USS Illinois BB-7
by Martin J. Quinn

1/350 USS Illinois BB-7 (Iron Shipwrights)

The model represents the Illinois in 1907, just before the cruise of the Great White Fleet. Built basically "out of the box", with the addition of the following items:

• Brass gun barrels for the 12 inch main armament
• Brass gun barrels for the 6 inch secondary armament – these are cut down 5.9 inch BMK barrels meant for German shipps.
• The 6lb guns are made from plastic rod, strip and left over PE from a YMW Johnston kit
• Semaphore on the bridge wings scratch built from plastic bits.
• Added thrwarts to most the ships boats.
• Masts made from brass rod
• Rigging is mostly .004 nylon quilting thread. Funnel stays are ceramic thread.
• The canvas dodgers on the railings are made from white glue.

The model is painted above the waterline with a Humbrol white , while WEM paints were used for the buff and deck. The lower hull color is Norfolk Anti-Fouling Red, while the boot topping is Testors gloss black.

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