Calling all Iowa-class (BB-61) fans

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FFG-7
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by FFG-7 »

Siciliano, what time period for the New Jersey, ww2 or post war?
Fliger747
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by Fliger747 »

Note that Hank made a considerable alteration to the hull as the kit has some serious form problems, especially in the stern. I'm not sure what they did this as accurate hull information is available.
TZoli
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by TZoli »

A somewhat relevant question.
Does anybody know information of the 12ft small gun directors which can be seen on the Montana class models on their 1940 form? One on he 3rd turret offset and one directly in front of the bridge tower on a tall sponson?

Maybe USS north Carolina and Washington carried the same on the early service lives?
Image
It's not clear but they not look similar to the Mark 33 12ft Cruiser directors.
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BB62vet
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by BB62vet »

It appears these are the Mk. 35 12' rangefinders as seen on the BB-55 plans as of 1941. Here is an elev. & plan view of these items:
BB-55 12 ft RF atop Pilot House.jpg
BB-55 Turret 3 Stbd Elev..jpg
In the Equipment Tabulation Table on that drawing, this item (#173) is listed as 12 ft. Rangefinder, Mk. XXXV - Ord. Drawing #142196 - good luck finding that!!! If you do, I would love a copy!!! :thumbs_up_1: Sorry, I don't have any scale on these drawing snippets - but I believe there is enough dimensional info on the plan dwg. to figure that out.

The MONTANA model in 1941 had removed both of these FC directors, so it's highly doubtful that either one would have actually been installed.

Hope this helps,

Hank
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48
FFG-7
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by FFG-7 »

those are 12' range finders as per this link.
BB-67 - BB-71 Montana Class General Arrangement (1941) https://archive.org/details/bb67classga1941
TZoli
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by TZoli »

Thank you!
Does anybody have a collection (name only and/or data) on the various Rangefinder directors of the USN?
I know these few:
??ft Mark 18 (Pensacola Class)

??ft Mark 24 (Northampton class)

??ft Mark 27 (Portland class)

??ft Mark 31 (New Orleans class)

12ft Mark 33 (Destroyers Farragot to Benham) (On cruisers AA)
??ft Mark 34 (Cruisers of the 1930's)
12ft Mark 35 (Porter and Somers class)

15ft Mark 37 (Porter and Somers class as refitted and Sims onward) (On cruisers AARF)
26,5ft Mark 38 (South Dakota II class onward)

??ft Mark 51 (Bogue class)

??ft Mark 54 (Des Moines class)

??ft Mark 67 (United States class)
15ft Mark 68 (Mitcher class onward and Knox, Belknap classes)

21ft Mark ?? (On South Dakota I class 1920)
smorariu
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USS New Jersey (011) 1944

Post by smorariu »

Little help here. I�m trying to research BB62 during her round bridge period. I can�t seem to find any good information regarding the spot 1 port / starboard wing extensions added after launching. I�m presuming that they were added the same yard period when the bridge was enclosed.

Does anyone have shipyard photos and or detailed drawings?

Thanks,
Sergio Morariu
Attachments
IMG_0983.jpeg
This is actually Iowa, but I think they shared the same modification.
This is actually Iowa, but I think they shared the same modification.
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BB62vet
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Re: USS New Jersey (011) 1944

Post by BB62vet »

Sergio wrote:
"Does anyone have shipyard photos and or detailed drawings?"

The bridge was probably modified prior to her shakedown cruise in the Fall of 1943. Here are two photos from Oct. 43 that show the 011 Level wing additions and her round bridge -
BB-62 wRound Bridge 12OCT43 1632-43.jpg
bb-62 wRound Bridge 15OCT43 80G-207484.jpg
Hope this helps!
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48
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BB62vet
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by BB62vet »

Sergio,
Here is what the 011 Level Air Defense Station looks like in Plan View (Overhead) -
Air Defense Station 1955.jpg
This is from the 1955 BB-62 Booklet of General Plans. That part of the upper conning tower had not changed since the wings were added in 1943. Ignore the hand written notes as they apply to changes that were to be made to NEW JERSEY in 1967 (this particular copy of plans I had scanned at NARA II and they probably came from the Philadelphia Navy Yard). Sorry, I don't have any plans older than this version. Here is that portion of the conning tower in Elevation View -
Aair Defense Station 1955_Elev.jpg
Again, ignore the mast & RADAR as these would not have been correct for the 1943 time frame.

Hope this helps!
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48
Kai-B
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by Kai-B »

Hello everyone, I'm a model builder from China. Recently, I've been studying the details of the USS Missouri and have some questions.
1. There is a protruding area on some mk51 tubs, and I have no idea what's inside.
2. There is a stick on some Bofors tubs, and I want to know its function.
3. There is a rectangular dipole antenna on the after smoke stack. I need its specific model and function.
4. On a platform of the rear mk38 fire control tower, there is a bracket. In some photos, there is some kind of equipment on the bracket, but I don't know what it is.
If you have any information about these, I would be very grateful for your help.
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boforstub.png
4B5B37112970DFF889F810896941C6A2.png
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Sutho
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by Sutho »

I am scrolling through these pages looking at all the good information and was wondering if we have a kind of encyclopedia of information for modelling.

For example, I know it would be on one of the pages somewhere, but I am trying to look up the WWII rigging configuration for the USS Missouri and USS New Jersey in 1943. From photos it appers they both have rigging of 6 wires between the two masts. From that horizontal rigging there appears to be rigging that is central and attached somewhere midships. Does anyone know where it is secured to on the ship?

Most ships its easy to figure out with photos where the rigging is attached to. However the Missouri during WWII is proving difficult.
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Timmy C
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by Timmy C »

Sutho wrote: Tue Nov 18, 2025 4:51 pm I am scrolling through these pages looking at all the good information and was wondering if we have a kind of encyclopedia of information for modelling.

For example, I know it would be on one of the pages somewhere, but I am trying to look up the WWII rigging configuration for the USS Missouri and USS New Jersey in 1943. From photos it appers they both have rigging of 6 wires between the two masts. From that horizontal rigging there appears to be rigging that is central and attached somewhere midships. Does anyone know where it is secured to on the ship?

Most ships its easy to figure out with photos where the rigging is attached to. However the Missouri during WWII is proving difficult.
So if you look at the general arrangement drawings for the ship, you'll see references to "ANT TR", short for antenna trunks. There's also "Plate for Emerg[ency] Trans[mitter] Ant[enna]". Some or all of these are where the aerial antenna "rigging" terminate. See bottom left of this page from the drawing booklet: https://ia600905.us.archive.org/BookRea ... 2&rotate=0
De quoi s'agit-il?
196IOWA
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by 196IOWA »

Hello everyone. I am new on here as of today. I am building a remote-control 1/96 scale USS Iowa from scratch. One of the things I do not want to do is try and make the quad bofors. I have found some on DS 3D printing. However, I would also like to afford food. So, my ask which may have been answered one million time before is this. Where do you find some reasonably priced 1/96 scale items. (mostly Bofors)
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Timmy C
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by Timmy C »

196IOWA wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 2:53 pm Hello everyone. I am new on here as of today. I am building a remote-control 1/96 scale USS Iowa from scratch. One of the things I do not want to do is try and make the quad bofors. I have found some on DS 3D printing. However, I would also like to afford food. So, my ask which may have been answered one million time before is this. Where do you find some reasonably priced 1/96 scale items. (mostly Bofors)
HR Products use to make 1/96 quad Bofors, but I'm not sure they're in business anymore. John Haynes used to but is no longer in business. Floating Dry Dock used to stock them and a few others that are also no longer in business: https://floatingdrydock.com/fittings.htm

You could also ask on the Scratchbuild forum (and look through the links at the sticky there, though I already did for you to no avail: https://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/v ... m.php?f=13)

I think the expectation these days is to 3D print (whether your own or someone else's printer) or old school scratchbuild.
De quoi s'agit-il?
Fliger747
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by Fliger747 »

I'd have to look though my files but I designed and printed some detailed Quad Bofors in 1:120 for my USS Randall (see scratch build section) but I think I don't think those have the shields. I printed many many Bofors with the shields but this are in 1:192 and not suitable. Not at home at this moment but I may or may not have printed and designed a larger scale Quad with shield. I may have done a 1:120 Bofors w shield for my ARL 12 project USS Poseidon also one in scratch build. I have sold printing rights before for some open mount 5" 38's for use on a pre war destroyer.
196IOWA
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by 196IOWA »

Timmy C wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 8:29 pm
196IOWA wrote: Fri Feb 06, 2026 2:53 pm Hello everyone. I am new on here as of today. I am building a remote-control 1/96 scale USS Iowa from scratch. One of the things I do not want to do is try and make the quad bofors. I have found some on DS 3D printing. However, I would also like to afford food. So, my ask which may have been answered one million time before is this. Where do you find some reasonably priced 1/96 scale items. (mostly Bofors)
HR Products use to make 1/96 quad Bofors, but I'm not sure they're in business anymore. John Haynes used to but is no longer in business. Floating Dry Dock used to stock them and a few others that are also no longer in business: https://floatingdrydock.com/fittings.htm

You could also ask on the Scratchbuild forum (and look through the links at the sticky there, though I already did for you to no avail: https://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/v ... m.php?f=13)

I think the expectation these days is to 3D print (whether your own or someone else's printer) or old school scratchbuild.
Thank you so much for the help!
196IOWA
Posts: 6
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2026 2:32 pm

Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by 196IOWA »

Fliger747 wrote: Sat Feb 07, 2026 1:44 pm I'd have to look though my files but I designed and printed some detailed Quad Bofors in 1:120 for my USS Randall (see scratch build section) but I think I don't think those have the shields. I printed many many Bofors with the shields but this are in 1:192 and not suitable. Not at home at this moment but I may or may not have printed and designed a larger scale Quad with shield. I may have done a 1:120 Bofors w shield for my ARL 12 project USS Poseidon also one in scratch build. I have sold printing rights before for some open mount 5" 38's for use on a pre war destroyer.
Thank you. If you find that you can make the file do 1/96 scale, I would be interested. Tom's makes brass sheilds if I do not make them myself.
thank you again.
Fliger747
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by Fliger747 »

I'll look thru the files when I get home in a few days. The one's I did for USS Poseidon ARL 12 do have the shields. Also of course the directors. 120 one's should print fine in your scale with adjustment. The hard part in such detailed items is always the supports and removing the same.

Regards: Tom
196IOWA
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by 196IOWA »

Thank you all. My brother found a STL file and sized it. I did not know he had a 3D printer. Wow, I am old. Technology is getting crazy.
196IOWA
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Re: Calling all USS Iowa BB-61 class fans

Post by 196IOWA »

Iceman 29 wrote: Sat Jan 13, 2024 6:20 am Battleship New Jersey (BB-62) having its radar removed to pass under the Walt Whitman Bridge in Philadelphia on the way to drydock - January 11, 2024.

Source: FaceBook- Battleship New Jersey

Image
How wide and tall is the radar array? Anyone have the information? Thank you in advance.
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