At 'Em Arizona Fans!

[dsk]

Pre-internet MS-1 Very dark gray, nearly black gray.
Post-internet MS-1 Sea blue or navy blue opinions... no color photos have surfaced as of yet.
It's all opinions! Take your pick.

She was in Sea Blue.

How do I know this? Because my 1/200 Arizona that took me a year to build is finished in Sea Blue and I ain't changin' it!


*By the way, speaking of old news has anything come of the expected Trumpeter 1/350 Pennsylvania kit?

[kurt]

I have always wanted to back date the 1/350 USS Arizona to happier times when people didn't dwell on shades of blue, etc. Charles Landrum did a beautiful job. Which I've read through numerous times. And now with Modelmonkey's shapeways offerings you can have 1934 or 36 version. I have a copy of Here Comes the Navy and have watched it several times. The earlier the better as far as I'm concerned. The problem is I just don't notice what was really different between '34 and '36! I've looked through Doyle's Squadron at Sea, USS Arizona Ship's Data, A photographic History and of course. Stillwell's, Battleship Arizona. I understand the gun placements, but that's about it. Can someone spell it out for me in "challenged" speak. I do know that MM will have a shorter funnel, so that has to be part of it. Can someone make a short list of the salient points that need to be changed? To bring her to either 1936 or preferably to 1934. I looked TWF plans but they are for 12/41. I don't seen any other period available.

PS I am missing page 367-368 from Stillwell's I hope the answer wasn't there!

Kurt

[ModelMonkey]

Hi Kurt and fellow AZ fans!

Regarding just the superstructure, IMHO, the most noticeable difference is the Rangefinder Platform (the uppermost level). On that platform, there are positions for Mk. 19 rangefinders at the aft corners. While these positions exist in 1934 photos, in photos of the ship taken after the 1936 refit, there exist larger circular bases for these rangefinders raised a bit higher than the deck, with rounded supporting structure below them. Compare Doyle, page 71 (pre-1936 refit) with Doyle, page 74 (post-1936 refit).

The funnel in 1934 was shorter, being raised in height in 1936, presumably to help exhaust gasses better clear the superstructure (Stillwell, page 367 has a drawing of the shorter funnel).

Another tell-tale, 1930s feature is the aircraft handling crane on the fantail. Photos from 1931-1934 show that the ship didn't have one, just a boom pole, with the base end pivot on a tripod. Doyle states that the crane was installed in 1934 (See Doyle, pages 61-63).

This brings to mind a problem of the 1/700 Dragon kit in this area. Photos and plans clearly show that the guns of Turret # Four on the actual ship extend OVER the forward end of the catapult (e.g., Doyle, page 58-59). If you use Model Monkey turrets, the guns are properly scaled and will extend over the catapult when the guns sit level (zero degree elevation). But some modelers have pointed out that the Dragon kit's catapult sits very high, unrealistically so, and the catapult will foul the Model Monkey guns at zero elevation if the catapult is oriented fore-aft. (A set of Model Monkey turrets with separate barrels allowing the modeler to set his or her own elevation is available).

There are certainly more differences but these are probably among the most noticeable. Perhaps one of the great researchers here knows more about what changed in the 1936 refit.

[biggles2]

What plans do most people consider the most accurate to use? I understand the Profile Morskie ones have faults.

Kurt

These seem to be "official" gov't plans: http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/BB39/BOGP/

[biggles2]

This brings to mind a problem of the 1/700 Dragon kit in this area. Photos and plans clearly show that the guns of Turret # Four on the actual ship extend OVER the forward end of the catapult (e.g., Doyle, page 58-59). If you use Model Monkey turrets, the guns are properly scaled and will extend over the catapult when the guns sit level (zero degree elevation). But some modelers have pointed out that the Dragon kit's catapult sits very high, unrealistically so, and the catapult will foul the Model Monkey guns if the catapult is oriented fore-aft.

A simple fix for that was to drill and cut out the guns from the MM turrets, and replace with turned brass (I already had them, anyway) at a slight elevation just enough to clear the end of the catapult.

Question: If Arizona fired #4 turret aft, wouldn't the blast wreck the catapult?

[kurt]

Did the Arizona display her number on the roof of turret two in 1934? I know she did in '36, but can't tell from the pics I've seen of her in '34.

Kurt"

[kurt]

I did find this pic of the Nevada in Panama in 1933, so I'm guessing the Arizona would have too.

[kurt]

I'm doing something wrong and the picture won't attach, but it said it was when I tried. Any way, it's a Navsource photo of USS Nevada in Colon Harbor, Panama 1933 which clearly shows her numbers in white on turret two. I guessing that this would be across the board and also on Arizona at that time. Am I wrong?

Kurt

[Timmy C]

If it's a Navsource photo, just put the URL as-is in your post. Don't use [IMG] tags, and don't use the Upload attachment tool.

[kurt]

Okay, how's this? http://navsource.org/archives/01/036/013633c.jpg

[Timmy C]

Yep, that works. People will have to click the link to see the photo, but it's a lot less hassle than downloading, resizing, and re-uploading.

[Andrew D BB39 Sec]

Found out we lost another USS Arizona survivor on Saturday. John Anderson was not only a survivor, but he also lost his TWIN brother aboard the same ship. He was 98. Last December he opened up to me about his brother--saw him as his hero, the more driven and mature of the pair.

I took this photo last December aboard the memorial; he is pointing to his brother's name on The Wall. Actually a lot of reporters behind me also took the same shot and got paid for it, but this really is mine He looked so frail that I guessed right away this would be his last trip to Pearl Harbor. Turns out I was right.

Rest in peace, my friend, and happy reunion with Jake!

[throck3]

Great photo. Thanks for sharing. I know it's part of life, but it is still sad to see them go.

I have a cousin who is listed on the panel. Last name, Camden. He had gone ashore to the band contest Saturday night, but chose to come back and sleep aboard. I've been aboard the memorial twice.
Very poignant and does draw a tear.

Thanks again.

Rick T/throck3

[Mgunns]

Yes indeed, thanks for sharing that nice photo. Very poignant indeed. After a brief interlude, they are now together again for eternity.

[Jeff Sharp]

Over the past couple of years I have been researching details of the Arizona as she appeared in 1941 for my 1/200 kit. One detail I have researched a great deal is the configuration of the anchor plates for this time period. What I found was that the appearance of the plates were vastly different than the 1941 refit plans show. It seems that the plates were changed probably during the 1936 refit but was not noted on the plans for some reason.
One of the striking differences was the absence of the port side plate that extends up from the forward most hawse pipe to the tip of the bow. Why was this portion of the plate was removed? I have no idea, but it is a very unique feature.
If you are interested in creating a more accurate anchor plate for your 1936-1941 versions, use this as a starting point for your kits. It is not 100% accurate but it is pretty close and far more accurate than what the plans show.
Happy Modeling!

[Mgunns]

Hi Jeff:

Thanks for posting. I would have incorporated this into my build, but by the time you had posted this earlier on your build, I had mine ready to go and I didn't want to ruin it by digging the anchor chain plates out and trying to fill the void with wood strips. I wonder if Pennsylvania had this feature? Anyway, thanks for sharing your build, it inspired me to build mine and I appreciate the effort that you have put into not only the build, but; the research.

[hondaman117]

Just spent a long time reading through this thread, there's so much information in here that I have no chance of remembering it all. It also made me completely change my mind on what kit I want to build next. Instead of building an H.M.S. Hood model, I really want to take on one of these 1/200 Arizona kits!

Just curious is the Unboxing Arizona thread dead? I cannot find it anywhere in the forum. I wanted to look through it before I start to gather parts to complete the kit.

Cheers,

Nelson

[Finland's Jonne]

Hopefully somebodies can help me!

I'm building USS Arizona 1931 version. I need helps....

The main deck, its upper deck has totally 8x 5" inch 50 cal AA guns but what is two guns? It looks very bigger than 5" guns. Locations very near turret and superstructure.

It looks a lot like the Varyag's (1899) 6 in guns.

Thanks,

Jonne

[Finland's Jonne]

Or.... Could it be 3" inch 50 cal gun?

Hmm....

[JCRAY]

Two of the casement guns were relocated there for a while when their casements were plated over. They
were removed at the next renovation I think, but it does date the photo's.
HTH John