1/350 USS Salem CA-139 (Classic Warships now YMK)
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by Keith Bender |
Here's a model I decided to finish after about six years worth of starting and stopping and a few changes to it along the way. This kit has the same quality as the CW USS Alaska and is almost as big. First thing to do was correct the hull bottom. The aft end is too deep meaning the distance from the deck to the bottom is too high. Not the distance from the keel but where the shafts are located. If one builds this model right from the box then the shafts will be to low and the props will hang below the keel level. Large US warships from cruisers on up to CVs are all arranged like that and on destroyers and smaller ships the props hang below the keel level. This took some time and lots of sanding. The models hull in the shaft area is rounded where in reality it is flat as shown in the drydock photo and seen on plans. I've notice that Trumpeter has this same problem with most of their CVs as well.
Removing the armor belt was the next step. The kit has a belt aft and lower of the main belt where there is no belt at all on the real vessel. Only the main and lower forward belts exist. These will be added later. Before I put the hull halves together I opened the hanger area. This was done by placing the upper hull in a mill vice then hogging out the resin in the proper area using a milling machine. This can also be done with a Dremel, been there done that too. . Biggest worry is to not blow through the deck while hogging. When this was complete I built the hanger using plastic sheet and PE details. The hanger was placed in the hull then both halves were glued and screwed together. With all seams filled the armor belts were finally put on using plastic sheet.
The rest of the kit went together like clock work even though I never built a clock, however it was easy to complete. I decided to go with Veteran Models 3"50 guns and MK-56 directors. What a big difference to the kit supplied guns and directors. Much of the PE came from GMM and other sources that are left over. The 3"50 practice loader was scratchbuilt along with most of the masts and yards which are brass. Something I had finished but decided to re-work was the platforms for the MK-56 directors. The forward half of the platform is perforated steel while the back half is solid plate. I used a mesh screen to represent the perforated decks.
The main mast stays are attached to their places with PE turnbuckles as aboard the full size ship rather then tying them off on a railing or something else improperly. I made small brass eyes then drilled and glued them to their correct positions. Only then the turnbuckles where tied fast. The aircraft crane boom is all that came from the kit and the rest of it is scractchbuilt. Since the hanger is now open it needs something in it. I wanted to go with HUP-2 helos but there isn't any aftermarket ones out there. I made a master pattern I scaled down from a 1:72 kit then resin cast them. For the rotors I used PE rotor heads and blades from Russian KA-27 helos. Only had to shorten the blades at both ends to proper length.
All decals are from GMM and the paint is a mixed bag of Colourcoats, Testors and Floquil. The model is in a 1955 fit and mounted on a piece of teak that I removed from Salem personally. Over all it was a good kit to build either right from the box or if you want to give it a good going over you can. You'll be happy with this one now made by Yankee Modelworks.
