History

The Arizona was a Pennsylvania-class battleship, for and by the U.S. Navy in the mid-1910’s. The ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of “super dreadnoughts” battleships. The Arizona had an overall length of 608 ft., beam 97 ft, and draft of 29 ft, 3 in. The ship had four direct-drive Parsons steam turbines, each of which drove four 12 ft. 5 in. diameter propellers. The Arizona’s designed speed was 21 knots. The Arizona carried 12 .45 caliber 14 in. guns in four triple gun turrets. The Arizona took part in several exercises, escorted President Woodrow Wilson to the Paris Peace Conference, was regularly used for training exercises, assisted in the Long Beach earthquake of 1933 with disaster relief, and was featured in the Jimmy Cagney film Here Comes the Navy.

Items in the Box

The model is made from injection molded plastic, gray in color. The plans were made up in book form, printed on both sides. Decal sheet, photo-etched, cable and hose, as well as simulated glass parts were included.

Construction

I started with the lower portion of the tank body, adding running gear and springs. Next, the back and front cover plates, with details, hooks, and exhaust system were added. I pre-painted, as the assembly progressed. Next came the interior details, seats, transmission, and drive shaft, with pre-painting as the assembly progressed. The overhead cover was added next, with machine guns, turret, cannons, and ammo storage container. The tank treads were then assembled to the body. I then assembled the fuel trailers – note: there were enough extra parts for a second fuel trailer, with the exception of the wheels, axles, barrel, and barrel straps. These items were scratch built.

Model Art Profile is published in Japan and is printed in Japanese. Some of the image captions and text have been translated into English, and while the translation is well done, the amount of text in English is minimal.

But as the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and the hundreds of images contained in this publication will serve as a excellent and comprehensive reference guide for the modeler.

Profile 13 is the most recent installment in a series of Profiles, and the good news is that most of these publications are still available. To view a list of these publications and to see the aircraft that are covered by these Profiles, follow this link: http://www.modelart.jp/english.special.mp.list.001.html

On September 15, 1944, the U.S. 1st Marine Division began the assault on the island of Peleliu in the Palau Islands. What was expected to be a four-day battle turned into a two-month slug-fest as marines tried to root out the dug-in Japanese troops. This battle would prove to be, proportionally, the bloodiest battle the Marines would fight in WW II, made even worse by the fact the island had little strategic value. Eight marines would receive the Medal of Honor for actions on Peleliu, five of them posthumously.

This Dragon release depicts four marines from that battle, although they could represent marines from any of the late war fighting. There is a wounded marine being tended by a U.S. Navy corpsman, a kneeling officer, and a running figure with a Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR).

Modelers of German WW II vehicles and figures will find this latest effort from Plus Model of interest. Packed nicely in the new, sturdy plastic packaging are nine resin pieces of German rucksacks, packs, and field gear.

German troops were originally issued a back pack (Tornister) with a flap made of unshaven calf-skin. There were loops on the sides and top for straps to attach the great coat. Plus model has included one of these packs with a rolled up great coat in this set.

The tornister was not sufficient for mountain troops, who were required to carry more gear, so rucksacks based on civilian designs were issued. During the course of the war, these came in a variety of designs, with two or three outside pockets, with or without integral shoulder straps, and in a number of colors.