Thanks, Hank, for taking care of silentman!
One thing I'd like to point out about the Trumpeter 1/200 kit is that for some reason, Trumpeter included the wrong 5"/38 Twin Mounts. Trumpeter chose Mk.32 mounts but should have included Mk.28s. For purists, the Mk.32s were lighter-weight versions used on aircraft carriers and cruisers, not battleships. Upon close inspection, the Mk.32s have a noticeably different frontal shape than that of the Mk.28s carried by battleships.
Specifically, the glacis (the two armored frontal plates) is differently shaped. The lower, vertical frontal plate is taller on the Mk.28. The sloped plate on the Mk.28 is shorter. Also, the gunhouses of the Mk.32s are a tad bit shorter top to bottom (120.75" vice 124.25"). The Mk.28 stands 3.5" taller below the centerline of the guns and is 1.5" longer.
Here's the Mk.28, the type of mount Trumpeter should have included:Attachment:
Model Monkey 1-192 5in-38 Mk.28 Mounts (2).jpg [ 38.39 KiB | Viewed 1615 times ]
Here's the Mk.32, the type of mount Trumpeter erroneously included. Notice how the glacis extends downward further than it does on the Mk.28.Attachment:
Model Monkey 1-192 5in-38 Mk.32 Mounts (2).jpg [ 36.8 KiB | Viewed 1615 times ]
A third type of 5"/38 Twins with a gunhouse having a further shape difference was designed for even lighter weight for Sumner- and Gearing-class destroyers where weight was a critical consideration, especially at the bow. These were Mk.38s. In the drawing below, the Mk.28 is at top, the Mk.32 is in the middle, and the Mk.38 is at bottom. If you look at the rear of the Mk.38 mount in the drawing below, you'll see that it is stepped upward, unlike the other two mounts. The Mk.38s were even shorter front-to-rear than the Mk.32s (compare the distance from the centerline of the trunnion to the center of gravity of the mount - it's 7.5" closer than the Mk.28s). Some of the equipment on the Mk.38 is actually
outside the glacis.
Attachment:
USN 5inch 38cal Twin Mount Mk.28 32 38.small.jpg [ 197.36 KiB | Viewed 2338 times ]
Properly shaped, detailed and scaled Mk.28s, Mk.32s and Mk.38s are available in precisely 1/192 scale and precisely 1/200 scale from my Shapeways shop, as well as in many other scales 1/700 and larger.Link:
http://www.shapeways.com/shops/Model_Monkey