battleship conversion within class

I would say that in 1945 time frame  you could use a Missouri kit with no changes except the number. Differences externally between the two were for all intents and purposes non-existant then. A true matching pair.

Go to www.navsource.org and study them. Good source for photos.

Get a copy of Iowa Class Battleships - Their Design,Weapons,and Equipment by Robert F. Sumrall. It gives a full history of each ship (plus the two that were never completed). Lots of pictures so you can compare the Wisconsin to any other ship in the class.

Amphib

Hi;

   I would say Contact Nauticus.com. I believe that's the folks  responsible for the Whiskey's museum ,Where the ship is and everything .The big model which I had a hand in, is the 1981 fit I believe.

     They should have the info you're looking for.

After much re-studying photos of both, "as completed" in 1945, I still can't see any significant difference between the two.

Can't find a Tamiya 1:350 USS Missouri? Good kit for its age, lots of aftermarket stuff around, also available as a 1980's USS New Jersey.  

Paul,

How detailed do you want to go? They were very similar, and the Tamiya kit of the Missouri in 1945 can serve as a solid basis for the Wisconsin. However, there were differences.

According to Lester Abbey, Wisconsin was joined by Missouri in May, 1945. The two ships were nearly identical except that Missouri had a prominent SK-2 air search radar mounted on the foremast platform, a large bowl-shaped radar. Wisconsin mounted a flat SK set in the same place. Also, Wisconsin mounted a heightened mainmast and SP radar. These details would be easy to change.

Get the Missouri, look at the photos of both ships in 1945, determine which aftermarket sets would help, and, if you can't find the appropriate radars, I'm sure that any one of us could supply them from our spare parts boxes!

Bill Morrison

I have the 1/200 scale Missouri, If the radar and mast are all that need changing, perhaps you could provide a source for these parts.  I cant believe how generous and helpful you all have been to me in the issues I have had,  Thanks a million,

Paul

Paul,

I build in 1/350, so I don't have any 1/200 spares. I know that there are 1/200 detail sets, so I'll look to see where you can find them.

Bill

I usually work in 1/350 scale too, but I had a great deal on this big model. after the idea struck to modify it.  I thought I could really make a special model of the Wisconsin on the Missouri platform. If the radar is the only physical difference. perhaps I can build it as is and if the modified radar becomes available, change it.  Do you know of any place I can get decals of the number and name online perhaps that will have to do for now.

Thanks again

Paul

Paul,

Pontos makes an extremely nice detail set with resin, photo-etch, and brass barrels, and a wood deck. There are two sets, one with a natural wood teak deck and one with the stained blue deck.  Gold Medal Models and Hawk Graphics manufacture WWII USN decal sheets in 1/200 scale. All are available online through Pacific Front Hobbies/Free Time Hobbies.

Bill

You can save money by ordering the Gold Medal Model items right from them.  They have a order sheet you can print up and mail to them.

I just did a price comparison between GMM products listed at Pacific Front Hobbies and the GMM website. Prices on both sites were the same. The primary difference is that the customer has more payment options at Pacific Front/Free Time.

Bill

Thank you