There's quite a bit of good resource material about this class. The book Iowa Class Battleships, by Robert Sumrall, has lots of good photos, several good drawings, and thorough data on armament changes, color schemes, etc. It's a good place to start - though not cheap.
One (probably unwelcome under the circumstances) tip to get started. The Fujimi kit isn't bad, but the new Tamiya Missouri is a good deal better - one of the best 1/700 ship kits on the market. And Tamiya, according to the company website, is about to do a New Jersey in 1980s configuration. What a horrible thing to tell a guy who's just spent a wad in the hobby shop.
Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.