Calling all rebuilt "Big 5" (TN/MD class) fans

[drdoom1337]

Doomfellow,

Some pics of an ISW 1/350 Tennessee. In the background is the West Virginia. They were both part of my 2007 project to do a 5/6 correct Surigao Strait battle line (I substituted Idaho for California - variety & a ship I wanted to build). I tried to be as accurate as I could be for both ships with the exception of no camo on the horizontal surfaces of WeVee.

The ISW kit was very good for the West Virginia (per plans in Palasek's Colorado class BB's), Tennessee was more difficult. My best reference was Smith's Volunteer State Battlewagon, which had a nice side rendering of the 1943 fit and good pics of 1943 and 1945 (both meas 21). There were no good pics anywhere that I could find for the 1944 dazzle fit. I decided to do the ship in the 1943 fit with a 1944 dazzle scheme. This also gave me some differences (20mm and radar being the most obvious) from the West Virginia (excluding main armament).

Jim

Call me Jon please, and your Tennessee looks simply stunning. Would you say it would be easier to build the kit in an early 1945 MS21 guise?

[JimRussell]

Jon,

Short answer...yes.

A reference I think you will like..... http://wmunderway.8m.com/gallery48/gallery48.htm

Jim

[drdoom1337]

I've opted to build the Tennessee as pictured in this photo after I finish my Trumpter NC and Dragon Buchanan(45). Now the question is does anybody make what appear as Waterbuffalo in 1/350? I'd need a few of them to put around the ship to make it look half decent

[chuck]

I've opted to build the Tennessee as pictured in this photo after I finish my Trumpter NC and Dragon Buchanan(45). Now the question is does anybody make what appear as Waterbuffalo in 1/350? I'd need a few of them to put around the ship to make it look half decent

http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/photo ... ee-v-2.jpg

It seems to me that Tennessee would remain underway while doing shore bombardment to enable her rudder to remain effective. I doubt any amphibious tractor would be insane enough come so close to a moving battleship that's firing broadsides so that the tractor would show up in a normal diorama of the scene. The photo above is probably taken with a telephoto lens so that the distance between the battleship and the amphibious tractor would appear compressed.

[drdoom1337]

Hmm that is a possibility and highly likely. It does look like Tennesse is just sitting there though bombarding

[SeanF]

Check her bow. Tennessee is anchored.

[chuck]

Check her bow. Tennessee is anchored.

Or those could be her paravane chains. Would she anchor herself so she becomes a sitting duck should some Japanese aircraft or submarine break through?

[SeanF]

Or those could be her paravane chains. Would she anchor herself so she becomes a sitting duck should some Japanese aircraft or submarine break through?

Probably to avoid drifting aground or hitting the landing craft. They're pretty tightly packed. Navsource, BB-43 USS TENNESSEE
June 1943 - 1945, 12th photo down, has a good overview of this kind of operation. Tennesee is right in the middle of the landing craft and not moving. Two photos below that is the picture we've been looking at.

[drdoom1337]

Or those could be her paravane chains. Would she anchor herself so she becomes a sitting duck should some Japanese aircraft or submarine break through?

Probably to avoid drifting aground or hitting the landing craft. They're pretty tightly packed. Navsource, BB-43 USS TENNESSEE
June 1943 - 1945, 12th photo down, has a good overview of this kind of operation. Tennesee is right in the middle of the landing craft and not moving. Two photos below that is the picture we've been looking at.

Would you say it's safe to throw in a few Waterbuffalo then?

[MartinJQuinn]

Some photos of Tennessee after being rebuilt:

[drdoom1337]

I think it's a crime that all the big 5 were scrapped. At least ONE should have remained as a museum. They could certainly have added a lot of history to the world as museum ships. Though, I guess the same could be said for a lot of other vessels as well.

[CL40]

Some photos of Tennessee after being rebuilt:

That is simply beauty in motion... elegant, but to be feared...

[Sauragnmon]

Alright, if anybody would know it'd be the boys to be found here... so here we go.

Looking for a set of 14/50 guns, USN style - TN and NM carried them, does anybody turn them as it stands?

[Timmy C]

In 1/700, I presume?

Clipper models, and HLJ has them in stock: http://www.hlj.com/product/CLP1203

[Sauragnmon]

I only build one scale, Timmy, and if I get things in other scales, I Scale-o-rama them into my scale!

Much appreciated, I wasn't sure if Clipper did them, I'll have to add those to my list when I next order some more 5" longs from the boys over at PacFront. I was hoping I wouldn't have to get some of them custom machined.

Just know - these aren't going on Big 5's. I got Other plans for twelve 14/50's.

[Timmy C]

I surmised as much

I suggest ordering them soon, though - I have a feeling that these are basically out of production, and what's in stores are all that's left.

[drdoom1337]

Though I haven't started it, I"ve begun to look more and more at my ISW Tenn and I can't help but wonder, does any company make a PE set for the Big 5? I have ISW's PE but I'd like to go into a bit more detail if possible.

[JimRussell]

Jon,

The ISW 1/350 Tennessee is a low production resin kit that comes with a PE set. No PE producer is going to make a dedicated detail set, there is no market.

If you want to spend $ for a showpiece consider replacing the "cruder" resin parts. More or less in "necessary" order...

1..14" brass barrels
2..20mm
3..40mm (L'arseal is good)
4..36" searchlight (Paper Lab makes metal beauties)
5..seaplane (source ???)
6..5" director 4 pcs (L'Arsenal)
7..5" twin gunhouses (L'Arsenal)

I have seen a modernized OBB by (95% guess) Pierre Marchal that had pipe guards on the 20mm mounts. These really added something but would have to be scratch.

Jim

[drdoom1337]

I'm probably going to have to go with most of the L'Arsenal parts, but I'm also concerned about things like hose reels and watertight doors. I might have to pick up Tom's or GMM's doors (and I'll have extra for other kits). Something I did notice is that on the deck, there are several "bubbles" I purchased the kit so long ago that I'm not sure there is anything I can do about it in terms of returning.

[garyrunnalls]

I have the ISW 1/350 BB-43,44,48, 1944 resin kit and thanks to this site only paid $160.00. I love the resin and L'Arsenal 14"50's are so nice.I had to revert to GMM USS MASS PE set @ 85% usable for this ship. The A/C crane is ok but not Accurate. I think L'Arsenal should come out with this, they would get my order .