USS Arizona - Remembrance

[TRM]

Hey fellas! Just getting things settled to dig my heels in on a little project. With today marking the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Model Shipwrights is having "Pearl Harbor Anniversary Campaign". I thought I would toss my hat in the ring and join in. Oddly enough, I am pretty sure I have an unfinished Arizona kicking around already, but I thought I would go in another direction with this one...the Memorial itself.


I happen to have a few USS Arizona kits languishing on the shelve...and although I would love to bang out a 1/350 scale version, 1/700 it will be!  







I picked this kit up at a show for I think $5.  Someone had glued the lower hull to the upper and then gave up.  All good since this build requires extensive deterioration and damage.   The small package on top is a 1/700 scale 3D printed model of the Memorial and Arizona's moorings.





I have a number of underwater references as well as a pile of photographs from a good friend that live near Pearl now.   With any luck, in the next day or so I can begin to cut things up and glue some plastic together!  

Oh...if anyone is interested in joining in on the Campaign over at Model Shipwrights, you are more than welcome! It is open to any ship, plane and or vehicle that took part that day 75 years ago!  

Thanks for stopping in!!

[Leon]

Looks like a great campaign Todd! I'll be following along.

[TRM]

Thanks Leon! Glad to have some company! Might take a look at the hull tonight and see what I need to break!

[deafpanzer]

I swear I touched that box when I was at your place? Couldn't have asked for a better day to start this. Count me in too!

[Tojo72]

Going to be a nice project

[afvfan]

You should have started this last week so you could have had it done for the anniversary yesterday.

[mrt51]

Sounds like a good campaign idea for here.  Something like "Remember The Arizona". In any event I will be following along.

[wouter]

Another floater ey, can't have too many, I'm in Captain-san! Hai!

Cheers

[TRM]

Sorry for not getting back to anyone for a couple days...been running around like and idiot...or basically...the idiot has been running around! P

Andy and Anthony...thanks! Glad to have you guys on board!

Bob...I hear you bortha! Would have been nice, but the campaign started on the 7th and runs for a year! With any luck, this will be done long before the though.

Thanks Terry...happy to have you riding shotgun! It is shaping up to be an interesting campaign. Prety muh anything that took part or was attacked that day can be built for this. A couple guys are working out some of those flying contraptions and of course a number of ships!

Thanks Wouts!! Nothing even close to your work on the Yamato brotha, but yes, we can always use a few more floaty things being built!!


Okay....where I'm at! After playing plastic surgeon and using a marker to mark things that stay, go and otherwise get modified, cutting had to take place.




Shave this...cut that....an so on! 



After looking at the collective few line drawing that were made after the salvage and of course all of the new data recently supplied by the Park Department when a 3D underwater scanning was completed, there are decisions to be made. 



Part of me has committed the look of the wreck site to what I see in the old line drawing as well as a few aerial shots taken over the years.  The 3D scan shows more deterioration than what was originally drawn or what can be seen form the air.



With that, I will try and bridge the gap between the two.  Although there has been a 3D model and set of images created, as most would figure, the information is limited at best right now.  Also, I would add the fact that I don't have any issues simply coming close on this.  I am more interested in the final result looking the part and have a small desk trinket to look at for now!  


So, I am heading back into surgery and will continue to cut and replace, chop and glue!   Thanks for stopping in! 

[deafpanzer]

Everybody has been running around idiots including myself... its holidays!!! Great process on your Arizona by the way!

[TRM]

Nothing better than taking out the holiday frustrations on some plastic Andy! Cut cut cut cut cut .......cut!

[Leon]

Nice start on the surgery Todd! I think you'll get this looking the way you want it to when all is said and done.

[panzerjager2]

Very cool idea..... I'm really surprised we haven't seen it before now.  


Did you catch that Heros Channel on the Arizona... could be a great help, specially the 3D scan they did

[Wes]

Interesting concept Todd. As always im following along buddy.

[TRM]

Leon....thanks brotha'! Hope so buddy!

Thanks PJ!! I missed the show, but have it "On Demand" and was planning on watching it soon. Watched a number of video including some on the 3D set up and production....just cool stuff all around!

Thanks Wes....glad to have you on board for this!


Not much of an update as of yet. I did manage to drill some holes last night. I was amazed how quickly things began to look the part once the openings were in the deck and Barbettes! Some major cleanup, if you can call it that, will be taking place tonight along with adding more details! Things are moving right along!

[jsteinman]

[TRM]

Thanks John!!


I'm not much past the pile of broken parts...more broken than before but at least a little more... "organized destruction" is showing through ever so slowly. The base frame of the wreck is set. Main parts are ready. I am working on the ad hoc moorings that were added during the days of salvage.








Once the final mooring is finished, I am thinking silt and sea growth will be in order...then I will be looking at a suitable base piece to set this in. As always...thank for stopping by!

[M1Carbine]

Todd - coming along nicely buddy.

Bob

[TRM]

Thanks Bob! Slow and steady!

[Leon]

That is looking amazing Todd! What is the foil for?

[dierk]

Floatilicious, erm, sunkilicious?

[Tojo72]

Looks real good

[TRM]

Thanks fells! Chug, chug, chugin' away!!

[mrt51]

WOW! That's cool!

[deafpanzer]

Love what I am seeing!

[TRM]

Terry and Andy....thanks fellas!

[wbill76]

Very cool! Looking forward to seeing this one come together.

[mrversatile]

Nice idea, Todd. This should be an interesting build. I know you are experienced with rusting techniques but I have seen that K4 has some interesting rust effects products that use real rust. May be worth a look for the extent of the deterioration here.

[TRM]

Thanks Gil! I do have some K4 in the stash...the paints a not to bad at all, and the pigments are fantastic. I am itching to get this one back on the bench...get past this weekend and the dock workers will be back on the job!