USS Arizona - For Some Fun!

[TRM]

Hey Guys/Gals,

Thought I would toss up a blog for a build I am hoping to finish for The Mighty Battleship Campaign underway right now on the Model Shipwrights Forum which end the 1st of May.


The Kit




I picked the kit up at a show I attended last year. Couldn't leave it there as it was $30. Came with essentially two kits in the box as the previous owner was thinking of maybe building two versions of this pretty girl!





With the set came the Eduard PE set, which is rather extensive, one waterline and one full hull and almost two sets of the kit supplied PE with barrels. I picked up a set of 5 inch guns, forgetting I had some in the stash already...LOL!!







Also the wood deck from Atwox. The wood deck is for the Hobby Boss kit, but there is always a way to make things work!



 


I am thinking to not get to bogged down with the complete accuracy. The main goal is to have some fun building and take part in the campaign! So with that, I guess I can get the ball rolling soon and see what I can get done in the next couple months on this! I am thinking of going with the waterline version and making a first attempt at that watery stuff...if I can pull it off!! 

Thanks for stopping in!

[dupes]

That was all for thirty bucks? Killer deal! Should be fun.

[Leon]

Todd that is sweet!!! 2 for 1 you really got a steal on this girl.

[TRM]

Thanks fellas! Glad to have you on board! Should be fun! The scale along will be a test of my patience!! Hope to bang out cleaning parts soon while I work on a few other things hanging about!!

[JimD]

I ain't no ship building expert but I know a nice kit and cool project when I see one. I'm in.

Great score too. That deck is some good looking stuff. Is that wood or se kind of prepainted affair?

[delta]

Looks like a great deal of fun and should prove an amazing rendition of the ship in your hands. I look forward to seeing it come together!

[TRM]

Thanks Jimmy! She is at the top of my list of prettiest girls! The deck is real wood. The laser cut on it is about 95% of the way through so it's easier to remove the section to go around the corresponding parts..however, , I will be removing almost all..if not all, of the features and add them after. Still looking to see what is worth the effort or not. These come pretreated so you can use it right out of the package for the natural decks...which this old gal had while many of her sisters were painted.

Thanks Ari! I'm glad to have you along for the ride! Be ready on the life preserver in case I fall overboard!!

[wbill76]

Sounds like a fun outing T! Count me in.

[deafpanzer]

USS Arizona?!?! WHY NOT!!! Killer PE set you got... it is going to be fun!

[dupes]

I'm assuming you pretty much finished this up this weekend?

[TRM]

Thanks Andy! The PE looks like it might be a decent compliment! Will find out soon I'm sure!!

Dupes...ahhhh.....no! Take all the PE out of this and yes, most definitional! I cleared all the decks last night in preparation. Fo'c'sle section of decking looks to fit like a glove!!

[tobias5555]

That´s a lot of extras parts. Looking very cool.

[eastrock]

Cool loaded with Goodies! Have to remind you about 5 days left lol

[TRM]

Thanks for climbing aboard Tobias and ER! The extras will make or break it I think!! LOL!! Cleaning the decks and dry fitting the wood! Looks okay for starters!!

[TRM]

Well the journey needs to begin somewhere! Pulled the kit out of the box and looked things over. Turns out the two separate kits inside are in fact, 2 different kits...but essentially the same DML's 7040 (the old one) and 7053, the premium edition. The instructions are completely the same with the exception of the added items in the Premium edition.

Anyway, I spent some time cross-checking all the PE with parts in the instructions for the kits. I needed to find out what can go and what should stay. Pretty much everything on thee decks went except the vents, bollards, barbettes and winches.





I spent a little time cutting out the deck so I could dry fit everything and see how it worked. I was expecting to have some minor items give me issue due to the fact this is for the Hobby Boss version...the fit was pretty much perfect.





modelerssocialclub.proboards.com/post/new/9220

Things look like they will sit down quite nicely I think once I get to that point. I opted to keep the winches but cut off the flat sheaves on the sides and will replace them with something a little bit rounder. Although I left the chain plates and boiler plates in place, I removed the flat plat just forward the fantail catapult. Figure I could replace that easy enough. I know I might see a little of the cutout squares that would have been removed to fit around various parts...but for the most part, I am thinking it will work out!

Looks like I am into figuring out some PE next. I might paint the hull and remaining fixtures on it. All the small parts will get painted first before hitting the decks, or in it!!

Thanks for tuning in!!

[Deano]

Wow more brass than styrene lol that lazer cut deck looks excellent mate !

[coro69]

so is this your "motivation" build... ;-)

looks great...

[TRM]

Thanks Deano! I just had that epiphany as well! Should be fun though!

Thanks Coro! LOL...we do find inspiration in some of the strangest places don't we?

[JimD]

Wow...I couldn't be more shocked that the deck didn't give you more trouble...it is for a different kit you know...

The hardest part for me would be commiting to hack all that stuff off. I still have a problem with cutting into a kit...cuz when it's gone...it's gone.

Things are looking good though. Glad to see this one started.

[Tojo72]

I really like the look of that wooden deck.

[TRM]

Thanks Jimmy!! LOL..I know the feeling brotha!! Still there for me sometimes...first, I have actually the second ship in this kit if I screwed up too bad as well as ...get this, the kit the PE and wood deck were intended for! ((LOL)) Why? Because...nah, I like the DML kit features better...well a little better anyway! Once you wreck a kit you become hooled on cutting stuff...trust me!! :0

Thanks Anthony! The wood decks do make ship kits just pop if you ask me! Frail to work with, but a sharp blade and some patience easy-peazy!!

[Leon]

Off to a good start Todd! The wood deck really is a great improvement.

[deafpanzer]

Love the deck... can't beat that look! Looking forward to many updates...

[TRM]

Thanks Leon!! I'm thinking this will work out just fine for what I am doing!!

Thanks Andy!! I'll do my best!! Still sorting pieces tonight...LOL!! Almost blind!!

[eastrock]

deck looks great!!! the details is awesome... keep it up, Brotha!

[wbill76]

Looks like the patient survived the surgery and is doing well in recovery T! Off to a nice start with the decking, now the PE adventures begin.

[Jelly]

Hi there Todd

Knowing your skill, this is going to be another build suddenly turning into a joy to see...

Goin' again for the psichoterapist number, dude...  ... a good one, the Woody Allen's one, as you should remember ... for me, of course...

Later Todd
Jelly

[TRM]

ER - Thanks bud! I'll have to give it my best shot! Remember the Filipino Math now... 2 days + 1 day = 2 months!!

Bill - Thanks Brother! There is always that little bit of recovery time needed after every surgery! Still doing that myself, let alone the model! I think I can stat the PE soon but will be laying some paint to move the decks into place as well!

Jelly - Thanks for the encouragement my friend! I was thinking of checking myself in soon...The wife votes that way too!!

[406 Silverado]

Looking good bro. I know you have been itching to work on one of the many Arizona kits that you have. Wood deck is pretty cool btw.

[TRM]

Hey Bro!! Thanks! Giving a little scratch to that itch! Kind of a precursor to the bigger one I have planned down the road a piece!!