USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet ** DNF **

Our 2nd sea-going GB, for any ship, any scale, etc. Does not include amphibious aircraft or vehicles - the medium is water.
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JohnRatzenberger
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USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet ** DNF **

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

Although I was born elsewhere and now live elsewhere, I have always thought of Kansas as home, so when I spied a kit of the USS Kansas at a show (or online, I don't remember) I grabbed it.

Kansas was part of, and for a time lead, the Great White Fleet. The GWF was a show of US naval power in the early 20th Century. The GWF gathered at then sailed from Norfolk VA (a couple hours up the coast from where I live now) in Dec 1907 and circumnavigated the globe, sailing some 43,000 nautical miles (80,000 km) and making twenty port calls on six continents, before returning to Norfolk 14 months later in Feb 1909.

This is a "color postcard" of the era, of Kansas.

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The 18 (I think) battleships were the "top-of-the-line" but were pre-Dreadnought and their replacements were already under design and in the shipyards. Nonetheless, many served in some capacity during WW1, some attached to the Royal Navy.


So, here is the kit - resin, 1/700 scale, by Kombrig.

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Here are the parts ...

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and a 2-view from the instructions ...

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Probably still be a few days until I really start ....

PS: Later I found a model of the USS Vermont, same class, with cage masts, and at sometime I will do that as Kansas at later date and during WW1.
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by Dazzled »

What a brilliant choice of model. It's a shame kits of ships from this era aren't more mainstream.
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by TomW »

Agreed! The Pre-Dreadnaught era of shipbuilding is a fascinating one full of weird and wonderful designs :grin:

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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by jamesaw »

This will be fascinating to watch evolve-kit looks pretty good from what I can see, but you're going to be the best judge!
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

Thanks, guys. The Kombrig kits are quite buildable and they have a tremendous range of ships in 1/700 scale from the 1880-1920 era. I shall try to do it justice.
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by Marek »

jRatz, I believe you make it into quite respectable replica. Looks very well made as resin kits go.
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by Dazzled »

I'm absolutely certain that you'll more than do it justice John :)
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

No pix, but today I cut a piece of wood for the base and started to prep it and I put my first coat of white on the hull. It will take several to get a good finish, as we all know, and I'll be working on some water for the base.

Just wanted to let you know I actually started; pix when I have the base going and the white presentable ....
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by Dazzled »

Prep work is a necessary evil sometimes. Looking forward to seeing this progress :)
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

I think the white hull is good; I am letting it dry thoroughly then I will tape it up and start the base. Once I have a hole in the water, I'll pull the hull back out, remove the tape, and do the waterline (hint of red hull), etc, and move along.

Or maybe I should just do the waterline and leave it stuck in the water .... Might rethink this.

Regardless next comes the deck painting, then the superstructure ....
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

White hull with red "bottom". All pix I have of the GWF indicate the bottom came up rather far on the sides and was very visible.

Image

Moving at a stately pace ....
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by jamesaw »

As befits a stately vessel...
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by Dazzled »

Moving along very nicely :)
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by JohnRatzenberger »

No pix today. Some of the superstructure comes on a thin resin sheet (see parts shot above) and I sanded them off today. For the upper decks, the kit provided very, very thin solid walls to represent railings. The walls are excellent, but took a bit of damage in the sanding - I can repair them, but am now thinking to strip them off and use PE railing, I will have to put PE railing on the deck anyway. Well, I don't have to, but a ship without railings is ....

OTOH, I'm a bit short of 700-scale railings, and some I have are a bit thick; I don't have time to get more (that I can't actually see first), so that's part of the equation.

I'll make that decision tomorrow, then get on with painting the main and upper decks, then the superstructure .... and get around to the water ....
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Re: USS Kansas, BB-21, Great White Fleet

Post by Dirkpitt289 »

Man thats cool John. I love it
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