1/700 USS Montana

[Thorvic]

http://tieba.baidu.com/photo/p?kw=%E6%A8%A1%E5%9E%8B%E7%B1%BB%E6%96%B0%E9%97%BB&flux=1&tid=4923303654&pic_id=5edc6db7d0a20cf4a44525b67f094b36adaf9965&pn=1&fp=2&see_lz=1

Not entirely sure if its an injection moulded kit or resin, but it appears a new Chinese manufacturer is going to produce the cancelled USS Montana class Battle ships - these were longer four turret versions of the Iowa class which would make for an interesting whiff model.

[scooter]

That looks tasty.  Hmm...if I ever get my model building mojo back, I may have to get a couple, and turn one into the RKM Tsingtao

[seadude]

Even if this does come out, I'll pass on it. I'd rather prefer buying a 1/350 model or scratchbuilding my own. 1/700 is too small for my eyesight to handle all the small parts.

[Pellson]

Even if this does come out, I'll pass on it. I'd rather prefer buying a 1/350 model or scratchbuilding my own. 1/700 is too small for my eyesight to handle all the small parts.

Having some 200 ships in 1/700, from MTB:s up to Nimitz-carriers, I bloody can't afford to switch scale. Reading glasses and a LED-light-ringed desk lamp with built in magnifying glass has saved me so far.

Regarding the model, if injected and reasonably true to scale (remember the Dragon 1/700 Type 21 frigate, measuring out to 1/600, on the foot..) I will have to consider it.

[kerick]

Looks interesting...... aircraft carrier conversion anyone?

[seadude]

Looks interesting...... aircraft carrier conversion anyone?

I'd rather see somebody do a modern Montana with VLS, Phalanx CIWS, RAM, Harpoon missiles, and other modern weapons and systems.

[kerick]

And F-35s on the rear deck?

[seadude]

And F-35s on the rear deck?

Those will be for the stealth aircraft carrier project I'll be building in a few years from now. 

[Captain Canada]

I'd like to see you build both lol. Looks like a neat kit tho

[seadude]

I'd like to see you build both lol. Looks like a neat kit tho

Well, I do have plans to build another 1/350 Montana, but that will be a very long time from now.
Anyway, getting back to the 1/700 kit, the 5"/54 guns may be wrong. Although the Montana was planned to have 5"/54's, a few people over on the MW warship forum posted the following:

We will never known, but a thought about the "potential" secondary armament that could have been 5-in/38cal if the ships were built. The development of the 5-in/54cal guns was protracted, so "IF" the decision was made to build the MONTANA's on a high priority basis during WWII, the USN could have decided to install the 5-in/38cal mounts. At least on the first few units,

Even the 5-in/54cal guns on the MIDWAY class wasn't the design desired. It was more of a modified 5-in/38cal gun and had issues with NOT reaching the specified rate of fire.

No twin 5-in/54cal mount for the MONTANA class was built. The Single 5-in/54cal mount development (for the MIDWAY Class) started in JULY 1942 and was placed in service in APRIL 1946. A Twin 5-in/54cal mount for use on a "new" destroyer design was started in July 1944, but didn't make it to production.

And here's a link:
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_5-54_mk16.htm

So if anybody does build a Montana model, I think it would be better to add the 5"/38 guns instead of the 5"/54 for historical accuracy. But that's just my opinion. Heck, even I put 5"/38's on my Montana long, long ago as I felt it would be better.