BB-39 USS Arizona

[Old Ironsides]

I have been meaning to do this one since the set first came out. *Finally made some time the last couple nights.





Here is the site I used as a reference for scheme:

http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gall.../rb-index.html

Some may debate the accuracy, but IMO a far cry better than the WotC paint scheme. ;)

[7eat51]

I would say that is definitely a marked improvement. Well done Aaron.

[Coog]

The red turret tops are interesting. I've looked at some images and some models have them red and others don't, while you really can't tell much in the photos I studied. I didn't see any other BBs of the period with red turrets. Does anyone know why or when they were red on Arizona?

I think I found the answer to my own question here:

http://archives.starbulletin.com/200...s/story04.html

[Berthier]

Interesting article Bobby, I wonder whether those bright red turrets made it easier to target the ships? They used camo paint patterns in WW1 (including dazzle designs) and in WW2 they sometimes painted fake bow lines to try and fool subs and make identification harder. Going to all that trouble to hide ships and then have bright red turrets seems counter productive.

[Old Ironsides]

Thanks for the link... I have added it to my blog as well.

http://rallyroundtheflag.blogspot.co...s-arizona.html

As I mention in the blog, keep in mind this is a pre-war paint scheme. I believe I have read that not long after war broke out that the colors on the turret tops were removed as enemy aircraft sighting became more of a concern.

[Naharaht]

These were interesting facts. It is another example of how pre-war ideas had to be changed in the light of combat experience.