drdoom1337 wrote:
With that said, for either the 1/350 or 1/200 scale version of this bridge, which kit do you suggest? The Missouri for both, or the Very Fire 1/350 New Jersey? I'm uncertain if that kit includes the original aft mast as well as the tripod.
I wasn't going to offer an opinion, but Geez, this seems to be getting a bit repetitious - pick a scale and go with it!!
My recommendations would be:
1) if you have the space - 1/200 scale. There, was that so hard???
Besides, it offers much higher level of detail than does 1/350th scale.
The Trumpeter kit you would be best served by would be the USS MISSIOURI kit - the 20mm gun configurations are closer to NEW JERSEY than the IOWA kit would offer. Keep in mind - both kits have INCORRECT 5"/38 Gun mounts - so, in addition to the Model Monkey bridge replacement, I would also suggest you invest in a set of (10) Model Monkey Dual 5"/38 gun mounts. And, don't forget to make sure your Mk. 37 Directors are the correct version for NEW JERSEY 1944 - the kit parts may or may not be that. Once again, check out the Monkey Man!!
The Trumpeter 1/200 IOWA/MISSOURI hulls are a mess - so, that is a moot point in deciding which kit to buy - you'll need to correct that if it matters; if it doesn't - don't worry about it!!!
Neither of these kits (IMHO) is properly suited to building a modern IOWA class BB
UNLESS you are real adept at scratchbuilding or are into 3D Design & Printing. The superstructures of either NEW JERSEY or MO/IA/WISC will require EXTENSIVE rebuilding in order to end up with a reasonable decent model of any of the 4 ships. NEW JERSEY, due to her 1967-69 overhaul (MY tiime of service aboard her!!) was rebuilt in 1981 a bit different than the other 3 as they came along later in the mid-80s.
My build of 1/200 scale USS NEW JERSEY (1968-69) was done with a lot of 3rd party PE, scratch built parts, my own PE designed parts, many hand drawn 2D CAD drawings for construction. I have since contemplated replacing many of the scratch parts with 3D designed replacements as I've gotten into that realm of modeling, but probably won't as I have other projects in the pipeline. If you have any desires to learn 3D design and printing - do so, that would be a certain benefit in creating the parts you need for the modern version of those ships.
Hope this helps!!