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Description

Ported to OBJ, somewhat lengthened fore and aft, and given basic textures from the low poly USS Guam (LPH-9) STL war gaming miniature model by Larry Thomas (aka PublicUniverse). Preview picture posed in XNALara XPS. You can download the original free STL model by Mr. Thomas at the link below but be warned! This is very low poly (more like a bathtub toy than a real model, as you can see above), and it's intended for use with a 3D printer, which means it comes untextured. If you want it in textured form, much less taking up the challenge of making it more realistic, then you're going to have to do it all yourself just like I did. Anyway, here's that link:

www.thingiverse.com/thing:1908…

The Iwo Jima class of the United States Navy (USN), all named for famous World War II amphibious assaults conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), were the first dedicated amphibious assault ship types of the Cold War era. The type had been pioneered during World War II by the Imperial Japanese Navy and its Akitsu Maru class (frequently mistaken as aircraft carriers, but I digress). One thing the Americans shared in common with the Japanese is that they knew a good idea when they saw it, and their subsequent Iwo Jima class took that pioneering concept and refined it even more. Unlike the initial various Commencement Bay and Essex class aircraft carrier conversions for assault ship use, Iwo Jima was built from the keel up as an assault ship type. Its primary air wing consisted of helicopters, not aircraft, as the helicopter had just come into its own and was quickly proving its usefulness in U.S. Marine operations. For this reason these were initially classified as helicopter carriers, and that is from where the official USN type abbreviation of LPH comes (Landing Platform, Helicopter); however, operating helicopters was not their only function. They were also designed to support U.S. Marine amphibious assault operations, providing accommodations and support for Marine troops, equipment, and landing craft. While they weren't perfect they represented a good start, and experience with operating the Iwo Jimas duing the Cold War would lead to the development of the larger and better Tarawa and Wasp classes (see separate entries). A total of seven were eventually built before the USN switched over to the larger and more capable Tarawa class; however, all members of the Iwo Jima class continued to serve ably and as they were able all the way to the end of their service lives shortly after the end of the Cold War. None of them were saved after being decommissioned, with all of them either sent to the breakers or expended as target ships. That said, their legacy lives on and their pivotal role in the further development of the dedicated amphibious assault ship type has not been forgotten.

This model represents USS Guam (LPH-9) which wound up being the longest lived member of the class. She served for 33 years, beating fellow class member Inchon and class ship Iwo Jima by about a year, which is a full life for a typical steel-hulled naval vessel. She is best remembered in naval history for being the test ship for the Sea Control Ship (SCS) concept from 1970 to 1974. While the USN itself has not followed up on the SCS concept, other nations have and the later ship classes that came from that were all thanks in part to Guam's pioneering role as the initial SCS concept test ship. As part of that test Guam also became the first USN carrier of any type to operate V/STOL aircraft, doubling as a trials ship for the subsequent use of British designed Harrier jump jets by the USN. The USN did follow up on that success, and even today V/STOL aircraft operations are a standard part of all USN amphibious assault ship types, thanks to the initial success with Guam back in the day.

This is one I've wanted for Mandel's for some years now, and I'm glad I finally found a model I could actually get my hands on to represent it. As I noted in the first paragraph this is a VERY low poly model; however, it's the only free one I've been able to find so far and you know where I stand on that. (grin) Beggars can't be choosers, eh? It'll do as a placeholder until I can get a better one for Mandel's. So please don't call this model a joke or say anything else nasty about it, okay? "When in Rome ..." and all that. If you want better, go find or make better.

For non-profit, non-commercial use only.

ASIDE - This is not to be confused with the later USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), which is of the later Wasp class. It was named in honor of the older ship.

TRIVIA 1 - The later Blue Ridge class command ships were based on a somewhat enlarged Iwo Jima class hull form. There's very nice CG models of Blue Ridge already out there, if any of you need something to start with in order to build your own better Iwo Jima class CG model.

TRIVIA 2 - One of the hardest to get of the old Aurora 1/600 scale naval plastic model kits is of Iwo Jima class member USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), given its short production run. It's one of Aurora's better naval model kits, which is why it remains valued even today. Junked out examples with various and sundry missing parts are difficult to find but not impossible; however, ones still in the box in either unbuilt or partially built form with either everything or almost everything there will cost you quite a bit. There's also vastly superior 1/700 resin model kits by Pit-Road out there of class ship USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) and class member USS Okinawa (LPH-3), but they're even more rare and expect to pay quite a bit for those. Hello, Trumpeter and Dragon! Here's one you can do too! Or maybe some fan will get their hands on and do a 3D scan of the old Aurora kit and convert it into a STL model for all of us. Here's hoping ...

Description

Ported to OBJ, somewhat lengthened fore and aft, and given basic textures from the low poly USS Guam (LPH-9) STL war gaming miniature model by Larry Thomas (aka PublicUniverse). Preview picture posed in XNALara XPS. You can download the original free STL model by Mr. Thomas at the link below but be warned! This is very low poly (more like a bathtub toy than a real model, as you can see above), and it's intended for use with a 3D printer, which means it comes untextured. If you want it in textured form, much less taking up the challenge of making it more realistic, then you're going to have to do it all yourself just like I did. Anyway, here's that link:

www.thingiverse.com/thing:1908…

The Iwo Jima class of the United States Navy (USN), all named for famous World War II amphibious assaults conducted by the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), were the first dedicated amphibious assault ship types of the Cold War era. The type had been pioneered during World War II by the Imperial Japanese Navy and its Akitsu Maru class (frequently mistaken as aircraft carriers, but I digress). One thing the Americans shared in common with the Japanese is that they knew a good idea when they saw it, and their subsequent Iwo Jima class took that pioneering concept and refined it even more. Unlike the initial various Commencement Bay and Essex class aircraft carrier conversions for assault ship use, Iwo Jima was built from the keel up as an assault ship type. Its primary air wing consisted of helicopters, not aircraft, as the helicopter had just come into its own and was quickly proving its usefulness in U.S. Marine operations. For this reason these were initially classified as helicopter carriers, and that is from where the official USN type abbreviation of LPH comes (Landing Platform, Helicopter); however, operating helicopters was not their only function. They were also designed to support U.S. Marine amphibious assault operations, providing accommodations and support for Marine troops, equipment, and landing craft. While they weren't perfect they represented a good start, and experience with operating the Iwo Jimas duing the Cold War would lead to the development of the larger and better Tarawa and Wasp classes (see separate entries). A total of seven were eventually built before the USN switched over to the larger and more capable Tarawa class; however, all members of the Iwo Jima class continued to serve ably and as they were able all the way to the end of their service lives shortly after the end of the Cold War. None of them were saved after being decommissioned, with all of them either sent to the breakers or expended as target ships. That said, their legacy lives on and their pivotal role in the further development of the dedicated amphibious assault ship type has not been forgotten.

This model represents USS Guam (LPH-9) which wound up being the longest lived member of the class. She served for 33 years, beating fellow class member Inchon and class ship Iwo Jima by about a year, which is a full life for a typical steel-hulled naval vessel. She is best remembered in naval history for being the test ship for the Sea Control Ship (SCS) concept from 1970 to 1974. While the USN itself has not followed up on the SCS concept, other nations have and the later ship classes that came from that were all thanks in part to Guam's pioneering role as the initial SCS concept test ship. As part of that test Guam also became the first USN carrier of any type to operate V/STOL aircraft, doubling as a trials ship for the subsequent use of British designed Harrier jump jets by the USN. The USN did follow up on that success, and even today V/STOL aircraft operations are a standard part of all USN amphibious assault ship types, thanks to the initial success with Guam back in the day.

This is one I've wanted for Mandel's for some years now, and I'm glad I finally found a model I could actually get my hands on to represent it. As I noted in the first paragraph this is a VERY low poly model; however, it's the only free one I've been able to find so far and you know where I stand on that. (grin) Beggars can't be choosers, eh? It'll do as a placeholder until I can get a better one for Mandel's. So please don't call this model a joke or say anything else nasty about it, okay? "When in Rome ..." and all that. If you want better, go find or make better.

For non-profit, non-commercial use only.

ASIDE - This is not to be confused with the later USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), which is of the later Wasp class. It was named in honor of the older ship.

TRIVIA 1 - The later Blue Ridge class command ships were based on a somewhat enlarged Iwo Jima class hull form. There's very nice CG models of Blue Ridge already out there, if any of you need something to start with in order to build your own better Iwo Jima class CG model.

TRIVIA 2 - One of the hardest to get of the old Aurora 1/600 scale naval plastic model kits is of Iwo Jima class member USS Guadalcanal (LPH-7), given its short production run. It's one of Aurora's better naval model kits, which is why it remains valued even today. Junked out examples with various and sundry missing parts are difficult to find but not impossible; however, ones still in the box in either unbuilt or partially built form with either everything or almost everything there will cost you quite a bit. There's also vastly superior 1/700 resin model kits by Pit-Road out there of class ship USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2) and class member USS Okinawa (LPH-3), but they're even more rare and expect to pay quite a bit for those. Hello, Trumpeter and Dragon! Here's one you can do too! Or maybe some fan will get their hands on and do a 3D scan of the old Aurora kit and convert it into a STL model for all of us. Here's hoping ...