Calling all "Big 5" Tennessee-class & Colorado-class fans

[Dan K]

Well, you saw my post under your WIP.

I agree, those are the wrong fighting tops. FS has just reused the versions in its WV/MD sets. I highly recommend the ones from Model Monkey for CA/TN- right shape and they have the tubs for the .50 cal MG.

I've ordered from Hobbyeasy before (very good) but, right now, shipments to the US seem to be on hold. Hobby search Japan carries them but is out of stock right now. Ebay might be the best bet right now.

[Jeff Sharp]

Yeah, I have purchased Steve's fighting tops as well for CA/TN. Much improved and more accurate than the kit tops.

[ModelMonkey]

Cheers!

[Dan K]

Does anyone know how closely Colorado would have resembled West Virginia in the 1940-early 1941 timeframe? Plus, when would Colorado have been repainted into MS1?

thx,

[Jeff Sharp]

Hi Dan!
Superstructure wise, Colorado resembled Maryland more than West Virginia.




There is a photo of the battleships at Pearl on 6/18/41. All of them except West Virginia is painted MS1. Colorado has a false bow wave.
Exact dates of the painting of the battleships at Pearl still remains a mystery but it all started in mid to late May.

USS Tennessee wrote in her deck logs that they "Painted ship" on 5/28/41.

[Dan K]

Those are some great pics, Jeff. Thx. Are those dated, by any chance?

And would her MK19 directors been raised a deck to the same position as Maryland's before her late '41 refit on the West COast?

[Jeff Sharp]

Panama Canal 1939. I can't answer when the MK19's were raised.

[Dan K]

Understood. Thx, Jeff.

[MartinJQuinn]

Trying to figure out some details on California. Thoughts on what is inside the circles in the first picture?

Looks like there is maybe a raft tied up under the bridge wings? And I see what is probably a pelorus and a 12" signal lamp about the raft. What is between them?

I see a garbage chute inside the rectangle (ignore the arrow, I am reusing a photo sent to me), but what are the two dumpter looking things to the left of that?

Any thoughts?

[Timmy C]

Agree on the raft.

Left circle seems to be a lookout platform (follow the deck line and it seems to jut out, with the dropping chain suggesting it can be removed).

Thing between pelorus and light is probably a speaking tube.

The three things in the square on the right are three sailors, but they may be around a thing.

For the second photo, wouldn't be surprising if they are dumpsters that swivel to dump their load onto a barge. It'd make sense to put them near the garbage chute as everyone's familiar with the location.

[Jon C Ryckert]

I believe we are seeing dumpsters in the second photo. Arizona had them also.

[Dan K]

I concur with the ID of the garbage dumpster, raft, pelorus, voice tube and signal light.

I do think those are 3 sailors handling a pole of some sort. I don't see that as a permanent fixture.

[MartinJQuinn]

Thank you gentleman

[Jon C Ryckert]

I concur with the ID of the garbage dumpster, raft, pelorus, voice tube and signal light.

I do think those are 3 sailors handling a pole of some sort. I don't see that as a permanent fixture.

I don't have plans for this ship, but could that be a saluting gun? Just a WAG.

[Jeff Sharp]

Hi Martin,
Those were indeed dumpsters in the 2nd photo. Here is a look at Maryland's from above.


Also worth noting in the 1st photo, notice that the life lines (railing) are only two bar, not 3 bar on the upper deck and they are painted light gray.
I suspect they were a lower profile to accommodate clearance for the casemate guns.

[MartinJQuinn]

Question about West Virginia's forward funnel. I am going to guess that the item circled is a pipe venting from the crew's galley, which was located just forward and below the funnel. Trying to figure out where it connects, as it's obviously been severed in these photos.

[FFG-7]

1939 Sheet 6 - Upper & Superstructure Decks shows the garbage incinerator was located there.

[MartinJQuinn]

I saw that too. You may be right, but this seems to go farther forward, and the pipe is larger than the incinerators found on other battleships.

[FFG-7]

the pipe in the photo is in the same location as on the plans & is the pipes on the other battleships the same od as the upper part of the pipe near the top of Wee Vee's funnel?

[Jeff Sharp]

Here's a look at it.