What-If Montana-class BB-67

EJM · Post by **EJM** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 5:39 pm

EJM isn't using the YMW kit, he's using a resin hull a friend made and canabilizing Tamiya Missouri kits.

Sad, but true.

The part about canabilizing Tamiya kits for parts that is. While I wish I could scratchbuild a lot of parts the way they are supposed to look for the Montana, I'm afraid my scratchbuilding skills are a very far cry from what the more experienced modelers can show on these forums.

Yes, I've been robbing parts from 3 Missouri kits. Shocking, isn't it?

But all is not lost! I always have a backup plan for still managing to find a use for robbed kits.

One Missouri is so heavily robbed, that I may turn it into a IOWA Class space battleship a la "Space Cruiser Yamato" if I can find enough spaceship parts to put on it. The second kit has some parts missing and won't be able to be built as an IOWA class. But I might be able to make it into a different class of battleship altogether. The third Missouri has maybe 4-6 parts missing, but they are all minor and I think that kit can still be built as is pretty much.

EJM, Your Montana is looking beautiful! Can't wait to see her finished! Makes me want to start working on mine

Thanks, Abram.

I hope you'll be starting on yours soon.

ModelWarships Gallery Page · Post by **ArizonaBB39** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:09 pm

EJM, I just had a thought. You could build one of your canabilized kits as the Iowa class "What-if" seen here Navsource BB-65 Illinois page. If you scroll all the way to the bottom to the painting (second from bottom, the artist's conception)

That might look cool, and it would give you a chance to work on scratchbuilding

I don't think I'm going to start my Montana just yet, I've got five other ships in the shipyard right now, I need to finish atleast two before I start on something that big!

EJM · Post by **EJM** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 6:55 pm

Thanks for the link, Abram.

I have had thoughts of building a BBG missile battleship, but I'm not really sure. For now, I've put the idea on the back burner so to speak.

If I'm not too mistaken though, wasn't the Kentucky supposed to be a missile battleship? Or were the Illinois AND the Kentucky both supposed to be missile battleships if they had been completed? Would love to see somebody do a BBG project like this in the future. Who wants to step forward?

ModelWarships Gallery Page · Post by **ArizonaBB39** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 7:15 pm

EJM wrote: Would love to see somebody do a BBG project like this in the future. Who wants to step forward?

Well...If you send me one of those extra kits...

Ship Model Gallery · Post by **MartinJQuinn** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 8:55 pm

ArizonaBB39 wrote:Martin, I'm pretty sure the YMW kit has the correct mounts (can't seem to find pics of it anywhere anymore).

EJM isn't using the YMW kit, he's using a resin hull a friend made and canabilizing Tamiya Missouri kits.

Ah - my bad. My apologies for getting the facts wrong.

ModelWarships Gallery Page · Post by **ArizonaBB39** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:12 pm

MartinJQuinn wrote:
Ah - my bad. My apologies for getting the facts wrong.

No apologies needed! All of the pictures of the YMW kit have seem to have disappeared (I can't find them atleast). I'd like to see the 5"/54 gun houses that come with it, maybe YMW will set seperate sets for those of use who want to make our own Montana class

EJM · Post by **EJM** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 10:28 pm

Abram: If I'm not too mistaken, I believe someone long ago posted pics in this thread of the YMW kit. But like you said, the pics are no longer to be found.........until now that is.

I think I managed to print the pics out long ago to use as reference. If I still have them and can find them, I will scan them into my comp and post them tomorrow night.

richter111 · Post by **richter111** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:10 am

does anyone else have any more photos of the proposed conversion, I have a Iowa class hull that I have been playing with for several years now, and that one picture really sparked the ole imagination

Ric

Dick J · Post by **Dick J** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 2:45 pm

I have a question on the 5" mounts. Most of the drawings published in books, like Friedman's, show twin mounts essentially the same as the "standard" twins for the 5" 38's. Were the planned 5" 54 twins simply larger (and if so, by how much) or were there other significant differences as well?

EJM · Post by **EJM** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 6:37 pm

Ok, as I had mentioned last night in my earlier post above, I found the pics of the YMW (Yankee Modelworks) USS Montana kit that I had printed out long ago to use as future reference material. At least, I think these are of the 1/350th kit? Anyway, here they are:

And here is a pic of the 1/700th Montana from Mike Bartel of IHP.

Info. on the comparison of 5"/38 cal. guns and 5"/54 cal. guns.

5"/38 cal.
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_5-38_mk12.htm
5"/54 cal.
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_5-54_mk16.htm

For those who are interested and want to see what a "true" Montana might have looked like, take a look at this outstanding model.

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Dick J · Post by **Dick J** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:48 pm

I feel like I am going around in a circle. The difference between 5" 38 and 5" 54 GUNS I know about. What is different on the twin mounting? (the "turret") Abram stated categorically that the Montana twin was NOT a "standard" twin with longer barrels. So, how different was it supposed to be? Does anyone have a good drawing and comparitive dimensions on the two twin mounts? The twin mountings in EJM's photos are too small to get a good image from, and I can't find any kit reviews with photos on the YMW Montana.

EJM · Post by **EJM** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:13 pm

Dick, I wish I could help you more, but I'm afraid I can't. I'm not an engineer or navy person and have no knowledge on such things. Sorry. Hopefully, some other modelers will step forward with the information you need.

Best I could do is the links above.

ModelWarships Gallery Page · Post by **ArizonaBB39** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:48 pm

Dick, Unfortunatly since the mounts were never actually built we don't have that kind of reference. I'm not sure where exactly it says the dimensions of a dual mounting, but I've always heard they were supposed to be slightly bigger. (isn't the single 5"/54 bigger than a single 5"/38 mount?)

sorry I can't be of more help

Post by **Timmy C** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 11:52 pm

If you look at the pictures EJM posted of the YKM 5"/54 dual mounts on their Montana, you'll see that the distance between the sides of the mount and a barrel compared to the distance between the barrels has a greater ratio than the 5"'/38s. Assuming that the distance between barrels is the same in both type of mountings, you can then extrapolate the needed extra dimensions to the sides.

Avery Boyer · Post by **Avery Boyer** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 9:03 am

EJM wrote:Yes, I've been robbing parts from 3 Missouri kits.

Sounds like me

I've kitbashed two Missouris, a N. Carolina and a Juneau for my 1/700 Montana

johndon · Post by **johndon** » Sat Sep 01, 2007 9:13 am

EJM wrote:Would love to see somebody do a BBG project like this in the future. Who wants to step forward?

I've always planned on doing one but didn't have the first idea what it would look like. I've never seen that pic before so thanks to Abram for the link.

John

EJM · Post by **EJM** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:55 pm

Another overdue update from me.

Just have time to post a few links to new pics that were taken tonight before I go to bed. Enjoy!

Almost done.

Just have to finish the following:
1. SC-1 aircraft
2. All antennaes and masts.
3. About 70 20mm guns.
4. About 24 40mm guns.
5. Add photoetch life rings, fire hoses, and other small items.
6. Add anchor chain.

Post by **Timmy C** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:58 pm

A much-welcomed update =)

ModelWarships Gallery Page · Post by **ArizonaBB39** » Sun Nov 18, 2007 11:18 pm

Keep up the good work EJM, I can't wait to see her finished.

gtb -red · Post by **gtb -red** » Mon Nov 19, 2007 2:09 am

What a BUILD!! EJM question is the Montana hull the same as the Midway? or the Iowa hull?