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U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:22 am
by Saxondog
As I posted in my 1/200 scale Arizona post I'm building this kit as a pre-build for the larger scale kit,the hull paintwork and detailing is key to a great looking ship.

Every porthole has been cleaned with a drill bit due to the flashing of the moulding. This and the outlining with a no.2 soft lead pencil after the base coat of Model Master 1930 Flat Gull Gray increases the detail. The outline marking gives form and shadowing to the hulls changing surface shapes.

The lower hull is painted in Model Master Flat Red 1250 over a base prime coat of Flat Black. Tamiya Dull Red works well for Royal Navy and Kreigsmarine ships,Like the Hood AND Tirpitz of my earlier builds. American ships tended to be a little bit brighter.

Due to the Era of this ship,pre-ventilation the use of port holes is extensive,and many were shaped incorrectly and even different sizes,a sharp drill bit used by hand will correct most of the imperfections and result in a cleaner looking hull. I am going for an early 1930"s look and the basic pacific fleet paint scheme.


http://www.researcheratlarge.com/Ships/S19-7/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The peacetime years between the first and second world wars was one where US Navy ships were predominately painted in a light color officially known as #5 Standard Navy Gray but more popularly as "battleship gray." Standard Navy Gray worked well for ship-to-ship
engangements at long distances in the daytime, but had some disadvantages. With the advent of the aircraft carrier these lightly colored ships stood out against a dark sea and became more vulnerable to the increasingly effective strike aircraft. Additionally, #5 had a gloss and reflectance the Navy found objectionable in night time engagements as it reflected searchlight beams very well.

1/350 U.S.S.Arizona as moulded
1/350 U.S.S.Arizona as moulded
1/350 U.S.S.Arizona Base Coat of lower and upper hull sections
1/350 U.S.S.Arizona Base Coat of lower and upper hull sections
base coat
base coat
After cleaning and outline steps
After cleaning and outline steps
After cleaning and outline prep,ready for "DULL COAT" spray.
After cleaning and outline prep,ready for "DULL COAT" spray.

Re: U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 4:14 am
by Saxondog
Hull sections are sprayed with DULLCOAT.Hull sections fitted together using basic Testors glue,this is best for ships with split hulls. Using Testors allows for hull flexing where CA tends to snap or break free,also the narrow tip applicator allows for an even line of glue,this prevents glue running onto the painted hull surfaces.

The longer drying time also helps,flexing the hull with clamps to obtain the best fit. Then I use PACTRA trim tape for the water line ban strip. This is also best as it hides any hull gaps,and is easier to apply than painting. In the past the cost of a good quality painters tape and the actual paint were more costly and alot more hassle than this trim tape method. The high shine does cause some issues and a very thin coat of acrylic dull clear or flat clear applied will fix this problem.

As a note here,I will be using the lead pencil effect on my next tank to highlight the hull contours and the shadowing effect on a tank with a plain base coat of XF-60 from Tamiya. This hopefully will have the same results as on my ships,really don't know why I never tried this on tanks before?

Here are a few pictures,the hull is now ready for the main deck and the main guns to be added. the deck will require alot of prep work,many deck fittings and ladder access ports with hatches are moulded on this kit,the bollards,and deck engines for winches all will have to be outlined and then protected against the deck paint. The technique used will be detailed in that post.
U.S.S.Arizona 1-350 scale hull paint stage II 008.JPG
U.S.S.Arizona 1-350 scale hull paint stage II 009.JPG
U.S.S.Arizona 1-350 scale hull paint stage II 010.JPG

Re: U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 5:32 pm
by Saxondog
Progress on this build is slow, I would like to produce the ship as Originally Launched and fitted. I have reached the point of having to decide this issue in order to move forward.

The Boat deck is key to this build as the addition of 5"guns and their shields in the 1930"s and the removal of the cage mast for tripods effected this section more than any other part of the ship.

Here are a few pictures...
USS Arizona III Main Deck 002.JPG
U.S.S.Arizona Boat Deck 005.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 003.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 005.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 006.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 007.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 009.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 010.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 013.JPG

Re: U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:34 pm
by Saxondog
I have looked at the original ship photo from 1919 and reviewed the US Naval history site for the upgrade and modernizations to Arizona.

The 1/350 kit has the Gun deck mounted higher as on the original ship the 5"casement guns were all mounted a deck lower,this was changed in the 1920"s as the guns as mounted in the photo below were found to be useless at speed or considered to Wet in action.

Converting this kit may be very difficult where the 1/200 scale version actually has the decks fitting separate and would allow me to install the casements back into the hull and simply mount the barrels to the casements,making it appear as the original ship appeared below.

So it seems at this point I will build this kit as the pearl Harbour version and focus on the 1/200 scale kit to convert. On youtube their are several videos of the 1/200 kit built and sailing but all are done as the modern version of Arizona,I really want to built the original as no one has done this. We shall see...
USS Arizona as completed 1919 fitting out dock in New York.
USS Arizona as completed 1919 fitting out dock in New York.
USS Arizona 1/350 kit detailing 5" guns mounted a deck higher than originally mounted
USS Arizona 1/350 kit detailing 5" guns mounted a deck higher than originally mounted

Re: U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:50 pm
by Saxondog
A little late night work on the Arizona,Blast bags fitted using white heat shrink,first heated around a small paintbrush.The gently slid onto the barrels,each barrel connect to a central shaft so installing the barrels into the turret required some filing and shaping to look correct and to simply fit right. The discolouring on a few was to dark,but these assemblies were canvas and known to get dirty from the CORDITE.

The Arizona often carried the Fleet "E"on her funnel,the symbol for firing excellence during fleet battle competitions.This was of course prior to integrated radar gunnery systems being installed. The US Dreadnoughts that joined with the British during WWI adopted the deflection scales and range clocks of the Royal Navy. These will not be on this kit at this point.

Although I do intend to install these devices on the 1/200 scale version. Hopefully as I will need to print these deflection scales and apply as decals on the turret sides and Barbette housings. We shall see?
USS Arizona Main Gun Details 007.JPG
USS Arizona Main Gun Details 008.JPG

Re: U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Mon Jan 02, 2012 2:00 am
by Saxondog
I also used the Tamiya matte base / Johnson's Klear mixture on this ship when I sprayed my Henschel King Tiger. It has dried and looks very well,the tone between hull and superstructure is more defined,the Hull is a shade lighter,the main superstructure being darker.This is the pre-war Pacific base scheme.with the superstructure darker as the level above the water increases.The towers will be Flat white,and of course the mixture will be used. Interestingly the Navy changed this scheme in the late 1930's as aircraft played a more important role in our defence operational plans. The decks of Arizona were very light,being an oil burner from the start she did not suffer the coal dust accumulation other Dreadnought Battleships suffered.

I understand the changes are not as obvious to many as they are to me,the addition of the main superstructure,the deck fittings,piping along the main stack,the bun barrels with blast bags,and the final addition of the mooring cables,the main section is not glued in place yet but the installation of the drive equipment has been delayed,this static version is offered in other countries with motors,the battery tray and stuffing boxes are moulded into the lower hull but so far no luck getting the drive unit.

Thanks for looking.
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 004.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 017.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 023.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 026.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 031.JPG

Re: U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:17 am
by caddyshack
Another great looking model Sax..Are you going to weather it any further ???. Also..were do you display all these,ships tanks etc. Do you have a room just for that? Or are they kept in boxes after they are finished ?

Re: U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:08 am
by Saxondog
Most of my ships are packed away,I have about 20. The tanks are in my small shop,My ships that are here about 8 not counting my sons,a very large Queen Mary he is building,are on a large cabinet in my bed room, and a few in the den.

We live in a much smaller house now,no need to say why but at one time I had a fine shop and a very large Garage,my shop had an office space that has shelves for my ships,I have several large RC SHIPS even one steamship,a river boat side wheel steamer.

But now we have a large storage container,and it has many of my ships,but hey I see people in this country living on the streets,Were doing fine,I am very fortunate to have a home and a wife that puts up with my hobby mess. Thanks for the praise,I am really very new to armor,only about three years now.

Re: U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:13 am
by Saxondog
Also the weathering continues,the hull needs some more detailing,but I TEND TO BUILD FRESH.you could say. All capitol ships have their time fresh from dry-dock,the Arizona is being built as she emerged from her 1932 rebuild,I had to correct much of the superstructure,which is built as of last night,I should have her near completion soon. The towers were wrong in the kit,and the aerials were even to short and mounted on the wrong side of the rear tower. Some plasticard round pieces and all is fixed.

Re: U.S.S.Arizona 1/350 Mini-Hobby Models Kit

Posted: Fri Feb 03, 2012 5:12 am
by Saxondog
It has been a while since I posted,the Arizona has grown some new parts,the conning and observation towers were really poorly moulded,and they just were wrong,

I have built them using plasticard round stock,and some sheet material,the platforms with the kit were good just all the supports were either wrong or did not line up correctly.

Well I did my best,and Hopefully the 1/200 scale kit is a better design,which being a trumpeter brand it should be. Here are a few pictures,mainly superstructure,tri-pod towers,cranes for boat deck and aviation and the aircraft catapults are fitted.

It is in a pre-war 1931=1936 paint scheme,the white towers came after 1936.
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 011.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 012.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 012.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 015.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 016.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 017.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 018.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 021.JPG
USS Arizona Boat Deck - Main Turrets 023.JPG