The Ship Model Forum

As John said, 5"/25 guns are what you need.

I thought I'd throw a list together of all the 3D printed parts one can buy to accurize their 1/700 Arizona kit:

3DModelParts:
5"/25 guns
5"/51 guns
.50 cal Water cooled Machine guns
Nevada/Pennsylvania class Fighting tops
Arizona splinter shielding

ModelMonkey:
Arizona Forward Superstructure (1941)
Arizona Funnel (1941)
Superstructure gun director platforms (for the 1.1" guns that were never installed)
Turrets (this is one of three offerings)

I actually own at least one of each of the above mentioned detail parts and I highly recommend them.

_________________
-Abram
ModelWarships Gallery Page
Joslin Models Facebook Page

Thanks for the help. I was aware the casemate guns were 5-51s, but for some reason, I was thinking the anti-aircraft guns were 5-38s. Thanks for the correction.

Hello all,

I'm sure this has been brought up before, but 87 pages is a lot to read through haha. What is the general consensus on the MK1 set and the Big Ed set + Pontos deck for the 1/200 Arizona? I have been gathering parts in anticipation of starting my build soon, but I'm on the fence about which combo to get. I like that the MK1 is "all in one" but I've heard that the kit is somewhat incomplete compared to the Big Ed set. I've also read that the MK1 deck has the correct planking pattern, but the Pontos looks better and has other details the MK1 doesn't have. Any opinions are welcome!

Thanks for the help!

Nelson Wallace

_________________
-Nelson
Current Project:
1:200 U.S.S. Arizona
1:350 U.S.S. Chicago SSN-721

Future Projects:
All of them!

Hi Nelson,
Like you I've been collecting parts for this build. Here's what I'm aware of.

Mk1 is the only combo set I'm aware of. You are correct that it has a more realistic plank layout pattern. I believe butt ends repeat every four planks. It does not however have the scarfed joints.

Pontos has not released anything for the 1/200 Arizona that I'm aware of. I believe they had plans to release one by now but it hasn't happened. They also said it is for the Arizona kit. Will it be a Pennsylvania conversion? Or will they do a couple of different variants for this class?

Artwox has a deck that has the plank scarfing but has the Trumpeter plank pattern. Personally I can live with the pattern issues to have the scarf joints.

Eduard has some nice components. The boat rack and crane set is very nice but I've never been a fan of their railing. They always look a little chunky to me.

White Ensign Models has a very nice photo etch set as well. They were the first to include the gun clocks (the Eduard set also has these). Not sure of the availability. I couldn't find them at my go to source, Free Time Hobbies. They also have a chain deck sections old separately.

Model_Monkey through Shapeways has a large number of 3D printed parts in 1/200. You can get a complete new superstructure, funnel, guns, directors, etc. but hold on to your wallets. Also remember that he's done these to factory drawings and they may not fit your wood deck very well.

Nautilus Models has a wood deck but I'm not a fan.

You can also find barrels, screws, and other parts. Check out Free Time Hobbies for what they have. The Trumpeter upgrade set is also out there but nothing to get excited about.

Pick your poison. Hopefully different people who have used the different components will chime in. I'm looking forward myself to hearing what they have to say. I'm really curious if anyone has bought the 3D printed structures.
Dave

All,

new to this forum but I like what I have seen so far.

Always wanted to model the Arizona as she appeared when she had cage masts and casemate 5"/51's.
Do any plans or drawings exist of her similar to the general drawings booklet link on page 1 of this forum.

thanks

Andy

They're in Battleship Arizona by Paul Stillwell..not sure if they're out there as a fold out, purchasable plan set.

Just realized I had a typo in my last post haha. I meant to write Big Ed PE set + Artwox deck, I was thinking of Pontos for another kit I want.

Dave:
Thanks for that rundown of the parts. I've been leaning towards the Big Ed set because it seems to be the one that people end up buying to get parts the other kits miss. If the railings seem out of scale, is there another manufacturer you like better for those?

I had planned on getting a couple of parts from Shapeways, but not going to go overboard on them. I'm working on getting a set of plans for the screws, and if I can get them I'm going to model correct screws and put them up on Shapeways for people who want them. Also going to grab a metal barrel set for the secondaries and AA guns.

Thanks for the help, I'm really looking forwards to getting started on her!

_________________
-Nelson
Current Project:
1:200 U.S.S. Arizona
1:350 U.S.S. Chicago SSN-721

Future Projects:
All of them!

Some people may have seen this before, but I thought I'd share it. I saw it a while ago, but I couldn't remember the name of the show it was in. Pearl Harbor Declassified that aired on the Military channel has some good pictures and films I hadn't seen before. At about the 30 minute mark they show the famous Arizona footage, but it is enhanced and you are able to make out more details than the original film. It was very humbling.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2kcdos

_________________
-Nelson
Current Project:
1:200 U.S.S. Arizona
1:350 U.S.S. Chicago SSN-721

Future Projects:
All of them!

I've been looking for that for a while, thanks for posting it.

It's very sobering and chilling seeing the cleaned up footage...every time I see it I am always amazed that Stratton survived being in (I think) AD1.

I'm wondering if I can get copies of the pictures of the USS Arizona
Taken by mr Jeff Seeling at Pearl Harbor
Model made by Mr Don Preul
Thanks
Jerry Albert

Jerry, you can find the images on the main site: http://www.modelwarships.com/features/w ... b39-96-dp/

You can right click and save the image onto your computer if you want a local copy.

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De quoi s'agit-il?

How about a late war complete Arizona refit a'la Pennsylvania? This would be interesting if fully researched as to what was planned for these ships and installed or not installed depending on steel, yard and drydock time, availability etc. How much AA could she carry, blistering, really an exercise in marine engineering!

Oh well, some great ship models being researched and built!

I imagine that had the Arizona survived Pearl she would have ended up rebuilt identically to Pennsylvania. There's only so much that can be done to older ships, and I find it unlikely that the Navy would want to spend money on her that could have been used on NC, SD and Iowa class ships instead. That being said, I would love to make a "1945 U.S.S. Arizona" from the 1/200 kit. I think that would be the closest we could get to having a large scale model of a Big 5 ship unless kits come out in the future.

_________________
-Nelson
Current Project:
1:200 U.S.S. Arizona
1:350 U.S.S. Chicago SSN-721

Future Projects:
All of them!

There were various plans as to ultimate upgrades for these ships, but due to war priorities and availability some were not carried out, even ships of the same classes began to diverge in their outfit. What could have been done, what had been planned and what was accomplished varied. Grazke and Dulin for instance have some discussions on these issues. For hull work Drydock availability was critical.

Interesting ships!

Yeah, Stratton and Bruner, both still alive....and there were SIX of them that made it out of that station. Although the last one out died later in December (Dvorak).

And Bruner has told me that one guy also made it out of the director on the starboard side (got his name written down at home). Said they saw him across the platform, were waving at him to get him to try to make it to them once they got the line secured to the Vestal, but he couldn't make it through the fires to them.

Later in the war their paths crossed again (Bruner and the guy from the SB director). Said the guy's ears were burned off. Wondered how in HECK he had gotten off, something about how he'd managed to jump, but then how did he clear the deck below....crazy stuff.

_________________
"If at first you don't succeed, switch to power tools." --Red Green

_________________
Martin

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne

Ship Model Gallery

Interesting! I knew they had the bell down there but did not know about the exhibit. I may have to go visit, although I'll probably light on fire when I get there because I'm an ASU grad... haha

For those of you not from Arizona, ASU and UofA are mortal enemies!

_________________
-Nelson
Current Project:
1:200 U.S.S. Arizona
1:350 U.S.S. Chicago SSN-721

Future Projects:
All of them!

And then there were five...

Raymond Haerry, one of last survivors of USS Arizona attack dies at 94

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nati ... /91719966/

That now leaves:

Lauren Bruner
Lou Conter
Lonnie Cook
Ken Potts
Donald Stratton

I just saw this the other day, my mom saved me a newspaper clipping with the information. I know they were planning a dual internment ceremony, I wonder if this means there will be a triple ceremony this year. I know there was an effort to get them all to Pearl on the 7th, I hope they are able to make it.

_________________
-Nelson
Current Project:
1:200 U.S.S. Arizona
1:350 U.S.S. Chicago SSN-721

Future Projects:
All of them!

Notice that generally-speaking the less damaged a ship was the less upgrading was done. The Pennsylvania was the least-damaged of the bunch, and ended up receiving minimal upgrades. The California was sunk, and ended up being completely rebuilt into a fat version of the South Dakota. The Tennessee was an exception, receiving relatively minor damage yet being completely rebuilt like the California. No doubt the fact that she was a relatively new vessel factored into the decision to completely upgrade her inside and out. The poor Pennsylvania by comparison never seemed to get enough respect and wasn't even upgraded to the degree that the Nevada was.

Had the Arizona been able to be raised and repaired she likely would have received a much more substantial rebuild than the Pennsylvania did, since she would have needed more to begin with. But then again for that to have even been possible it would've required a much less fatal hit than the one that tore her entire front half apart, meaning she would have had to have received less damage and thus possibly not need as much rebuilding in the first place. As it was, even if they could've raised her the likelihood that she would've been considered worth repairing is small. The "what-ifs" are endless.