The Shipping Channel

Yorktown Class Aircraft Carriers

2009-05-19T06:52:00.003-04:00

Well, I've finally gotten the Yorktown class done. The carriers are taking me a bit longer than I expected. The building of a carrier drawing is a bit different than the other ships. On battleships and cruisers you just start with the hull and build up. With the carriers you kind of build up and then add details as you go back down.

Next up is the Wasp. I have only photos of the port side, so some of the details will be more of a estimate. Not quite as accurate as I'd like.

F6F Hellcat Fighter

2009-05-06T05:49:00.002-04:00

Here's the Hellcat for 1943 and 44-45.

TBF Avenger Torpedo Bomber

2009-05-05T07:02:00.004-04:00

This is the Avenger in paint schemes for 1942, 43 and 44-45. When GM took over production of the Avenger the designation changed from TBF to TBM.

USS Ranger

2009-05-01T21:37:00.003-04:00

Here's the USS Ranger. I decided to put the aircraft in the hangers instead of on deck. I'm of the opinion that it might look better. I think it adds a little more detail to the hull.

Vought Vindicator

2009-04-29T05:42:00.002-04:00

Vindicators were flown by Marine Pilots at Midway, but were out of service by 1943. British pilots also flew some vindicators where it had the designation Chesapeake. The pilots however, called it the cheesecake.

Brewster Buffalo

2009-04-28T05:46:00.003-04:00

This is the Brewster Buffalo. It had a very short career. Marines flew the Buffalo at the Battle of Midway, also the British, Dutch, Australians, and New Zealanders used them early on in the war. I'll make variations of the Buffalo for those forces, when I'm drawing up their ships.

Lexington Class Aircraft Carriers

2009-04-26T09:02:00.003-04:00

This is the Lexington Class. Both ships had their 8" guns removed before the start of World War Two. The Saratoga had them replaced with 5" guns, but the Lexington didn't ger her 5" guns before she was sunk in 1942. This is why I've made them both

Devastator Torpedo Bomber

2009-04-24T05:51:00.002-04:00

Here's the Devastator. After suffering heavy losses at the Battle of Midway, the Devastator was replaced with the Avenger. That's why there's only one version of it. In fact, from what I've there are no intact Devastators left any where in the world.

Dauntless Dive Bomber

2009-04-23T05:27:00.003-04:00

Here's the Dauntless in paint jobs for 1942, 1943, and 1944-45.

Wildcat Fighters

2009-04-22T06:24:00.003-04:00

Here's the Wildcat in paint jobs for 1942, 1943, and 1944-45.

Future Plans

2009-04-20T15:16:00.002-04:00

Next up will be US aircraft carriers and aircraft. For the carriers, I’m looking to do both the port and starboard sides. That depends on what drawings and photos I can find of the port sides. I’m starting with the large fleet carriers and then will move on to the light and escort types. I’m going to see if putting a couple of Wildcats, with wings folded, looks good on the flight deck or not.

I’ve started with the outlines for aircraft, and decided to use the Battle of Midway as a starting point. I worked up the outlines for the Wildcat, Devastator, and Dauntless, and I’ll make a couple of planes between each carrier, including land based planes used by the marines or Army Air Corps in the Pacific, excluding transports and medium or heavy bombers unless also used in anti-submarine or anti-ship roles. Stationed on Midway Island, there were Vindicators, Avengers and Brewster Buffaloes. They’ll be the next group of planes done.

Some people have asked for Japanese ships and planes to be done next. I fully intend to do the Japanese next after I have completed the US Navy. Here’s what I still have to finish:

Aircraft Carriers
Destroyers and Destroyer Escorts
Subs and Sub Chasers
Mine Layers and Sweepers
Auxiliary Ships, Merchants and Transports.

This is the order for other countries, after I’ve finished the US:

Japan
United Kingdom and Commonwealth
Italy
Germany
France
Smaller European Navies
The Navies of South America, Asia and Africa

I think I’ll put these lists up on the side bar after this post gets archived.

Cleveland Class Light Crusier

2009-04-19T13:48:00.003-04:00

This is the Cleveland class in haze gray and in Measure 33 camo. If you look at the listing of ships in this class, you'll see a large gap between the numbers of some of the ships. This is partly due to 9 Clevelands being converted to Independence class light carriers.

Brooklyn Class Light Cruiser

2009-04-18T07:35:00.003-04:00

Here's the Brooklyn class in MS - 31 Camo and in haze gray. The ship is more like the St. Louis than the earlier ships of the class, as this was the best reference drawing I could find. I should have the Cleveland up tomorrow if the wife and dog allow :)

Oakland Class Cruiser

2009-04-13T17:34:00.002-04:00

Here's the Oakland Class in Measure 16, which was used in arctic waters, and in Measure 22.

On deck are the last 2 US cruisers; the Brooklyn class, and the Cleveland class.

Atlanta Class Cruiser

2009-04-12T20:35:00.003-04:00

Here's the Atlanta Class in haze gray and in measure 12 camouflage. The spots on the superstructure are a larger than they were in real life to make them more visible at this scale.

Alaska Class Cruiser

2009-04-11T10:16:00.002-04:00

Here's an Alaska Class Crusier in measure 22. I have the Oakland and Altanta classes about two thirds done. Just need to do Camo versions of both. the Oaland will be in MS-16 and the Atlanta in MS-12.

USS Wichita

2009-04-02T07:31:00.004-04:00

This is USS Wichita CA-45. The only ship in it's class.

Next up the Atlanta and Alaska Classes.

Baltimore Class Heavy Cruiser

2009-04-01T07:30:00.002-04:00

Here's the Baltimore Class in Haze Gray and Measure 32 Camo.

Delays, Delays

2008-09-02T22:13:00.002-04:00

I'm not really sure how many people are following my work here, but if people are, I'd like to apologize for the delays in posting new ships. I've been doing some house work, painting and such. I hope to be back on schedule and have some more stuff up by week's end.

New Orleans Class

2008-08-26T07:31:00.004-04:00

Here's the New Orleans Class in haze gray and in measure 22.

Curtiss Seagull

2008-08-24T10:56:00.003-04:00

I haven't gotten much accomplished this week. I've revised my base for the aircraft and posted a revised Catalina and a revised Kingfisher. Since I've been making Cruisers, I figured I need to post their scout plane, the Curtiss Seagull. I have finished the drawings for the Wichita and New Orleans classes and the hull for Baltimore class. When the Baltimore is done I'll add color to them and Post em. I'll most likely make either the Baltimore or New Orleans in Measure 22 camo and one of these in measure 33.

Portland Class

2008-08-18T07:04:00.003-04:00

Here's the Portland class. Next up will be the New Orleans, Baltimore and Wichita classes.

Northampton Class in Haze Gray

2008-08-18T07:02:00.001-04:00

This is an early war version of the Northampton class.

Northampton Class

2008-08-16T09:23:00.002-04:00

Here's my first attempt at a camouflage. this is a 1943 version of a Northampton Class heavy cruiser in measure 32. I'm not really sure it gives the same depth as the haze gray that I've been doing. So if anyone has some suggestions to make it "pop" a little more please let me know. The other Northampton I'm going to be posting will have the rear superstructure of the early war model.

Pensacola Class

2008-08-15T07:03:00.003-04:00

Here's the first of the US heavy cruisers I've been working on. I should have the Northampton and Portland Classes up this weekend. I'm also going to take my 1st stab at camo versions of these.

Kingfisher

2008-08-12T22:38:00.003-04:00

This was the standard reconnaissance aircraft for US battleships during the war. The USN aircraft I'm putting up are all going to be in 3 color schemes used by the Navy during the war. I kept the early war roundels, because the white side bars look too big on the Kingfisher. I'm really not all that happy with the bases for these yet. They're to dark for the blue colors of the 43 and 44 versions. Once I get a better base, I'll post revised versions of the planes.

Catalina PBY

2008-08-12T22:25:00.005-04:00

Right now I'm working on the black and white outlines for some American heavy cruisers. Sometimes the drawing gets a bit monotonous, so I've decided to break it up by drawing some USN aircraft between ships. I'm starting with flying boats and float planes, because I've already made some side-views for my ships. The planes are at the same resolution as the ships, but in a different scale. they are 1/1200 scale. I decided to do this to increase the visibility of the planes and to represent the fact that they're above the ships, i.e. closer to the viewer.

North Carolina Class

2008-08-08T08:12:00.004-04:00

Here's the last of the US battleships, The North Carolina class. Cruisers are up next. I'm including the Alaska class in with the cruisers.

Iowa Class

2008-08-06T17:29:00.003-04:00

Here's the biggest of em all, the USS Iowa.

South Dakota Class

2008-08-05T07:08:00.004-04:00

I've just finished the South Dakota. Only 2 US battleships to go!! I've already finished the line drawings for the Iowa and North Dakota classes, so they should be up in the next couple of days. Then I've got to decide on the next project. I'm going to stay with US ships, most likely I'll do the cruisers next. Then on to carriers. I have the palette already set for the US ships and cruisers were painted fairly plainly, much the same as the battleships. I'd like to get a little more experience with the shading before I try to tackle some dazzle camouflage patterns for carriers and destroyers.

Wyoming Class

2008-08-03T08:21:00.004-04:00

Here's an early war version of a Wyoming Class battleship. The only ship in this class to serve in WW2 was the USS Arkansas. The Wyoming was converted into a gunnery training vessel.

Tennessee Class

2008-08-03T08:19:00.002-04:00

This is the Tennessee Class battleship as it looked in 1941.

USS Tangier

2008-08-03T08:17:00.000-04:00

This is the USS Tangier, a seaplane tender.

Promethus Class

2008-08-03T08:15:00.002-04:00

The Promethus Class repair ship.

Pennsylvania Class

2008-08-03T08:13:00.001-04:00

Here's a Pennsylvania Class battleship in 1941.

Omaha Class

2008-08-03T08:05:00.000-04:00

Here's an Omaha Class Light Crusier in 1941.

New York Class

2008-08-03T08:00:00.003-04:00

This is a New York Class battleship as it appeared in 1942.

New Mexico Class

2008-08-02T23:10:00.004-04:00

Here's a New Mexico Class Battleship in haze gray as it appeared in 1942. The Idaho and Mississippi were altered during the war and would have a different appearance by

the war's end.

Nevada Class

2008-08-02T23:08:00.000-04:00

Here's a Nevada Class Battleship as it looked in 1941

Colorado Class

2008-08-02T23:05:00.001-04:00

Here's a Colorado Class battleship as it looked in 1941

Cimmeron Class

2008-08-02T22:45:00.006-04:00

Here's the first of my ships to be posted. It is the fleet oilier Cimmeron Class. The first group of ships I made were for a friend's project, and are done in basic gray for ease of printing. Later ships are in an approxamation of haze gray. I've only included ships in this class in the list that were not turned into carriers during WW2.