Converting an Arizona kit to a Colorado class battleship

dirkpitt77 wrote:

Hey guys,        I want to convert an Arizona kit into a USS Colorado.  From what I can glean on the 'net, the only MAJOR differences are Colorado had four twin turrets; Arizona had four triples, and perhaps minor secondary armament differences.  Since no ship experts will ever see my models, could I convert an Arizona kit into a Colorado without too much trouble, just changing guns and hull numbers, and call it a reasonable facsimile?  I just don't have $450 for Yankee Model Work's kit, or any of that other fancy stuff.  Waddya guys think?      Thanks      Chris

This came up in another thread, the short answer is no. I don't know where you get the idea that there are no major differences. The two classes of ship are radically different and share not a single major attribute. Hull size and shape are totally different as are their armament and superstructures. If you want to scratchbuild a Colorado then fine otherwise what you are proposing is like saying that you can convert a MiniCooper into a Cadillac DeVille. WS

dirkpitt77 wrote:

Since no ship experts will ever see my models, could I convert an Arizona kit into a Colorado without too much trouble, just changing guns and hull numbers, and call it a reasonable facsimile?

To take a slightly different stance from Dread,  its your model and you can do anything you want to do with it.   If you want, you can even take a Yamato and call it a Colorado ... if you want.  

Be prepared that if you take the model into the outside world be prepared to explain what you did and why

    Well, what mass produced styrene kit or bashing of kits would get me closest then? 

 

   Oh yeah, Ed, I'm not going for any model show winning stuff here.  I just want a reasonable looking Colorado to put on my shelf, since I live in Colorado.

dirkpitt77 wrote:

Well, what mass produced styrene kit or bashing of kits would get me closest then?       Oh yeah, Ed, I'm not going for any model show winning stuff here.  I just want a reasonable looking Colorado to put on my shelf, since I live in Colorado.

I presume that you are looking for a 1/350 kit to build. Unfortunately there are no kits available in 1/350 plastic that are even close. In resin Commander's Iron Shipwright make a Maryland that is a class member and very close in appearance. The kit retails for $325 but if purchased directly from their website/phone ordering system they are known to discount from time to time. The Yankee Modelworks West Virginia, also a Colorado class ship is available from FreeTime Hobbies for $318.

When factoring in cost on such a project you should be aware that the ISW and YMW kits come with everything you will need to build a great looking model. You will not have to buy aftermarket upgrades like photo etched brass, etc. as everything is included. USN modelers of the period would like nothing better than to see and injection molded model of any one of the Big Five.

However, if you are looking for a 1/700 kit the going will be considerably cheaper. The only kits available right now for Colorado in 700 are resin. The H-P kit represents the ship late in the war after her main mast was removed and the AA battery and secondary battery were revamped. It is priced around $135 plus the cost of the Tom's Modelworks cage mast brass and detail upgrade kit ($9). The Loose Cannon kit
which is more complete prices out around $98 and represents the ship in her 1942 fit, more close to her pre-war appearance. Both are available from Pacific Front Hobbies in Rosemont Oregon and on the internet. A West Virginia and Maryland were also made in resin by Hi-Mold but are out of production. They can usually be had on eBay for between 125-200 dollars. They are gorgeous models. WS

     Wow, ok.  Dread, thanks for all the info...that was great.   Guess I'll have to just put this on the back burner til I get a little more funds up.  

   Chris

Dreadnought52 wrote:

I presume that you are looking for a 1/350 kit to build. Unfortunately there are no kits available in 1/350 plastic that are even close. In resin Commander's Iron Shipwright make a Maryland that is a class member and very close in appearance. The kit retails for $325 but if purchased directly from their website/phone ordering system they are known to discount from time to time. The Yankee Modelworks West Virginia, also a Colorado class ship is available from FreeTime Hobbies for $318.

 

There is one significant difference that needs to be mentioned here.  Depending on the time peroid you're planning to make the kit in will have an impact on which ship (MD or WV) to buy to make Colorado.  If you're looking for the pre-Pearl Harbor period (prior to June 1, 1941), a WV kit would be an appropriate selection (either YMW or ISW).  However, if you're looking at post-Pearl Harbor, only the MD kit would be appropriate.  At the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, Colorado was being fitted with blisters, which MD had at the time of the attack.  Only our kit of the MD has the blisters.  WV never received this refit, and was reconstructed into the later fit.

Also, if you order direct from us (Commander Series/ISW), you receive an immediate 15% discount on the retail price.

Jon 

Dreadnought52 wrote:

This came up in another thread, the short answer is no. I don't know where you get the idea that there are no major differences. The two classes of ship are radically different and share not a single major attribute. Hull size and shape are totally different as are their armament and superstructures. If you want to scratchbuild a Colorado then fine otherwise what you are proposing is like saying that you can convert a MiniCooper into a Cadillac DeVille. WS

 

Actually, the basic hull sizes, hull shapes, and key locating points like main battery barbettes are not all that different.   Much of the appearent difference came from Colorado's much more pronounced clipper bow, now ram, and no hull side embrasures.    But it is still a lot of work to convert from one to the other.

 

Chuck Fan wrote:

Dreadnought52 wrote: This came up in another thread, the short answer is no. I don't know where you get the idea that there are no major differences. The two classes of ship are radically different and share not a single major attribute. Hull size and shape are totally different as are their armament and superstructures. If you want to scratchbuild a Colorado then fine otherwise what you are proposing is like saying that you can convert a MiniCooper into a Cadillac DeVille. WS   Actually, the basic hull sizes, hull shapes, and key locating points like main battery barbettes are not all that different.   Much of the appearent difference came from Colorado's much more pronounced clipper bow, now ram, and no hull side embrasures.    But it is still a lot of work to convert from one to the other.

I would have to disagree. A side by side comparison will show that it is not workable. However, and this is where you might be confusing two classes of ships, the shape of the New Mexico class hulls is much closer to the Pennsylvania class ships. Again, given that the Arizona models extant are in their late '30s early '40s configuration it would be impractical to try to make anything else out of them. With a ton of work you might be able to squeeze out a New Mexico class ship but certainly not a Colorado. The effort expended would be better put to scratch building the ship. WS

I agree.  You might be able to squeeze out a New Mexico from an Arizona (after major alterations to create a clipper bow), but a Colorado is pretty much out of court....... Too bad!  It would be nice if one of the major manufacturers came out with a New Mexico in 1/350, especially after modernization post-Pearl Harbor.....