1/200 Scale Group Build from 2015-17

[tegunn]

Almost time to change the thread to 1/200 Scale Group Build 2015-16. Man how time flies!

[Channell]

Almost time to change the thread to 1/200 Scale Group Build 2015-16. Man how time flies!

Done! Suddenly I'm reminded that a 1/200 scale capital ship is a pretty dang big project! Still, I'm ready for year 2... how 'bout you guys?

Well, I ended up putting most of this year's modeling efforts into a totally different ship than my declared projects but it's still 1/200 so I guess I'm good?

Because there can never be too many pictures to look at, here's Iowa vs Nelson:







Nellie is huge but Iowa is ridiculous! I'm looking forward to the day when I have these monsters finished and on display (also with a Bismarck and Hood) in my equally big-ass front room display cabinet.

[Mgunns]

Quite a dramatic comparison there Jason. What's the hammer for? And don't write "pounding nails".

[Channell]

Quite a dramatic comparison there Jason. What's the hammer for? And don't write "pounding nails".

Turning off the TV? It works... once anyway.

Naw, thought I should throw something familiar in the picture for size comparison.

[Mgunns]

Quite a dramatic comparison there Jason. What's the hammer for? And don't write "pounding nails".

Turning off the TV? It works... once anyway.

Naw, thought I should throw something familiar in the picture for size comparison.

Hello Jason:

It works, size comparison duly noted. I thought it may be therapy for when things go bad, and you can smash the plastic into small unrecognizable bits.

[ModelMonkey]

We've all had that one model that was so frustrating that a hammer would be sorely tempting.

Or firecrackers.

When I was 13 years old, this was my introduction to vacuform and intense outbursts of words Mom did not approve of. I'd actually like another shot at it. Insanity?

[tegunn]

On 3"/50 topic from WiP :
Hank,
The only one at this time I know of is the H-R Products one in 1/192 scale. Be advised: the molds they use are in need of a remake. I was really underwhelmed and now they are cast into bullets. I would suggest that we should pester Model Monkey(Steve) to create some. That I believe would be more fruitful. I've sent him some plans for them, and he is waiting for me to send some pics of some on the Texas once I can get down there! The HR ones are quite crude, especially for today's standards. Randy

[BB62vet]

Randy,

Funny you should mention H-R products - our local group of modelers just had their annual Christmas get-together (nothing official!) and a couple guys asked me about HR Products - as to whether or not they are still in business. Well, their website is up, so ....I conclude they are.

However, your thoughts re. our very own Model Monkey would seem to me to be the more appropriate source for up to date parts. Yes, we'll have to form a midnight posse' (sort of like the village people in Young Frankenstein ) and drag him back to the lab!!!

But, since you brought this up - what Mk/Mod are the 3"/50 that were on board PENNSYLVANIA prior to WWII? Any ideas?

Hank

[ModelMonkey]

Large scale (1/200 and bigger) 3"/50s are in the queue for early 2016. Thanks to Randy for plans!

[tegunn]

Hank,
What era are you speaking? I didn't realize she had them. The 4 tubs had 1.1's in '42. She had two 5"/51's on the O2 level forward of the 5"25's in the 30's. Are you thinking the 3"/23's?
Randy

[BB62vet]

Randy wrote:

What era are you speaking? I didn't realize she had them. The 4 tubs had 1.1's in '42. She had two 5"/51's on the O2 level forward of the 5"25's in the 30's. Are you thinking the 3"/23's?

No, I think they were 3"-50s - (2) forward of the open 5"25s in 1940 (prior to her final refit in Puget Sound in early '41). I'll try to find a picture that shows them. Could they be similar to the ones on TEXAS? I believe they are illustrated in the 1935 plans of PA done in the '80s by Alan Chesley. They are located on the 01 Level just forward of the 5" open mounts.

Hank

[tegunn]

Hank,
I finally found a reference that mentions the 3"/50's. It seems just before Pearl Harbor she had two where you mention (same location of two 5"51's).
http://www.ibiblio.org/phha/Pennsylvania.html
I guess they would be Mk 20's perhaps ??

[BB62vet]

Randy,

Thanks - I believe you've got it! And thanks for the additional online reference. Now, here's another question re. this and other similar classes of BBs: I checked out the BB-35 pix from NavSource, esp. the ones showing the interior of the Casement 5"-51 mounts - would you say that the interior gun room paint scheme was typical for pre-war battleships? I've not been able to corroborate any other information on this. But, I can't help but believe that this would be the case.

The only other piece of ref. mat'l I have is this postcard showing a casement gunroom:

My personal opinion is that the way TEXAS is currently painted probably would be correct. Comments/Opinions?


Thanks,

Hank

[tegunn]

Randy,

Thanks - I believe you've got it! And thanks for the additional online reference. Now, here's another question re. this and other similar classes of BBs: I checked out the BB-35 pix from NavSource, esp. the ones showing the interior of the Casement 5"-51 mounts - would you say that the interior gun room paint scheme was typical for pre-war battleships? I've not been able to corroborate any other information on this. But, I can't help but believe that this would be the case.

The only other piece of ref. mat'l I have is this postcard showing a casement gunroom:

The attachment 5in Gun Room postcard (Large) (Medium).jpg is no longer available

My personal opinion is that the way TEXAS is currently painted probably would be correct. Comments/Opinions?


Thanks,

Hank

Hank,
Depending on the era it can vary, but not by much. The Texas casemate guns/interior are correct for 1945. The guns seem to have been painted the exterior color all over except the moving parts. The interwar years the guns seem to have been generally panted the interior color such as the walls, with the brass portions highly polished. The barrel portion which protruded outside was painted the given exterior color. The postcard could be spot on for WW1/Interwar. Here's a pic of the interior casemate of the Pennsy interwar era..(NAVSOURCE)

[BB62vet]

Randy,

Thanks for the info and photo. I may do the interior bulkheads in a flat light pea green with flat white overheads and the gun light grey (to match exterior) w/brass appointments and deck gray base. I know these will be next to impossible to see, but why not? Now, how to make the canvas casement covers???

Hank

[Fliger747]

Were the casemates only covered with canvas or were there more substantial coverings for the openings? Tissue, rolled, tied and doped might work?

Cheers: T

[BB62vet]

Tom wrote:

Were the casemates only covered with canvas or were there more substantial coverings for the openings?

Probably some of the more seasoned modelers with ARIZONA, etc. experience could answer this. But, according to TEGunn - rolled, dampened, dried tissue probably works very well. I may experiment with that and rolled, dampened, and dried off-white packing paper (such as comes in many mail order packages) and see what turns out suitable.

Hank

[Fliger747]

That tissue such as comes with shoes etc works pretty well, used to use it for very small planes. Shrinks after it dries.

[Mgunns]

I used standard tissue, cut it to the right length, by about a half inch, wetted and rolled it. I used a watered solution of white glue to attach it. Once dried I went over it with a grey wash. They would use canvas or a more substantial covering of plates with port holes, probably in heavy seas to keep the water out. The WEM PE set for the Arizona comes with those coverings as well.

[BB62vet]

Gentlemen,

All good suggestions; experimentation will ensue.