[berth44]

In the words of the song by the 'Pointer Sisters' folks.."I'm so excited", I have only, just 5 minutes ago been handed my Book by 'you know who, and on what??.. we all know.... and my response??......ya ba dabba doo!!!
It's 'hard back', (28.5X22.3cms) much bigger than I thought it would be, I was expecting something akin to the 'Anatomy' books. It's still in its plastic wrap,all sealed and brand new,the cost all in was 105 dollars,so it was well worth the wait, I'll now put the 50th issue of 'the Hornby mag' aside and have a well deserved look at the contents within.....Dave

[bluedot0]

That's fantasamagorical........finally and it's dry too.......Phil

[berth44]

She's dry Phil, the plastic wrapper seen to that, but there is sill a bit of a 'salty' smell off it!!. I went on line just to have a wee look and see what the availability is..and the cost today.
Well, there are heaps around, a lot of second hand copies ranging fro a very low 42 US and upward, depending on the condition, new on the other hand still demanding a fair price from some sellers,but nothing like it was. I'm still extremely happy at my price.
I'm having a quiet look through ithere at work (in secret of course!!) and it is very into it,right from the first of the keel plates. I've just past page 100 and it's still in the 20s,I'm not 'flicking through it',just a page to page look through to page 404 at the moment to see what it's all about....Dave

[bluedot0]

Yes I had a look around and altho it took a while you seem to have grabbed a bargain there, do I need gloves to look at this most auspicious tome my friend....Phil

[berth44]

Gloves Phil?,naw, I'll turn the pages for you!! I had a look through it and it's,very very good,heaps of photos,but I was surprised that I had actually saw most of them through my searches 'on line', I havent really seen anything that would have made me change the build in any drastic way, so using the excuse, "Ave stoped buildin tae a git ra book" was a wee bit presuptuous perhaps , I should really just have kept going,I suppose you might say, the kit is pretty good!!
It's mostly a 'readers book' delving into the ships history from the first keel plate , it's transition from that horrible looking 'bird cage' masted battleship to it's eventual rebuilding and 'moderisation' that transformed her into a very graceful ship. it takes us through Pearl, it lists all the crew at the time of the attack on the 'Day of Infamy',then we get the lists of the dead and the survivers in the aftermath of the attack,there's even some personal stuff in the form of letters to loved ones, that'll be sad to read!
Lastly, I was surprised at the lack of plans and detail drawings that I thought would abound within its hallowed covers so it's not an 'Anatomy book' by any means, nor does it claim to be, but I'm positive I'll find answers that I've been seeking in the text.
I'm looking forward to the long read and gaining some more information on the ship, but it's going to take a while, I'm a very slow reader!!...Dave


P/S there is one photo after the fires are out showing the rear turrets, (Port view) it shows fire damage , 'scorching' on the rear of these turrets from a bomb hit and subsequent explosion on the starboard side,but the back and white photo is clear enough to show a 'uniform' shade of greyon the sides and tops indicating to ME that the tops were not 'another colour', but this debate will rage on forever........

[bluedot0]

I'm surprised as well, I would have thought from all the talk about the book it would have had plans, piccies and everything else going. But if you can get what you want from it, and your questions are answered, then it's done it's job.

I have now seen 6 examples of this kit under construction, and I must say without a doubt, yours is the best build I have seen. I think the paint job is what really gives her life, while the others are also blue or bluish, the shade you have her in looks to me to be spot on.

Considering you built most of her without the book for reference, added to, and changed a few things, she is definitely "museum quality", and I'm sure if others here, saw her, they would agree, I'm looking forward to her future progress old friend......Phil

[berth44]

Thanks Phil, I really appreciate that, you made my day!! I'd love to get stuck into her now,but with Maria hinting,"now that the weather is not very good, I think we should start on the rooms"...bugger bugger, there goes any chance of progressing a bit more on my model! I'll need to find somewhere 'safe' for it to languish over the next couple of months at least!!
I'm reading 'the book' here at work,I've been through the build/launch (lunch as well!!)and the commissioning,it's now lingering in New York getting work done on a stripped turbine,it's like being on board,I away down the Bronks for a beer..or two!!
I'm sure as I work my way through the hundreds of pages that lie ahead,I'm thinking I should have learned something,but I think somebody should bring out an 'Anatomy Book'....Dave

[berth44]

Well,you would not believe it,I was tidying up the top half of my garage with a view to getting a couple of boards up for a 'larger test track???'...cough cough
So,I'm moving everything that's dumped there into my shed and I'm finding all sorts of stuff,stereos,TVs,even found my model ship kits....60 cents..AND.. two 'silver' Aussie round 50 cent coins...am I rich?? (I wish!!!!!)
Anyhoo,I've also been looking for a specific railway book on diesels, it has 4mm drawings of all the BR diesels..."ah, this box looks interesting,here's my book 'Steam for Scrap'..'First Generation DMUs'...what's this big black one??...............Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayit can't be.........,surely not, but it is........it's.... 'The Arizona' by Paul Stillwell...................is it 'another one??,"yes it is" because the 'other other one' is in my locker at work!!!
Now, if I swore (cough)this would be quite non printable...I cannot for the life of me remember buying this,but I obviously did,probably when I got my two 1/350th kits 3 or 4 years ago..(?)..and yes, they are still unbuilt!!
Anyhoo,here I am with two books so I'm looking at trying to sell one,(obviously!) it'll be difficult I know as this book is still fetching ridiculous amounts of money,ie,Amazon UK have 4 only,they range from 90 quid up to almost 400 for a 'new' one, both mine are 'as new' so I'll be doing a bit of searching on line to see where I can best sell it and get a half decent price...who's a silly boy then???.....Dave is!.........me

[bluedot0]

Don't flog it til I've had a look, haven't looked at it yet.......have I?.....see I'm like you.....don't know what I've got or where from.....may be interested myself.....Phil

[berth44]

No cun in the furries Phi??l,tis a fine book,harr, it should go to a good owner....(like yourself).I've put it on sale in 'AllHomes' (I've put heaps on that,nothing sold, so I don't know why I'm bothering!!)and I tried Amazon as well(UK)..they confirm by telephone,I waited,obviously they could not get through.....cough cough.
I still can't get over me,getting a second,still no recollection of the transaction..me wally.....Dave