More USS Missouri Details

I found some pictures on my memory card of the details of my Tamiya 1/350 USS Missouri that shows off the photo etched parts.


Some people have suggested that when you use photo etched pieces, its easier to paint them on the fret (the tree that holds the parts) and then assemble the model. I think thats a little strange. Glue as many parts to the model and then paint them. That way the paint can cover the glue.

While adding the photo etched parts, I built the superstructure in sections and test fitted them in place. This gave me a good idea of how to mask and paint each section. It would have been a strategic nightmare to paint all the vertical surfaces gray and most of the horizontal sections navy blue once the entire model had been glued together, so keeping the boat divided into small sections made life a lot easier.

The pictures below show the world of difference photo etched parts can make especially on very small parts. The plastic parts provided with the kit were way too thick and I know the Missouri had some armor plates around her guns, but the kit parts would have made those plates almost a foot thick. Thin brass looks much better

Tamiya 1/350 USS Missouri

And now for my award winner. Ok, that sounds a little more impressive than it actually is, but I did win a trophy for this model. "Best in Show" at a local hobby store, but hey it still counts. This model was the first I built with heavy, heavy photo etched parts, probably over 700 if I was to count them all up. I know there were about 200 photo etched parts in the .50 Caliber machine guns alone. I bought the two USS Missouri photo etched frets available through Goldmetalmodels.com. They greatly improved the appearance of the model and made this one of my favorites.

This was a long model, nearly 3 feet long. Rule #1 for building this model is to make sure you have plenty of space. The hull was a single piece, which made things a lot easier. But the sides had to be pushed out with a few thick balsa sticks so the deck pieces would fit better.





The superstructure looks complicated with all its railings and stairs and poles and decks and guns and everything else, but the construction was actually very simple. Masking off everything to paint the deck, well, be prepared to spend a few nights doing that. All the wiring is thin nylon string which was made taut by waving a soldering iron near it. The heat causes the nylon to shrink producing realistic tight antennae. Just be careful how close you get to the string and the rest of the model. There is one spot on one of the center gun turrets where I had to rebuilt the wall after accidentally melting it.


The anchor chains were a horrible bit of raised detail on the forecastle, almost invisible and a tremendous pain to paint....had I left them there, that is. I carefully scrapped them off and bought small chain to replace it. Having actual chain on the deck made it look instantly better.


The catapults and crane were replaced with photo etched parts. Photo etched parts may be expensive, but they can really take a good model and make it into a jaw-dropper.