Tony Bunch wrote:Hi Guys,
Kim,
Is this a cooperative effort with Tamiya's recent announcement of a 1/350 Desert Storm Missouri? It's hard not to imagine a consortium of some kind. Oh yes, make sure to use darkened hull numbers for Mighty Mo. Missouri wore her hull numbers uniquely during Desert Storm; although Wisconsin did not during the same time frame. My friend, Capt. Rich Dann landed his SH-60B, "Oceanlord 22", on 80 different coalition ships; including both Missouri and Wisconsin during DS. Rich said when the BB's were using their primary weapon, the air near their helo while in flight was concussed and made quite a sensation!
Also, did Melvin help design the Iowa/Missouri/Wisconsin forward fire control tower for Pontos? I'm glad to see you folks took this on, as it was something well within the realm of possibility all along. The Tamiya hull shape is off; particularly at the bow. Simply stated, the bow shape has the wrong beam at the immediate bow and going aft some 75 scale feet in 1/350 scale. I sanded away at the hull sides on my 1/350 WWII Missouri until I could see the deck. At that point, the hull at the foredeck union was still too wide. Tamiya made this correction with all of their 1/700 Missouri WWII, 1982 New Jersey and Open Bridge Iowa kits. Also, you may consider opening up the "seaway" going through the ship from port to starboard; just aft of the bridge at levels 02 and 03. IIRC
If Tamiya can do an all new Yamato, why not an all-new Missouri.
Cudos to Pontos for filling this, "gap". I hope it makes enough in revenues for your company to consider successful.
Best wishes from SoCal, Tony Bunch
Thank you Tony,
Surely your Missouri Working process was one of main reference of these Iowa Class sets.
Though some relation ship with Tamiya as supplying some contents or materials to them, I don't know whether they are considering new Iowa class or not. But as 99.995% of modelers had not known their New Yamato project until they anounced openly so there may watch your or other modelers's wishing.
Yep Melvin has been hard time in mastering all resin parts at this project and the result is good enough.
At first we would make whole correct hull with resin but we found this is some hard work because Melvin don't have such a resin cast machine to produce this 30in dick hull.
I don't understand where "seaway" is but maybe we missed at this time. so just hope modelers can do for themselves for this fitting easily.
Just also hope Tamiya do all new Iowa not adding only a few sprues or PE parts.
Thank you again
Kim
