USS Arizona by popeye the sailor - Revell - 1:426 scale - PLASTIC

[popeye the sailor]

I've heard a lot about the Banner kit........I've never seen the kit.  I'm not sure what you mean about pre thirties fit....I have her pre Pearl Harbor......I hope I have the tops right?!?!  glad to hear your getting back to the table......I took a ten year vacation myself in my forties  

[Egilman]

What I meant by mid-thirties fit was how the ship was fitted out prior to her 1936 refit and upgrading.  Behind the battery house at the top of her tripod superstructure/foremast she had a vertical mast with two yard arms.... in her last general refit the lower yardarm behind the foremast battery house was removed in favor of the latticework booms that angle out and back from the base of the battery house....

 

ie, it didn't have both the yard and booms.... prior to '34 it had masts/yards, after it had booms on the lower foremast....

 

The Revell represents her in the early to mid thirties.....

 

The Banner Models 1/350th scale USS Arizona represents her as in her '41 onward fitment..... Real close to her December 1941 outfitting.  (I have both a partial Booklet of General Plans for her '27 - '28 refit and her 1934 refit with revisions to 6/3/41 that is almost complete) 

 

That would place her right up to her November '41 yard availability to repair her collision damage.  They are public domain, I got them from the national archives and will be happy to provide them if you would like.....

Personally I think it was released to see if there was a market for more 1/350th scale ships than just the limited offerings from Tamiya at that date..... (it sold like hotcakes to starving people in the winter)

 the rest is history, it was followed by Trumpeter with their release of the USS Hornet in 1.350th scale which was the second most desireable 1/350th scale subject modeler's wanted so much to see available. (and Trumpeters first official release. (they also make the Banner AZ) 

As you can probably tell by now, I"m a real fan of the ship.

 

But anyway. Thanks for the welcome, I'm slowly dusting off the old skill set and getting back into building....

Edited February 29, 2020 by Egilman

[popeye the sailor]

that must have been her big refit at Norfork.   in the early stages,  I thought it might be neat to do her with the cage masts that she had back in the twenties......there is after market out for it.  never a bad thing to have a favorite ship    for the time being....I'll work on getting this one finished.  not a lot left to do,  but it's time consuming.  I'll keep an eye out for when you post a build log....if you model the Arizona,  I'm sure it will be interesting    always a pleasure to meet new folk.

[popeye the sailor]

hi all.....it's been a while since I last did anything on this model.   my hope is still to clear up some of these projects......some so close to the finish line,  I can taste it!  so many other projects I'd love to get into,  but I feel pulled to play catch up...........meanwhile,  the stash grows    I resorted to using the search button to find this log.......I'll get use to the new format one of these days.

 

so.......catching up to where I am with this project........I figured what to do about the fore mast com wires.   the stand has been assembled,  but I changed my mind.....I am not going to paint it.  I like the looks of the wood grain stand,  and so,  the model was cemented in place on the stand.  it will give me a firm footing as I start to rig her.   

the masting PE from the Hood set was trimmed and cemented along the underside of the arms.  the tiny eyelets will be the starting points for the com wires.

just to refresh your memory of the stand.  it looks good in contrast to the deck    I started the rigging,  by adding the line from the aft flagstaff to the main mast.  it was later found to be incorrect.........it was at that point,  I went on another of my wild tangents,  leaving the model to languish on the main table,  gathering dust  ......I know........shame on me.   this marked the first thing I should do......correct this bit of rigging.  there is to be a smaller bit that bisects this line and attaches to the lower portion of the mast.

 

the line was moved down the mast to the yard and another bit was put in its place.  pardon the blurry nature of the pictures......I need better lighting for the new camera {long story as to what happened to the old camera}.  I'm working on the light issue.....flash seems to rule here {for now  }.   the fore mast is just dry fitted for now.  the props were added next........note that the port side turn one way,  and the starboard side turns the opposite way.

beside the rigging,  there are still a few parts that need to be added.......not many.   I began to add the com wires to the fore mast,  but it proved a bit cumbersome,  so it was cemented in place.  this should make it easier to deal with,  as I add the rest.

I'm using fine electrical wire to rig her........it can be a trial.......it bends easily,  but can be adjusted and straightened.   the one thing good about using this stuff,  is that humidity won't affect it.  the bisecting line was added after the stern line was repositioned.  during this time,  I have made forages in craft stores,  and I have seen different types of bead wire and such,  that can also be used for rigging.   some are so thin,  they have the look and flexibility of thread.

 

so ......this is where I am with the model.  I hope I can get this one over the finish line.  compared to the first time I built this model,  so long ago,  I've done so much more to enhance her.  more soon  

[popeye the sailor]

managed to do a couple more things before getting the bum's rush out the door.   we have our tree....we agreed...not a big tree.  so I went half way!    it still eats up the space I allotted for it.  here's another addition to the rigging.....

[Old Collingwood]

Good to see you back on this Denis  - sure is coming on with the masts/wires added.

 

OC.

[popeye the sailor]

thanks OC......and to those who hit the like button    I've been trying my damndest to get back to the main table......this seems to be the only approach to do it.   the Vendetta is there too......that will be next.  if the rigging goes well......I have done it in the past,  but things usually break,  so I hesitate....I may even bring the Joan of Arc back to the table and rig it.  I work on her some more last night and have most of the main rigging done........then I can get to the more tedious stuff.  I even have some more progress pictures.

 

the fore flag staff has braces on it,  but the kit doesn't include them.  I made some up from thin wire.

still a little blurry.......I'm working on sharper pictures.  there are also a pair of paravane tripods near the bow......I want to add them as well {I hope I have some PE to play with  }  I did a fair job with the railings.......not totally happy with them,  but they are there.......it's tedious to do a deck line like this.  

    the model does  have it's shortcomings,  but I think I did well to work around them.   when the bow flagstaff was dry,  the main rigging line was added,  and the pair that connects to the ends of the fore mast arms.

 

the pictures are still a bit dark.........this morning I moved the model to the spare room,  which is a lot brighter and may negate the use for flash.

 

 

the rigging when done will be painted flat black......I don't want to do it now,  and have it suffer from flaking when trying to adjust it.  there is a double com line that spans between the control towers.  I thought I had a pair of triangular 'brackets' in plastic,  but I think they would be out of scale,  so I found some bits in PE that I might be able to use.  I may not get the complete rigging configuration on this model......bit I want to get some of the good stuff.   a kind of experiment for future projects.......and if my Christmas list pans out    more coming........one more pair of parts to add......decals..

...and of course,  the rest of the rigging.  I appreciate you folks being patient  

[popeye the sailor]

this was a tedious task.......there were many cuss words uttered.   I have a flashlight on my desk.......dropping this thing to the floor.....well,  I can safely say I got my exercises at the same time!  as mentioned,  I had a pair of plastic triangular pieces,  but even if I knew where they were,  they'd likely be out of scale.  so I have these six pieces of PE......I will have tie them together.

I'm trying to use macro with the new camera....this is how they come out with poor lighting and flash.  after trying a few times to join them with tweezers and the wire........I even tried my 'helping hands',  it was to no avail.   I needed to try the jig method.  so with three long pins and a piece of wood,  I was able to capture all three in the configuration I needed.  teasing them up the pins and away from the wood,  I was able to give each joint a jot of CA.

 

joining these two together with equal lengths of wire was another source of aggravation...a lot more discouraging words.......trying to keep the 'wrapping' down to a minimum {I didn't want it to look gaudy}.  it was frustrating to say the least,  and I managed to come up with this.

 

 

I took into account,  the length between the towers,  it was made short enough to add some wire at both ends.  now I needed to drill a hole in the aft tower......my short pin vise wasn't going to cut it.   I have a couple of spiral push drill {pin vise}...I hardly use them.......I found it long enough to do the job    for all the aggravation and bad language,  and the time it took to make this thing........it took less than ten mins to install it!    after trimming the excess,  I took these pictures.

 

I wasn't happy with these pictures,  so I took a couple more in the spare room,  where there is more light.  still using macro.

 

to see what the pictures would look like with some real illumination,  I moved a side project I'm doing over and took pictures on the table.   this is my third table by the way.......I wasn't satisfied having two.

 

I didn't have to do too much primping either.......   to be honest,  I don't believe I've ever made one like this before.  kinda neat I was able to pull it off  

[Old Collingwood]

Does your admiral give you that look and utter those words  "if its going wrong and you are not enjoying it  -  why do it"?

 

OC.

 

[mtaylor]

3 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Does your admiral give you that look and utter those words  "if its going wrong and you are not enjoying it  -  why do it"?

 

OC.

 

 

From the "how to start a fight" department obviously.   The non-retalatory answer is " because i like a challenge".  At no point use the word "challenge" and "you" in the same sentence for the response.   

[Egilman]

8 hours ago, mtaylor said:

At no point use the word "challenge" and "you" in the same sentence for the response.

Amen Brother,

I prefer dealing with the admiralty rather than the war department thank you... Both are a challenge at times, but at least the Admiralty doesn't involve swinging skillets...

[Landlubber Mike]

Looking great Popeye, you're on the home stretch!  Nice work!

[Jim Lad]

I notice that you waited until I went away for a few days to post an update!   She's looking really good, mate.

 

John

[popeye the sailor]

sorry John.........afraid I don't have that date marked      we really have to get on the same page........     I had been thinking of her these past few weeks.......all that work into something that just sits on the table.   I thought of the mistake I made on the stern rigging I started to do.  the fore mast with the two PE arms on it has been sitting on my desk all this time........haunting the bejeebers out of me.  next thing you know,  she was on my desk.......not much more to finish her.  thanks  

 

no....she doesn't say that OC.........she says something like....."you wanted to do it...."   she happier though when I'm working on a wooden boat.....she's not to big on the plastic stuff.  she is to the point though,  that whenever I need anything..." well,  scratch built it......you can scratch build anything!"  we had a 12 foot tall snowman inflatable on the front lawn.........I say 'had',  because the upper blower motor crapped out and it won't fully inflate.  she thinks I can fix anything.......mainly because I hate tossing things out if I can fix it.  I still need to look at it...might be a power issue.

 

what not to say to start a war.......that's not too tough.  man had always had the ability to literally hang himself at the worst moments    case in point of this one episode we had.   we usually don't argue....we debate.   during one of our 'heated debates'  {in the evening,  she get into what I call lounge wear}, she looked at me and told me she was going in the bedroom to change.   being dubbed with the gift of wit was a detriment to me here...'cuz I replied  "for the better I hope!"  needless to say,  the doghouse was the warmest place in the house that evening  

 

thanks Mike  

[Jim Lad]

4 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

needless to say,  the doghouse was the warmest place in the house that evening

 

Crikey, mate, I thought you would have learned by now!!! 

 

John

[RGL]

It is amazing how the wrong sentence can lead to ice rapidly  forming on windows 

[Canute]

Denis, what were you thinking (or not). Sounds like something I'd say, though.

[Jack12477]

12 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

the doghouse was the warmest place in the house that evening  

Kinda like the Admiral saying "I was thinking" and getting the response "did it hurt?"  😁😁😁😁

[pwog]

She’s looking great popeye! Excellent timing on bringing her back out, given today’s date. 

[popeye the sailor]

I really didn't have the thought in mind Paul,  but yes,  it's Pearl Harbor's anniversary.  I work on whatever comes to mind.......and believe me,  I have plenty of active projects to think about   

 

it was some time ago.......too many situation comedies   i've modified my watching to dramas    she still loves her Popeye.......