Suggest a US Battleship

I'll assume (maybe incorrectly) that you're talking about 1/700 scale plastic kits.  There are three currently available that are really nice:  the Dragon Arizona, the Trumpeter North Carolina/Washington, and the Tamiya Missouri/Iowa.  All those kits represent the state of the art, or something close to it. 

The latest issue of FSM includes ads for a couple of rather mouth-watering new 1/700 battleships:  A Pennsylvania in late-war configuration from Dragon and a Richelieu from Trumpeter.

aardvark1917 wrote:

Just ordered the two Squadron books on the subject and was wondering ... what would look interesting next to a bunch of IJN vessels? (And one lonely Graf Spee.) Don't know anything 'bout US battlewagons -- save the Arizona.

There is a wide selection of ships available in both 1/350 and 1/700 for the WW2 era. In 1/350 you can get Iowa class (Tamiya, plastic), South Dakota class (Yankee Modelworks resin, Trumpeter plastic), North Carolina Class (IronShipWright and YMW resin, Trumpeter plastic), Colorado and California classes in resin from YMW, New Mexico class from ISW, Pennsylvania class (ISW in resin, Trumpeter plastic), Oklahoma class in resin from ISW and I believe you may still be able to get and Arkansas/New York from ISW as well. Not all ships of each class are modeled, but you can get representative kits of each class. If you wish to go back further several of the earlier classes are available from ISW.

As to 1/700 the selection is large. Iowas from Trumpeter, Tamiya, Fujimi, etc. South Dakotas from Hasegawa (plastic) as soon from Trumpeter as well. North Carolinas from Trumpeter (plastic), Aoshima (awful plastic) and some scarce availabity in resin (Regia Marina). The Colorados and Californias are available in resin only from H-P and HiMold. The Pennsylvanias are available in plastic from Minihobby and Revell (1/720) that is awful or a nice Arizona from Dragon/DML, Pennsylvania due out soon from Dragon. In resin they can be found at H-P and HiMold. Oklahomas are only available at this time from H-P, same for the Arkansas/New York and Wyoming.

Reviews of the kits can be found at SteelNavy.com, Modelwarships.com and at the Rajens ship kit list on line.

If you are interested in any battleship, battlecruiser, coastal battleship or large monitor models email me as I maintain a database of all such shipmodels in 1/700 from 1890-1990, there are HUNDREDS.

Trumpeter's North Carolina BB-55 it will be, as I just discovered it has full hull option.

Is there much difference between it and it's sister ship, BB-56?

The big recognition point distinguishing the North Carolina from the Washington is a platform about halfway up the forward superstructure.  The North Carolina has this platform; the Washington didn't.  I imagine there were other, less conspicuous differences as well - in the anti-aircraft gun fits, etc.  And both ships, of course, underwent modifications during the war.

I only have the Trumpeter North Carolina.  I haven't built it yet, but I'm extremely impressed with it.  The upper and lower hull components fit together beautifully (a rare thing in 1/700 kits) and the detail in general is excellent.  There are a few molded-in ladders that, I suspect, most enthusiasts will want to chisel away, but otherwise there's little to criticize in the kit.  (It does have the platform I just mentioned.)

Gold Medal Models makes an outstanding set of photo-etched metal fittings that covers most plastic 1/700 American battleships on the market.  The parts on that sheet include catapults, cranes, radar screens, guard rails, ladders, airplane propellors, etc., etc.  The instructions in that set are unusually good, with illustrations showing which parts are applicable to which ships (subject to the inevitable changes in radar suites, etc.).  Highly recommended.

You've picked an excellent kit.  Good luck.

Dragon is releasing a post Pearl Harbor refitted Pennsylvania.I'm itching to see this built.I'd take a break from armor to build this one myself.

aardvark1917 wrote:

Trumpeter's North Carolina BB-55 it will be, as I just discovered it has full hull option. Is there much difference between it and it's sister ship, BB-56?

G'day, new to the forum.

There are differences in the kits of the Trumpeter 1/700 North Carolina & Washington. Having first purchased the Washington recenlty I was a little dissapointed to find a distinct lack of 40mm guns & tubs. The Washington is in it's Launch configuration, so there are only four of what I believe are early design 40mm guns & tubs, but there are plenty of 20mm guns. Infact there are over fifty 20mm guns.

After my slight dissapointment with the configuration of the Washington, I couldn't resist the temptation to also purchase the North Carolina. The North Carolina is in it's late war configuration so is well & truely armed to the teeth with both 20 & 40mm guns. It does look better with the 40mm gun tubs scattered around the deck.

Having just completed the Washington I am quite happy with it. I completed it in it's launch paint scheme which is Scheme 1 from memory. Haze Grey all around & teak deck colour. The North Carolina will be in either the end of war scheme 22 or it's scheme 32 of late 1944. I have taken so much to the North Carolina that I also just yesterday purchased her in 1/350 scale by Trumpeter.

These are great looking ships & beautifully done by Trumpeter. The detail is quite exceptional. The Washington in it's early config, even has the deck cutout (port side, bow) for the spare anchor placement.

Now I wait in anticipation of the South Dakota class 1/700 release from Trumpeter. Maybe i'll get the Trumpeter Massachusetts in 1/350 as well to add to the collection. ;)

 

If you don't want the Mikasa, I'd pick the USS Michigan