1/200 Arizona finally DONE!

[BB62vet]

Jeff,

I swear that if I didn't know that this was a model, I would think it was a photo taken of the ship at anchor. This is simply fantastic!!! All you need are the little people...unless, of course, I've missed them

Hank

[Jeff Sharp]

Thanks Hank! I have a couple hundred figures patiently waiting to be added.

[BB62vet]

Good Golly, Miss Molly

I bought one set, just as a lark for maybe a boat crew or two....

[Fliger747]

Somewhere on the fiddly scale with 20 mm Orlikons as far as painting them! Not a politically correctly accurate era.... Remember that dungaree's are usually pretty faded.

Cheers: T

[Jeff Sharp]

Always on the lookout for new detail to add to my model, I've decided to add more detail to the aft gun tubs thanks to Jon Rykert making me aware of the awesome photos of USS Tennessee after her last refit in Jul '40. Finding detail of any of the Battleships gun tubs is rare but this one of Tennessee's aft tub give us a glimpse of the detail on the back side of the tub.



You can slightly see a single bar railing and steps up to the tub.

I decided to replicate this look on my tubs.





Was this detail on the Arizona? I have no idea. I cannot confirm nor deny it was there given all the film and photos I have studied. If the guns were in place then I would say the railing and steps would definitely be there as well but, was this detail added after the guns were installed on the other Battleships?

[MartinJQuinn]

Nice touch. I like it.

[Jeff Sharp]

Thanks Martin. I also found a view inside California's forward tub showing traction pads on the deck. I'll try to post a pick of it later today. I'm considering adding these as well.

Here is a cropped shot of the starboard side tub up on the Navigation bridge of California.

[Mgunns]

Hi Jeff:

I think it enhances the otherwise bare gun 'tub'. In all likliehood, it was there. Looks good.

[BB62vet]

Jeff,

Nice photos of the 3" gun/tub! Any idea if there are 3"-50 single open mounts available in 1:200 scale? I haven't seen any yet (maybe I'm looking in the wrong places )

thanks,

Hank

[tegunn]

Hank,
I don't want to hijack Jeff's thread, so check out my reply in our 1/200 group build...Randy

[Jeff Sharp]

All boats and birds are now in place. I can finally start adding crew members.

[tegunn]

Looking real sweet Jeff! Hey, you might already know this, but check 1/200 USN figures on the Shapeway site. I'm planning on using them as well..

[Jeff Sharp]

Thanks Randy. I was not aware of them. I ordered a dungaree set. In this film however all of the sailors are wearing white tee shirts and white shorts. Even when inspections are going on.


I don't know the exact date of this film yet, but I know it was between Jan.19th and May 20th. The first date is the day Arizona left Puget Sound Naval Yard following her refit and the last date is when USS New Mexico left the Pacific Fleet for the Atlantic. All three New Mexico's are present in this film.

This is where I need some help and education with Navy attire protocol given this time frame. All of the officers are wearing white. I plan on showing a liberty party departing the ship. Would this party also be wearing dress whites? Or dress blues?

[Mgunns]

Hi Jeff: I have read several first hand books during this time frame, i.e., "Battleship Sailor", "Descent into Darkness", one on the Nevada and one on the Oklahoma, not sure of the titles of the last two right now as the Nevada book was loaned to me and the Oklahoma book is on loan, but; the Liberty party was always in whites. The duty uniform was tee shirts and shorts. In the photo you can see the Chief in a white shirt and shorts whereas the Officers in dress whites. As they were in tropical waters the duty uniform was tee shirts and shorts. If you are going to do a liberty party i would put them in Dress whites, for deck work, tees and shorts. This is looking real nice Jeff. Great job on the boat placement, rigging of the booms and the aircraft trolley.
As an aside, when I was a young Marine in the late 60's, we switched from Greens to trops on 1 April and from trops to greens on 1 October this was stateside. I believe the Navy did the same save for tropical waters. When I was in Vietnam, the liberty uniform was trops or khaki year round, same for Okinawa.

[BB62vet]

White shorts were WWII era uniform; possibly Korean War, but I can't say. Not so in the '60s. Our summer uniform was undress whites or white short sleeve shirts. No dungarees off ship or off base.

Hank

[Jeff Sharp]

As an aside, when I was a young Marine in the late 60's, we switched from Greens to trops on 1 April and from trops to greens on 1 October this was stateside. I believe the Navy did the same save for tropical waters. When I was in Vietnam, the liberty uniform was trops or khaki year round, same for Okinawa.

Since you mentioned Marines, these guys were also onboard for a rifle inspection. I'm assuming they are Marines in head to toe Khaki's.

[Mgunns]

You are correct sir: The Marine Detachment C.O. is behind the Navy Inspecting officer. Enlisted Marine Khaki's consisted of the what you see here. Staff NCO's and officers were authorized the Khaki blouse as well. The C.O.'s also wore the Sam Brown Belt.

[tegunn]

Thanks Randy. I was not aware of them. I ordered a dungaree set. In this film however all of the sailors are wearing white tee shirts and white shorts. Even when inspections are going on.


I don't know the exact date of this film yet, but I know it was between Jan.19th and May 20th. The first date is the day Arizona left Puget Sound Naval Yard following her refit and the last date is when USS New Mexico left the Pacific Fleet for the Atlantic. All three New Mexico's are present in this film.

This is where I need some help and education with Navy attire protocol given this time frame. All of the officers are wearing white. I plan on showing a liberty party departing the ship. Would this party also be wearing dress whites? Or dress blues?

Who knows what the formation was for? Could be an inspection prior to PT,etc. We got/held inspections all the time in the Army; everything form a PCI(pre-combat inspection-pretty mandatory before action) to the Commander saying he wants to have an inspection in MOPP4 (full chem suits) usually an accountability function. So one could ask what activity would these sailors be doing after inspection? Physical fitness or just the uniform is reflective of the climate they are in and the command adjusted the uniform to that...We need a really old salt to ask!

[Jeff Sharp]

The first group of crew members have made it aboard but only for a short time though. They are lined up for liberty.






This photo taken aboard Maryland was the inspiration for this scene. The major difference being Summer whites vs Winter blues.

[Fliger747]

Curious about the furthest aft "boat boom". These were used not only with Jacob's ladders, but also for aircraft recovery. A sled or net was towed from the end of the boom, streaming aft and the aircraft taxied onto it and was hooked, such that the crane could hoist the aircraft from it's from the bridle. As such on Alaska a secondary brace boom is provided, but with a single boom a forward guy line would be necessary, I would think. Anyone know much about the rigging of these?

Cheers: Tom