At 'Em Arizona Fans!

[Bondoman]

Is there a good source of info for a back date model? Like a build log? I will check Steelnavy.

If you mean backdating her to pre-1930, I don't know of any good source. But considering the extent of the mid-life update 1930-31, we are talking about two completely different looking ships - both the hull, and everything apart from the main turrets, above the deck, changed a lot. I think converting the present 1/350 kit to an early Arizona may possily be more involved than actually starting from scratch and using the odd parts from the kit.

ok then, i'd be interested in 1936.

[dsk]

I wouldn't think it'd be too hard, given that there seem to be a lot more pictures of Arizona during the mid 1930s floating around than earlier/later ones.

[Sten Ekedahl]

I wouldn't think it'd be too hard, given that there seem to be a lot more pictures of Arizona during the mid 1930s floating around than earlier/later ones.

There are 1/600 scale drawings in Stillwell's book of Arizona in 1936, and Charles Landrum's in his build blogg (highly recommended!) at the Roll Model's website, builds her as in 1936.

[Bondoman]

I wouldn't think it'd be too hard, given that there seem to be a lot more pictures of Arizona during the mid 1930s floating around than earlier/later ones.

There are 1/600 scale drawings in Stillwell's book of Arizona in 1936, and Charles Landrum's in his build blogg (highly recommended!) at the Roll Model's website, builds her as in 1936.

Thank you= exactly what I was looking for!
Edit on 12/27/10: Does that book REALLY cost $ 163.00????

[Charlestonguy]

Thank you= exactly what I was looking for!
Edit on 12/27/10: Does that book REALLY cost $ 163.00????

I paid 65.00 for mine about a year or so ago. Amazon will sometimes have used copies for less, have to keep looking.
One thing I dislike about Stillwell's book drawings is the fact they are split between two pages, with the fold in the middle. Hard to see all the areas midship.
If you like send me a PM and I'll see if I can help on the 1936 version.

[Bondoman]

Thank you, I appreciate the offer and will send you a PM soon.
I've really enjoyed reading through the build blog that was noted above. It seems to be a sensible approach w/o going crazy (gosh, had about three nautical metaphors go thru my head but managed to avoid them all!).
I'm close to finishing my Borodino, had a bit of a marathon session last night.

[Steve Sobieralski]

I am in the process of converting the 1/200 Trumpeter kit to the 1936 configuration using the drawings in the Stillwell book. The drawings are usefull in that they provide the general outline of the bridge and mast platforms as they were in 1936, but they are not very detailed and not very clear when it comes to the configuration of the signalman's paltforms at the rear of the flagbridge level. You really need to look at some photographs to figure out what is going on in that area.

Here are some photos of the progress so far:

[dsk]

That planking looks like it's coming along great too.

[CLASSIC WARSHIPS]

For Tracy White and any others that may have this information;

Also, I apologize if this has been answered ! If so, please direct me to the thread on this topic.

Did the ARIZONA still have linoleum covered superstructure decks at the time of her sinking?

The question of what, if any, did the US Navy use to cover their superstructure decks with, was one I was able to answer a few years ago, and published this last August. Look on page 6, right image of my Warship Pictorial 34 - USN Battleships in Color. You can see that the IDAHO BB-42 had linoleum on her superstructure decks. They were covered with this material in September 1940, the date of that photograph.

So, has anyone found any documentation about the covering and uncovering of the superstructure decks of US Navy vessels before and during the Second World War period?

The color of the linoleum deck covering in the photo mentioned above is the usual red-brown color produced in most countries at that time period.

With little, to no measures taken by early December 1941 by the US Navy to decrease the danger of flammable materials, the chance of this deck covering still in place on ARIZONA, and other USN vessels at this time, I think was still high.

Hope someone has the answer,
Steve Wiper
www.classicwarships.com

[Tracy White]

The question of what, if any, did the US Navy use to cover their superstructure decks with, was one I was able to answer a few years ago, and published this last August. Look on page 6, right image of my Warship Pictorial 34 - USN Battleships in Color. You can see that the IDAHO BB-42 had linoleum on her superstructure decks. They were covered with this material in September 1940, the date of that photograph.

So, has anyone found any documentation about the covering and uncovering of the superstructure decks of US Navy vessels before and during the Second World War period?

Steve; I've been waiting for my copy from Randy so I don't know for sure, but is that picture the same one as this one on the Google Life Archive?
I'm heading down to San Bruno again in February and am thinking of doing some digging in Pearl Harbor's records for S14-3 codes. Otherwise, my questions is how extensive the use was; did it just happen on certain decks, etc.

It also matters that a lot of the comments here are spilled over from the At 'Em Arizona thread. At some point I expect the two to be merged.

I'm waiting for this to die down before I attempt it; it'll take some time!

[dsk]

The color of the linoleum deck covering in the photo mentioned above is the usual red-brown color produced in most countries at that time period.

I believe the general consensus is that the deck inside the casemate area below the boat deck was covered with linoleum, not teak. Therefore, am I to assume then that the most likely color was the red-brown? I just noticed that the casemate deck is going to be quite visible through the 5" gun ports with the model assembled, so I'd like to get it reasonably accurate.

[CLASSIC WARSHIPS]

dsk;

I would say a "YES" to the linoleum on the casemate gun deck, but I am also saying that many of the "EXTERIOR" superstructure decks were also covered with this same red-brown linoleum. Again, I found a photograph in the LIFE collection that clearly shows this on the after signal flag deck on IDAHO BB-42 in September 1940.

It is my belief that the linoleum was not removed until after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

And yes, it was the common red-brown color.

Tracy White;

It is the image from the LIFE collection aboard IDAHO BB-42.
Let me know if I need to send you a copy.

Steve Wiper
www.classicwarships.com

[dsk]

So far so good.

By the way, is anyone going to be drilling out the hull portholes? I'm on the fence right now as to whether I should do it or not. I was thinking to drill them out, then apply some sort of tape or plastic sheet (like computer anti-static bag material) from the inside to simulate windows.

[Tracy White]

Just put a drop of future in them after painting and you'll have something that's more correct.

[cmpang]

Just put a drop of future in them after painting and you'll have something that's more correct.

I see... I simple put a drop of black paint inside the port hole and it looks ok...using future should have been better...

[davidwaples]

Ref: Blast Bags on Arizona
I'm going to switch directions for just a moment. What can you guys tell me about the blast bags on the main gun turrets. In some pictures they don't look like they're there. In others I can clearly see them. Some show up very light in color and others dark. It appears that they attach to the inside of the turret instead of on the outside like we see in other ships. Can somebody educate me about about how they were set up on this ship?
Thanks
Dave

[Tracy White]

I don't have definitive proof, but I have seen enough to know that there were some "half bloomers" on battleships, that just covered the top half of the slide. I'm reasonably certain this is what Arizona had on December 7th (check out page 247 on the Stillwell Arizona Book).

The Navy transitioned to paint faster than they transitioned dye for the bloomers... hence it would be possible to see light bloomers on a dark ship.

[dsk]

I do know that they were removeable. How they were attached I don't know.

My turn to ask a new question as well. In the kit, when assembling the 5" AA guns there is a square flange labled L5. The instructions say to glue it to the underside of the gun base (L1). In reality, was this component actually bolted to the deck? If I want my AA guns to swivel and still look accurate I'd think I'd want to glue it to the boat deck instead, right?

[davidwaples]

I don't have definitive proof, but I have seen enough to know that there were some "half bloomers" on battleships, that just covered the top half of the slide. I'm reasonably certain this is what Arizona had on December 7th (check out page 247 on the Stillwell Arizona Book).

The Navy transitioned to paint faster than they transitioned dye for the bloomers... hence it would be possible to see light bloomers on a dark ship.

So what is a "half bloomer"? Here's a photo of the turrets of the Pennsylvania. It looks to me like there are attachments around the gun ports for blast bags/bloomers. Looking in Stillwell's book they seem to come on and off. Perhaps as was mentioned to circulate air or perhaps for maintenance? But they do seem to attach to the outside rim of the gun ports.

[Jerry Phillips]

Sorry lets try again......
http://historylink101.com/wwII_b-w/pear ... _5299.html
http://historylink101.com/wwII_b-w/pear ... _5305.html