Calling all rebuilt "Big 5" (TN/MD class) fans

[Haijun watcher]

You could make a late '41/Early '42 Colorado, yes. If you cut down the aft cage, you could do late '42 through Early '44 fit.

- Sean F.

Folks,

Here's pics of USS Maryland in her November 1942 fit, during her convoy escort/patrol duties off Fiji. Note the tapered down aft cage that Sean F pointed out above. Wasn't Colorado in the same configuration, shorter aft cage mast and all?

While the photos are in black and white, one source says that she was in MS21 paint scheme at the time.

(Photos courtesy of Navsource)

[Haijun watcher]

did you check navsource to see what the colorado looked like at that time period?

I did. She looked almost exactly the same as Maryland on Nov. 8, 1942, as this navsource link (click here) shows.

[Haijun watcher]

Sean F.

I'm just curious, do you know what were the additional AA positions that were added upon emerging from repair/refit in February 1942?

The usual sources such as navsource don't have any top views that clearly show all the positions on her deck in February 1942.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/46b.htm

A deck plan of her from Feb. 1942 would be a great help.

[SeanF]

I haven't seen any good overhead shots from Feb. 42 on either Maryland or Colorado. I did find a drawing of Colorado in early '42 in the AJ Press's Big Five part 2, though I'm not sure how accurate it is. Looks like 3 new 20mm tubs on each side at the back end of the midship deck (aft of the last 5"/25 mount) and 1 each side on a tall pedestal behind that on the aft deck. The positions seem to jive with side-view photos, but I have no idea if the shapes are correct when viewed from above - the drawing shows them as simple circular tubs. Photos of the Maryland taken from the same back angle at the same time period look about the same. The drawing shows some .50 cals changed to 20mm, some .50s still in place, and four 1.1 quad mounts. However, the drawing also shows rectangular life rafts when they were most certainly oval in every photo of the time, so...

Wish I had more to go on, but the pickings are pretty slim on my end.

- Sean F.

[Steve]

Hobby Search has posted the kit photos and instructions for the Trumpeter USS Colorado. Best I can figure by superimposing the Maryland WL plate over the parts photo the bulges and hull shape at the WL are unchanged.

[Atma]

I just finished my Trumpeter USS Colorado and I have a second USS Maryland.
Anyone can help me identify the AA changes and what radars USS Maryland had during January-February 1942 ?
Here is some photos of that period:




THANKS IN ADVANCE !

[Atma]

Also about the second picture I posted, its from NavSource Online and is tagged like USS Maryland, but, the top on the aft main cagemast looks a bit strange, it has like it seems a 3 levels. Am I mistaken ?
The USS Maryland had 2 levels with top platform as a AA base.

The real USS Maryland:

[Atma]

Also notice the cranes had different tops and the number one funnel have a funnel cap. The funnel cap was pictured at USS Maryland during the Pearl Harbour attack. So it has to be fitted later.

[Atma]

Forgot pictures :

[Atma]

Sean F.


A deck plan of her from Feb. 1942 would be a great help.

Yes please a deck plant of Feb 1942 for USS Coloraod and USS Maryland would be great, this is the most obscure period from those two battleships.

[Dick J]

I can't confirm on your photos, but shots of Colorado in early '42 show all three levels of the main top unlike Maryland, which had the middle level replaced by the .50 cal gun gallery.

[Haijun watcher]

Sean and all,

While I hinted before that I wanted to use the Trumpeter kit to make the Maryland in either early or late 1942 configuration, recreating the ship (or perhaps Colorado) in its Nov. 1943 fit now seems more attractive.

This was when Colorado and Maryland were bombarding Tarawa in support of the invasion forces there.

Even at this point of the war, both ships still had their cage masts, although these were the same stump cage masts that they have been tapered dow from the full height ones back in late 1942. (like the ones in the pics above)

Take note that most Navsource pics seem to suggest neither ship got their modernized aft conning tower till about April 1944.

Still, if one was wanted to recreate the stump cage masts, wouldn't one just have to use the top half of the PE provided with the Trumpeter Maryland kit? How about the top? Which part would be the top?

Also, I am taking it, the AA positions for both ships would be far more numerous than in their 1942 configuration? A deck plan of both ships in 1943 configuration would be a great help.

Just wanted to clarify.

I also started a different thread about the MS 32, 3D camo scheme that both ships had by Oct. 1943.

Here's one a couple of pics of both ships with the stump cage masts for reference. More will be at that other thread.

USS Maryland October 1943


USS Colorado, Nov. 1943, shelling Tarawa

[Haijun watcher]

What about the two ships' AA suites and other additions for 1943? I assume some AA mounts and fittings would have been added since 1942.

Or should I just rely on a 1944 or 45 plan deck plan of either ship?

I have the Skywave extra parts kit for "Equipment: US Navy Ships in WW2" from which I can add extra Bofors and Oerlikons as well as lifeboats and other common fittings, etc.

[Haijun watcher]

The difficult part of building a 1941-fit TN, CA, or WV from the MD kit is not the turrets, but the hull. The aforementioned three had not had bulges added yet. But from some photos posted a while back of what was supposedly the Pit Road Maryland release, it looks like they actually showed the parts for a West Virginia kit with an unbulged hull. So it would likely be best not to convert a MD but wait and see if the other hull really does materialize in a future release. Then have at it!

- Sean F.

Sean,

In early 1942 though, did Tennessee have those bulges fitted? As you know, she was lightly damaged at Pearl Harbor, since she was inboard of West Virginia, who absorbed all of the incoming torpedoes.

I'm not sure if those bulges were added after she underwent repairs right after the Pearl Harbor attack. The wiki article on TN simply says that in early 1942, "In addition to repairing her, crews upgraded her antiaircraft gun abilities and installed search and fire control radars. Other modifications improved the battleship's habitability."

The Nav source site seems to be down as of this posting.

The history.navy.mil site article on TN only says "n late December, after temporary repairs, Tennessee steamed to the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Washington, for an overhaul."

So could one use another Maryland Trumpeter kit for Tennessee's early-to-mid-1942 configuration?

[garyrunnalls]

Thanks to Blue Ridge models for an exceptionally Fantastic kit! I know that several model companies, manufactures, artist (Wayne Scarpaci) and Brandon were all involved in producing this gem. Pictures don't do it 100% justice, although nice review pics, you have to see the detail and I couldn't be more pleased. Brandon, You Rock! and will be ordering more of your kits and supplies in the future, hmmm I'm thinking one of those Montana class BB's soon. A Great deal and well worth the wait.

[Haijun watcher]

Gents,

Many of you have read about my earlier posts here asking about how to create a Colorado/Maryland in late 1943 configuration.

Still, here's one challenge that I have to overcome if I want to build either ship in this fit:

How would one recreate the AA deck/platform that's mounted on those supports around the first funnel? These are the same supports where the lifeboats would be gathered in the Trumpeter 1941 Maryland kit. There doesn't seem to be any any extra parts that resemble this deck/platform; I would need to place 2 platforms for both port and starboard sides of the funnel.

Here's a pic of USS Maryland in late 1943 fit.



So any ideas on how to scratchbuild this deck/platform for these AA guns? The idea came to me of detaching one of those AA platforms from a carrier flight deck, but I don't have any spare carrier flight decks that I could use.

Any suggestions?

[garyrunnalls]

Evergreen styrene if you don't have AA deck spare that might come with ol say Fujimi CV-3 kit or ? I think I have a few decks that would work at least as a "basic start" of what you need if you get stuck. I think most guys here have some experience with Evergreen, it can be fun and useful for challenges that do come up with any model making. Most decent hobby shops do carry Evergreen and it's not expensive, well unless you go crazy for all of assortment of shapes and sizes they offer, I have. Good Luck, Great ship BTW.

[Frank Fowler]

You may want to wait for the Trumpeter version of the 1944 Colorado. I have the Pit Road release. It may be much easier to backdate the 44 Colorado than going the other way with the 1941 Maryland. The platforms you are asking about are in the Colorado kit and they are more than just the one platform. They are actually double decker platforms with many supports, cross bracing, ladders and 20 mm ammo boxes.

Also take a look at the quad 40 mm position added on the main deck either side of the forward superstructure. The 01 deck (gun deck) was modified in this area with the number 1 5"/51 casement gun from each side removed to get the rounded 40 mm position on each side. The Colorado has this change. You would have to replace the MK 33 AA directors with the earlier MK 19 directors like on the 1941 Maryland.

[garyrunnalls]

Frank, that Pitroad 44' Colorado is probably pretty nice, I love the kits from them as well as SkyWave. Hard to find or sold-out a lot of the times when I'm ready to buy.

[raggs]

Hello All, looking to build Maryland in her mid 1944 configuration. Obviously I'm going to start with Trumpeters 1/700 1944
Colorado. The conversion should be pretty easy allowing for Marylands radar suite and AA arrangement after her spring rebuild.

The only major difference I see after scanning books and Navsource is the mainmast tower. Primarily the base that holds the director, from the searchlight platform on up.
(I wish Bremerton took pics like Mare Island)

BB46 Maryland, was modified with the tower in spring of 44. From the searchlight platform the next levels/deck are �cake topped� or stacked. Notice there is a pair of single 20mm on a shielded platform to the rear of searchlight platform but mounted about a � deck higher.

The overhang off the rear of the tower... WHATS IN IT? 20mm, Mk51 sites for the 40mm? I cannot find clear pic anywhere.
Colorado seems to have the 20mm mounted there, with no 20mm mounted above.

On BB45 Colorado, modified in fall of 44, both �levels� of the main director are of the same diameter yet seem to be mounted further aft than Maryland. I�m eyeballin it, bit I believe I�m legit. Two single 20MM guns are mounted in the rear overhang.