USS Missouri (BB 63) by Coyote_6 – FINISHED - Revell – 1/535 - PLASTIC

[Coyote_6]

Hello to everyone.  Having visited the Missouri in Pearl Harbor with my family, I promptly started work on a 1/700 Trumpeter version.  After conversation with a co-worker about my new project, he came in the next day with a battleworn boxing of Revell’s 1/535 Missouri from his garage (pristine and complete inside) and gifted it to me, saying he had never found the time to start her.   Needless to say, the 20” long Revell quickly took priority as a fun and relatively simple build.

 

Not only is the Missouri a historically profound ship, the Revell kit is equally profound in the history of model building - developed during the advent of plastic models.  Dating back to the 50’s, it was conjectured that the hull below the waterline was at the time classified, hence the generic flat bottom found on the Revell kit.  Purists may not like the lack of props or multiple rudders, but for kids running their Navy on the living room carpet this was a huge plus.

 

Even with the flash present due to older molds, this kit is pure fun and a trip back in time.  This was a build I did from 2019, before I joined Model Ship World.  Hopefully there is some value in documenting her.   The deck, hull and main guns go together easily.  (Sitting next to the Trumpeter 1/700 project, which has been in drydock ever since.)

 

Regards,

Steve

Edited October 15, 2022 by Coyote_6
Corrected build year.

[Coyote_6]

Just a fun build.  Here the superstructure, catapults and crane have been added.  Probably my favorite and most inspiring part of the kit is the nameplate and stands, with screw holes provided.   The kit just begs for a piece of mahogany and some brass screws!

 

 

 

Not satisfied with the lack of detail below the waterline, I found that the props and rudders from the Italeri 1/720 CVN 71 added some detail that looked good to my eye. 

 

 

 

Forgive some of the thrust angles of the props, as I fit them on as best I could.

 

Edited August 19, 2022 by Coyote_6
Positioned images with relevant text.

[Coyote_6]

Clearly armed for the WW2 period, I decided to do some research and paint her in the Measure 22 Camouflage that she would have worn for the Japanese surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay.  Unfortunately, I think my Deck Blue came in several shades too light in color (Custom mixed with Tamiya Acrylics on hand).  Deck guns and fixtures all in place now.

 

 

 

Striping the hull was a challenge to get the masking parallel to the water line (Rattle canned with Tamiya AS-8 Navy Blue).

 

 

 

Finishing off the hull with Tamiya TS-33 Dull Red (spray paint) was much easier.  Again, Tamiya seems to do a good job of formulating colors, at least to my eye.  Added a couple stretched sprue antennas above the bridge.

 

Edited August 19, 2022 by Coyote_6
Positioned images with relevant text.

[Coyote_6]

Ahhh, mahogany and brass.  But we have to do something about the bridge windows.  As the kit is old, any molded detailing there was practically non-existent and the black band I painted there just won't do.

 

 

 

Some 1/700 decals from an unknown kit off ebay provided much better scale bridge windows and hull numbers.  Not perfect, but again, I liked them.

 

 

 

Finished off the aircraft in late war tri-color scheme by hand, painted anchor chains and deck details, and added her name to the stern.  And rich gold props (old Testors enamel from a bottle).

 

 

Unfortunately, I cannot figure out how to rotate the middle image, as it was intended to be portrait format.

Edited August 19, 2022 by Coyote_6
Positioned images with relevant text.

[Coyote_6]

Another awesome feature if this 1950's era kit is the holes in the superstructure decks to facilitate some rigging lines from young hobbyists.  She was definitely designed to make a nice display piece, regardless of age level.

 

I opted for stretched sprue lines for resilience (and tautness) and to hopefully reduce dust collection.  A little thick, so I left off a couple of the implied lines to keep a clean appearance.

 

 

Edited October 13, 2022 by Coyote_6
Add white space between photos.

[Coyote_6]

Kit decals were a little large.  1/700 scale decals on a 1/535 ship?  Yes, please!!

 

 

Pretty darn close to actual historical photos.

[Coyote_6]

And here she is, all finished, dressed for the surrender in Tokyo Bay.  If I have one regret, it's that I think the deck blue (20-B) is indeed too light for this camo scheme (Measure 22).

 

But for a kit designed in the 1950's, it is a lot of fun to build.  

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 15, 2022 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

She simply bristled with guns in September of 1945!

 

 

 

 

The kit comes with a plastic replica of the marker embedded in the deck to commemorate the surrender, but I was lucky enough to pick up a coin in Pearl Harbor when we visited the Mighty Mo' replicating the marker.

 

 

 

Fair winds and following seas, and thanks for checking her out! 

 

Steve

Edited October 15, 2022 by Coyote_6

[USMCLtSgt]

Another excellent job!