Cheap source for 1/350-1/400 Talos launchers?

[Andrew Gorman]

Hi folks.
I'm thinking of turning the newly re-issued Revell Savanah into some kind of cold war military ship- move the deckouse a couple of inches forward, add a bit more  Norman Bel Geddes style streamlining, a helo pad aft, and some Talos missile launchers because I've always liked them.  Does anyone know of a kit in roughly 1/380 scale that has a few Talos launchers  included?  They should be easy enough to scratch up, but I'm feeling lazy.  By the way, the Revell Germany Savannah is a darn nice kit- my copy has little flash, and the reactor vessel is mysterious looking enough to act as almost anything you want- put one under the hood of YOUR next model!
Thanks in advance,
Andrew

[Joe C-P]

The largest Talos out there now is on the old Revell Long Beach, at around 1/500. Later this year, someone is coming out with the Albany class in 1/350, so you might be able to purchase couple launcher off them. I can find the manufacturer if you'd like.

JoeP

[Hobbes]

There is a 1:350 Long Beach kit, but it's massively expensive

[Andrew Gorman]

I'd found the Long Beach kit too, and agree it's a little spendy to use as a donor!  Looks like I'll have another little scratchbuilding project when this one gets underway.  The Airfix Moskva has some nice Goblet launchers, but at 1/600 they are a little small.  I could splice a couple of the rails together, though...
Edits- Poking around on the web I ran across this site:
http://www.ao.com/~phays/gm_division/
Actually it's just a folder full of Talos pictures taken on board ship in the 1960's.  Pretty darn neat.  There is one Talos launcher larger than 1/350- the 1/40(!) scale Revell kit-
http://www.ninfinger.org/~sven/models/boxt...ps/revh1808.jpg
The picture in "Creating Space" of a built-up shows a shipboard launcher and two missiles, not the field rig on the box art.  I have no idea which one is correct.
Andrew

[Joe C-P]

Andrew,

Don't be afraid to write the manufacturer and ask if they have spare parts they will sell you. Usually they don't, but they might have some shots that didn't work completely.

Joe

[Guest]

Probably best to turn her into a warship.  Reason Savannah failed as a merchantman was because she was too small.  Space was also waisted in fitting her out with luxury cabins for passangers that would not be used.  She was supposed to be a demonstrator for both nuclear powered freight and pasanger liners.  That is why she was small, that is why space was waisted with pasanger space.  She failed because of her design.  Would civilian nuclear powerd ships be feasable?  No, probably not.  Nonethelss the point is that the Savannah was designed poorly.  One thing I am considering though is combining the USNS Gordon LMSR with a landing ship, some self defense arms and a set of VLS cells to support her troops as a large landing ship.

T-AKR 296 Gordon
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/takr-296.htm

http://www.modelshipbuilding.com/ Gordon is listed

[Guest]

WShe might even hold a Zubir

[elmayerle]

Probably best to turn her into a warship.  Reason Savannah failed as a merchantman was because she was too small.  Space was also waisted in fitting her out with luxury cabins for passangers that would not be used.  She was supposed to be a demonstrator for both nuclear powered freight and pasanger liners.  That is why she was small, that is why space was waisted with pasanger space.  She failed because of her design.  Would civilian nuclear powerd ships be feasable?  No, probably not.  Nonethelss the point is that the Savannah was designed poorly.  One thing I am considering though is combining the USNS Gordon LMSR with a landing ship, some self defense arms and a set of VLS cells to support her troops as a large landing ship.

T-AKR 296 Gordon
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ship/takr-296.htm

http://www.modelshipbuilding.com/ Gordon is listed

Pick up some of the studies BAe did on adding a Harrier/Sea harrier capability on board container ships and you could ahve your own organic ari support on board.

[Guest]

I Forgot about that!  Good thing you remembered!

http://www.geocities.com/strategicmaneuver/
(Scroll Down)

In his We could be heroes video, he F-18's are used as surrogates for VTOL F-35's.
Someone should ask Mike sparks to Join up! (Im a member but dont wnat to post under my member untill I get a good project under my belt)

Of course you would need a BGVDN (Guided missile BattleCarrier Amphibious Dock Nuclear) some  CGDN (Guided missile BattleCarrier Amphibious Dock Nuclear), and some escorts.  Perhaps the Amphibious troop freighters could also serve as oilers for the escorting frigates and destroyers.  These are ships i plan to Kitbash in the future.  Perhaps the Freighter should be nuclear propelled so as to have more oil for the escorts.

Had an idea for small combatants: Could a larger escort ship deploy small hovercraft or hydrofoils as scouts and fast attack vessels.  Or perhaps a hydrofoil about the size of a WWII PT boat.

http://www.h-overcraft.com/web/classi_01.htm
(Scroll down to what looks like a Russian Lebed, under the zubir)

[Guest]

BGVDN, CGDN, and the conceptual freighter would have hovercraft as small escorts because they can go in and provide extra firepower to the troops on the beach.  Escorting destroyers and frigates would have PT Boat sized hydrofoils as small attack and scout escorts. (no troops, just guns and missiles)

[Joe C-P]

WShe might even hold a Zubir

Go over to the thread about my Japanese CVDN to see just how big a Zubr is. The best you'll get is maybe an LCAC or a Gus, or one of the smaller hovercraft of the Vietnam War, or the Royal Navy.

JoeP

[elmayerle]

Back in the 1980's, there was a novel, Choke Point by Charles D. Taylor, that had the Soviets using the Ivan Rostov to carry and deploy combat hovercraft in mid-ocean against a USN BG, unfortunately for them, it was a BBBG and a rain of 16-inch shells tends to ruin your day.  Still, 'tis an interesting thought.

[elmayerle]

Guest,

Over on the USN Harrier thread, Jschmus gave full info on that BAe plan I mentioned:

"It was called "SCADS" for Shipboard Containerized Air Defence System. It used a standard cargo vessel and added on a flight deck with ski jump, as well as hangar spaces and defensive armament, all added in layers of containers overtop of the existing deck structures."

Combine that with the other mods you discussed for the T-AKR 296, with perhaps the addition of nuclear power, and you'd have quite an assault transport.

[Guest]

You are right Joe,

I was meaning to take this up in the forum at some point in time.  Figure with a freighter I could somehow make a larger welldeck.  Thought of "bashing in" the superstructure eg having a lower conning tower via cutting and filling to lower her, but she would still be too wide.  Someone was kind enough to post ship studies on this bulliten board, and I think this monster might be able to hold a zubir or two.  I just wished they had more information to help me build her.

http://www.nps.navy.mil/tsse/files/1998.htm

I believe that when the zubir was conceved, she was meant primarily to move tanks and infantry close to the Soviet Union in case of war: Black and Baltic seas, quite possibly Japan and China, and was not meant to be carried aboard a ship.

They are notoriouly unreliable and only 2 of the original 9 are still in service.  Greece has bought a couple and China has experssed interest.

My idea for small combatants was ment in primarily litoral areas, to have smaller more flexible attackers and scouts close to the shore.  At most the attack hovercraft would be the size of the lebed.  They would not only scout ans support ships, but could provide support to landing troops partway in land.

Dragon no longer cartrries Soviet ACV's anyone know where I could grab a couple?  They are getting very rare, looks like Im going to have to learn how to mold!