by Jeff Sharp
1/350 Black and Blue (ISW)
"Black and Blue" This is the USS Maryland (and Oklahoma) as she appeared on the afternoon of December 7, 1941. The diorama is based on a series of photographs taken that day. Many of her crew stood at their battle stations watching the rescue efforts taking place on the Oklahoma. Many more were taking care of business aboard ship. Fire hoses were hung over the sides and stern of the ship to try to keep the burning oil away. Signal flags kept in constant communication with other ships and the tower. On the bow, crew members were accessing the damage from two bombs that found the ship.
I named this diorama "Black and Blue" not only because we took quite a beating on that infamous day but also because there is so much of it you can see. The blue sky is filled with black smoke, the blue water is filled with black oil, and the tops of Mary's turrets are painted black on the first two and blue on the last. She was the third ship of BATDIV 4.
