I think it might be interesting to kitbash the ARIZONA back to her original configuration with cage masts. Does anyone have any tips on how to make USN cage masts?
what scale & before or after the torpedo bulges were added?
There was an article in a very old issue of scale ship modeler [?] by Ron santos on making a set of cage masts in his conversion of the Oregon to the Massachusetts . IIRC, it involved making a set of discs of the appropriate diameters wirh holes drilled around the perimeters. The holes were matched to the wire diameter in use (times 2). I forget how many. It’s research time. The discs are held in a fixture at the appropriate distance. I don’t remember the correct running pattern, but for example the wires run from say 12 o’clock to 3 o’clock, 1 to 4, 2 to 5, etc. Them they run in the opposite twist from 12 to 9, 11 to 8, etc.
While it may be less satisfying than looming your own, there are 3D printed cage masts, in the correct configuration for each particular ship. 3D Modelparts used to make them as did BlueRidge models. Iron Shipwrights has just announced their inclusion in their products. Of course check with Shapeways. The 3D ones are more accurate too, as the solid discs were not prototypical an there are lashings where each wire course crosses another
Ed, i think i have a copy of Ron’s plans or similar saved on this computer. depends on the scale NavArch is going to use on whether there is 3D printed masts available or not.
What scale is your model?
It’s not something I would never try to scratchbuild. The geometry is pretty complicated.
Model Monkey has moved his product from Shapeways to their own website. Grazing through it, I only see basket masts for Tennessee and Colorado classes, and out of stock.
But keep looking, something must be out there.
Bill
Hmmmmm;
Seems to me there was an article in the now defunct Model Ship Builder. I believe also that somewhere in history it was done or re-printed by F.S.M. Now, I could be wrong. It never hurts to ask though. I don’t have access to my old MSB magazines, but I am sure it was about 1989 when it was done.
I do offer 1/350 scale cage masts for Colorado and Tennessee class ships, available from Shapeways (their geometry is not suitable for the gray resin 3D printers I own).
Another vendor on Shapeways offers early Arizona and Pennsylvania cage masts, also in 1/350 scale.
Hope this helps.
Tanker-Builder, FSM did it July 1992 as i have it saved on my computer.
See! ddp59!
I was close wasn’t I? LOL.LOL. I though they did it. Well there are now established referrences . Good. Oh! and thank you for that!
no problem, merry christmas.
I believe there is a photoetch package with the masts. I forget for sure whose, but I remember looking it up to do the same thing. I believe it was Toms, but not sure.