1/350 USS Alabama BB-60 (Trumpeter)
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by Kyle Prestwood |
1/350 USS Alabama BB-60 (Trumpeter)
The last of the treaty battleships, Alabama was also the last of the
South Dakota class warships. She served with distinction throughout
WWII and earned the nickname "The Lucky A" because she never received any
damage from enemy action despite being involved in many conflicts where
other casualties were suffered. The model is Trumpeter's accurate,
if not slightly frustrating version of the 'Bama in her shakedown cruise
outfit of 1942. The paint is Tamiya flat blue and haze gray to replicate
the Measure 12 camo scheme, along with Testor's dark sea blue for the Deck
blue on horizontal areas. Corrections and additions to backdate the
kit to 1942 included scratchbuilt paravane cranes on the forecastle, repositioning
of port 20mm AA guns on deck 01 with 5" practice loader, squared out windows
below bridge on citadel, removal of various 20mm AA guns on superstructure
and 40mm quads aft of superstructure on weather deck, and scratchbuilt
twin vent houses on aft deck. As well much research went into photos
of the measure 12 camo which was transferred by hand with pencil to the
model, due to slight inaccuracies in artist renditions. Gold Medal
Model photoetch was used throughout along with EZ Line for rigging, and
flags on Jackstaff and Ensignstaff are painted foil for a limp effect.
She rests in a wooden case with a period 48 star American flag, while the
full size ship is berthed in Mobile, AL as a permanent museum.
