USS New Jersey, BB62, in 1/350 Scale

Then there are numerous distinctive antennae on the modernized New Jersey (and all of the modernized Iowa class). These provide for communications for the vessel. Again, care needs to be taken in detaching them because they can be easily broken. But once detached and painted, they were added to the ship, the principle ones being around the bridge. I also added the aft mount for the US flag.


Then it was time for the ships propellers. The Iowa class battleships are propelled by four large props, like the ;large fleet aircraft carriers. These, along with their large engines, allow the vessels to maintain their 30+ knot speed.

Once this was accomplished I began adding the final details. These included additional life rafts on the deck above the main life raft decks I added in the last session. It also included various funnels and equipment on each of the funnels, and more sensors and equipment on the main superstructure.

With that, I had run out of time and needed to end the session.

As it is, she is very close to being structurally complete and is looking very good!


...and then there is this one I took, really showing her off at this stage of completion:


I have to add the forward communications array, which is a distinctive part of the modern Iowa class. I will do that and do some touch up paint work in the next session, and hopefully also add all of metal sensors and the metal ladders/stairways to the vessel. Once that is complete, the last session will then add all of the metal railing.

Jeff Head said:

Then there are numerous distinctive antennae on the modernized New Jersey (and all of the modernized Iowa class). These provide for communications for the vessel. Again, care needs to be taken in detaching them because they can be easily broken. But once detached and painted, they were added to the ship, the principle ones being around the bridge. I also added the aft mount for the US flag.

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Are these Jersey's final screws? They look like WWII versions instead of late 20th Century ones.

He we see the two outward screws installed. Of course we know there were four.

New Jersey (BB-62) in dry dock at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard circa 1982. Stern view of New Jersey from some distance past the Keep away 150 feet No photography sign.

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James McMahon, freshman student of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture in Glen Cove, N.Y., lubricates the starboard screw strut bearings of New Jersey (BB-62) at the Long Beach Naval Shipyard circa 1982.

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I don't think the original screws were replaced. Just refurbished. I'll look for photos of all four screws installed in Long Beach in '82 & '83.

On second thought..perhaps all screws were installed. Seems to me the rudders would be removed to refurbish the screws....The photos just dark.

Blackstone said:

Are these Jersey's final screws? They look like WWII versions instead of late 20th Century ones.

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Yes, I believe those are the very ones.

I believe that I need to switch them because I believe the ones with four blades go on the outside, and those with five go on the inside.

The Iowas as delivered were capable of in excess of 30 knots.

While they may well have cleaned and treated them, there was really no need to modernize them in the early 1980s.

The Build - Bow Comm mast, Helicopters, Main Radar, Phto Etch ladders - November 22, 2015

I started this session by assembling and then placing the comm mast located forward towards the bow. I will add the comm lines later.


I then assembled, painted, and then added the decals to two SH-60 Sea Hawk helicopters. Once they were ready, I then set them on the aft helo area. One sitting in its waiting area with its rotors folded, and the other having just landed on the landing pad.

I then painted, and then bent into their proper form, the main radar for the main mast, a secondary smaller radar, the railing for the deck up on the main mast housing the radar, and a ladder allowing personnel to access that upper deck. All of this area on the New Jersey (and all of the upgraded Iowa Class) was painted a flat black.




Once the main mast was completed, I then painted and then bent into their proper orientation the eight photo etch stairways for the New Jersey. The kit comes with plastic stairs, but these have no railing and the photo etch stairways are much more realistic and true to what is found on the vessel.

Lots left to do, but the vessel is looking better and better.


She is looking nice.

In the next session I hope to add all of the photo etch railing. There's a lot to add and it may take quite a while (particularly with the Thanksgiving Holiday this
week).