Help with U.S.S. Arizona

Hey LoneWolf,

I'm working on the Banner 1/350 scale Arizona. It's basically the Revel kit blown up to a larger scale. If you've noticed on your model, the deck comes in 5 drop in sections. The seams are almost impossible to fill. I do have a hint though that can help ya.

Looking at the deck of the Arizona, the teak planks run length wise down the ship. I saw a picture of the deck of the Texas that shows a plank (one plank) running width- wise across the deck. What I did for my model, and I know it's not technically correct, is were ever there is a seam between the drop in sections, I ran a piece of styrene the width of the planks across the width of the deck. I then sanded down the drop in section the width of the cross ran piece. Now the seam between the drop in sections looks great and when painted, your eye doesn't even really notice. It just blends in. Consider it a comprimise between astetics and reality.

Just my two cents,
Jesse

Actually Steve,

I'm not associated with Modelwarships.com any longer. Life, family, work, and just about everything else got in the way, and I was unable to dedicate the time to it. Its still the premier ship modeling site on the 'net however. Now you guys just have to come here to get my wisdom!!

I often take for granted that I've been studying naval history for more than 20 years now, and yes, I have lots of stuff that most ship modelers don't, photos, documents, etc. Wish there was some way to put all this knowledge and all these resources into a single place for folks to use...because I'm typing way too much !!

Jeff

There is a website called Modelwarships.com that Jeff sponsors. They have a post solely dedicated to the Arizona. One thing I would suggest to improve your kit is to buy a photoetched set for it. I built the 350 scale version and there were several sets out there for it, so I would imagine as old as the Revell kit is (I built it twice in the 60's) it probably has a PE set too.

If I am not mistaken, the commisioning pennant is raised at the time of commisioning and not lowered at all except when wear dictates the need for a replacement. You are correct about the 3rd substitute but wasn't the admiral on board at the time of attack? If so, then his flag should have been flying. These flags are not lowered at sunset. There are other mundane flags that are flown indicating which ships are designated as having the "duty", e.g. shore patrol responsibilities, etc.

True, but the attack started at 0750, and the ship was not undergoing any sort of maintenance because it was a Sunday morning. The 3rd Sub pennant wouldn't b e flying because the Capt. was aboard (and subsequently killed). I don't know if her commissioning pennant would have been raised, doesn't that happen after the colors are raised in the morning?

Jeff

Actually she probably did have some signal flags flying at the time of the attack. For one, she would have her commisioning penant hoisted. There are other signal flags that ships fly when in port, such as the 3rd substitute pennant that is displayed when the CO is not on board. There are other hoists that indicate different evolutions being performed such as divers working over the side, ammo and fuel handling among a few common ones. A signalman would be the ideal resource to answer this question but I only know one (ex-signalman or "skivvy waver" as they are called) and he is hard to find here at work. (Just like they are notoriously known to be even at sea). I'll try to track him down. The national ensign is always raised at 0800 and lowered at sunset when in port and flies 24 hours a day at the truck when underway.

Send me your email and I'll scan the line drawings for you, or I'll take digital photos of my set of ships' plans.

Jeff

It is 1/426th , but the scale dosent matter. I just need to know what goes where. Thank you for all of your replys.

you forgot Trumpeters 1/700 scale Arizona.

What difference would it make what the scale is??

Dragon's is 1/700
Revell is 1/426 and 1/720
Trumpeter/Banner is 1/350

depends on what size Arizona your talking about though is it the 1/425 scale ship.

I thought you were looking for web links...if you can get access to it, Paul Stillwell's 'Battleship Arizona' is the definitive work. You might be able to get it through inter-library loan.

The ISBN number is: 0-87021-023-8

Jeff

Look up Mike Ashey's book "Building and Detailing Scale Model Ships" and you will get tips specific to the Revell Arizona.

There's not much out there aside from models that have already been done.

As for signal flags, since she was at anchor, she wouldn't have had any signal flags flying at the time of the attack. Her riggings is pretty straightforward, signal halyards, six on each side forward, 3 lines running from the bow, one on each side of the yards, and one running to the fighting top, with four downlines running from the center line down to the bridge area. You have a support line running from the top of the fighting top to each of the yards, and several lines running aft, including a single line from the after fighting top to the jackstaff.

I don't recall if Arizona had completed her flag raising ceremony on the stern when the attack started, but I do know she had a flag on her stern after she sank, whether or not it happened prior to her sinking I'm not sure.

Jeff