1:200 USS BB-61 Iowa 1944 Wooden Deck set (20B Deck Blue)

Wooden deck for the USS Iowa BB-61 1944 in 1:200 scale (Deck Blue 20-B)

This set from Pontos Model replaces the plastic deck of a large model of the battleship Iowa with a wooden deck shaped to the individual deck areas. The treatment matches the Deck Blue 20-B shade, that is, the dark blue finish American ships wore on their open decks in the second half of the war. It is not a kit of the ship nor a model on its own, but an accessory intended for a plastic model of the battleship in 1:200 scale.

The real subject

USS Iowa (BB-61) was the lead ship of the last American class of fast battleships. The main armament consisted of nine 406 mm guns in three turrets, and a powerful machinery plant allowed a speed of over thirty knots, which let the ship keep pace with the fast carrier forces. In 1944 she operated in the Pacific as an escort to these forces and as support for landing operations. From 1943 the open wooden decks of American ships were painted in the dark Deck Blue 20-B shade, because light teak was conspicuous from the air; it is exactly this look that the set reproduces.

Application tips

First rid the plastic deck of burrs, remains of parting lines and grease, so that the wood seats across its whole area; every unevenness will print through under the thin part. Work in sections from the centerline toward the sides, so that deviation does not accumulate, and keep fitting the superstructures dry as you go. The small parts around the turrets and the feet of the superstructures are easier to seat with tweezers and the tip of a scalpel. Wood does not take long contact with water well, so apply washes and decals sparingly and finally seal the surface with a matte acrylic varnish that leaves the grain visible.

Who the set is for

• builders of a large model of the battleship Iowa in 1:200 scale
• modelers who want a deck with real wood grain instead of smooth plastic
• anyone interested in the late-war treatment of an American battleship with a dark deck
• advanced builders of ship models who are finishing a model for a display case

The accessory is supplied as a set of parts to be applied to a plastic model. The base kit, glue and paints are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.