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USS Cusk - SSG-348 in 1/350 scale


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To add to my collection of US Navy early cruise missile subs.......

USS Tunny....

350_Tunny_11.jpg

.... USS Grayback....

350_Grayback_02%20.jpg

.... and USS Halibut....

350_Halibut_03.jpg

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.........

350_USS%20Cusk_01.jpg

Apart from the upper hull, this sprue is common across all versions....

350_USS%20Cusk_02.jpg

This lower sprue is unique to the 1943 boxing......

350_USS%20Cusk_03.jpg

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)

350_USS%20Cusk_04.jpg

They even include a pressure hull inside - totally hidden from view..

350_USS%20Cusk_05.jpg

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

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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....

350_USS%20Cusk_06.jpg

.... and 'skinned' it with thin plastic card - using filler to make the sloping undersides....

350_USS%20Cusk_07.jpg

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......

350_USS%20Cusk_08.jpg

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.....

350_USS%20Cusk_09.jpg

That conning tower needs more work...... more later.

Ken

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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......

350_USS%20Cusk_11.jpg

I might add a few more struts......

Almost ready for the paint......

350_USS%20Cusk_12.jpg

Now for the Loon......

Ken

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I am always happy when you post pics of your latest builds. There are a lot of interesting subs that I have never seen before. The hanger turned out nice and building that launch ramp in 350 scale must have been a real challenge.

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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....

350_USS%20Cusk_13.jpg

The assembled Loon - wingspan is 15mm - and my old eyes need a rest :bandhead2:/>

350_USS%20Cusk_14.jpg

All the converted/scratched parts in place....

350_USS%20Cusk_15.jpg

Ken

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If you would have held off a couple days, you could have joined the "Iron Men, Plastic Ships" group build. I love what you've done here, though. I've wanted to do either Cusk or Tunny with the 1/72 Gato I've got in my stash, but as there is not a conversion kit, and my scratchbuilding skill are almost nil, I may have to go another route.

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