Flankerman Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 (edited) To add to my collection of US Navy early cruise missile subs....... USS Tunny.... .... USS Grayback.... .... and USS Halibut.... I decided to have a go at making the first of the breed - the USS Cusk. This was a Balao Class wartime sub converted to launch a US-built copy of the German V1 flying bomb - called the KGW-1 Loon. AFV Club to a range of Gato class submarine kits - so I selected the 1943 boxing - with its cut-down conning tower - as the nearest thing to a late-war Balao......... Apart from the upper hull, this sprue is common across all versions.... This lower sprue is unique to the 1943 boxing...... AFV Club include an etched brass fret for the propeller guards, railings etc.... and a 'generic' decal sheet...(but no 'USS Cusk' title for the rear decking) They even include a pressure hull inside - totally hidden from view.. All I need do now is build the model more-or-less as kitted, then add the hangar, launch rail and scratch-built Loon!! Watch this space.... Ken PS - The rest of my 1/350 scale submarine builds (including the US Navy Ballistic Missile subs) is here Edited June 27, 2015 by Flankerman 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gremlin56 Posted June 27, 2015 Share Posted June 27, 2015 That is a really amazing collection Ken. Beautiful work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 Further research reveals that the conning tower on the Balao class subs was cut away at the rear end - under the 'cigarette deck' - so my Gato tower was chopped off accordingly and as I didn't have any suitable square-section plastic, I used a piece of square wood to form the core.... .... and 'skinned' it with thin plastic card - using filler to make the sloping undersides.... It still needs a bit of a clean up - but the basics are there. I also removed some of the raised detail and access hatches - not seen on Cusk. On my model of USS Tunny, I used a piece cut from a pipette to make an 'open' hangar, but Cusk's Loon hangar is smaller. I worked out the approximate dimensions from photos (length and diameter relative to the conning tower) - and simply carved a length of 8mm plastic knitting needle to shape...... As it is solid, it can't be shown open - but it looks OK. Here's the tower and hangar temporarily tacked onto the hull..... That conning tower needs more work...... more later. Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Nice one Ken, recently did some research on the cusk, tried to get a dvd copy of the flying missile (1950), a black and white film revolving around the cusk and the loon launches, starring Glenn Ford, to no avail. Nautilus are supposed to be doing a Cusk conversion for the 1/72 Revell Gato. All the best chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 A bit more progress..... The sail/conning tower/ is very fiddly - I don't get on with etched-brass railings.The hangar is finished - apart from some aerials....Now for the launch rail and Loon...Ken 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted June 28, 2015 Author Share Posted June 28, 2015 Trying to replicate exactly the missile launch ramp - given the lack of close-up photos plus the tangle of support struts - is not easy, especially in this scale...So, with a bit of artistic licence, this is my effort......I might add a few more struts......Almost ready for the paint......Now for the Loon......Ken 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted June 28, 2015 Share Posted June 28, 2015 Hi Ken heres a couple detail photos hope they help for the loon. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted June 30, 2015 Author Share Posted June 30, 2015 I'm now going a bit Loony - scratch-bulding the KGW Loon (V-1) - in 1/350 scale.The fuselage is carved from a length of suitable diameter sprue, the wings are thin plastic card (sanded to airfoil section!) and the pulse-jet is made from a length of tubing and plastic rod....The assembled Loon - wingspan is 15mm - and my old eyes need a rest :bandhead2:All the converted/scratched parts in place....Ken 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Amazing. I recently read "cold war submarines", a very interesting book about subs, including lesser known ones. Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flankerman Posted July 5, 2015 Author Share Posted July 5, 2015 Ready for final assembly......Ken 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whitestar12chris Posted July 6, 2015 Share Posted July 6, 2015 Cracking job Ken, really looks the part. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoscar Posted December 10, 2015 Share Posted December 10, 2015 Hello, I'm still in the discovery phase of the forum and wonderful talent who exercise it. I can only say congratulations to both knowledge and thank you for the motivation it provides. Marc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now