USS Atlanta

Shipshapes

Atlanta-class

Real Length: 541 feet

Real Beam: 53 feet

Model Length: 2.12 inches

Model Beam: 0.3 inches

Time to Complete: 5.5 hours

The lead ship of the Atlanta-class of light cruisers, Atlanta served as a dedicated anti-aircraft vessel in its time in service. Although sunk at the Battle of Guadalcanal, the other ships of its class continued to provide invaluable assistance to any flotilla or fleet it participated in.

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USS Lexington

Shipshapes

Lexington-class (Saratoga paint scheme)

Real Length: 888 feet

Real Beam: 106 feet

Model Length: 3.35 inches

Model Beam: 0.75 inches

Time to Complete: 5 hours

Originally laid down to be a battlecruiser, the Saratoga became the third aircraft carrier in the United States navy as well as the second Lexington-class carrier. Saratoga participated in numerous battles in the Pacific AO, earning eight battle stars. She was eventually sunk in Operation Crossroads as a test ship.

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USS Portland

Shipshapes

Portland-class

Real Length: 610 feet

Real Beam: 66 feet

Model Length: 2.5 inches

Model Beam: 0.25 inches

Time to Complete: 6 hours

A cruiser design built under the limitations of the Washington Naval Treaty, the Portland-class were a sturdy and reliable class of two vessels. The latter of the two, Indianapolis, is most famously known for its sinking, which resulted in the single greatest loss of life at sea for the US Navy.

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USS North Carolina

Shipshapes

North Carolina-class

Real Length: 728 feet

Real Beam: 108 feet

Model Length: 3.3 inches

Model Beam: 0.8 inches

Time to Complete: 7.5 hours

The North Carolina class of battleship was a sturdy addition to the fleet at the time of its creation. The lead ship of its class, North Carolina, took part in every major offensive in the Pacific Theater in WWII, which granted it 15 battle stars.

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USS Des Moines

Shipshapes

Des Moines-class

Real Length: 716 feet

Real Beam: 76 feet

Model Length: 2.75 inches

Model Beam: 0.5 inches

Time to Complete: 6 hours

Although completed after the closure of World War Two, the Des Moines class of heavy cruiser were the largest of the USN's cruisers, only exceeded by the Alaska-class battlecruisers. They proved invaluable in the Vietnam War as bombardment platforms and were later decommissioned due to their antiquity.

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USS Fletcher

Shipshapes

Fletcher-class

Real Length: 376 feet

Real Beam: 39 feet

Model Length: 1.8 inches

Model Beam: 0.25 inches

Time to Complete: 3 hours

The lead ship in its class, the Fletcher served as the basis for the most numerous class of destroyers ever created. These vessels were virtually ubiquitous across WWII American naval war efforts, taking place in major battles like Midway, the Philippine Sea, and even in the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

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The Tools

Shipshapes

The Tools

There is always a select group of tools that I utilize to create these vessels. The picture below is a complete visual list of every tool that I utilize to build these ships (minus my hands and brain, that is).

From Left To Right:

Balsa Wood, Sandpaper, Newspaper (to prevent paint spills), Cloth, 4025 Cobalt Paint, Ocean Blue Paint, 20504 Black Paint, 20526 Country Grey Paint, Water Container, Ad Hoc Palette Board, Scissors, Wire Cutters, Pen Knife, File, Paintbrush, Fine Tip Sharpie (for AA and secondary sponsons), pencil (for tracing outlines), tape roll, needle, staples, superglue.