1/200 USS Missouri

[Kelly Quirk]

I've been slowly plugging away on this monster. I'm using the Pontos detail set, which is absolutley incredible and yet almost insane at the same time. I'm sure I won't use every single part in the set, after all I do want to finish this some day. Anyway, I wasn't really planning on doing an "in progress" thread but it's a slow day here so what the heck. I'll be depicting the ship as of October 1945 after the decks were holeystoned back to teak.





The hull is painted and partly weathered. I beefed up the anchor chain with some stock I had, and added the paravane chain.

[Kelly Quirk]

The individual ladder rungs have been fun!





These are scattered all over the ship. You must drill two holes for each rung. The drilling guides provided by Pontos are invaluable for this.

[Kelly Quirk]

The wood deck is a work of art and the fit is precise.

[Kelly Quirk]

And here is where I'm at as of today.









It does feel good to be working on a ship model again, it's been a while!

[Timmy C]

Welcome back Kelly! Great to see you tackling this project!

[sgtryan13]

Very nice, and welcome back indeed! Glad to see you at another ship, given the results of your last ship build on this forum! So will we be seeing her on the contest table at the nats in ohio next year, or are you actually planning to cart that beast to virginia this summer? Assuming she is done in time of course, but it sure looks like you are well on your way with her.

[Goodwood]

Bloody hell, this is the kind of prog shots I've been longing to see since this behemoth hit the shelves! Had a look at your gallery as well, Kelly, and it looks like you're quite a Renaissance modeler!

[pbudzik]

Looks like you're really coming along. It looks great. Should be most impressive when you're finished.

Paul

[silvershadow]

Looking really awesome so far

[autodecepticon]

This is really really awesome! i still waiting mine, ordered from local hobby shop but still now news yet.

[Channell]

Great work so far!

Did you use the kit bridge windows or the Pontos replacements?

[Kelly Quirk]

Great work so far!

Did you use the kit bridge windows or the Pontos replacements?

Thanks everybody! I used the kit windows, mainly because the Pontos set doesn't provide for ALL of the windows. And mixing the thinner PE with the thicker plastic parts just looked wrong to me, so I just ended up using the kit parts. At least it is consistent.

[RDC]

looking great Kelly. Always love seeing your work!

I have a question Kelly, regarding the wood deck.
Is the adhesive backing on those decks super-sticky? In other words.......does the stuff "grab-hold" instantly allowing NO movement for proper alignment? Also........on the flip side of that........did you feel the need to use any additional adhesives of any kind to ensure a secure bond that will last for years on end?

I ask because although I have not even ordered my kit yet.......my fear would be that over time the wood decking could lift up in places. (much like old floor tile is known to do!).

Curious what you have to say, because if YOU trust the decking to stay put........then I'm going to trust it to stay put on mine

Russ

[Channell]

Great work so far!

Did you use the kit bridge windows or the Pontos replacements?

Thanks everybody! I used the kit windows, mainly because the Pontos set doesn't provide for ALL of the windows. And mixing the thinner PE with the thicker plastic parts just looked wrong to me, so I just ended up using the kit parts. At least it is consistent.

I think you made the right choice. I don't understand why Pontos didn't offer replacements for all the rectangular windows on the back of the bridge, flag bridge, ect.

BTW, I just cruised your website and wow do you do awesome work!

[Kelly Quirk]

looking great Kelly. Always love seeing your work!

I have a question Kelly, regarding the wood deck.
Is the adhesive backing on those decks super-sticky? In other words.......does the stuff "grab-hold" instantly allowing NO movement for proper alignment? Also........on the flip side of that........did you feel the need to use any additional adhesives of any kind to ensure a secure bond that will last for years on end?

I ask because although I have not even ordered my kit yet.......my fear would be that over time the wood decking could lift up in places. (much like old floor tile is known to do!).

Curious what you have to say, because if YOU trust the decking to stay put........then I'm going to trust it to stay put on mine

Russ

Thanks Russ. The wood deck is very sticky and it does tend to grab hold. I have read that you can mist some water onto the back side first and that will give you a little play time to work it in. I just went straight ahead with it, starting at one end and slowly laying it down. I then burnished it down with a smooth metal burnishing tool. Like I mentioned, the fit has been perfect. I'm pretty sure it will stay down, I've experimented with some of the scrap and once it is down, it's not going anywhere. I guess we'll see what happens over time...

[BB62vet]

Kelly,

Excellent work; very impressive!! Reading through the various posts, I'm in agreement that sticking with one style of bridge window was correct. I'm making mental notes on all the MISSOURI builds going on in order to save this info for my own use when the time comes.

Thanks for sharing the very nice photos.

Hank

[RDC]

I'm very glad to hear that Pontos provides a drilling template for those tiny ladder rungs. Another thing, in looking at the pic Kelly posted with the piece sitting on the tip of the knife blade.........it appears that the rungs are flat, as opposed to round. If so....that is a GOOD thing in that the tiny piece will be easier to hold onto with tweezers than if they were round.

Still, I sure hope Pontos provides a few spares because ain't nothing worse than holding onto a tiny piece like that with tweezers only to have the part "snap-away".....and fly across the room never to be seen again!

I'm sure you've all had this happen!

Russ

[LE BOSCO]

I just discovered your work it is superb ,I like it
cheers
nicolas

[Fliger747]

The deck area around the 52 and 54 mounts seems a bit strange, being recessed around the mount ring. I remember being on BB63 back in the 60's whilst still in its early post war outfit and the deck around the mount was flush with the decking as it is today. Is this due to adding the relief of the deck?

At any rate a very nice build, the slight weathering of the paint forward is particularly convincing.

Cheers: t

[Fliger747]

Not the greatest photo, but one can see that the steel decking around the mounts are the same level as the wooden deck.

Cheers: T