Merchant Ship list for consideration 17 Done

[IRISH]

While Germany marched into and took Denmark without a shot, many of her merchant ships sialed for the Allied cause. With a fleet of over 200 merchant ships the following 5 ships would give a good representation:

AKs
1. Frode: 4 smaller ships built during 1917-1919 They measured 300'-0" The Frode survived the war.
2. Gertrude Marsk: 4 ships built in the 30s she also Survived. These ships came in at 345'-6"
AO
3. Emma Marsk: 2 stankers measuring at 484'-0"
AP
4. Asia: 4 ships in the class at 442'-0" The Asia fell under German Comtrol.
Ttamp
5. Nordhval: 4 ships in the class measuring in at 380'. The Nordhval came under the U.S. Navy's control and was lost to a Japanese Submarine.

Denmark Completed 3-10-09

[Donald M. Scheef]

With respect to the "Tramp" steamer put out by CinC: My measurements put this model at 1 7/8 inches long overall - the equivalent of 375 feet in 1/2400 scale. To the best of my knowledge there was no ship actually named "Tramp."

The "Doxford" steamer also put out by CinC measures almost exactly two inches long - the equivalent of 400 feet. "Doxford" was a manufacturer of marine engines. A large number of cargo ships built between the war used Doxford engines. During the war, about 80 ships were built to a "War Production" standard with Doxford engines, but these ships were 425' long. I could not find any individual ship named "Doxford" or a class of ships identified as "Doxford."

The "* Park" type merchants mass produced by the UK during WWII were about 440 feet long (some variations between shipyards). They were the UK equivalent of the US Liberty ship, but mostly coal-fired rather than oil-fired boilers and with a different appearance to the superstructure (similar to that on CinC's "Doxford" model.

Looking at Jordan's book "World's Merchant Fleets of 1939," in the UK section only, I found several hundred cargo ships with an overall length between 370' to 380' and nearly as many with an overall length between 395' to 405'. Since only a few of these were illustrated, I could not compare the appearance of the CinC models to the ships in the book.

My conclusions/summary:
- Identity of "Tramp" is unknown but many possibilities.
- Identity of "Doxford" is unknown but many possibilities.
- To the best of my knowledge, no one makes an accurate model of the "* Park" type ship (also known as "North Sands" type; "Fort *" named ships were very similar.) It should look like a US Liberty ship hull with the superstructure from CinC's "Doxford"

Also, in Jordan's book I could not find another ship (Norwegian, from the same shipyard, and with similar characteristics) to match MV Gran.

Don S.

[Gridley]

As my first post on these boards, I'd like to go down on my knees and beg GHQ to make AGC and AKA models for the US in WWII.

Selling LSTs separate from rather rare gun/rocket support craft and making a model of the LCI(G) would be nice too.

[Donald M. Scheef]

Suggestions for Consolidated Micronauts Wish List

I would like to add your requests to the Consolidated Micronauts Wish List. The LCI(G) is straightforward, but there are several choices for AGCs and AKAs. Could you please select which of the following you most want (including the entire list is OK).

AGC.1 – Appalachian class: Four ships built on C2-S-B1 hulls; I don’t know of any good 1/2400 models for these. The appearance is similar to that of the ACG.7 class.

AGC.4 – Ancon: One ship built on a C3-P&C hull; I don’t know of any good 1/2400 model for this.

AGC.6 was the US Coast Guard Cutter Duane. It actually retained its CG designation of WAGC.33. I don’t know of any 1/2400 model of this ship.

AGC.7 – Mount McKinley class: Eleven ships built on C2-S-AJ1 hulls. Viking Forge/Seabattle makes a reasonable model of the stock C2-S-AJ1, but the ACG version had an extra deck added for accommodation and extra masts for communications gear.

AGC.18 – Biscayne: This was a former Barnegat class AVP. I don’t know of any 1/2400 model for this.

AKA.1 – Arcturus class: Five ships built on C2 hulls. These ships are reasonably well represented by CinC’s Algol.

AKA.2 – Procyon class: Six ships built on C2-T hulls. Seabattle makes a reasonably good, but expensive, model of this class.

AKA.5 – Fomalhout: One ship built on a C1-A hull. Seabattle makes a reasonably good, but expensive, model of the basic C1 ship.

AKA.9 – Alhena: One ship built on a C2-S hull. Seabattle makes a reasonably good, but expensive, model of a C2-S.

AKA.10 – Almaack: One ship built on a C3-E hull. Seabattle makes a reasonably good, but expensive, model of a C3 ship.

AKA.12 – Libra class: Three ships; Seabattle makes a reasonably good, but expensive, model of the similar AF.10 Aldebaran.

AKA.15 – Andromeda class and AKA.64 Tolland class: Sixty ships total built on C2-S hulls. CinC makes a good model of this at a reasonable price. GHQ might be slightly better, but I already have a good collection of the CinC models.

I would point out that none of these (including the LCI(G)) have any votes yet. Personally, I would most like to see the Mount McKinleys produced by GHQ.

Don S.

[Gridley]

Suggestions for Consolidated Micronauts Wish List

I would like to add your requests to the Consolidated Micronauts Wish List. The LCI(G) is straightforward, but there are several choices for AGCs and AKAs. Could you please select which of the following you most want (including the entire list is OK).

Happy to.

AGC.1 – Appalachian class: Four ships built on C2-S-B1 hulls; I don’t know of any good 1/2400 models for these. The appearance is similar to that of the ACG.7 class.

AGC.7 – Mount McKinley class: Eleven ships built on C2-S-AJ1 hulls. Viking Forge/Seabattle makes a reasonable model of the stock C2-S-AJ1, but the ACG version had an extra deck added for accommodation and extra masts for communications gear.

I'd like to see one of these two; I'm aware of the Viking model, but I'd like my amphibious force flagship to look like a real AGC, not have to kitbash on extras.

AKA.15 – Andromeda class and AKA.64 Tolland class: Sixty ships total built on C2-S hulls. CinC makes a good model of this at a reasonable price. GHQ might be slightly better, but I already have a good collection of the CinC models.

I'll cast a vote for the Andromeda/Tolland classes; as far as I can tell they'd be all but identical in 1/2400 and they made up the bulk of the wartime AKA tonnage.

I would point out that none of these (including the LCI(G)) have any votes yet. Personally, I would most like to see the Mount McKinleys produced by GHQ.

Don S.

Yes, but one vote is better than none. :-} As long as I'm voting, I'd like to add a vote for hull number & aircraft carrier deck marking decals.

[Donald M. Scheef]

I was the one who posted (in this thread) the comment that Doxford was an engine manufacturer, not a ship builder.

After reading E.springer's posting and taking another look at Jordan, I believe that E. Springer is correct.

Don S.

[IRISH]

I wanted to bring my list back for consideration if any of these ships might make it into the Production list for next year.

[IRISH]

Thank you GHQ, With the MV Tower Hill we collectors now have a representative for the Forts, Parks and Oceans.

IRISH

[Donald M. Scheef]

I think that what we got was actually a Doxford-built ship, as described above; not a Fort/Park/Ocean. Tower Hill was a MV (motor vessel, i.e., Diesel-type engine); The Fort/Park/Ocean types used reciprocating steam engines. They are generally similar in appearance, but the differences should be visible given the detail GHQ puts into thier models.

Don S.

[IRISH]

Don;

Here is my lsit brought back to the top for consideration.
With the Tower Hill now we have the 78 ships built to that design and it will represent 32 of the Fort, Park Oceans that were alittle longer, but have the same general shape including the life boat layout. I would love to see GHQ do maybe 2 or 3 Auxs or Merchants along with 10 or 12 warships I know I would buy 1 for 1 as I have so far.
I still need to finish off my APA Montrose ( about 50 to go ) and I have a long way to go on the Libertys unknown how many I still need there LOL

Best of Luck and take a look see at the list again.

IIRSH aka Bill

[IRISH]

I have suggested the following ships fom my list and provided links hoping that GHQ might produce some new Merchants / Auxs for the 2012-2013 run.

Aden Maru IJN Cargo ship 42 ships serving Japan, 1 Greek & 1 Canadian.

Toyoota Maru IJN Cargo / Transport Tsuruga Maru sunk at Balikpapn 6 ships in the class with another 12 very close.

4 Aces 4 Passenger ships converted to US Navy Transports