About to start the Arizona in 1/350 Any hints?

I decided to forgo the photoetched. THis is supposed to be a FUN project for me, and i really don't hav ethe concentration to try a full photoetched kit right now. I don't know about you all, but i seem to have two really complicated models in me a year, thats it. In addition to this ship, i also am working on a 20' x13' O scale railroad in its second year of construction, i work as a full tie firefighter, and have a family with one kid. SO right now i just need something fun to build.
I have completed the wals and casements tonight, took all fo three hours straight, but the weather deck sits real nice on there now. Tommorrow i will drill out port holes, and then start to rescribe deck plank lines lost in sanding.
Bill

Bill,

Yeah, I know what you mean about the seam through the portholes. Nasty. I decided to plate over the whole bulkhead with .005" sheet styrene and redrill the holes.

Will you be using any photoetch? I have three of Tom's Model Works PE sets for the ship and one from GMM.

By the way, I got the chance to not only view the Arizona but to render honors to the fallen men back in 1994. I was US Marine station on the USS Fort Mchenry (LSD-43).

Also, have you looked at Stillwell's book? It's full of info and a great read.

Happy rebuilding,
Jesse

I got mine part way done if I ever decide to take some photo's of it you will see the effort I put into adding ladders to the bridge area.

Well i got as far as installing the main deck plates to start the sanding/rescribing process. Just for fun i tried to fit the first deck to the main deck, wrong. First they won't match up, and worse, the seam runs right thru the portholes. So out comes the nippers and i removed all of one side, and will use the other side as a template to create new walls. Oh well, i wanted some new challenges. LOL Guess this means a trip to the hobby store for some plastic stock.
Thanks for the articals, i printed them all and will read them tonight. I'm not a novice, i have over 10 years building armor models. SO scratch building is not a real pain, just was unexpected.
Bill

If you have any Japanese friends, please keep them at a distance. Strange things happen to them
Jake

I'm working on it too; the banner / trumpeter model right? I've posted some links to a few sites that discuss some problems with the model and fixes to it. The first link is most inclusive but a bit overwhelming. I'm currently working on the upper deck and the broadside guns.

Jesse

http://www.rollmodels.net/nworkbench/onlinebuild/arizona/arizona1.php
http://smmlonline.com/articles/arizona/arizona_banner.html
http://www.steelnavy.com/ArizonaBanner350.htm
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/ships/bb/bb-39/350/bb-39-lr.htm

also get the Gold Medal Models Arizona detail set and Toms Modelworks photoetch ladders and stairs since the bridge area from bottom to top do not have any stairs.

If you're doing her in her December 7th fit... 5-L Dark Gray hull and superstructure up to the tops of the funnels. Above that, 5-L Light Gray.

Not much else to mention...good luck with it!

Jeff