Bakster
Okay, here is question 1. I just found out the local hobby shop as an Atlantis 1:535 USS Wisconsin BB-64 battleship in stock. This is an old 60s kit. That being the case, old technolgy that made it. I did some research on the Trumpeter and it seems to be built pretty well.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? No pressure, just inquiring.
According to scalemates it's the umpteenth rebox of the Revell
USS Missouri, I believe the oldest plastic ship model Revell ever released, around 1953; and probably one of the oldest plastic ship kits, period. Just a new name.
Just to put that in context, it was already almost a decade old when Revell released the USS Arizona.
There is a good selection of brass and 3D aftermarket, if only because it's been a popular kit for decades now. I wouldn't personally be interested though. Built OOB it's now pretty much a toy. I built a few of them when I was a kid.
I'm no expert on anything, least of all the Iowas, but I'm sure that there are differences between BB-61 and 64, most probably the bridge and secondary armament.
As for decals, there wouldn't be much, other than the name and hull number and those are not too hard to find.
The Trumpeter 1/700 kit of the Missouri seems to be a re-issue of the Pit Road kit from back when. Those kits have their own issues, but are nice models when a little care goes into them.
I'd be tempted to build that one. just decide on whether you want it WW2 or modernized.