Vol. 64, No. 4 winter 2019 332


markings, and this color was carried through to the aircraft tails. In addition, I chose to include an aerial recognition disc, used during fl eet maneuvers of the period, on turret three. The disc matched what was called the “ship’s color”, which, in turn, was also carried through to the aircraft.


2.


When I started this project, I began in an unusual place: I decided to build accommodation ladders before even starting on the ship itself. I cut up some inventory photo-etched parts and fabricated them to match historical photographs. Then, using a map pin, I smeared white glue across the railings to imitate canvas screens. (Figure 2)


3.


4.


convinced me it would be possible to backdate my Trumpeter kit to a peacetime confi guration that would not be a copy of his 1:192-scale rendition. After another year of research, I decided to depict USS San Francisco in middle-to-late 1939, when the ship was equipped with Curtiss SOC Seagull aircraft. (Figure 1) During this period the cruiser was the fl agship of Cruiser Squadron 7, under the command of Captain Charles Yates. Thus, it carried green stripes on the turret tops, the cruiser division


Once I was assured of decent ladders, I started working on the hull. First, I modifi ed the hawse hole surrounds and scratch built two propeller guards for the stern. Then, after gluing the upper and lower hulls together, I puttied the joint with Mr. Surfacer, wet sanded everything, and airbrushed on a coat of primer. (Figure 3) After the primer had dried, I used the airbrush again and pre-shaded the hull halves individually, using a different gray shade on each, to suggest oil canning. (Figure 4) Once the dark grays


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