by Richard Wonderly
1/700 USS Arizona BB-39 (DML)
USS Arizona BB-39 from the Dragon kit in 1/700 scale, waterline in a mini-diorama of sorts. I used the recent Dragon kit with included photo-etch, added more from Tom’s Modelworks since the kit used plastic for the aft crane, catapult frames and 50 caliber machine guns. Also added Eduard prepainted photo-etched 1/700 scale crewmen.
Made this into a mini-diorama with the Arizona at anchor, recovering a floatplane for repositioning on the turret catapult and with the port side crane lifting out one of the motorlaunches too. The other motor launches and one of the open boats are also returning to the ship and there are crew members at various duties scattered throughout the ship.
I have to say the Dragon kit was better than I expected given the artwork on the box and my experience with some of their other models, but I was surprised that they would include a photo-etch fret but not replace the catapults and crane.
