Looks like it will be about 4 weeks until the kit arrives down here in Australia, but my fingers are itching to get started on it. In the meantime, here's a few photos I copied from the internet of a smaller 1/350 kit of the same ship.
Its a printed resin construction, and the hull is split in two through the middle. Having built a previous resin model from the same vendor, I can say the quality is excellent. The only downside is there's no assembly instructions or line drawings of the ship to reference. The model builder is on his own trying to work out how to assemble the kit. Its my view that any experienced model builder with a few builds under his belt should be able to figure things out. I think I will go with the world of warships colour scheme for this model.

s-l1600 (2).webps-l1600 (3).webpwow-California-over-scaled.jpg34315e1e-bca2-11ea-8a76-8cdcd4b147d4.jpg
 
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Davidp said:
BB-43 USS Tennessee Booklet of General Plans (1945) https://archive.org/details/bb43bogp1945
BB-44 USS California Booklet of General Plans (1953) https://archive.org/details/bb44bogp1953
BB-44 USS California Technical Drawings (1943) https://archive.org/details/bb44ga1943
Click to expand...

Thanks David, I will check out the links.
By the way can you offer any explanation on how 2 airplanes are mounted to one catapult like the photo below ?

vcfhC-CrnI0iSAKult1BqDv97uPauZCXH3P58M6zqgE.webp
 
when you get the model, can you post some closeup pictures of certain parts of the model like turret #3 & the side profile of the forward superstructures as i see some possible issues.
the 1st aircraft close to turret #4 appears to be sitting on an aircraft dolly not on the catapult itself. if both aircraft were on the catapult then they would be sitting infront of the other not somewhat side by side as in that picture.
what is the original file size of that picture?
 
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Davidp said:
when you get the model, can you post some closeup pictures of certain parts of the model like turret #3 & the side profile of the forward superstructures as i see some possible issues.
the 1st aircraft close to turret #4 appears to be sitting on an aircraft dolly not on the catapult itself. if both aircraft were on the catapult then they would be sitting infront of the other not somewhat side by side as in that picture.
what is the original file size of that picture?
Click to expand...
Thanks David,
I can see you will be a good reference when I start my build. With regards to the file size, I don't know as I just downloaded it from the internet.
 
Bryian said:
Thanks David, I will check out the links.
By the way can you offer any explanation on how 2 airplanes are mounted to one catapult like the photo below ?

View attachment 508981
Click to expand...
The previous photo appears to show them both on the catapult, but that could be an illusion. I seem to recall the models of ARIZONA I built in my youth having two catapults. No mistake, that is a busy-looking ship.
 
Namabiiru, you are correct as all the standard battleships from the Nevada class to the Colorado class had 2 catapults, 1 on turret #3 & 1 on the stern. all fast battleships had 2 on the stern.
 
Bryian said:
Hello friends,
I have just purchased the latest 3D printed resin kit in 1/200 scale. This is the USS California (circa 1944) after being refitted from the damage sustained at Pearl Harbour.

Looks like it will be about 4 weeks until the kit arrives down here in Australia, but my fingers are itching to get started on it. In the meantime, here's a few photos I copied from the internet of a smaller 1/350 kit of the same ship.
Its a printed resin construction, and the hull is split in two through the middle. Having built a previous resin model from the same vendor, I can say the quality is excellent. The only downside is there's no assembly instructions or line drawings of the ship to reference. The model builder is on his own trying to work out how to assemble the kit. Its my view that any experienced model builder with a few builds under his belt should be able to figure things out. I think I will go with the world of warships colour scheme for this model.

View attachment 508971View attachment 508972View attachment 508973View attachment 508974
Click to expand...
Hi Brian,
Looking forward to following this build and your comments on how everything goes together.
Cheers,
 
Bryian, can you contact the seller to see how many docking keels are on the bottom of the model as West Virginia(even tho a Colorado class) has 4 docking keels, 2 long ones towards the middle & 2x 3/4 lengths towards the outside?
 
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Hello David,
with regards to your question about the docking keels. I can see with close up examination of the manufacturers photo, that there is docking keels and bilge keels shown in the photo.

s-l1600.webp
 
i saw both on that site but cannot tell if have correct number of docking keels. you'll find out when you get the model.
 
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