1/200 Arizona finally DONE!

[Mgunns]

Hi Jeff:

I echo Martin's comments. Great work and great detective work. Running down those antenna leads adds a lot of clarification as the photo's in any of the references I have; (Stillwell book & Squadron) don't really show the rigging to good effect. This discussion has been a time saver and a motivator for me.
Thanks

[Jeff Sharp]

Thanks guys.

Here's one for further research and discussion.

I'm starting to detail the inside of the birdbath. The kit has 4 MG's and 4 ammo lockers up there.


As you can see, it is extremely crowded up there. There is little room to swing the MG's around.

This prompted me to take another look at this photo.


In this photo dated 12/10/41, there is no evidence of any ammo lockers up there. The plans also do not show any there.
One other thing I noticed is that there is only 3 MG's in the tub. Forward, port side, and aft. There is no starboard side MG or mount visible.
Looking at as many attack photos as I could showing the birdbath, I could not find one single photo that shows me a starboard side gun. Most of the photos show these 3 guns visible, all pointing to the port side of the ship. The fact that these 3 guns were pointing to port suggests there were no lockers in the way to swing the forward and aft guns in that direction.

Even with eliminating the ammo lockers, things are pretty tight up there if you keep all 4 guns, add a hatch on the access hole and add a couple of crew members. The hatch definitely had to be kept shut or someone could easily fall down the hole.

[tegunn]

Jeff,
Trying to determine whether it was an Arizona change(the 50 cal was removed for maintenance, etc) or USN doctrinal/directive I went to other birdbathed ships. Here are two cropped photos of the Nevada from NAVsource showing what looks like three MG's..

[tegunn]

My guess is that four didn't lend itself to very good arcs of fire..

[tegunn]

Jeff and Mark, in reference to the six antenna wires "bending" to make the turn to connect to the trunk, here's a picture of the tripod from underneath showing the line or rod that the wires braced against..

[Jeff Sharp]

Starting to add detail to the boat cranes. This little ladder and platform detail is often over looked on kits.

[LE BOSCO]

HI Jeff
really a great job both in historical research and in the work you you provide
cheers
Nicolas

[Jeff Sharp]

Here's a couple of test shots of the mainmast rigging. I think I've got most of it figured out.






Now it's time to analyze the rigging on the forward mast. This might be a bit more challenging because of the destruction in this area.

[tegunn]

Lookin' real purty!!! I tell you what!

[Mgunns]

Worth noting! The railing at this level was 2 bar railing. Both WEM and KA got it wrong by supplying 3 bar railing for this deck.

I had forgotten this "little" detail and went and fixed the WEM supplied three bar railing. Naturally, I went back to your post only to discover to my horror, I had spent hours putting on the wrong railing. I am going to leave it in place and move on. I will add the antenna trunks though. WEM's research on this vessel and the provided PE is sorely lacking IMHO.

[Mgunns]

Looking good on the rigging Jeff. I will be following to see how and what you do on the forward superstructure part. My question is where do the lines come off the conning tower? I wonder if the antenna trunks you placed on either side of the conning tower are where the two lines come off that attach to the main line coming off foretop?
Thanks again for leading the way on this.

[Jeff Sharp]

I wonder if the antenna trunks you placed on either side of the conning tower are where the two lines come off that attach to the main line coming off foretop?

Yeah, here is my staring point. I'm trying to determine exactly how many lines left this trunk. I'm thinking two, one going up to the main line and one going up to the yardarm, but I'm not positive yet. This captured screenshot is not the greatest but I only see one line that appears to be going to the yardarm. I'm trying to find a clearer shot of this pic. Check out the "handlebar" attachment point for the lines on this trunk.

[Mgunns]

Hi Jeff:

Interesting set up on that Antenna trunk. On some photo's; it looks like there are 2 lines that may originate from the conning tower that go to the main line that runs to the jack staff.

[Mgunns]

Hi Jeff:

This is out of NAVSOURCE, note that there is a line running out of something at the side of the conning tower, going up towards what would be that main line running from the foretop to the jack staff.

This might add a little clarity.

[Jeff Sharp]

I think I've got another piece of the puzzle figured out.

I noticed this bar seemingly hanging in mid air in some photos.




It took me a bit to figure out what this was. This is a line that starts at the front corner of the birdbath, then it has a bar allowing two separate lines to go down to each side of the funnel. From there these lines are redirected up to the large Yardarms on the forward mast. They meet the yardarms about in the middle of them, then they go straight to the bow of the ship and end at the jack staff. Wow! This one was cool to figure out!

This one shows the two lines hanging down from the birdbath.


And this one shows the two lines exiting the yardarms going to the jack staff.


Each line has a dark mass on them as seen in this photo. Not sure what they are.

[Mgunns]

Great Detective work Jeff:

I wonder if that "hanging" antenna was present in January of 41? It's hard to tell from the picture of the ship in PSNY in January of 41 due to the angle of the photo. That being written, your analysis makes sense. I wonder of those 'things' on the cable were some sort of insulator.

[tegunn]

Good work Jeff on the photos. Yeah Mark I was wondering the same for my version which should be close to yours. She went through several antenna changes but I think either the two wires originated as one then splitting in a Y (no spreader) or two connected(as plans show) on both sides of the birdbath. Both do trace down to the funnel bracket (insulator there?) to the foremast tripod yardarm then to the jackstaff as Jeff described.

[Mgunns]

After looking at the "two lines hanging down", I think they were destroyed during the attack. They attached to a similar bar attached to the Foretop. I don't have a photo reference for it at the moment, but can provide one when I get off work. Interesting stuff to be sure.

[Jeff Sharp]

I think I've finally got the rigging completed. I finished up all the lines around the forward mast and all the lines that ran between the two masts. Here's a couple of pics.







Next up is the railing, boats, planes, and crew.

[tegunn]

Outstanding Jeff!! It looks really great. Glad to see you back on the forum. I'll call off the search party..