Dragon 1:700 Arizona

Hi

I believe that from what I have seen of the pics of 7/12/41, all the battleships had that M1 battle grey/light grey configuration{and on the cover of Battleship Arizona,by Paul Stilwell, it shows Arizona at sea with the "four piper" Ward in the same paint scheme}. But both Nevada and Oklahoma had a white false bow wave on them, as did the heavy cruiser Northampton in the same M1 scheme. Interesting when you collect a few books on battleships,cruisers and "tin cans" what pics you find! !

Steve

Dreadnought52 wrote:

I believe there were two different issues of this kit, one with just plastic parts and the other with brass barrels and some photo etch. Either one is quite good especially when compared to previous attempts. As to color scheme, MS1, the dark gray (5D) was applied to all vertical and horizontal surfaces (not planked with wood which remained unpainted and unstained) below the level of the top of the stack. The light gray (5L) was applied above. If you go to the gallery section of SteelNavy.com or Modelwarships.com you will see many examples of this paint scheme. The dark gray is VERY dark, in the black and white photos of the era it appears to be almost black. You may want to lighten that up a bit for scale effect unless you want to paint the ship as she appeared before the application of the MS1 camouflage scheme. I have painted several of the Pearl Harbor battleships in the MS1 scheme and have to tell you I really hate it, I'm going to finish the rest of the ones in my stash in their earlier standard Navy Gray scheme which was a light gray much more attractive as a modeling display. However if you wish to depict the ship as she was on December 7, 1941 you are stuck with the MS1 paint scheme. Either way you go you will have to do some reseach to make sure that the equipment/fitting of the ship matches the paint scheme you choose. If you have the kit that does not have any PE you can get relatively inexpensive upgrades in brass that will really enhance the look of the kit from dealers like Pacific Front Hobbies.

There are two versions, the original issue and the 'Premium Edition'.  The original is a waterline kit that contained several parts in their 'Dragon styrene', specifically the fighting tops as well as chain for the anchor lines.  The turrets appear to be some kind of finished metal, and there is a PE fret for the railings which is really thick.  I would recommend replacing it with the Toms Modelworks set which will give you the catapults and booms in addition to the railings.  The 'Premium Edition' is an updated version and although I've not seen it I remember reading that it is retooled and includes a full hull option and metal barrels for the main batteries.     

 

nsclcctl wrote:

Please clarify "above the stacks"  It appears to me, the crows nest looking object is white, is that what is considered above the stacks?  Another question, the dark grey on the hull almost appears mottled, that is wht I thought it was a camo pattern.  Am I seeing things?  Thanks, nsclcctl

Arizona has only one stack. Looking at the ship or a schematic or plan of it from the side, draw a horizontal line from the top of the smokestack (the the grill on top) to the superstructure. Everything above that line should be in 5L light gray. That will mean that part of the main mast and fighting top will be 5L and the foremast and fighting top will also be 5L as well as part of the forward superstructure. You could use the marking and painting guide in the kit to see the line of demarcation for the different colors. I don't know what photo you may be looking at to see a mottling in the 5D but it actually should be a uniform color. These colors are available as exact matches in enamels from White Ensign Models in the UK. They also have dealers in the US for their paints. You may still be able to find these colors in the US from Testors Model Masters Acrylics Marine colors, however, they have been discontinued. There are some helpful photos to found here: http://www.navsource.org/archives/01/39e.htm

Please clarify "above the stacks"  It appears to me, the crows nest looking object is white, is that what is considered above the stacks?  Another question, the dark grey on the hull almost appears mottled, that is wht I thought it was a camo pattern.  Am I seeing things?  Thanks, nsclcctl

I believe there were two different issues of this kit, one with just plastic parts and the other with brass barrels and some photo etch. Either one is quite good especially when compared to previous attempts. As to color scheme, MS1, the dark gray (5D) was applied to all vertical and horizontal surfaces (not planked with wood which remained unpainted and unstained) below the level of the top of the stack. The light gray (5L) was applied above. If you go to the gallery section of SteelNavy.com or Modelwarships.com you will see many examples of this paint scheme. The dark gray is VERY dark, in the black and white photos of the era it appears to be almost black. You may want to lighten that up a bit for scale effect unless you want to paint the ship as she appeared before the application of the MS1 camouflage scheme. I have painted several of the Pearl Harbor battleships in the MS1 scheme and have to tell you I really hate it, I'm going to finish the rest of the ones in my stash in their earlier standard Navy Gray scheme which was a light gray much more attractive as a modeling display. However if you wish to depict the ship as she was on December 7, 1941 you are stuck with the MS1 paint scheme. Either way you go you will have to do some reseach to make sure that the equipment/fitting of the ship matches the paint scheme you choose. If you have the kit that does not have any PE you can get relatively inexpensive upgrades in brass that will really enhance the look of the kit from dealers like Pacific Front Hobbies.

The Dragon Arizona is the best small-scale plastic kit of the ship that there is.   Its quality far exceeds the old Revell abomination which turned many people off of ship modeling.   It is also more accurate than the MiniHobby Models version.   It is on a par with the Waveline resin kit, but much less expensive.

Glamdring wrote:

"Arizona was painted in a two-tone gray paint scheme commonly referred to as Measure 1, consisting of an ocean gray (dark) on all hull and superstructure masses. Haze gray (light) was applied to the masts, yards and towers above the level of the superstructure masses. This paint scheme was meant to break up the general outline of the ship at a distance. The hull and superstructure were meant to blend with the sea, the upper works with the sky. It obviously had no value to vessels in port. A majority of the Pacific Fleet was painted in that manner. "

Boy, you would think that a group which is supposed to be acting on behalf of preserving information on the Arizona could at least get their facts correct.  About the only thing which they got right in the first two sentences was the Measure 1 designation.

See the description of Measure 1  at shipcamouflage.com http://shipcamouflage.com/measure_1.htm

Vertical Surfaces:All approximately vertical surfaces above the top of the stacks shall be painted Light Gray 5-L.
Horizontal Surfaces:All horizontal surfaces except wood decks shall be painted Dark Gray 5-D.  The systems differ only in the painting of the vertical surfaces.  In case of doubt, as on sloping surfaces, use Dark Gray 5-D.

 Dark Gray (5-D) is significantly darker than Ocean Gray (5-O).   Dark Gray is a very dark charcoal gray, almost black.   Ocean Gray is a medium-dark tonal value.    Haze Gray (5-H) is a light lavender gray color which has a darker tone than Light Gray (5-L).  Light Gray is almost white.

There has been some research done recently that indicates that some of the battleline at Pearl Harbor may have been painted into a blue version of Measure 1 using 5-N Navy Blue,  or into Measure 11 which was an overall Sea Blue (5-S) based system.  However the researchers have not published their findings nor have they submitted them to peer review.  Until such time as their findings are independently verified the common opinion stands that the battleline at Pearl Harbor was in 5-D and 5-L.  Unfortunately, the researchers are also faced with publications on the subject which are blatently wrong.

You should also read the article on the development of naval camouflage by Alan Raven

http://shipcamouflage.com/development_of_naval_camouflage.htm

It has a lot of very good information on camouflage systems, colors, purposes, and limitations

 

The Arizona had a wood deck, teak I would presume.  According to the Arizona Preservation Project website:

"Arizona was painted in a two-tone gray paint scheme commonly referred to as Measure 1, consisting of an ocean gray (dark) on all hull and superstructure masses. Haze gray (light) was applied to the masts, yards and towers above the level of the superstructure masses. This paint scheme was meant to break up the general outline of the ship at a distance. The hull and superstructure were meant to blend with the sea, the upper works with the sky. It obviously had no value to vessels in port. A majority of the Pacific Fleet was painted in that manner. "

And their website is:

http://www.pastfoundation.org/Arizona/ArizonaHistory_3.htm

I hope that helps!