AN/SPQ-9, AN/SPG-60 and AN/SPS-52

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

Help Any One,

I am building the 1/350 scale Adams Class DDG U.S.S. Goldsborough. It had the Mk 86 GFCS system and the SPS-52 air search radar installed it the 80’s.

Does any one know of an after market suppler that makes the AN/SPQ-9, AN/SPG-60 and AN/SPS-52 radars in 1/350 scale?

I have tried to find kits of other Classes of ships that had these radars installed with no luck there either.

2

AN/SPQ-9A came in a randome only. You could probably convert a SPG-60 from a SPG-51. The AN/SPS-52 is available as a photoetch from several vendors. AN/SPG-60 was deployed on the Spruance, Kidd, Virginia, California, and Tarawa class ships. Gold metal models has the SPS-52 in 2 or three of its 1/350 photoetch kits. Nope.

I’ll keep looking.

3

Thanks for the help!

I wish I could find a kit of a Spruance or a Ticonderoga class ship it would make things soooo much easier. For the SPQ-9 dome i can’t find any references on size. I have some pictures but no points to set the size. As for the SPS-52 is its size close to the SPS-49 that Gold Metal Models has? If it is I can use it and hope no one notices. If I knew that I was going to have this problem 22 years ago I would have gone and asked the guys that worked on these radars this info, I just worked on the AN/SPG-51.

Thanks

4

According to the Naval institute guide to naval weapons systems 1997-1998 the randome for the AN/SPQ-9A is an oblate spheroid. Its horizontal axis is 120 inches, and vertical is 96 inches.

The Diameter of the AN/SPG-51 is 92 inches. The antenna for the AN/SPG-60 was used for the STIR radar on the Oliver Hazard Perry class FFG. The AN/SPS-52 antenna is smaller than the SPS-48. The SPS-48 is 17 feet by 17½ feet.

5

On my box scale (close to 1/300) USS Ramsey kit from Monogram, I had to scratch build a new SPS-52 radar, as the one with the kit is inaccurate. It was very easily made from sheet & strip plastic and some very fine mesh. I have not tackled the very similar SPG-51completely yet. I have only thinned down the kit dish so far and will add some brass later on.

I have the Dragon 1/350 USS Kidd (Kidd class), USS Ingersoll (Spruance Class), and USS Bunker Hill (Ticonderoga class) in my stash. Do you need measurements of those systems in 1/350 scale (that I can do) or are you looking to pirate those parts (that I will not do) for your build? Those kits are pretty easy to find online. Italeri has also reboxed and released them I believe.

6

The Radar that shipped with the Monogram USS Ramsey isn’t the AN/SPS-52, it is an earlier version of that radar classified as the AN/SPS-39. It was an early 3D air search radar. It’s just plain ugly, Monogram didn’t mess it up.

7

Thanks,

This will help a lot, Time to think about cutting and scratch building.

8

Thanks -

I found the DML USS Bunker Hill on ebay. I can use the parts as patterns for new ones. i will rework the 3D radar to look like the 52.

Thanks for the help

9

HS Models makes a 1/350 set of SPQ-9A and SPQ-9B radars. Part number: HSM U350072S

I’m using a Veteran’s Model 1/350 scale radar on a Spruance Class destroyer project. Part number: VTM35023

Regarding the SPS-52, check out https://www.shapeways.com/product/NWY6KAF4U/1-100-scale-an-sps-52-radar?optionId=161414470&li=marketplace

If you contact the designer, he might make one for you in 1/350 scale.