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

[Kym Knight]

I've spent the last few days working on this BWN kit to go with the Trumpy Saratoga. I'm still not sure of the proper colour sceme for 1940.
In some photos from around that date, the top half of the large cage mast looks painted with a darker colour. Is this so? If it is, does anybody know what colour?

MODERATOR EDIT: ADDED LIST OF AVAILABLE KITS AND GALLERY ENTRIES

Available Pre-War Big 5 Class Kits
1/700:
Loose Cannon USS Colorado 1942
Trumpeter USS Maryland 1941
Trumpeter USS West Virginia 1941
Trumpeter USS California 1941
Trumpeter USS Tennessee 1941

1/350:
Iron Shipwright USS Tennessee 1941
Iron Shipwright USS California 1941
Iron Shipwright USS West Virginia 1941
Iron Shipwright USS Maryland 1941

Pre-War Big 5 Class Gallery Entries
1/700:
John Leyland�s Scratchbuilt California
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Rob Kernaghan�s Waveline California
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... 44/700-rk/

Mark McKinnis Waveline Tennessee
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Mark McKinnis Loose Cannon Colorado
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Paul Helfrich�s Kit-Bashed Maryland
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Kostas� Waveline West Virginia
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Brien Miller�s Trumpeter Maryland
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Todd Renner�s Trumpeter Maryland
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... nd-700-tr/

Carl Allsup�s Trumpeter Maryland
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... d-700-cba/

Rich Kissinger�s Trumpeter Maryland
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... nd-700-rk/

Abram Joslin�s Trumpeter Maryland
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... nd-700-aj/

USS Maryland BB-46, December 1941 by Dan Kaplan (2021 entry): http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

USS Tennessee 1937 Panama Canal Transit (2022 entry) by Chris Smithers: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

USS California BB-44, December, 1941 by Dan Kaplan (2024 entry): http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm


1/350:
Robert Apfelzweig�s Yankee ModelWorks California
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Andy Elwood�s Tom�s ModelWorks California
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Jim Baumann�s Iron Shipwright California
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Ken Summa�s Classic Warship California
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Dave Becker�s Blue Water Navy California
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Ron Dickenson�s Blue Water Navy California
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Iron Shipwrights USS Tennessee (BB-43) 1944 by Robert Apfelzweig (2023 entry): http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm


Various Scales:
Paul Helfrich�s 1/2400 GHQ Colorado
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Bob Nandell�s 1/500 Scratchbuilt Maryland
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

John M Johnsey 1/192 California
http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... e-192-jmj/


Moderator edit Jan 26 2024: Which of the Trumpeter 1/700 kits require the least modifications?

From Sean F:

I think West Virginia would best fit the bill.

Tennessee is also good, but I seem to recall there was something minor I had to tweak on it. Maybe the 4 tubs for 3" AA guns were in the kit, but not mentioned in the instructions, or something like that.

California needs some vertical ribbing added to her midship splinter shields, and the kit only comes with a CXAM-1 radar, whereas BB-44 needs a CXAM (no mark).

Maryland needs surgery on her bulges, so I'd avoid her given your criteria.

- Sean F.

From Dan K:

My views are similar. Assuming you want late 1941, I would add:

California needs the most work to be accurate. Her Navigation Bridge wings are missing, so that's more circa 1940. And she has big ass air intake vents molded on under the conning tower column, which need to be removed. This, in addition to Sean's comments on her.

Tennessee (which I've since built, but not posted a WIP or gallery yet) is missing 3" gun tubs up at the signal bridge level. Those can be sourced from Model Monkey.

Both CA and TN have incorrect spotting tops. The kit versions are for the Colorado class. Proper ones are also available from Model Monkey. In fact, their foretop comes with 50 cal. gun tubs printed as part of the top, so you are saved from scratch-building them. Absolutely worth it.

IIRC, Maryland is essentially good out of the box except for the oversized bulges. I didn't think filing them down was a big deal. The proper cross-section shape can be had.

West Virginia might be the best out of the box. The only real issue was that the signal bridge structure aft was actually just canvas covered, and the kit has molded it all as one sold structure. Cut away the sidewalls at a minimum, and paint that portion of the top off white. Or cut the aft portion off completely.

I think 3D printed cage masts far more accurate than the kit PE.

My two cents.

[J. Soca]

I love the sleek bow on these BBs, Looking good Kym

[MartinJQuinn]

Kym,

Looks good! This is another one I have in the "stash". Seeing yours makes me want to break out mine (and I wonder why it takes me so long to finish stuff...).

There is a USS West Virginia website. Looks like at some point the aft cage mast was painted black from the searchlight platform to the spotting top. Probably to deal with discoloration and dirt from the stacks. Not sure of the date of this picture, but note the hull number on the #2 turret.



In this 1939 picture from the Navsource West Virginia page, you can see the top of the #2 turret is painted. http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/014805.jpg

[ArizonaBB39]

In this 1939 picture from the Navsource West Virginia page, you can see the top of the #2 turret is painted. http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/014805.jpg

If you look closely at that pic, unless its the lighting (or just me!), it looks like Turret 3 and 4 had their tops painted a slightly darker color than the turret, but not as dark as Turret 2.

Ship looks beautiful so far Kym!! I wish I had the money to buy one of these big resin kits.

[Elvis965]

Looking good, Kym!

(and I wonder why it takes me so long to finish stuff...).

Aw c'mon, Martin. You've got nothing on me in that respect!

Bob

[Robin]

Kym,

Can you tell how you rolled the cage masts? I am doing the USS Tennesse and I afraid to roll the masts in fear of breaking them.
Thanks

[MartinJQuinn]

Kym,

Can you tell how you rolled the cage masts? I am doing the USS Tennesse and I afraid to roll the masts in fear of breaking them.
Thanks

Robbiee,

I'm not Kym, but here is how I did it, taken from my article on Building the Lexington-class Battle Cruiser Saratoga:

I have to admit I was a little timid about tackling the cage masts. I knew I had some leeway, because the photo-etch set I bought to supplement the kit had extra cage mast in it. Still...I knew I could go through both sets easily. I cut the foremast off it's runner, took out a large paintbrush and started rolling. To my surprise, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I kept rolling the paintbrush gently over the photo-etch cage mast, gently bending the mast more and more. Before I knew it, I had an almost perfectly round mast. The trickiest part was mating up the two halves of the cage mast. I first brushed on some accelerator, let that dry, then held the tops of the cage mast together in my fingers. A drop of CA glue kept the top together, so I worked my down, mating the seam and adding CA. Once I was done, I placed it on the top of the forward superstructure and admired my handiwork. My first cage mast! I did the same thing for the mainmast, but accidentally glued the top of the mast to the paint brush handle (rrrrr!). I was able to gently pry the cage mast off the paint brush without too much damage.

The best advice I can give you is to take is slow. It's really not that hard!

[Spartan]

and where would we be able to find that article?

[MartinJQuinn]

and where would we be able to find that article?

Right here on MW.com! However, I don't know how to link directly to it. Click here, then go down to the feature on Building the IHP (Neverbuilt) Battlecruiser USS Saratoga

[Guest]

Kym,

Can you tell how you rolled the cage masts? I am doing the USS Tennesse and I afraid to roll the masts in fear of breaking them.
Thanks

Robbiee,

I'm not Kym, but here is how I did it, taken from my article on Building the Lexington-class Battle Cruiser Saratoga:

I have to admit I was a little timid about tackling the cage masts. I knew I had some leeway, because the photo-etch set I bought to supplement the kit had extra cage mast in it. Still...I knew I could go through both sets easily. I cut the foremast off it's runner, took out a large paintbrush and started rolling. To my surprise, it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I kept rolling the paintbrush gently over the photo-etch cage mast, gently bending the mast more and more. Before I knew it, I had an almost perfectly round mast. The trickiest part was mating up the two halves of the cage mast. I first brushed on some accelerator, let that dry, then held the tops of the cage mast together in my fingers. A drop of CA glue kept the top together, so I worked my down, mating the seam and adding CA. Once I was done, I placed it on the top of the forward superstructure and admired my handiwork. My first cage mast! I did the same thing for the mainmast, but accidentally glued the top of the mast to the paint brush handle (rrrrr!). I was able to gently pry the cage mast off the paint brush without too much damage.

The best advice I can give you is to take is slow. It's really not that hard!

MartinJQuinn,

Thanks! Just what I need. This is why this is a great Web Site!

[Jefgte]

Nice model Kym





Jef

[Kym Knight]

Thanks Martin, good link!
The best advise, in my opinion, is to do it slowly. I have a Hold & Fold Roller Set which came in very handy. Another handy inclusion was the fact that the BWN P/E was of a extra thickness that accidental damage was greatly diminished.
Here's a link to the item by Hold & Fold
http://www.thesmallshop.com/prod05a.htm

I'm still having problems determining the colours in the 39 - 40 period. In some photos of that era, the smaller cage mast looks to be a darker paint job as well and the anchor chain runners (the area that the chains slide on) are either painted the dark deck grey or the wood deck colour. All very confusing. I might have to use a bit of artistic licence if I can't find any hard evidence.

[ModelMonkey]

Simply superb!!!!!!!!

[William J]

Looking great as usual mate

Bill

[Kym Knight]

Well this is about as much as I can do to her, (apart from a spraying of Dullcoat) until I mount it in the acrylic gel water base properly. I would have really liked to have the canvas awnings spread over the front deck, but it would have covered up too much detail. Next ship job, USS Arizona.

[J. Soca]

BEAUTIFUL

[Francisco P. de Nanclares]

Impressive build!. Those cage masts look terrific, and it seems this is going to be another of your fantastic dioramas, isn�t it?.

Cheers.
Pachi.

[MartinJQuinn]

That is cool!!

[ArizonaBB39]

Looks good Kym!!

Just remember, if thats Pearl Harbor the mooring quays would be on the other side of the battleships

[Dana M Bell]

Hi Kim,

It doesn't look like you got an answer on the turret top question for West Virginia. Assigned to BatDiv. Four, the WV used black for the forward turrets. As seen in some photos, that initially covered Turret II, but orders of June 1940 called for the color on both forward turrets.

As ship one in the division, the after turret top was to be painted red. There's no evidence in my research to prove that Turret III got a red top also in 1940.

Hope this helps...

Cheers,

Dana