ABSD ARTISAN et USS MASSACHUSETTS BB-59 au 1/350

[NOVA73]

Hello.

 

I made this assembly before the release of the floating dock kits at 1/350 and 1/700.

 

When I started this project, there was nothing on the market on this type of equipment and on the barges and cranes of service associated with this type of dock.

 

By doing research, mainly on Navsource and on the sites of the archives of the US Navy and Congress.

 

In total the US NAVY has put into service 7 floating docks of this type.

 

By studying the photos, I made an inventory of the battleships hosted on this type of floating dock:

• USS WEST VIRGINIA BB-48

• USS CALIFORNIA BB-44

• USS MISSISSIPPI BB-41

• USS IOWA BB-61

• USS PENNSYLVANIA BB-38

• USS IDAHO BB-42

• USS NEW YORK BB-34

• USS SOUTH DAKOTA BB-57 (entered the dock on May 6, 1945, following an accidental explosion in the kitchens) – Ship of the same class as the BB-59

 

And in 1952 the USS WISCONSIN BB-64

 

For those who want more information on floating docks. Attached is the navsource link on AFDB-1: http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/28/2801.htm

 

First, I drew the base in PE to make a molding imprint of the dock bases.

 

 

 

I then made 10 identical PE boards to make the side pontoons.

 

 

I then engraved, cast and sorted the thousand (or more) various pieces that make up the details of the dock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I assembled the pontoons (a time-consuming operation because I had to repeat this operation 20 times).

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I tackled the dock cranes. I had to draw and engrave the crane boom 3 times before I got a decent result.

 

 

 

 

 

After many months, I have completed the assembly of the dock.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once the dock assembly was finalized, I took care of the service buildings that were around this type of floating dock.

 

For this, I was inspired by the drawings that Mr. Jean Mahieux shared with me of this type of equipment made in PE at 1/700. The 1/350 requires much more detail than the 1/700. So I completely redesigned this equipment for my needs.

 

First, two cranes on barges

 

 

 

Then, various workshop, storage and other barges.

 

 

 

 

 

 

and finally an APL and an energy barge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dock finished and painted.

 

 

 

 

The barges and cranes are finished.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the ship I used the Trumpeter kit, the Flyhawk detail set and a lot of home made PE.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And after 18 months of work, the final result.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good luck to you all.

 

Best regards.

Alain

Edited October 28, 2024 by NOVA73

[mick]

excellent work on ship and dock

[theskits62]

I'm speechless !! Brilliant is all i can say and that doesn't do it justice !

[MODeller]

Double gold standard and what dedication brilliant!!

[Bullbasket]

That's the second time that I've had to pick my jaw up off of the floor! (The first being your Bismarck). That is absolutely fabulous. You sir, are a master modeller. Very well done.

 

John.

[Micha_Pol]

Well, France is now officially the scale modelling capital of Europe, eh? What can I say, incredibly detailed and life-like scene, being all the more impressive for the fact most of it is scratch-built. Love everything about it. The weathering is some of the best I´ve seen in thiss cale, ever. And all this in 18 months? This looks more like the work of a lifetime (or 18 lifetimes).

Would love to see this, or some of your other work, in person - any chance you take any of that work to Euro Model Show in Lingen in March next year (or any other model show)?

Edited October 28, 2024 by Micha_Pol

[robgizlu]

Astonishing work - I agree Master Modelling of the highest order

Rob

[theskits62]

Can is ask who you use to transfer your PE designs to brass sheet and what thickness brass you are using ? The details are so fine - what is the resolution in the process ? Thanks

[NOVA73]

Hello everyone.

 

Thank you for your feedback on this montage.

 

I used to participate in model exhibitions as an exhibitor. But I had to stop due to illness. Now I stay at home and share on the forums.

 

For the PE, I will make a tutorial of the process of creating the drawings and give you all the instructions to have the engraving done at Hauler Ltd in the Czech Republic. There are other service providers in the United Kingdom. I don't remember their names.

 

But you can contact one of your compatriots Mr. Jim Baumann who I know uses the skills of one of them.

 

The essential prerequisite for doing PE yourself is to master vector drawing software. Personally, I use Illustrator.

Best regards.
Alain.

[nearsightedjohn]

Fabulous inspiring scale modeling! Thank you Alain for photographing/ posting/ sharing these works of art!

[Andy H]

C'est magnifique!

[dnl42]

That is truly stunning! Words cannot do justice to the effort here.

 

I've looked at crane barges as a truly unique subject, but you've delivered in a way that I would not have imagined.  

[JohnWS]

An outstanding accomplishment in modelling.  

 

John

[Richard E]

Your work is somewhere far beyond astounding, the replicas of KMS Bismarck and Kirov/Slava set a very high bar for detail but this presentation has exceeded both of them by some distance .....

[MilneBay]

Words fail me. All I can say is that is an absolutely magnificent work of modelling. 

[beefy66]

Amazing details and such a busy looking diorama.  

 

Stay Safe

 

beefy

[Toryu]

Fantastic! Incredible perseverance! There is almost too much detail to grasp it all.

[Saeran]

That is just stunning. I am full of jealousy of your modelling skills.

[echen]

Words fail...........................

[Rod bettencourt]

Yep, as several have said....I do not have the words. Just fantastic, thanks for sharing this piece of Art!

 

Rod

[ForestFan]

Absolutely amazing!

[Andreas.R]

une magnifique oeuvre d'art!

[Adler Leon]

Gobsmackingly impressive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

L

[Mr. Church]

Bravo, c'est magnifique. J'aime bien.

[Zoran Srb]

Magnificent!!! The amount of detail is mindboggling!! Congrats, I hope you'll treat us with more...