BB-63 USS Missouri 1/700 Scale

[Draco]

Proceding to paint the decks in the correct colors, and correcting too the small differences in the side patterns between the GPM034 and the real ones. The superstructure is painted in black, 5-L and 5-O colors, and not only black with very small 5-L spots like GPM034 shows.

The attached pictures show the torrets 1 and 2, the lower two decks of the superstructure and part of the main deck with the new colors. The torret 3 is half assembled, so is very hard to see in the full picture.

Next steps are to aply the 5-L lateral color (clear gray), end the 5-O and 20-B main deck swap and continue the guns and superstructure assembly.

[Draco]

I'm including a comparation between the hull before and after the painting job.

You can see the change of the lateral pattern, the swap on deck colors (more easily seen near turret 3)

Can see the rear of the superstructure is 5-O instead of black and many other details.

The superstructure is being assembled, but the generic instructions make it like a jigsaw: assemble first the know pieces and figure later where the unknow goes.

I included an internal reinforcement under the second deck to prevent the sinking of the superstructure.

The next step is to finish the superstructure and the "horns" of the turrets

[Draco]

Keeping the work.

The hull changes are completed, but there will be a repaint after including all the details and pieces.

The forward superstructure is assembled, and the rear one is starting to be cut.

Once all the decks are installed, I will proceed to perforate the portholes with a pin, and install all the ladders.

[Draco]

Keepeng the work. The main superstructure is assembled.

Now it comes to start the detail part: turret horns, painting, and so on.

I'm debating about reshaping the rear end. It's not enought rounded compared with the real one.

Comparing again against the scharnhorst. The size difference is more and more evident

[herky]

i have jsc 97 iowa which i believe is 1;400 and can be built as 1984 or 1989 version.i also have gpm 61 which is iowa at 1;300.plus gpm242 missiouri at 1;200 .on my list to build after carriers

[Draco]

All them look great, and I hope you do them, but my purpose is to stick to 1/700 scale for ships and 1/350 for submarines and small destroyers.

I'm planing to keep all my ships in a glass doors cabinet, and 15 planed ships ranging from 100 to 140 cms long are not easy to keep in an apartment.

Resizing the plans to a smaller scale, lets me with 15*30 cm total size, or five stacks of ships, each one 1 meter long.

BB-63 Missouri is 39 cm long, but cve-73 Gambier Bay will be 22 cm, for example

[herky]

good planning.i prefer the larger size for effect.my one gripe with the jsc range is the fact they are only 1;400

[Draco]

No pictures today, sorry.

I've been cutting and pasting the horns, ladders and squares of the 3 turrets, and having a headache about the 44 lifesavers to do (4 over each turret and the rest over the deck)

At 1/700 scale, its size is 3 x 2 x 0.5 mm, so... at first tried with electric wire, but they get lost easily. Today found the solution with sewing thread around a custom made stick.

In a couple of days I will publish a finished turret and another one with the unpainted attachments

[southwestforests]

Originally Posted by Draco

You must remember that the Iowa class are the largest (but not the heaviest) battleship of the history.

None were constructed, but the Montana class was going to be bigger and carry a 4th main turret.
Montana Class
USN Ship Types--Montana class (BB-67 through BB-71)
"Dimensions: 921' 3" (length overall); 121' 2" (maximum beam)"

Iowa Class
USN Ship Types--Iowa class (BB-61 through 66)
"Dimensions: 887' (length overall); 108' 2" (maximum beam)"

[Draco]

Still making the lifeboats. The right turret has the original metalic ones, the lef turret has the easier thread version.

Too much work, very few free time