USS Juneau CL-52

[rjccjr]

Hi All;

As Chester A. Riley used to say, "What a revoltin' development this is!" It took several days to clean up the third deck level, only to find that the computer had decided to save it at 140 percent of the 1/192 scale profile. After thinking about the problem, I went back, looked at the deck levels and decided that the dimensions at the first platform deck were actually closer to the water level plan anyway. So, a copy of the port profile, which is correct to scale, was made and the first platform inserted below. At least the two would be compatible when cleaned up. Photo 1d shows the third deck. It is saved in case later adjustments become necessary. Photo 2d shows the partly cleaned platform with the profile.

Having some experience with working on the real thing, before the age of the computer, I've realized that when working with a booklet of general plans you can't take anything for granted. Tracings may or may not be suitable. Personally, the real plan is more useful. First it matters whether the plan was rolled or stored flat. A lot depends upon how they were reproduced. If the plan was laid out on a table for photo reproduction, it should be perfectly flat with the camera device directly above. Most plans are drawn on linen. It tends to reproduce as a grayish hue. The camera lens may distort the lines on the drawing slightly and it certainly will pick up every bit of debris and wrinkle or tear in the linen. Even if tears are carefully mended, the line may be slightly distorted. If you are going to design a model from these plans, the first thing you need is a perfectly vertical and perfectly horizontal reference line. This will detect whether the drawing is at an angle on either axis, or has bumps due to reproduction. You then need to establish a ruler graduated in tenths of an inch. That will serve to insure the dimensions.

For a profile drawing, the horizontal reference lines should be at the waterline and at the keel. For a plan or deck drawing the reference line should be directly down the center. If the drawing is not perfectly flat these lines will detect it. Sometimes the drawing centerline is slightly wobbled or asymmetrical. Once you have this accomplished, you can get on with the clean up. Photo 3d shows the insets for the starboard side of the island and the stacks. They are partly cleaned at the moment and will be used to generate the starboard profile later on. The last photo is a half mid ship area bulkhead. Once cleaned and adjusted for scale it will be used to establish the validity of the plan view dimensions. It will also be used to clarify drawings of the island, bridge, stacks and the hull bulge. There is still a very long way to go, but the beginning of the central keel, the water line plate and the bulkhead arrangement is in view.

Regards, rjccjr