USS Independence LCS-2 by CDW - FINISHED - Trumpeter - 1:350 - PLASTIC

[CDW]

Going to do a simple build of the modern U.S. warship USS Independence LCS-2. Will not get bogged down in a lot of aftermarket items, just a couple of add-ons and the kit supplied photo etch.

The Independence is an assault transport ship designed for littoral combat and a variety of missions.

 

 

[CDW]

[Old Collingwood]

"Oh yes"  this will be an interesting build  - count me in.

 

OC.

[Canute]

Craig, sign me up for this one, too. Quite a novel ship.

[Jack12477]

Me too!

[CDW]

A modest start to construction of the USS Independence Littoral Combat Ship 2.

 

Pictured are a few of the details to be added to the model to enhance the kit supplied parts. First, the Veterans Models Ratheon Searam Anti Ship Missile system.

 

 

 

Next are a set of Model Master brass masts, antennae, and main gun barrel.

 

Then there is the kit-supplied photo etch. Three photo etch sheets in total, there are two sheets of the details shown in the second picture.

 

The hull is split into two main parts, upper and lower.

 

 

Here is an interesting video of the Ratheon Searam Anti Ship Missile Syetem.

 

 

[CDW]

A minor addition, but a solid improvement over the kit gun barrel.

[Old Collingwood]

Looking very smart  such crisp detail to the kit, and all that pe should look the business.

 

OC.

[CDW]

The bridge.

Beam me up, Scotty.

 

 

[CDW]

Adding photo etch details continues. Lots of very small pieces. 

[Old Collingwood]

Great work  there,  Ioving all the pe bits and pieces.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

Hi CDW

This is really quite the ship. Unique to the point that I just had to read up on it a little. I kind of wish it was stationed around here as I have a Navy parking spot about six blocks from my home and I could walk to the bluff and take all the pictures I wanted. Instead all we seem to get are the 1100+ foot Bird Farms and their decks are empty whenever they park them. 😒

 

I did run across this picture though and wondered about all the tie downs on the flight deck.

 

 

I can't really see any in the picture. I still think it is an interesting ship/model and I like seeing the effort you are putting into it.

[CDW]

Lou

Here is a photo I borrowed from Navsource, https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj6m_W898fcAhVr7oMKHWBDCvYQjRx6BAgBEAU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.navsource.org%2Farchives%2F15%2F1502.htm&psig=AOvVaw0yNQ52FVU8Z_q-OfqGuQfJ&ust=1533078184672617

[CDW]

Another facet of the ship that fascinates me is the small crew it requires to run it. Less than 50 crew personnel. And it's not a particularly small ship, either.

I know it's crazy, but I ordered a set of modern .50 caliber gun mounts that are located on the stern of the ship. At this scale, even if I can build them, it will take a macro shot to show they are there.

These ships can be mission equipped for just about any mission imaginable. That's what is so unique about them besides the fact they can operate in such shallow water.

[popeye the sailor]

hey there!   very nice start on your project...this is gonna be a really neat model when done      I'll be follow'in along too.

[CDW]

Welcome aboard, Popeye.

[CDW]

I missed it when it was here, but the photo I shared that shows the deck tie downs was taken in St. Petersburg, Fl, just about 25 miles from my home. They had an open house for the public to come aboard and show off the new ship. Unfortunately, I found out too late and missed it. 

As I understand it, the ship was built in Mobile, Alabama.

[CDW]

Anyone know what these are? I've been looking for reference that would give me information on what appears to be depth charges located on starboard and port sides of the ship at the stern. I don't think they are actually depth charges, but they look very similar to it. Hopefully there is a knowledgeable person who can shed some light on this.

Again, this picture is borrowed from Navsource. I added the red arrow to show the area in question.

[GrandpaPhil]

They’re life rafts.

[Old Collingwood]

I agree with grandpaPhil,  they are lifeboat canistors on a frame, looks like they swing out or slide out to drop the canistor.

 

OC.

Edited July 31, 2018 by Old Collingwood

[CDW]

55 minutes ago, GrandpaPhil said:

They’re life rafts.

 

14 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

I agree with grandpaPhil,  they are lifeboat canistors on a frame, looks like they swing out or slide out to drop the canistor.

 

OC.

This makes sense. I'll bet the two of you are right. Never saw rafts in a canister like that before now, but it's a new and modern age.

Thanks!

[lmagna]

That's interesting. I admit I was kind of surprised when in the picture I found it looked like there were no tie downs. Small ships can get a little unruly in rough seas and bounce around a bit, even though a trimaran hull should be better than most. I wonder if it was possibly two different time periods, and they were experimenting with alternative deck surfaces?

 

I agree on the life rafts in gravity launchers that look like depth charges. I don't even know that modern ships even use depth charges anymore and if they did I think that even in late WWII they were starting to use bomb shaped charges that would sink to the proper depth quicker than the oil drum shape.  

[CDW]

I thought about the same thing you did, Lou. Maybe the deck tie downs were a later development and your photo was an earlier prototype. 

Since this ship can be mission equipped in anti submarine warfare, I know there are better, more sophisticated anti submarine warfare weapons than depth charges. 

[Old Collingwood]

30 minutes ago, lmagna said:

That's interesting. I admit I was kind of surprised when in the picture I found it looked like there were no tie downs. Small ships can get a little unruly in rough seas and bounce around a bit, even though a trimaran hull should be better than most. I wonder if it was possibly two different time periods, and they were experimenting with alternative deck surfaces?

 

I agree on the life rafts in gravity launchers that look like depth charges. I don't even know that modern ships even use depth charges anymore and if they did I think that even in late WWII they were starting to use bomb shaped charges that would sink to the proper depth quicker than the oil drum shape.  

These new design of lifeboats look scary in thier application, some of the modern cargo vessels have them attached at the stern on what looks like a slide (I had visions of it being like a fairground ride in one of those things being launched)

 

OC.

[lmagna]

11 minutes ago, CDW said:

Maybe the deck tie downs were a later development

On the same site you linked to it also shows the darker solid looking deck in a picture dated a couple of months after launching in March 2010.

The pictures you are using from the same site are dated August 2010 and September 2011. If I read the history right she came to the Navy with a number of short comings, building errors, and teething problems that needed to be replaced or corrected. Maybe this was one of them 

[Old Collingwood]

Thinking about the lashing points - I think they are quite common on landing platforms, I have seen them on photos  from modern frigates  through destroyers and up to carriers.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

41 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

I think they are quite common

I agree, that's why having them missing was so odd. 

 

I think I have read somewhere that many small ships with landing platforms rather than flight decks also have a winch system that is strong enough to winch the helicopter down to the deck when landing in rough weather and the ship is bouncing all over the place.  

[RGL]

It’s a weathering dream though! 

[lmagna]

2 hours ago, RGL said:

It’s a weathering dream though! 

I thought you would feel that way if you saw the pictures. Right up your alley.

[CDW]

This is the last time you'll see this vivacious, lovely, combat ship naked. She's now ready for paint.

I've added all the photo etch I intend to add before paint, so hopefully tomorrow I'll have the beginnings of some paint on her and execute a plan of attack to give her full dress.