Blast Bags on the Arizona

You can make them out in this shot

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h83000/h83064.jpg

and barely in this one too

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h64000/h64473.jpg

 

 

On page 247 of Paul Stillwell's Battleship Arizonza, a photo of the ship from the stern quarter, taken a few days after the attack, clearly shows the blast bags in place on the two aft turrets.

EdGrune wrote:

Were blast bags even installed in the Arizona?

Hi Ed... THere's a picture of the face of Turret 4 that I believe shows remnats of them.... Arizona was hit on the sloped corner of this turret by one of the high-altitude bombs and if memory serves you could see where the guns had them.. I'll try and post a reference or link later this evening. 

Blast bags were to protect the greased, sliding parts of the guns from particulates that could gum up the grease ar become grist in the mill. 

This maybe a dumb question, but what was the purpose of blast bags?

 

Were blast bags even installed in the Arizona? 

US Naval Heritage & History Command via Hyperwar

From the photo seres taken 12/12/41

They should generally be dark... the Navy ordered canvas dyed so it did not stand out. Whether or not they would have been black or dark grey I don't know.

I've never made blast bags on 1/350 scale; tissue paper might work pretty well on such a (relatively) large scale.  On 1/700 scale I've had good success with Miliput epoxy putty - a wonderful product that comes in handy for all sorts of things.  I think it probably would work just as well on 1/350; certainly worth a try.

 HELLO wjbwjb29 ! The idea of tissue for the blast bags for the ARIZONA ,  Is a good idea . Don,t use to large a piece and use white glue . as it drys you can adjust it to your liking . I personally would use non-embossed or decorated paper towels . The materials are a little stronger than regular tissue when wet . Good luck and let us see a picture or two when you,re done ..TANKERBUILDER