Before and after USS Arizona
Building the iconic battleship before and after it was sunk
The USS Arizona BB-39, sunk in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1940, has become one of the most famous warships in history. A popular modeling subject, in no small part because of its tragic end, the battleship had a storied career before its demise. It now rests just beneath the surface near Ford Island and has become a U.S. memorial to all those who died aboard it and during the surprise attack.
I thought it would be interesting to model Arizona as it was before it sank, and as it is now, after decades underwater. For the battle-ready Arizona, I chose the 1/350 scale Banner kit. Fairly accurate, I swapped some parts for aftermarket replacements. The O-1 deck needed to be completely scratchbuilt from photo references and drawings. Decks received wooden veneer and scratchbuilt details. Ship cranes, catapults, railings, and other photo-etched metal goodies came from Gold Medal Models (No. 350-22). The Measure 14 camouflage scheme with red turret tops (as worn on the day it sank) was painted with Testors enamels.
For the USS Arizona Memorial diorama, I decided on the old Revell 1/400 scale kit, which was extremely accurate and detailed for its size. A friend provided me with line drawings and artist renderings of the wreck that I used to detail the hull and show the damage. Sheet tin and new plastic decks rounded things out. The model shows the ship before the permanent memorial building was erected over the hull. Arizona isn’t a commissioned ship anymore, but it is an active cemetery. It is allowed the unusual honor to have the U.S. flag raised from its broken main mast.
I would like to dedicate this article to the brave crews and sailors who perished on the USS Arizona and those still entombed within its rusting hull.
Editor’s note: We have endeavored to keep this article as close to the original as possible to maintain Dan’s voice, humor, and intent.