1/350 scale USS Solace LHD Amphibious Hospital Ship

[seadude]

The more research I do for this project, the more I wonder if it's really worth it. I tend to think that a WASP type LHD would be a good candidate for a possible future hospital ship replacement. But it seems the US Navy and a few other groups have already made up their minds and it's possible we could see a LPD-17 San Antonio class hospital ship variant instead in the future. It certainly seems to be going that way.
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/tah-future.htm
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved=0ahUKEwig15_TyL7JAhXE1h4KHR8pA5QQFgg-MAc&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dtic.mil%2Fcgi-bin%2FGetTRDoc%3FAD%3DADA554335&usg=AFQjCNELKjtha8kw5rSkbi5-ESvzV4XNCg&cad=rja

[kerick]

It's not just turning an older ship to new mission. Things like hip design and power plants have changed greatly over the years. A newer ship can be far more efficient. Plus adding all the new communications and computer networking to an old ship could be quite an expensive problem. I'm not an expert on ships by any means, just speaking in general terms. But this is whiff world so go wherever the muse takes you!

[Thorvic]

Probably makes sense an LHD gives a lot for its full length flight deck and aviation capability. An LPD can probably give over more internal space to the medical function for a cheaper price and maybe smaller crew which will be the driving factors.

At least its being looked into in the US, as the UK Argus soldiers on in the role part time whilst its replacement is deferred till the next SDSR

[seadude]

I might go a bit "deeper" on the detail when building this model. What do I mean by deeper? Well, look at the pic below. See that long rectangular overhang with the tiny blue windows in it? Well, there's supposed to be 2 cargo elevators underneath that overhang that lead to the 2 garage doors that you see on the front of the superstructure on the upper left of the pic. The cargo elevators aren't kit parts. I'll have to scratchbuild them instead. And if I feel really crazy, I might even scratchbuild a vertical cargo elevator shaft. But that's a big "IF".  The only problem is that these cargo elevators will be kinda hidden underneath the overhang and the only way people will see them would be with a small dental mirror.    This just goes to show and tell you that I'm getting a bit more crazy and detailed on this project. Who knows what I might do next?    

[zenrat]

The thing when embarking on such detail adding is to not get carried away to such an extent that you never finish the build because you are always adding more.  There is also the risk that once having finished the latest super accurate addition you look back at what came before it and decide you have to redo it as it doesn't make the grade.
Having said that, if you don't go down this route will you regret it?

[seadude]

I want to be as accurate and detailed as I possibly can for the interior of an LHD. At least........to the best of my ability. I just can't stand looking at aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship model kits in magazines or at contests and not being able to see into the hangar bays and so forth except through the aircraft elevator openings.  It just pisses me off that modelers spend so much time and effort detailing well decks, hangar bays, or other interior spaces, and then when they put the flight deck or other roof piece on, YOU CAN'T SEE ANY OF IT, except for a tiny portion right near the aircraft elevator opening! What's the point of doing all that interior work if your audience can't see the frigging interior?! This is why I am committing myself to doing things differently and making my model interior fully visible to the public. I want people to see how an LHD works. Otherwise, how else are people going to see the interior of an LHD? During Fleet Week at some coastal city?

[zenrat]

In that case you must put the lifts in because I suspect the bottom of them will be visible to a viewer who bends down and looks at a low angle across the top of the cutaway part.
At one model show I attended someone bought along a huuuuuuuge USS Enterprise he had spent forever building.  It must have been about 2m long and it had full interior detail and like you say he had put all the decks on so if you peered into it you could see some stuff in there in the gloom but not what it was exactly.  He was talking about doing another one with lights in it.

So go for it.  Build your crazily detailed ship and astound us all with your attention to detail.

[seadude]

All further updates on this model project will cease until further notice. I'm not going to continue while this website is currently broken with it's PHP/SMF issues. Further updates on this model project will continue in my other build thread here:
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=156955&start=20

[seadude]

Probably not the best pics below as I am not a good photographer, but it's the best I could do.

1. So I opened up the port side embarkation/debarkation door area. You might be able to see through the opening and see the other starboard side doors on the other side. It may not look like they line up with the port side opening, but they do. I might have had the model at a tiny slight angle when taking the pic while trying to hold the hull.


2. A closer view of the opening. I used some spare miscellaneous parts from my spares box to try and simulate the overhead crane system above the doorway. It may look cheesy and crappy, but I'm not worried.
https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4025/4648902260_967258fede_b.jpg
http://www.sddt.com/images/pictures/military/navy-020615_150203-N-EV723-281.JPG


3. Interior port side embarkation entrance.


4. Ramp to the lower vehicle storage bay.


5. These next pics might be hard to explain, but I'll try. I'm willing to bet that there are cargo elevator doors on the starboard side of the upper vehicle bay forward of the starboard embarkation/debarkation doorway area. Otherwise, how else is cargo going to be on loaded or off loaded on vehicles in the upper vehicle bay? So I got some spare parts from my spares box and built a single cargo elevator underneath the overhang. Not sure if it's right or not, but I'm guessing that's the right location? If I'm wrong, then sorry. There actually should be 2 cargo elevators, but I could only build one. I hopefully would like to scratchbuild some form of elevator shaft (Pic showing sample Evergreen rod in vertical position.) leading from the vehicle bay cargo elevator to the cargo elevator doorway on the main deck in front of the bridge area. Not sure if this is feasible, but I'm hoping to try.

[seadude]

I need ideas. I need suggestions. I need advice. I posted long ago the below quote. I'll be assembling the aft end soon in a few days and am looking for ideas on what to add/change there. I originally thought of a boat deck, but I'm not sure on this anymore. Here's what the back end of an LHD normally looks like:
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/am/lhd/350-pvb/lhd1-36.jpg

In an earlier post somewhere, I had made the suggestion of putting extra boats and cranes at the rear of the LHD above the well deck gate where the Phalanx's and Seasparrow launcher originally are. But Old Wombat mentioned this would probably be a bad idea.
The below picture was my original idea. But if I don't put boats there, then what? Anybody got ideas for what I should use the back end for?

[zenrat]

Sun deck.
3 or 4 female crew members sun baking in bikinis on beach towels while male crew members leer at them over the edge of the deck above.

[seadude]

Sun deck.
3 or 4 female crew members sun baking in bikinis on beach towels while male crew members leer at them over the edge of the deck above.

I'll.....uh...keep that in mind.  Any other suggestions?

[seadude]

A major hurdle has just been overcome: Painting the main hull white. I've heard and read how bad painting things white can be, but hopefully, I did good on my LHD hull. And if you must know, I didn't use an airbrush nor did I spray paint.......well, sort of. I live in a small apartment, so space is at a premium. I spray painted a white primer for starters, but after that, no more further spray painting. Fumes were getting to be too much (Yes, I was wearing a mask.). Can't open windows due to being cold and winter time. Basement is too dusty and cold. So after just one spray pass of white primer, I then decided to brush paint the hull from now on. Took 2-3 coats. Hopefully, it doesn't look too bad. There shouldn't be any brush strokes that you can see. These are the best photos I could take with my camera. Let me know what you think.

[seadude]

Regarding Post # 144 further above.........I've asked around on a few other forums and the answers I've gotten back have been..........hilarious, to say the least. 
Things like: Sun deck, Solarium, Mini pool, Jacuzzi, Deck chairs & picnic tables, Mini game courts (Soccer, basketball, etc.)

WTF?  I'm not building a Carnival Cruise Lines passenger ship here.  Hospital ships just don't have those sorts of things. Let's be a little more "realistic" for Christ's sake! There's got to be SOMETHING I can put in that area. I just don't know what? 

[sandiego89]

Let's be a little more "realistic"........There's got to be SOMETHING I can put in that area. I just don't know what?

Put several stacks of 20 foot containers back there and a small crane. Stack 2 high, around 10 accross.   Many components of field hospitals and other Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster relief (HADR) gear is now going containerized.  With a crane they could be lowered to LCU's/Landing craft, or be lifted to the the flight deck to become underslung loads on a CH-53. This way you have both ship based and forward field hospitals/triage.

The containers are easy to scratch up with evergreen rectangles. Here are some I did in 1/700 scale for a WHIF Atlantic Conveyor.  

 



Check out this UN field hospital using 20 foot containers

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/64/f9/aa/64f9aa76d4555399372789a4dc5adb50.jpg