By Richard Sliwka
1/350 USS South Dakota BB-57 1945 (Yankee Model Works)
U.S.S. South Dakota--BB-57
This model was built for a gentleman whose father was an officer aboard the South Dakota during the 1943-1945 time frame. The gentleman purchased the Blue Water Navy (now Yankee Modelworks) kit; but, decided he didn't have the time to assemble the model so he asked me to build it. His basic instructions were to complete the model in the South Dakota's 1945 configuration.
With the exception of the masts, radars, and float planes, kit components
were used throughout. The bridge was enclosed using plastic sheet and Special
Shapes' photo-etch products. Also, during the construction process, upon
review of various reference drawings, I discovered that the kit's location
for the mid-ship (stack) 20mm and 40mm gun tubs and 5" gun houses were
not totally correct. The tubs should have been 1/2 deck above the O-3 deck;
and, the 5" gun houses extend over the deck edges. Unfortunately, both
of these inaccuracies were discovered (at different times of course) well
in to the construction/painting process. Correction required the removal
of the tubs and the addition of supporting structures, stanchions, ladders,
etc. The gun house mounting rings were removed from the deck and new rings
added about 1/16" outboard. the detailed main and tower masts/yardarms/out-riggers/platforms
were scratch-built from brass. Radars were modified Tom's Modelworks SK-1
& SR and L'Arsenal's Mk-37 screens. Numerous scratch-built deck details--ship's
whistle & horn, ship's bell, O-3 deck admirals' chairs, 24" searchlights/platforms,
24 pole "whip-type" antennae, Mk-51 handholds, etc.--were added. The 72
20mm gun mounts were enhanced with the addition of one modified GMM armrest
(the kit 20mm photo-etch guns had only one armrest) and hand wheel. WEM's
Kingfisher float planes were used. Rigging was .002"-.004" dia. nylon fishing
line. The model was painted in the Measure 21(5-N) scheme using Poly Scale
acrylic paints. Construction time was about 525 hours.
