does anybody sell a “upgrade” for the big guns on the bb MO. Ive lost one, well I think the %$#@( cat took off with it! Ive emailed Tamiya to see if they will sell a sprue, but I might as well go ahead and upgrade if posseble. Thanks. And as always, God Bless our Troops and Vets. Freedom isnt free. Steel.
Check the Steelnavy website. There is a company (I’ve forgotten the name but they’re linked on the main page) that makes turned brass replacement guns. They’re expensive but very nice. L’Arsenal makes many great aftermarket parts for this kit (and others), and plans to issue replacement turrets at some point in the future, but that may be awhile. You can order L’Arsenal parts from them, from White Ensign models and from Pacific Front (in the USA). All are linked from the main page at Steelnavy.
Email me off-board. I have a scrapped Missouri, and I’ll mail a couple of kit barrels to you.
I intend to use the hull for a proposed carrier project…a ‘what-if’ design that actually was considered as an interim for the Essex class. I won’t be needing the main guns.
Jeff
you mean the USN was considering a Shinano type carrier ? I mean after all the Shinano was a carrier built off a Yamato class Battleship hull after all.
Hi Mike,
Actually, yes…at one point in the process (from what I’ve gotten out of Freidman’s US Carrier book), right after the loss of Yorktown at Midway, the USN considered using the hulls of the last two Iowas (Kentucky and Illinois) which were appropriated in 1942 but not yet under construction. The thought was that a heavily armored battleship hull would withstand aerial torpedo attacks, and of course, sub attacks.
Preliminary drawings were made (which are in the National Archives) but it was determined that the cost of re-engineering an Iowa Class (not counting the construction) would cost as much as building an Essex, so the plan was scrapped. I have a plan and profile view (basically just a sketch), so that’s my basis for the build. Everything else, radar suite, AA suite, airwing, would all be pure speculation, but obviously, I’ll be using period fittings, most like SK-2 radar, Mk2 Bofor, 20mm Oerlikon (twins), and probably the usual suite of Corsairs, TBFs, SB2Cs, and Hellcats. It’s a long-range project, maybe over the summer.
Jeff
thanks for the help, I eventually found the gun in the vacum scraps, thanks honey, good luck on your project
Jeff, that is real news to me. What a great project! Any idea what they would have named them?
In regards to conversion of battleships to carriers, someone posted a link to this book. Would be kind of an interesting read…except for the price tag.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ISBN%3D1557503745/thespecialeventsA/102-6706993-1771307
I have no clue what they would have named them…probably would have used names given to ships we already know…most of which were Essex Class…so I’ll probably come up with something purely fictional…maybe when its done I’ll have a ‘name that carrier’ contest… 
When I get my stuff moved from NJ to WI, I’ll post the sketches (they’re on my desktop at home).
Jeff
Jeff:
Name it the Beebe
Steve Joyce
Good Idea Steve.
Jeff