Converting the uss Arizona revell kit into the uss Pennslyvainia?

If you want to know exactly what the Arizona looked like, rent the film "Here Comes the Navy" with Jimmy Cagney and Pat O'Brien, from 1934. It also includes the U.S. S. Macon!  

I just stumbled on this thread, and I'm curious to know whatever became of the project.

I'm working on converting Hobby Boss' Arizona into the Pennsylvania, circa 1935.  There wasn't much to do, because as others have noted, the differences between the two sisters were subtle.  I had to add the taller conning tower, and cut away the "wings" on the main bridge deck, I think it was.  I overlooked cutting down the funnel by 1 deck's height, however, but if I didn't tell anyone, I don't think anyone would notice.  I'm working on adding PE rails at this point, then I'll call her done.

I'd like to see how far you got converting to the Pennsy circa '44.

stikpusher wrote:

no luck so far on finding any aftermarket 5" twin mounts or 40mm quads.

L'Arsenal should have you covered; look for sets AC 350 07 and AC 350 13

http://www.larsenal.com/GB/index.php or http://www.modelships.info/larsenal-usa/contents.html

That's a lot of Admirals!  Or were some Commodores?

There were many flagships present at Pearl Harbor; half of the battleships of the pacific fleet were a flagship for one group or another. In 1941, Pennsylvania was indeed the flagship of the Pacific Fleet. California was Flagship for the US Navy's Battle Force, and West Virginia was Flagship for the battleships of Battle Force. After that, each battleship division had a flagship. So in early 1941 it looks like (this was not the exact organization during the attack):

UNITED STATES FLEET

(BB38)  PENNSYLVANIA .................... Flagship

BATTLE FORCE, UNITED STATES FLEET

(BB44)  CALIFORNIA .................... Flagship

BATTLESHIPS, BATTLE FORCE, UNITED STATES FLEET

(BB48)  WEST VIRGINIA .................... Flagship

Carmike wrote:

The Arizona and the Pennsylvania started out as sister ships but were refitted differently in the 1920's with the Pennsylvania being fitted with an extended flag deck and a extra level in the conning tower to enable her to serve as a fleet flagship.

I am gathering research from different threads and found this one.  The above struck me as ironic.  Apparently the Pennsylvania was modified to be a Fleet Flagship, yet the Arizona was Admiral Kidd's Flagship at Pearl!

Bondoman,

I hadn't thought of that! Thanks!

Bill Morrison

warshipguy wrote:

Again, check out the very fine article about this conversion written in FSM's 1996 Modeling the Second World War; it gives terrific templates, very clear photos, and diagrams. It will be a big help to you.  I can send you a copy if you like. Bill Morrison

I would very much appriciate it if you could! 

Again, check out the very fine article about this conversion written in FSM's 1996 Modeling the Second World War; it gives terrific templates, very clear photos, and diagrams. It will be a big help to you.  I can send you a copy if you like.

Bill Morrison

oki googled imaged searched the original pics i wasnt sure.

How far along are you on yours?

ddp59 wrote:

afsf, go to that same page, 7th from the bottom as it shows what she looked like after june 45 refit. A line drawing by A.L. Raven of the Pennsylvania (BB-38) as rebuilt with twin 5in/38 guns, July 1945 that is the one i'm doing

SAME SITE CORRECT?

 Battleship Photo Index BB-38 USS PENNSYLVANIA

afsf, go to that same page, 7th from the bottom as it shows what she looked like after june 45 refit.

A line drawing by A.L. Raven of the Pennsylvania (BB-38) as rebuilt with twin 5in/38 guns, July 1945

that is the one i'm doing

deffinently a big help on the super strucure and where the twin 5" mounts went

Back in 1995 and 1996, FSM published two periodicals titled "Modeling the Second World War".  One of the articles in the second year was "Pearl Harbor Survivor - USS Pennsylvania," converting Revell's 1/720 Arizona to a late-war Pennsylvania. It includes templates for the bridge modifications necessary for the conversion in 1/720 scale that can be scaled up for 1/426.  I recommend this article highly!

The author's name is Jim Kloek.

Bill Morrison

All right guys:

Sorry for the delay in responding. I went and toured the USS. North Carolina so i didnt have my computer with me. It was a pretty awesome trip. I Took close to 700 pictures of her. So if anyone is doing a model of her let me know and i might be able to help.

But back to the pennslyvania. I've decide to model her after she looked at the end of world war 2. I found some 5" inch guns off of another kit that I had but never finished since half the parts were lost. And as far as the super structure goes im still trying to figure out. Also thanks guys for all the input and pictures. 

afsf, i used .080" sheet plastic in the bread & butter fashion then cut to shape. still have to cut the notches for the gun barrels as tho they can travel up & down. except for the stock piece of the top of the forward superstructure, it is all scratch built.

a6m5zerosen, that was not her last refit as that happened between march & june 45.