by Paul Helfrich
1/700 USS Arizona BB-39 (Mini-Hobby)
I have many times slaughtered the Mini-Hobby Models 1/700 kit of the USS Arizona, kit-bashing it crudely into one or another of the old battleships that are not available as styrene kits. It's not as good as the Dragon Arizona kit, but it's cheap.
This time, however, I decided to build it as the Arizona and attempt to do it right. The ship is meant to be in her December 7, 1941 appearance. I used the Tom's Modelworks detail set and additional railings from Tom's as well. One flaw of the kit that I did not correct is the shielding on the #2 deck; some of it is correct (around the 5" guns) but some of it should be replaced with railing. Having butchered this kit so many times, I really didn't feel like chopping away at it, so I left that part alone.
I'm pleased with the result and it's certainly the best I've ever done with this kit. One of my next builds will be the Dragon USS Pennsylvania in her 1944 fit; the two ships will display nicely together.
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