MiniHobby Arizona 1:350 scale WIP

This is the one that has the hull made for R/C: http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-MINI-HOBBY-1-350-USS-ARIZONA-BB-39-BATTLESHIP_W0QQitemZ200205827631QQihZ010QQcategoryZ152932QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Everything about this kit is the same as the Banner except the lower hull.  Banner, if I remember correctly, was the original maker of the Arizona kit. This one: http://cgi.ebay.com/Banner-USS-ARIZONA-1-350-scale_W0QQitemZ200205250697QQihZ010QQcategoryZ2590QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I believe the reason it says "Static Model" is because it was at one time a R/C model.  Makes sense.  I actually fixed the hull of the one I had.  It took a little bit of work, but it came out ok.

Here is the correct hull on the Banner model. Notice the nice round openings for the shafts to enter the hull: http://www.steelnavy.com/images/ArizonaBanner/ariz-1.jpg

Here is the hull from Mini Hobbies model.  Click the sixth image down from the top. Notice how (on the left hand side of the picture) that the shaft doesn't run into a round opening, but into to squared off opening: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery/bb/bb-39/350-as/as-index.html

It's not a big issue. Most people wouldn't even see it.  But it's there.

Hope this helps,

Jesse

I'm just curious and certainly no expert, but neither of these seem to have what I would expect as an accurate hull- no keel, or rounded bottom below the waterline, rather a big flat spot to sit on.

Compare to this shot of the Oklahoma being righted.

Flat like a pancake: http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/us_navy_pages/us_navy_battleship_photos/uss_arizona_bb39/uss_arizona_bb39_01.jpg

http://www.pearlharborhistorymap.com/grafixbin/products/Pearl_Harbor_Side2_Zoom_Arizona.jpg 

I'm no expert in ship design but I believe the flat bottom serves two purposes.  It allows the ship to get real close to shore and provides for more stability. 

Jesse

Artillery support.  When Marines would land on the beach, they would have no artillery support with them.  They rely on offshore artillery, hence battleships.  A ship getting in close to shore can provide highly accurate, direct artillery.  Of course, this depends on the battleship not being under direct fire itself.  I don't know if this was considered when designing the hull, but the flat bottom does help in this regard.

Jesse

But close-in artillery support wasn't in their job description until after the battleships were sunk @ Pearl Harbor & most were resurrected.  They became a resource in search of a mission. 

Amphibious operations were also developed during the war and improved upon based on tactical experience.   The need for fire support was recognized and the available platforms were called upon.

What the broad, flat hull bottoms on the battleships gave was a stable shooting platform which was important when engaging the enemy fleet on the horizon, or doing shore gunfire support.

OK, found this:

Figure 8. 60-foot midships cross-section of USS Arizona modelled for Finite Element Analysis.

Thanks to:

http://www.pastfoundation.org/Arizona/Legacy_2.htm

You guys should check out the Stephens International site there is a proposed 1/200 scale Arizona from Trumpeter.

http://www2.stevenshobby.com:5641/

Go product descriptions and then select Trumpeter and scroll down. There are even proposed 1/32 scale Harriers and a 1/24 scale Stuka.

EdGrune wrote:

But close-in artillery support wasn't in their job description until after the battleships were sunk @ Pearl Harbor & most were resurrected.  They became a resource in search of a mission.  Amphibious operations were also developed during the war and improved upon based on tactical experience.   The need for fire support was recognized and the available platforms were called upon.

Great point.  Like I said, I'm no expert in ship design. 

Jesse

usmc1371 wrote:

I'm no expert in ship design but I believe the flat bottom serves two purposes.  It allows the ship to get real close to shore and provides for more stability.

Nyet  to the first. Stability was important however, as rolling motion would elevate and depress the guns, which would affect firing accuracy at longer ranges.

Another reason for the flat bottom was just simplicity; a curved hull takes more effort to construct, and you would need more elaborate blocking systems underneathwhen you wanted to drydock the ship. As it was there were patterns they had to arrange the keel blocks in to evenly distribute the weight; if blocked wrong the weight of the ship would damage the hull plating.

You can see some photos taken underneath BB-45 Colorado I located and sent in to Navsource here about half way down; this was as a result of a grounding incident and not any docking damage. As you can see, a flat bottom makes this process much easier.

OK so, but, umm, hmm...

The picture I posted of Oklahoma looks pretty round, as do upside down pictures, God save us, of her.

And I seem to remember that the old Revell Pennsy was round bottomed as Beyonce, but I could be wrong.

Is this a class thing?

Tracy White wrote:

You can see some photos taken underneath BB-45 Colorado I located and sent in to Navsource here about half way down; this was as a result of a grounding incident and not any docking damage. As you can see, a flat bottom makes this process much easier.

OT -  sorry, but it struck me as really funny to see the guys wearing the hard hats working under the hull - like it's going help if a 32,000 ton battleship fell on them...;) 

Mark

Are ALL the MHM ones like that?  I found this one that doesn't have the sticker on the box, at least that I can see.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MiniHobbyModels-1-350-USS-Arizona-BB-39-Sealed_W0QQitemZ380005217208QQihZ025QQcategoryZ152932QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

bondoman wrote:

The picture I posted of Oklahoma looks pretty round, as do upside down pictures, God save us, of her.

The Navy Historical Center's website is mis-behaving for me, so I'll have to send you to Navsource instead of directly embedding an image, but go here and then  scroll down to the 5th picture, photo 80-G-32453. You can see the starboard side with some boat or craft tied off on the left,then the corner with the bilge keels as the highest point, then that long,flat slope down to the right of the picture is Oklahoma's bottom.

tmnull wrote:

Are ALL the MHM ones like that?  I found this one that doesn't have the sticker on the box, at least that I can see. http://cgi.ebay.com/MiniHobbyModels-1-350-USS-Arizona-BB-39-Sealed_W0QQitemZ380005217208QQihZ025QQcategoryZ152932QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

My Mini Hobby kit had the "Static Model" sticker on the box, but had the correct openings for the prop shafts. Makes me believe some did and some didnt.......

That shouldn't really be an issue though, as has been said, it's an easy re-work if you do get one with the squared shaft openings. That's really the only difference.