Looking for a kit that probably never existed (and never will)...

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

I have looked for years for a kit of a true oddball-the old US Navy receiving ship Despatch (IX-2). She was originally built in 1887 as the armored cruiser USS Boston and was with Admiral Dewey at the Battle of Manila Bay. Years later she was converted to a receiving ship and renamed Despatch, & was moored at Yerba Buena Island in San Francisco Bay. She served as a radio operator training ship during World War II and was sunk after the war as a gunnery target, in 1946. Are there any kits out there that could serve as a suitable basis for a conversion?

2

Here’s a site that is a start and might interest you.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.irvania.com/wargames/gallery/SpAmBoston.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.irvania.com/wargames/SpanAmships.htm&usg=__ii3dH4xKiupE0NRxkBrTt3jHtCk=&h=411&w=551&sz=44&hl=en&start=15&um=1&tbnid=xZzFG-p_S2KgmM:&tbnh=99&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dship%2Bmodel%2Bmanila%2Bbay%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1R2GGLL_en%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

An Atlanta Class Protected Cruiser. Here you go:

http://www.steelnavy.com/CombrigAtlanta1886.htm

I’d build it in fighting trim.

3

You may want to start with the Revell or Lindberg USS Olympia kit. You will need to do some cutting on the hull to get to the proper dimensions for the Despatch, but the kit shoud be close to the the right hull lines.

4

Were the Boston & the Olympia sister ships?

5

There is a 1/700 scale resin kit of the USS Boston put out by Commander models/ Iron shipwright. I’ve had the kit for a year or two.

Rod

6

How much are you willing to spend? Found the USS Boston museum quality for $12500. Try this link: http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu5Pm_0tKPukA7lJXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE1ZTQ2ZXZxBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMgRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA01BUDAwM18xMDU-/SIG=11ran52se/EXP=1246581094/**http%3A//www.aagaines.com/man/boston.html

7

Another good link if you know the class she was and have the decals to rename her. www.totalnavycom

These are resin kits.

8

They’re not, really different except in general era.The Olympia is considerably larger.

On the other hand, they are both cruisers from the same era, and a fair number of those became receiving ships- the previous generation were mostly the steel hulls of sailing ships.

If you are building a receiving ship and allow some artistic license, that would be a good way to go for WW2, plus that’s one I for one have never seen modeled, very nice subject. These got fairly nice looking too, not exactly a floating hotel, but well designed.

9

Combrig is releasing a 1/700 version of the USS Atlanta, sister of the Boston. Will require some work to convert to receiving ship configuration.

Review can be found at steelnavy.com