1/350th Trumpeter USS Alabama

GeneK

I'm not sure about during the war, but right now the Alabama's decks are natural wood, not blue.

Alabama's decks were definitely blue during the war. Most ships went back to holystoned wood within a few weeks of the surrender, but during the war all battleship decks were painted Deck Blue or with a pattern depending on the dazzle pattern applied. You might also check in with ScaleDecks if you haven't already sourced on; I see an Alabama set listed in their products page.

I was given this ship about two years ago .The previous owner was collecting detail parts and gave up on building it . It came with ALL the P.E. and many resin conversion parts .There are wooden decks about the thickness of CONTACT paper and they are very well done .There was no name on the deck package just like the P.E. is mfg,d by firm unknown .Looks like GOLD MEDAL to me .There,s no name on any of the resin parts.They are good though . I just am going to go with what,s there .             tankerbuilder

Thanks. I'm not sure about during the war, but right now the Alabama's decks are natural wood, not blue. I think artwox now actually has a set for the Alabama kit as well. I was thinking about also using the backdate kit that is available also so I might have to do some adjusting anyway. I got a couple of other projects to finish first anyway. Thanks again! 

Oops! Let me correct that, the artwox set for Alabama is 1/700 not 1/350. Should have looked closer.

Bear in mind that recent Trumpeter issues of kits do have more differentiation than simple decal switches.  As I recall the Alabama kit is of an early war configuration and the Massachusetts kit is actually a post war configuration.  There may be significant differences in the pattern of the decks with regard to AAA.  If you are unable to check out the decks side to side with another hobbyist I suggest that you give Brandon at Pacific Front Hobbies a call and see if he can help you.  They are a vendor for ArtWox and Trumpeter.  Also, the ArtWox deck for Massachusetts is in a natural finish, not blue.   They are bringing out blue decks for USN ships.  I just ordered one for the Tamiya Missouri and the Trumpeter Richelieu.   WS

 Thanks for the response, and the great information! The artwox decks look great! The Massachusetts and the Alabama are sister ships and the Trumpet kit numbers are consecutive so I suspect it's actually the same kit with different decals. I had never seen Artwox before, but their products look interesting. Thanks again

Gene Kennedy

At this time the only one I am aware of is a deck for Massachusetts by ArtWox.  I don't know what you would have to do to alter it to conform to the deck plan of Alabama.  Actually I don't know if the deck plan of the Trumpeter kits of Alabama and Massachusetts even differ but others here might know.

I have just put an ArtWox deck on the Trumpeter Adm. Graf Spee and I am impressed at how great it looks and how easy it was to do.  It is incredibly thin.  The ArtWox decks come with an adhesive backing which is easier to apply than you might think.