is actually 1/429 scale.
viewtopic.php?f=84&t=286900have a read.
• Arizona (USN BB-39) [1/426] {H-302/H-398} (WW2) FH
GOOD. This kit is pretty good for its day. It dates back to about 1957, and it has been in production fairly regularly ever since. It has a detailed, (if not completely accurate) lower hull, unlike some of Revell's earlier kits. Alas, it still has solid plastic railings molded into the hull. Cut them off, and it will look better. Add photo-etched brass railings to taste.
I have long held that the kit represents the ship after her 1929-30 refit, not as she appeared on 7 December 1941. I cite as evidence the following:
o The biplanes on the catapults. By late 1941, these had been replaced.
o The upper part of the aft tower, (part 65) which had been changed significantly by late 1941.
o The lack of the horizontal triangular extentions on the forward tower.
o The fact that the small anti-aircraft platform on the aft tower (part 38 on the kit, added to the real ship around 1941) was apparently added to later kits as a separate sprue.
That said, there is a problem with my theory: the kit has splinter shields for the 5-inch guns. I'm not sure exactly when these were added, but it was probably some time in the late 1930s.
Apparently, there was at least one motorized version, kit H-398, issued circa 1960. (DRW), updated March 2009.
UPDATE: The kit represents Arizona as sunk. However, the aircraft provided in the kit are from the mid-30s. Also the kit has two sets of four searchlights, which is wrong. The four searchlight initially located around the funnel were relocated to a platform on the mainmast and replaced by AA marchine guns. Apart from that, the kit is extremely accurate for its age. (JPB)
UPDATE: With all the attention on Pearl Harbor, this kit is guaranteed to enjoy a renaissance. The kit, though really well done in its time and is basically accurate in shape, has some easily corrected flaws. The lower hull below the waterline at the stern is completely wrong. Paul Stilwell's "Battleship Arizona: An Illustrated History, shows a more chubby bottom without the compound curve seen on the kit. Plenty of putty, applied in thin layers and allowed to dry thoroughly between layers will correct this giving the hull its properly rounded shape. The propellers are horrible and should be replaced. The 5 inch deck guns and .50 caliber machineguns in the birdbath look pretty crude. To clean up the hull, builders should drill out the hull portholes then sand off the porthole rings for a more accurate porthole appearance. I wholeheartedly recommend Gold Medal Models brass fitting set to complete this kit. If the builder wishes to show the kit as she appeared at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, the brass set is a must.
The ship appeared in overall "Light Grey 5-L FS 36320" after her last major refit. The builder wanting to complete her as she appeared in the 1930s should paint her in this color scheme. Testors Model Master FS 36320 is a perfect match but appears very light at this scale. I recommend Testors Model Master "Neutral Grey FS 36270" which looks a tad darker and gives a better scale appearance.
On the day of her destruction, the ship was painted in Measure (Ms) 1 Dark Grey System meaning that all vertical surfaces were painted "Dark Grey 5-D" below the funnel top. Testors Model Master "FS Blue FS 35109" is a good approximation of that bluish dark grey. Unfortunately for modelers, the darker the color, the less visible will be the detail so keep this in mind if choosing Ms 1. All vertical surfaces above the funnel tops were painted "Light Grey 5-L FS 36320". At this scale, FS 36320 appears too light. As above, I recommend Testors Model Master "Neutral Grey FS 36270" instead. The metal decks should be painted "Deck Blue 20-B FS 35042". Testors Model Master "Flat Sea Blue FS 35042" is a perfect color match but appears dark at this scale.
For those wanting better proportionality of the thickness of the many superstructure decks, I recommend replacing all superstructure decks with thin sheet styrene for a thinner deck appearance. The kit's boat deck shows no planking however the actual boat deck was planked. And the actual boats rested in cradles, not mounted to the deck as the model shows. Scratch-built cradles are a simple improvement. If the builder wants a real challenge, replace the boat deck, main deck and fantail with scribed sheet styrene.
All-in all, a great model easily improved with some minor surgery and a brass detail set. (SCL)
This model was also reboxed as PENNSYLVANIA. (Brooks)
GOOD. This is a kit that has been around a long time, but wears its age well. In fact, I am still impressed by how well this kit compares to modern ship kits. The detail is very good, in my opinion. Lots of molded-in hull detail, open portholes in ship superstructure and spotting tops made possibly by unique molding method, great turret details, nice boats and anchors. Secondary casement-mounted 5" guns train in mountings, main 14" gun turrets rotate and guns elevate, main cranes swivel. Aircraft are biplanes (Curtiss?), not the Kingfishers of later use.
The hull is a departure from earlier Revell designs. Not a flat bottom, has four props and shaft detail and rudder.
This is a kit that fairly cries out for modification. Two that quickly come to mind would be backdating the kit to as-built appearance with cage masts and revised gun armament, another would be to build her sister ship, USS Pennsylvania, either original or after her 1931 rebuild with enlarged bridge and turreted AA guns for use as fleet flagship. I built a third modification in addition to my "regular" version, modelling the ship in its present state.
(LDF), review dated 26 February 2006.
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