USS Absecon
AVP-23
By Richard Sliwka
1/350 USS Absecon AVP-23 Small Seaplane Tender (Iron Shipwrights)
Iron Shipwright's Barnegat Class small seaplane tender was the basis for
my Absecon model. The Absecon was a one-of-the-kind conversion to float
plane pilot training vessel. This model represents the Absecon in its early
1943, as launched, configuration. My references were two 11" x 14" US Naval
Institute photos (There is not much information available about this ship.)
Extensive modifications were made to the kit's forward superstructure/bridge
area to reflect the Absecon's unique configuration. The O-1 aircraft deck,
36" searchlight tower, and mast were scratch-built. The O-1 deck support
stanchions were modified kit photo-etch. The kit provides 4-horizontal
"rail" railing; but, the reference photos indicated 3-rail was used so
I removed the horizontal rails and glued the remaining stanchions to L'Arsenal
3-rail railing. That worked reasonably well--rail spacing is not uniform!
A L'Arsenal cruiser catapult and Tom's Modelworks light cruiser aircraft
handling cranes, with added details and rigging, were used. Many
other deck details--signal lamps, 24" searchlights, antennae, 12' punts,
aircraft recovery sled, handling dolly, etc.--were scratch-built. L'Arsenal's
5" gunhouses/brass barrels, 20mm guns, and 26' whaleboat replaced those
in the kit. Rigging was .002"-.004" dia. nylon fishing line.
A major building effort was the construction of the Seamew float plane.
This was scratch-built using parts from a dissected Trumpeter 1/350
Helldiver, hand-made resin parts, vac-u-formed canopies, and floats from
the spares box. This took quite a bit time and the result looks reasonably
well. The Kingfisher was a WEM aircraft with vac-u-formed canopy.
The model was painted in the Measure 14 Ocean Gray camouflage using
Poly Scale paints. Construction time was about 150 hours (about 25 hours
on the Seamew).
Richard
Sliwka
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