USS Vincennes, CA-44, in 1/350 Scale

The Build - Details, instruments, life boats, ammo boxes, Depth Charges, aircraft, final deck details - April 1, 2017

At this point I added the myriad of details to the decks around the vessel. Ammo boxes, searchlights, instrumentation, depth charges, stairways, more life boats and davits. Also the catapults amidships, and the two masts.

This also included building the two search/scout aircraft.

This completed the vessel, but was time consuming because so many of these parts are very small and needed to be carefully attached:

The Build - Final touch up paint, clear dull coat, and completing the model - April 4, 2017

At this point I went around the model and touched up some of the areas that needed final touch up paint as a result of the building that went on around them after they had been painted and installed.

I then added two coats of dull coat clear paint. This allows the finish that is more glossy from the glue to be rendered dull like the rest of the model so that it all blends in well together.

After this, the vessel was completed and ready to show off in its final pictures:

And some close ups:

...and finally a couple of shots with the Vincennes, the Grayson, and the Hornet together:


...and there you have the completed USS Vincennes, CA-45, that was a part of the Doolittle Task Force.

Next Build:

- By June 1st, 2017 complete the WW II USS Enterprise, CV-6, in 1/350 scale

Jeff Head said:

...bound for Gualdalcanal and the fate of Vincinnes and two other New Orleans class cruisers.

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Jeff it's great you commemorated the fallen heroes


I liked this view most:

Jeff Head said:

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pretty different arrangement of catapults from the one typically found on Battleships (which I prefer to Cruisers

Jura said:

Jeff it's great you commemorated the fallen hero

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Thanks, Jura.

That battle was a ferocious, one sided affair, where the allied commander split his forces, and the Japanese commander came around one side and engaged the allied forces singly and defeated them in detail and at close range.

The naval fighting around Guadalcanal was some of the most intense in the war...or in history.

The War was decided at Midway really...but then six months later, and for about an eight month period, it was punctuated by the eventual allied victory around Guadalcanal. But it was an expensive fight for both sides with some amazing battles.

I would recommend the book, .

Really, the entire several Volume Set is better...but very expensive. That smaller book I reference is about 600 pages long and makes for a VERY good read about World War II Naval fighting in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Mediterranean.

The Japanese were on the defensive after Guadalcanal, but there was still some serious fighting...like around the Philipines and especially with:

The Battle of Samar Nov, 1944

Wow! Great display of art work there Jeff!

Jeff Head said:

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The Hornet is now a museum in Alameda's Naval Air Station, and they hold an annual New Year's Eve party, with period music from WW2. It's a fun and worthwhile event, because the proceeds go to operating the museum. Check it out if you're ever in the Bay Area.