1/192 USS Missouri BB-63, 1945

[Fliger747]

Steve:

Glad to see you upgrading your very nice Missouri. As information and techniques become available often much progress is possible with our previous creations. Missouri is an oft modeled but very worthy subject, both for her appearance and capabilities. The ultimate FAST Battleship. I do love these larger scratch projects, scratch is still alive!

Regards: Tom

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks so much, Tom!

Here are some close-up renderings of the 16"/50 cal. turret. The rangefinder is visible within the hoods through open shutters.

[robertmelvin]

Just finished reviewing this thread in its entirety. Hanging my head in shame I must say "I am not worthy!"
That needs to be in a museum. It is certainly museum quality work. I think now I'll carp a bit less about Dragon's notorious microscopic parts!

Bob Melvin

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks so much for your kind words! I hope to get back to this model shortly, make some needed repairs, install the new mounts and directors and finish it.

[Fliger747]

Steve:

Missouri was equipped with the later type shield mark 2 mod 17 or higher with the control officers cockpit for the slewing sight.

Looking forward to the progress! Tom

[ModelMonkey]

Steve:

Missouri was equipped with the later type shield mark 2 mod 17 or higher with the control officers cockpit for the slewing sight.

Looking forward to the progress! Tom

Ah, yes, indeed it was! Good catch, Tom!

And for those building ships as they appeared during post-war service, here are some other available products. The directors capture features and details that reflect their post-war modifications:

[Silentman]

Hello Modelmonkey,
I have a trumpeter 1/200 scale model kit of the USS MISSOURI and I had an unfortunate accident and now my whole instruction manual s not readable. Can you please tell me where I can get another manual. I have been trying for so long and I can't work on my kit unless I find another manual. Your help would really be appreciated. Thank you for your time and have a great day.

silentman

[BB62vet]

Silentman,

I'm writing this reply VERY QUIETLY....Shhhh......only you can hear it

PM me and send me your email - I'll scan the instruction manual and send it to you as an attachment. What pages do you need?

Hank

[ModelMonkey]

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:

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.

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.

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

[Three Missouris]

A lot of young people use the word "amazing".
This really is amazing!

Thanks for taking the time to show us your work.

[Heavens Eagle]

It is inspiring to see a build of the Missouri in a large scale. I have considered obtaining the Trumpeter 1/200 kit, but as I am currently crawling my way through their rats nest of an Arizona kit, I will wait on it a while.

This is really looking quite good and looking through these builds almost has me back to the Arizona bench. (except I "need" to finish "something" this year)

[ModelMonkey]

Thanks so much, fellas!

I hope to get back to this build, and others, this winter. Mighty Mo suffered some damage, nothing serious, and needs a careful cleaning. A dedicated display case is under construction for her which should reduce the likelihood of future damage.

Had the Trumpeter kit been out when I began this build, I would have gone for the Trumpeter kit, improved the hull shape aft and replaced the 5" mounts with my own. As described above, somehow Trumpeter included the wrong 5 inch mounts with their kit. Trumpy included Mk.32s meant for cruisers and aircraft carriers. Fast battleships carried Mk.28s, which have a noticeably different gunhouse shape.

Thanks again for your kind comments and encouragement, and best wishes on your own builds!

[Three Missouris]

Looks like a lot of hard work that you did.
Thanks for posting the very good photos!

I am returning to the forum after being gone for a few months.
I was moving from California to Arizona.
Retiring from California?

[ModelMonkey]

Best wishes on your transition to Arizona!