The Ship Model Forum

Greeting!

Since the Oregon is in storage, I decided to at least start on my next project, the USS Iowa.

So why the USS Iowa? As a kid, I always wanted to visit an Iowa Class battleship, and in 2015 I visited the USS Iowa with my then girlfriend (now wife), and had a blast exploring and learning more about the Iowa. So I made a goal of building all 4 Iowa Class battleships starting with the New Jersey (probably need to do a redo on that). I always thought the Iowa didn't get as much love as her 3 sister ships (might be due to the events of April 19, 1989). Since that visit in 2015, I have donated some money to the Pacific Battleship Center.

I'm using the New Jersey kit from Tamiya and enhancing it with the Pontos PE set. It's the first time using Pontos and I can already see how people say the instructions are a little challenging. I haven't decided if I want this to be from 1984 or 1987 when the radome was added. The Pontos set comes with the option for adding the radome platform.

I know a lot of people like the WWII looks of the ship, but for me personally, I liked the 1980's look of the Iowa Class.

The best part of this hobby is when you finished one, you try to learn from your past mistakes and improve the next time by watching how other people did their builds. Hank (BB62vet) has given me some great advice on how to approach building the Iowa, so thanks Hank!

Currently this build is only assembling some pieces, adding PE to the model. Right now since most of my modeling stuff is in storage, I won't be able to paint or add the wood decking. I'll take it as far as I can. Once the Oregon is complete, I'll finish the Iowa.

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

For 2 weeks, I worked on the 5in gun mounts. Yes it took that long since I only have roughly an hour each night working on the Iowa. As some of you know, family duties come first!

When I worked on my Missouri project, having to drill small holes to mount the brass barrels was very challenging. Fortunately, Pontos has pre-drilled mounts so the brass barrels can be glued in with no issues. Made the job go much faster.

The Pontos kit came with it's own 5in mounts. it's a lot more detailed then the ones that came with the Tamiya set. The ladders were added, and I actually took the time to move the rungs out, but had one rung broke. Luckily, I was able to glue it back on...

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

Last week I started work on the 16 inch turrets. Just like the Missouri build, adding the metal barrels was hard. I wasn't able to get a consistent angles and my drilling was all whacky. On my dry fittings, I had barrels that were angled low, and high and all over the map! It will be interesting to see once I glue the barrels to the turrets and compare it to my Missouri build, if the barrel angle for the Iowa will be higher.

I think the next Iowa class ship I work on, I won't saw off all the way to the blast bags and just leave enough so at least I have a guide so I can drill at the default angle molded by Tamiya.

I scrapped off the molded ladders, I'll need to do a little sanding so some of the scratch marks and minor gouges are less noticeable. The goal for this week (or whenever) is to attach the PE ladders to the turrets and glue in the pieces for each turrets. I won't be adding the railings on the top since I'll need to paint the top of the turrets a different color. Those railings will have to be added later.

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

Ohh looks great! I’m following along. Coincidentally the New Jersey was under the Enterprise kit I just started so maybe you can pay it forward and I’ll learn enough to be confident starting an Iowa class BB!

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In the shipyard - Trumpeter 1/350 USS Kitty Hawk

Just as regards USS Iowa's main gun turret roofs. They were definitely light grey coloured, same as the hull sides during her sea trials post-reactivation in early April 1984:
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a5/9f/23/a59f23b53586fcd3944bd7708bedd4ca.jpg

It would seem they were painted dark grey not long after that (possibly before re-commissioning?) but certainly by July 1984 as seen here:
https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/us-navy-ships/battleships/iowa-bb-61/DN-ST-85-05379.html

So you have the option to paint the turret roofs either light or dark grey? Then the American Flag was painted onto 'A' Turret Roof in June 1984. So plenty of different options to consider?

Enjoy your build, look forward to seeing more updates.

Themongoose, I'll do my best, but I'm not sure if you're going to learn a whole lot but I'll try to help build your confidence in starting the Iowa Class!

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

Thanks for the info Mr. Church. I'm leaning towards something I think 1988. It's still early in the build so I might change my mind...The US Flag might pose a problem as I'm not sure where I can get one to fit the turret.

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

I finished up the turrets, and hope to post a few pictures soon.

I started to work on the bridge part and have a question. I've seen in the forum that there is a section of the deck that is supposed to be open. I marked an "x" on the area that I need to cut out, but I wanted to double check with everyone and see if that is correct? Thanks!

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

The last week I've been working on the turrets. I've adjusted the barrels to the turrets and they don't look too bad. Evenly spaced out and all at or close to the same angle. Well, maybe turret 2 was a little troublesome, but good enough!

I added the ladders to the turrets. I can already tell the difference in quality between using Eduard PE and Pontos. Now I wished I used Pontos on Missouri build! I really took the time to fold the ladders the right way and tried not to put a huge dab of CA to glue down the ladders. I think they turned out good, and I'm getting better with the PE stuff.

Next up, I think I might work on the bridge portion of the Iowa. I did noticed when I did a dry fit of entire ship, the mid section of the model is bowed a little. I'm hoping gluing it down and the secure it with the rubber band will help keep it down, but I'll have to deal with that later on.

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

May I suggest here?
https://tinwizard.de/shop/en/decals/topic-sheets/flags/flags-usa-united-states-of-america-180x70-mm

I have no connection with them other than having bought decals off them before which I am pleased with. They are top quality. The Company is based in Germany but I imagine they would ship to the USA? And the sheet is only €6 plus shipping.

I don't have a 1/350 Iowa Class kit to hand but I imagine one of the flags on the decal sheet should fit? Or be close enough to be acceptable? Having a quick look at some reference photos it seems there is not much raised detail beneath the painted flag on the real ship. Only really the joints in the turret's plating.

So a decal and some softening /setting solution should produce a perfectly good result on a model. I really like the flag on the turret. It was very distinctive and adds a lovely splash of colour. I probably prefer the light grey turret tops overall but the dark grey turret tops with an American Flag are a very close second.

I decided to cut out a passageway that the Tamiya kit didn't, how shall I say, molded correctly? I tried to find pictures of the passageway, and I have one from the New Jersey. The cover of the Sumrall book showed a passage way, so I said "what the heck" and hacked away. It didn't take me too long, maybe 30 minutes of hand sawing the portion out. It would have taken me 15 minutes if it wasn't for the "Last Dance" documentary! I then added a new decking and wall to cover up the hole and there you have it, a passageway.

Hopefully this is the last modification I need to do!

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

Mr. Church, thanks for the suggestion. I ordered a set and hopefully they will fit. I think they will be good enough!

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

You're welcome. Nice neat brass barrel and photoetch work on the turrets.

Looking forward to further updates.

Watching and waiting this is looking good, will enjoy following your build. I have the New Jersey up next myself so this will be quite informative.

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In the shipyard - Trumpeter 1/350 USS Kitty Hawk

I'm back with a quick update. I started work on the foretop area. Ponto's provided the foretop since the New Jersey kit has a different look. I know the thread started as the 1984 Iowa, then I decided to change it to between 1987 and 1989. Now I decided to do the model based on the Iowa visiting England in 1989. It will have the Radom and the ball radar above the bridge area. I thought this would be a nice look to the Iowa and I thought as a fully dressed tour before decommissioning.

This section took me a couple of weeks to work on. There are a lot of tiny pieces that are added, plus I had to do research regarding a section that got me a little confused. The Pontos instructions read that there is a box section that goes behind the foretop, but a lot of pictures I saw didn't have this box. It was only applied to the Wisconsin and Missouri. So that piece got tossed aside. The Pontos instructions are a little hard to decipher...I spent about 45 minutes looking for a PE that I couldn't find.

Anyways, here are some pictures. I liked how this turned out, but some areas are a little sloppy...

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Doing a terrible job of building model boats since 1988...

Current Build
USS Oregon
USS Iowa (mothballed)

Planned builds
USS Wisconsin
USS New Jersey
USS Alaska

Well done, and nicely detailed. I'm trying to get there.

Maybe with hindsight (easy for me to say, sorry) Would it not have been easier first to glue the bloomers to the turrets, then cut off the plastic barrels, drill holes to receive the brass ones, build a simple jig (having a ledger supporting the barrels i.r.t. the turret) and then finally cement the brass barrels in place using the jig? In that way each of the turrets will have all the barrels at exactly the same angle.

Maybe a thought for a next model...

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"I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing, and the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising, their guns on fire as we sail into hell"
Roger Whittaker +9/13/2023