by Bob Nandell
1/700 USS Cimarron AO-177 (Scratchbuilt)
It is with due apology to modeler Peter Van Buren and his incredible, super-detailed JAG kit-build of the AO 177 Cimarron, that I submit my scratch-build version, constructed of sheet plastic, balsa, parts box bits, and paper, and a second-attempt at that. My build is of Cimarron circa 1981 before jumboization and many changes through its service life. I have Knox Class FF Blakely (also scratchbuild) alongside for size comparizon, although Cimarron served in Pacific waters and Blakely phased out of Atlantic fleet in the early '80's. Some photographs I worked off of were from the ship's web-site and others from Navsource. My miniature fleet needed a modern oiler and I decided to simply start cutting pieces and attempt a scratch-build of the ship. It is hard to fathom that the real AO 177 Cimarron is now parked in the ghost fleet in Suisan Bay.
