USS New Jersey, BB-62
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Hi All,
Presenting, my next "build the ships I've visited", a 1/700, USS New Jersey, BB-62.
I've had the pleasure to tour the battleships, USS New Jersey,BB-62 and USS Wisconsin,BB-64 but at this time I am only building one of these.
Being a neighboring state I chose to build the USS New Jersey.
First let me start by stating, the 1/700 Very Fire kit I used is for the USS Missouri but, I chose to overlook any minor differences in class and build it representing the New Jersey.
I did have to build her as a late WW2 version because at commissioning the New Jersey had a rounded bridge and did not include the gun tub at the bow but eventually she was upgraded to the square faced bridge and bow gun tub configuration used on the Missouri.
The kit has the option to build either a full or waterline hull. The deluxe version includes four sets of photo-etch, brass 5inch and 16inch gun barrels, brass masts, various resin parts and paint masks. The photo-etch is well engineered with pre-scribed bend lines and well thought out construction steps. You still have to be very careful when using the PE but this did help for a more "enjoyable" build.
If you choose to build the deluxe version I advise pre-plan construction with a good study of the kit instructions in conjunction with the separate detail/PE instructions to know when to modify kit parts and add the photo-etch and detail parts.
The only build issue I had was due to my build technique, and the fact I hate filling/sanding, was the seam for the full hull. I ended up having to fill and sand this seam which removed surrounding detail. This was followed by re-scribing hull seams...Oh well, the perils of a kit builder.
Not included in the kit; EZ Line Fine for the rigging, thin brass wire for the antennas, BB-62 decals and blocks of wood for under the hull.
Because of the late war configuration I painted her in the USN Measure 22 Scheme.
Build note: For the PE I chose to use, for the first time, Bob Smith Industries "Black CA", IC-2000. This glue gave me plenty of time to put the parts in place and reposition as necessary before set up. Once set the bond is extremely tight. Until I find a better way to attach PE, this will be my go-to product.
Like all builds should be, I had fun with this and the Very Fire kit was a nice all around build. I'm glad I chose the deluxe version, the PE does give it a more detailed look.
Now to give my eyes a break I'm heading back to larger scales!
Thanks for stopping by. I hope you like it.
And of course...as always...KEEP IT FUN!
Brief History:
The USS New Jersey, BB-62, nicknamed "The Big J", is one of four, US, Iowa class, fast battleships. The Iowa class ships were the last battleships constructed by the US Navy.
The New Jersey was first commissioned May 1943. Throughout her history she was decommissioned and recommissioned several times, with her last decommission Feb 1991. BB-62 was stricken from US Navy record January 1999.
The USS New Jersey saw action during WW2, Korea, Vietnam and Lebanon, received 19 battle stars, Navy Unit Commendation and two Presidential Unit Citations. As the most decorated battleship in US Navy history she continues to proudly "serve" as a floating museum in Camden, NJ.
If you ever are in the Philadelphia, PA area, make the time to cross the Delaware river and visit the "Big J"
If not visiting the US northeast, the USS Iowa, USS Missouri and USS Wisconsin
also serve as museums.
https://pacificbattleship.com/
Kit:
Very Fire, 1/700, Deluxe Version, USS Missouri, VF700909DX
Paint:
Mr. Surfacer 1200 Gray
Tru-Color, Deck Blue 20-B, TCP-1010
Tru-Color, Haze Gray 5-H, TCP-1003
Tru-Color, Navy Blue 5-N, TCP-1007
Vallejo, Hull Red, 70.985
Vallejo, Black/Grey, 70.862
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- 1. The day of my visit
Another great battleship, Gary! Excellent work with the PE.
Thanks, John!
Truly superb. Congratulations on a great build!
Thank you Brian!
Awesome work on an incredible model, Gary @gwskat! 🤩 Wow!
Thanks, Gary!
Nineteen battle stars, Wowzers!
Amazing and impressive work, Gary.
Thanks, George. 19. Not bad for an old gal.
The detail in this scale is incredible Gary, Patience, a steady hand in attaching the micro bits and the normal plastic parts is something to behold. 350th scale would be a touch n go for me, much less this scale at 1/700th. my eyes are ok, but my hands are not as steady. You could light up the boilers and sortie out to sea.
Fly Navy
Thanks, my Friend! I appreciate the comments very much. Yeah, I had to monitor my caffeine intake at PE times.
This is really impressive, Gary @gwskat
An incredible amount of details for this scale.
Must be great to be able to walk around such an amazing piece of engineering.
Thank you, John.
Those big ships are impressive.
Nice work on this Gary. Very solid result. The Iowa class are really pugnacious looking.
I've only been on the USS Iowa, which is here in San Pedro. But I got to see the engineering spaces, which most visitors don't, because I toured the ship with the son of Dave McCampbell, and we got a "royal" tour by the museum director. I would not have wanted to serve in those spaces.
Thanks for the comps, Tom.
That was a great opportunity.
Excellent work Gary, the details put into this build are amazing!
Thanks, Bob!
Absolutely superb job, Gary!
Well done!
Thank you, Spiros. Glad you like it.
gary sausmikat (@gwskat)
WOW ! This is an incredible build. What is even more impressive is how precisely the PE parts turned out. I can't imagine working on stuff that small. My old eyes are not what they used to be...
This model is the best one I have ever seen of the New Jersey. I thinks it's really cool how you are building models of the ships you have toured. On several occasions I have been on the USS Alabama, and the SS Drum which is berthed right next to it. But that's the extent of my ship experiences. The Iowa class battleships dwarf the Alabama, so I can imagine how big this ship is.
As a kid I built a 1/350 scale version of this battleship. It didn't survive a BB gun attack and it sank in the canal that was in front of our home. My friend built a model of either the Bismark or the Scarnhorst and we had a ship battle, where I would shoot BB's at his German model and he in turn would return fire on my NJ model. We took turns shooting at each other's ship model. I would fire off one BB and then it was his turn.
I actually won the "battle" because his ship model sank first, by about a minute or so. But my NJ had been mortally wounded and sank shortly after his did... Those were the days !
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I don't know how you managed to built this masterpiece, but I sure am glad you did and shared it with us.
I'm definitely clicking on several of the various "like" buttons... and if we still had a "model of the month" like we used to on here, this would be a strong contender if not the actual winner.
You hit another home run here brother. The photos you posted are also incredible. Well done.
Thank you, Louis, for all the kind words now and throughout the build! I will have to keep it away from you and your BB gun!👍
Wow, what a great model, gary (@gwskat). When I looked at the photos, I thought it was a 1/350 model. The detail is amazing. Well done.
Thanks, George. Certainly didn't feel like 1/350 while building...LOL
A very nice build, Gary.
Thank you, Rafi.
The PE and rigging are outstanding @gwskat . A fantastic build to continue your theme. Intricate details making this come alive. Beautiful build!
Thanks, Paul. I'm glad you finally get to see it.