Donn McKinney never served aboard the U.S.S. Missouri, but has had a soft spot for the historic battleship since he was a child. McKinney’s dream is to see the ship in action, and how the vessel served its country from World War II to Operation Desert Storm. With the help of SolidWorks® software, a 30+ year dream may soon become a reality.
McKinney is part of a team engaged in producing operational replicas of the Iowa Class Battleships U.S.S. Iowa, U.S.S. New Jersey, U.S.S. Missouri, and U.S.S. Wisconsin. The goal of the project is to put these operational ships on display for the education and enjoyment of the general public in various locales.
Through advancements in SolidWorks CAD software, McKinney has seen his project evolve from an 18-foot wooden ship, to an 18-foot steel ship. More recently, the latest rendition of the project is a 28-foot replica that features the ship’s complete functionality including radar and fully operational scaled weapons. McKinney is also working to add a system that will allow presenters to give full military orders to the vessel and receive an immediate response.
“When these ships were first built, they were termed as ‘The most complicated moving man-made objects on Earth.’ Indeed, they were and continue to stand as great feats of engineering,” noted McKinney. “Thanks to SolidWorks, I am creating complex ships with ease and ensuring the replicas are truly authentic by using the most state of the art technology available.”
McKinney is adamant that any ship can be created using this methodology including such revered ships as the U.S.S Arizona, the French Battleship Richelieu, and the British Battle Cruiser HMS Hood among others.
“The SolidWorks community never ceases to amaze me with their passion, innovation, and drive,” said Christine Washburn, vice president, marketing, DS SolidWorks. “What Donn McKinney and his team are doing with our software is more than bringing dreams to life … they are recreating history that can be experienced around the world. We look forward to seeing his complete fleet one day. ”
