by Konley Kelley
1/350 USS San Francisco CA-38 (Trumpeter)
HISTORY
"Like a barroom brawl after the lights had been shot out." This was a description of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal given by an officer serving on the destroyer USS Monssen. During the battle, US naval forces and naval forces from the Empire of Japan engaged in fierce close range combat near Guadalcanal the night of November 12-13, 1942.
Losses were heavy on both sides. Although US losses were numerically greater, they succeeded in turning back the Japanese and protecting US forces holding strategic positions on the island.
One of the most famous ships involved in the battle was the heavy cruiser, USS San Francisco CA-38. The "Frisco" was the flagship for Rear Admiral Daniel Callaghan. His force included two heavy cruisers, three light cruisers, and eight destroyers. His opponent was Vice Admiral Hiroaki Abe. His force included two battleships, one light cruiser and eleven destroyers. In pitch darkness, the two opposing forces steamed right into each other. Admiral Callaghan discovered he had Japanese warships on both sides of his column of ships. As searchlights found their targets and star shells lit up the night, Admiral Callaghan ordered, "Odd ships fire to starboard, even ships to port."
The Frisco found herself trading salvoes at 2,500 yards with Admiral Abe's flagship, the battleship Hiei. The Hiei's 14" guns found the Frisco's bridge killing Admiral Callaghan, Captain Young and many others. The Frisco received 45 enemy hits and 83 crewman were killed and 104 wounded. The Frisco also damaged the Hiei. A shell penetrated Hiei's steering gear room causing irrepairable damage. She later was found and sunk by US aircraft.
THE KIT
I picked up Trumpeter's 1/350 USS San Francisco at the 2008 Squadron Open House. I knew the Frisco was the second most decorated ship in WW2 (17 Battle Stars and a Presidential Unit Citation). Plus, my Dad was born and raised in San Francisco so I felt the need to take on this project. I spent a lot of time visiting my grandparents in SF when I was a kid - I love that City by the Bay. So...I had to have the kit and Trumpeter created an excellent model kit for me to build.
The build went very smoothly. I saw an earlier model of the San Francisco on this website and adopted some of the paint choices. For the most part, the ship was dark blue - a Navy Blue hull and superstructure. I painted the deck planking Weathered Deck Blue. I haven't added any stretched sprue rigging or photo etch yet. Rigging I can do. I have tried photo etch and often goober it up. I also do not have photo etch for this model kit.
But, as you can see in the "action" pics, I do have Photoshop photo etch and rigging resources :)
SAN FRANCISCO MEMORIAL at LANDS END in SAN FRANCISCO
I have also included pictures from a recent family vacation to San Francisco. We stopped at the USS San Francisco Memorial at Lands End on the coastline immediately west of the Golden Gate Bridge. The memorial is comprised of a damaged section of the flag bridge from the Frisco following the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal. Prior to repairs after the battle, the damaged flag bridge was removed and later installed as part of the memorial in 1950.
It is shocking to see the shrapnel damage to the bridge up close. One can't imagine the force required to puncture and peel back this metal.
It is a reminder of the horrific battle that took place and the sacrifice of the Frisco's crew who valiantly fought for their country in the early stages of the Pacific war.
The Frisco was a proud ship. I hope you like the model and images made in Photoshop. Please check out more Photoshop digital dioramas and special features on my website at www.shortfuse3d.com or e-mail me at konman@shortfuse3d.com
