At 'Em Arizona Fans!

[MartinJQuinn]

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.

My recollection is that is auto-pruned before we had a chance to cull the good stuff from it.

[Finland's Jonne]

Perhaps I'm asking in wrong place...

Now I'm more sure that 2 guns near conning tower are 5" 51 cal guns and 8 others would be 5" 25 cal single gun (open mount) in year 1931?

But 1:350 5" 51 cal gun haven't 1:350 parts? or I haven't found yet. But perhaps I would use for example Complect 1:350 120mm Canet gun on ganet mount?

Jonne

[ModelMonkey]

Anybody have a good view of the top of the funnel (looking down onto it), 1936-1941?

Would like to confirm the number of uptake partitions as well as confirm/deny the presence and appearance of any details.

Also seeking any good photos of the "short stack", circa 1931-1935.

Thanks in advance!

[Fliger747]

Japanese archives might have a good photo of the top of the stack circa late 1941....

Good luck!

[biggles2]

Japanese archives might have a good photo of the top of the stack circa late 1941....

Good luck!

Dubious taste but...

[tegunn]

Japanese archives might have a good photo of the top of the stack circa late 1941....

Good luck!

Dubious taste but...

Unless they were stored at Hiroshima...

[biggles2]

Unless they were stored at Hiroshima...[/quote]

...or Nagasaki. Just keeps getting worse!

[intarsiabox]

I am looking at starting my first plastic ship model and have decided on Trumpeter's 1/200 Arizona. I like adding PE to my other models and this will be no different. I am trying to decide which PE set to get, the MK1 Designs kit w/wood deck or WEM kit and source out a wooden deck. I've tried searching with no avail what the WEM kit has in it that the MK1 kit does not. I am leaning towards the MK1 kit but if the other kit has a bunch of different detail items that won't result in mostly duplicates then maybe I need both? While by no means am I a rivet counter I do like a well detailed model. Thank-you!

[davidwaples]

There are some things to think about which may or may not be important to you...

MK1 Design: Very nice set. This is the one I have. Some others can speak to construction as I haven't started mine yet. This is one of their first sets and the wood deck does not have the scarf joints around the perimeter like their newer releases do. The MK1 deck does have more correct spacing of plank butt joints.

Artwox: They have a very nice 1/200 wood deck with scarf joints for this kit. It does make the same mistake on plank butt joints that Trumpeter made.

White Ensign Models: This set didn't look very complete to me compared to the MK1 Design set.

Eduard: They have some nice bits and pieces such as the catapults and the ships boat cradle set. But their other features tend to not be as good as MK1 or White Ensign Models.

Pontos: Pontos has said they are going to release an Arizona kit. It's not clear if they will actually do it or if it will be a conversion set.

I think the best set is the MK1 designs and if the deck bothers you spend the money for the Artwox deck. Good luck with your decision and your build.
Dave

[intarsiabox]

Thanks for the reply Dave. I think I'll just get the MK1 set and not over complicate this model too much. I just got the Arizona today but I'm not sure when I'll be starting on it. I've got a couple of other builds to finish first (I'm in the middle of Meng's D9 cat and have to finish weathering a Fine Molds Millenium Falcon). Maybe by that time Pontos will come out with a set but after all this time since the kits release I won't hold my breath. Jeff

[ModelMonkey]

Seeking highly detailed photos of Arizona's crane kingposts. Will use to design accurate, 3D-printed replacements for kits.

Any help is appreciated!

[Chuck Bauer]

New subject, please:

Does anybody know what that little house is up on the top of Arizona's forward superstructure? It has windows and what might be an RDF directional antenna mounted on its roof.

[ModelMonkey]

It's an air defense control station. That's why the windows are angled upward, to permit views of the sky. There's a door on the portside that some model kits miss. The door is shorter than a normal A/T door but is paneled just like one.

[Chuck Bauer]

Wow, that was quick!
Thanks Steve. I have built four Arizona's now. Should have asked a long time ago.

P.S.
My friend Mgunns loves his 3D parts.

[Tracy White]

Sheet two of her Booklet of General Plans lists that as the Main Battery Director. The platform above it was for a radar that was not fitted before her loss.

[Chuck Bauer]

Hi Tracy,

The outline of it is shown on the drawing of the Range Finder Platform, but I don't see an arrow to it or any nomenclature.

Chuck

[Tracy White]

My mistake, I was thinking you were talking about the fighting tops and missed Steve's reply. There's also a weathervane on the top if you're working in large scale.

[Chuck Bauer]

Repulse had a device like this on her RDF office. Plus an anemometer. That's why I always thought this structure could be related to RDF's. But the air defense thing makes sense, too, especially because of the windows. (Repulse's RDF office had no windows that I can recall, and it may be pure coincidence that those two devices were mounted atop the office itself.)

I agree, the wind direction indicator is makeable in 1/350 scale but I don't think I would try it in anything smaller. If you are building the 1/200 Arizona kit--no worries, it's in the box.

So----are we all OK with the air defense station explanation?

Cheers,
Chuck

[Chuck Bauer]

FWIW,
this photo from NavSource says that Pennsylvania's little house is "the air defense position at the base of the foremast and radar, scheduled for installation aboard all battleships."


http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/tn/013803c.gif

[Jeff Sharp]

Concerning the weather vane, I believe it was positioned at the top of the forward fighting top until the radar platform was installed. It had to be moved, so it wound up on top of that shack.