Group Build: Academy USS Indianapolis CA-35

[Calico Jack]

Before I actually start building tomorrow, I am preparing the base and mounts for the finished model. Again, I will be using the Academy 1/350 scale USS Indianapolis along with Pontos Models and Eduards PE upgrade sets.

I'm using white oak for tha base and solid brass pedestals for mounting. I'm debating whether I will router the base edges, or set it up with quarter round so that I can enclose it in plexiglass. We will see where that goes.




I will add more images once the ship has been fitted for the base.

 

[Edbert]

The Indianapolis, what a tragic story those sailors had to endure!

I'm joining my first ever "group build" and my second ever ship with a ~45 year gap between it and the last. Glad this is for fun and not a competition because I'm outta my lane

That said, I am enjoying it, so far. Look forward to watching your progress via this subscription. Does this mean I should not post updates of mine in the other thread and only when done?

That base will be much nicer than what the kit came with, I can see how it works with the wood, but do you drill holed through the hull and put the nuts inside? If so I am too late for that.

 

[Calico Jack]

Elbert, you can post all you want in the other thread, or you can start a new post as I have for your own build. I just made sure to state that this is related to the GB in the title.

As far as the base goes, I drilled into the hull with the exact size of the bolts, and threading into the plastic. The nuts aren't needed, but I used them anyway.

 

[Calico Jack]

So I have completed the prep for mounting the ship to the base. I normally wouldn't post a lot about this stage of the build, but since we may have first time ship builders or those that may not have done this before, I will share this step.



First I marked a center line through the base length wise. I then placed the lower hull on the center line and measured to make sure the bow and stern were centered on the base and marked it off.




I then drilled pilot holes in the hole base that were pre marked for the kit proved stand. I centered it on the base and marked it to drill out the base and counter sink the bottom of the base so that the bolt heads were flush with the bottom of the base.





I then placed the brass pedestals onto the bolts and carefully threaded them into the hull. I drilled out the hole 7/32" allowing the bolts to thread into the plastic. The nuts actually weren't needed, but just incase years later the plastic gives, I used CA glue to set the nuts.





All done and I did a complete test fit of the model to make sure all was secure and well fitted. Onward to the build....