Tigerdvr

Since I was a youngster, as many of the participants in this website, I have been building models that range from stick and tissue airplanes, solid hulled ships and planes, and armor from all fronts of World War Two etc, etc. I spent four years building the Model Expo Syren which I consider my first serious wooden ship effort. That was a great learning experience for me. The Model Ship World website served as an invaluable source to make my model building experience meaningful and, although frustrating at times, an enjoyable hobby. After I retired I finished the Syren and jumped right into the ME Confederacy. For me, Confederacy was almost too much but I don’t give up easily. She’s coming along quite well but I needed a change. Today’s plastic models are a far cry from my previous plastic builds. Photo etch presents challenges and possibilities not thought possible a few years ago. So Confederacy was put on the shelf temporarily and research on a new project began. I chose the Hobby Boss USS Alaska, CB-1, in 1/350 scale. I really don’t why I chose this ship. It just caught my interest. The kit had good reviews and plenty of photo etch options available. Anything with multiple 40mm Bofors quads gets my attention. The USS Alaska enjoyed a brief but meaningful wartime history. She went to the Pacific with the Missouri at the end of 1944. Alaska’s main battery was nine 12in guns with ten 5in as a secondary dual purpose battery. With a speed of 33 knots and an extensive AA compliment, her main task was providing AA support to the carriers. Alaska was longer than any of the battleships at Pearl Harbor. There is much discussion as to whether the Alaska class was a Heavy Cruiser or a Battlecruiser which it had originally been designed to counter. Kit: Hobby Boss 1/350 scale. The instructions are well done. I didn’t strictly follow the suggested sequence. For instance I assembled the 40mm quads early to see if I would want to replace them with PE. The kit PE are good but I did use some aftermarket items. The kit could be easily built as is from the box and produce a very nice model. References: Warship Pictorial #43, Alaska Class Cruisers, a multitude of websites too numerous to mention, and Mike Ashey Publishing #3, Building and Detailing the Hobby Boss USS Alaska. Note: Although Mike Ashey’s Publication #3 deals specifically with the Alaska, I think the book serves as a good training tool for beginners or, in my case, getting back into plastic and PE. After market upgrades: PE items were purchased from White Ensign, B&D Barrels, Master Models, Alliance Modelworks, and mostly Infini. Note: The kit supplied PE is, IMHO, quite good and in the future I would have a new kit in hand before I started buying upgrades. Of course seeing what other modelers are using can be a good starting reference point. Paint: I didn’t know that so many shades of gray and blue existed and I still ended up mixing my own deck blue. I decided to use USN Ms.22 paint scheme as this was in use when Alaska went to war in the Pacific. The flashier Ms. 32/7C scheme shown on the box was used during her shakedown cruises to the Caribbean. She will also be built in a waterline configuration which is where the build log begins.

Magnificent project Doc. A thought comes to mind, on a real ship, when would a cannon carriage only be secured by the breach lines? Even though the clean concept has it's merits, when one looks at all the efforts you have made for realism, does the clean concept fit your overall goal. Thanks for sharing an outstanding build log. Harley

Thanks for your service CapnMac. Your additions to this build log have been a treasure for the Fletcher fans. RGL, great work. Thanks for sharing.

Fascinating, well written for us 3D challenged, thanks for sharing. Harley

Watching with great interest. The Alaska (1/350) that I'm working on conducted it's shakedown cruise(s) with the Mo in late 1944 They both went to the Pacific together. Your blue deck not only pleases your eyes but is correct for Missouri in 1945. Harley

I have been enjoying your build log immensely. I really like your high end glue applicator😋 Thanks for sharing.

What time period will your Missouri be? I'm working on 1/350 USS Alaska which had her shakedown cruises with the Mo. I struggled with selection of proper colors. Wikipedia has a site with all the Navy colors and when they were used. It answered all my questions. When the Mo went to the Pacific she was changed to Measure 22 which would have the blue deck. Great job on the Bismarck Harley

That deck looks really nice. I share your excitement at what aftermarket goodies are available these days. It sounds like you have a great plan for your Connie, will be watching as she grows to completion. Enjoy Cheers, Harley

A very nice addition to the Syren fleet. Neat & clean. Well done Peter. Cheers, Harley

Greetings Marcus, I am taking a break from working on my Confederacy (wood) and getting back into plastic which has changed tremendously since my last projects. You will or have found out that this site is a great source of information and, I find, inspiration. If I can share a couple of thoughts with you that I found helpful. Be patient. Plastic can suck you into wanting to see the end product. If you go fast you miss the small details that the experienced builders attend to as habit. Detail and everything aligned are some of the marks of the more experienced builders. Take each structure as a separate model. I am building the 1/350 USS Alaska CB-1 by Hobby Boss. A great kit IMHO. Mike Ashey (www.mikeashey.com) has a very comprehensive book on building and detailing the Alaska. It would be a good, inexpensive investment for building any plastic ship model. It gets you looking for the little things that can easily be missed and he shares the techniques that work for him. Check it out. Set a realistic goal for your projects and, most importantly, enjoy. Cheers, Harley

I'm taking a break from my Confederacy and building a 1/350 USS Alaska. During my research for this project I found Mercury Adhesives CA in the usual consistencies. I really like the Mercury products. The bottle cap design seems better than other CAs that I used. www.mercuryadhesives.com, take a look. Harley

A big time money saver if you can use 8oz. Thanks Harley

Thanks for sharing Paul, good info. Cheers, Harley

What, no net on the basketball hoop! Just kidding, all the adjectives others have offered ++. Your log will be a great help and inspiration when I get my Alaska launched. Thanks for sharing your mythology & techniques. Cheers, Harley

Looking good Rich. May I suggest considering breaking the edges on your long boat tiller. Holding on to the tiller with sharp edges would really be a chore for coxswain(?). Cheers, Harley

Doris, I hope your troubles fade away and you can be happy. You are truly blessed with remarkable skills. Best wishes, Harley

Seems I read somewhere that linoleum was removed because of the fire hazard, a big concern on any ship.

Hope you get to do it at 80 like me! Cheers, Harley

Welcome aboard. Much good advice has been offered here. Maybe the most important may be to use the build logs as lessons but don't expect to match the experts yet. The Masters have, for the most part, been building for many years and have made all the mistakes that you will probably make. So you learn from your mistakes and surge ahead. Try not to get down on yourself because your model doesn't look like one you have followed on this site. I think I have found this to be the biggest challenge, being realistic in my expectations. Go slow and have fun, it's just work if you are not enjoying it. Sometimes if you feel overwhelmed, the best move is to walk away from the workbench for a day or so. Patience is definitely a virtue. Regards, Harley

It just keeps on getting better, very well done sir

An excellent home for an excellent ship model. Well done. Cheers, Harley

We all need help, I don't think there is a cure😨😣, but we keep on forging ahead anyway😏

Great work, what are using to patch the hull? Thanks, Harley

Does anyone have experience with Veryfire plastic kits? Thanks, Harley