"skyking" asked me to show some pics my USS Arizona. Well, here they are.
I have been working on and off on this kit at a slow pace for a couple of years. Normally I build 1/72 aircraft, and have done so for the past 50 years. But I've always also had an interest in naval things. Lately I have decided to build a few interesting (to me, at least) ships. The criteria I have for choosing ships are that they must be
BIG, have many
BIG guns
![Destroyer :destroyer:](./images/smilies/MILITARY_Destroyer.gif)
and have met a dramatic end. That means I have aquired
USS Arizona,
HMS Hood,
HMS Prince of Wales and
Yamato - so far. (I must admit that I am very tempted by the new Revell 1/350 Bismarck, and it also falls within my criteria...)
USS Arizona is my first ship model ever and it might not be the best model to start with. It is a pig of a kit! But I have 50 years experience of aircraft modeling and that helps a lot. Besides we also have a very skilled ship modeler in our local IPMS chapter here in Stockholm, and he has given me lots of good advice.
![Image](http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona1.jpg)
OK, she is a filler queen! Most of the deck detail has been removed and will later be added from PE (WEM and/or Eduard), resin or scratch built.
![Image](http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona3.jpg)
One of the worst part of the kit! The torpedo bulges should in fact be deeper continue below the bottom of the ship. The stern is about 3-4 mm too deep making the (surprisingly correctly shaped!) rudder sit too low and protrude deeper than the bottom of the ship! The stern is also grossly assymetric! Notice I have filled in the port side, but in reality that should have continued another 10 cm (four inches) furhter forward. Or... is it the port side that is correct and the starboard side that is incorrect? I don't know.
![Censored :censored_2:](./images/smilies/ANGER_Censored_1.gif)
I have however decided not to do anything about it, because otherwise I would have to scratchbuild a completely new hull.
![Image](http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona5.jpg)
Portholes filled and re-drilled in the correct locations. Vertical strengthening strips on the hull below the main deck removed and new ones added in the correct locations.
![Image](http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona4.jpg)
![Image](http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona8.jpg)
Rear bulkhead facing the quarterdeck completely rebuilt from scratch using PE and PC.
![Image](http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona2.jpg)
Casemates and bulkheads on deck level 1 is built from scratch. I had considered to use the Eduard PE bulkheads, but decided to scratchbuild them instead. Once the bulkheads are in place I will cut off the rear of the plasic tubs (see the forward casemate on the port side). The casemate openings will later be cut out and the WEM resin guns glued inside. Notice that the catwalks have just been fitted on each side of the level 1 deck.
![Image](http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af261/stenek/USS%20Arizona/Arizona7.jpg)
The support structure underneath the catwalks was very fiddly to fit, but proved to be just as strengthening on the model as on the real ship!
I'm getting closer to the point when the first coat of primer goes on the hull - just so see where the next round of filling has to go.
![Exclamation :!:](./images/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif)