Saur's big bunch o' Stuff - now featuring more than ships! Black Eagle/Harrier!

[Sauragnmon]

Now for a few shots of the Sprukidd - I got inspiration, and I've been working a lot on the project - I never liked the Spruance/Tico off-center stack arrangement, so I set them both forward and moved some of the above-structure systems to the aft block.  I've got the majority of the systems fitted, she's coming along well.  In essence, the ship's potentially the furthest upgrade possible, without VLS, that I can think of.  The buyer (it's an exported ship) was refitted with the Oto Melara 5" Compact, and the bow was given the extra flaring from the Ticon.  Yes, I haven't done ALL the detail work on the CIWS mountings, the radomes have not been done in proper white just yet.

[Just call me Ray]

Uh-huh...I was wondering when you'd finally get around to the Sprucan, though I didn't see the OTO gun coming.

[Sauragnmon]

At the time, I was just looking for a gun to replace the Mk45, that I had on hand, that wouldn't cause a problem.  That was the concept at that point.  I didn't realize that the Sprucan was actually designed with an aft Mk26 in mind when I started, so this is really not so much a Spruance/Kidd as a Maximum Non-VLS Spruance.

This is actually the first of a handful of Spruance-based and Spruance-esque designs I have in plan - I have another spruance, a Kidd, a Ticon and a Perry all sitting in the stash waiting for my sledgehammer of glorious alteration.

[ChernayaAkula]

<...> sledgehammer of glorious alteration.

That sounds like a weapon from Diablo or Titan Quest!  I think that should go in your custom, mod-appointed signature: "wields the sledgehammer of glorious alteration".

[Sauragnmon]

ROFL now that you mention it, it DOES sound like a weapon from some RPG or another.  Hilarious thought there.

[Sauragnmon]

Alright, a while ago, one of the boys asked for some wide angle shots of Tirpitzski - I got off my arse the other day, after having to make a few repairs, and took them.  We'll show these first:






Now, I've been a little busy, fighting, cursing, and arguing the masts into place on the Sprukidd - I'm keeping the operating name for now, and I figure, she'd do good for ROKN - they used the Oto 5" on the KD-I, they did get USN ships, and Standard, and domestic-built a Tomahawk-esque missile, and use their own ASROC.  Of course, they went from the Gearings into the KDX programme, so I figure Sprukidd might make a modest intermediary.  I've just got to fit the boats, the side walls, and put a Lynx on the pad, and she's gravy in the dish.  Finally.  One down, too many Spruances to go.  I'll probably pause for another ship that I'm thirsting to do though.  It's heretically delicious to think of.







As always - Questions, Comments, Queries and Rude Remarks are welcome.

[Jschmus]

What's the grey-green vessel behind/under the SpruKidd in the last shot?  I see WWII IJN-type torpedo launchers, but up top there's Sea Sparrow-looking launcher.

[Sauragnmon]

Behind the Sprukidd, in the "in progress" section of my desk, is actually my whole Republic of Japan Navy stuff.  Two Abukuma DE immediately foreground, behind that a Tachikaze class DDG in modification, behind that a Shirane DDH, modified, and behind that, the Kongo BCG.  A little further behind that you might see my Koya Panzerschiffe.

I figure the ROJN would keep the 24" torpedo on surface ships for the range and striking power, as they're a full blown navy, completely restricted from any through-deck ships or fixed-wing naval operation.  Basically, anything resembling a Carrier that could be used for fixed-wing flight operations, they can't have.  So as a result, the Battleships are taking up the slack, with modernizations.

[Taiidantomcat]

Excellent!! 

[Sauragnmon]

Alright, jam a fork in this puppy, she's done.  Sprukidd, started so long ago, got finished this morning with the last paint.  Pics!







As always - Questions, Comments, Queries and Rude Remarks are welcome.

[lancer]

Ye Gods!! What a beauty!! Bloody fine job Simon.

[Sauragnmon]

Thanks Lance, she took a bit of work, and I've got others in the same family tree that are scheduled for alterations.  Another class I seem to be collecting a bunch of will be the Type 42 - a buddy of mine's got a few he's sending me, and I have plans for those as well.  But, for now, I'm back to feeding my Battleship fetish - I laid the keel and did some preliminary work on the HIJMS Owari last night, should promise to be an interesting ship when I'm done.

[anthonyp]

Nice, like the Tirpitski!  I've got a Bismark getting the NATO treatment.

Like the Sprukidd too!  Might have missed it, but who was the customer?  South Korea?

[Sauragnmon]

Yeah, South Korea got the final export explanation - a Pre-KDX upgrade to their Gearing/Fletcher fleet. The Lynx, the Oto 5", it gives it a somewhat Korean flair, and likely the ABLs are carrying the Hyunmoo III missile instead of Tomahawk, they are close enough, in principle.  I've got other Spruance-based modifications in mind as well, which should do away with some of those features I find ugly about the Spruances, like that flat-faced look on them.

I did Tirpitzski for the Sovietize It group build, though I'd been conceptualizing that for a long time.

[ChernayaAkula]

You always ask for rude remarks and while I really try to come up with rude remarks, I just can't.  Mighty fine build!