USS Missouri Battleship

This model was well detailed for its price! I like that it was flat bottomed so I could set it on my table as a sort-of waterline diorama if I cared to. It also came with two supports to display it on as well. The various smaller ship's guns were easy to install, and if one wishes, I believe they can be melted at their ends so that the guns can swivel on the ship.I found that the large gun barrels were hard to slide into their bases; however, it would be easy to shave off a little of the base to get a smooth fit. The painting of the deck was a bit tricky because of tight spaces. A steady hand could still do remarkably well. The kit included three decals for the two ship's numbers and its name. It also included a sheet of paper signal flags and a paper U.S. flag. No wire (for rigging) was included. Test fit all smoke stacks and towers before gluing them to the ship as I vaguely remember the directions misguiding me as to which piece to attach first! This problem I believe is easy to overcome if one hasn't already glued them to the ship. Overall, I think this is a great model for anyone, especially history buffs, as this is the USS Missouri. General Douglas MacArthur accepted, on behalf of the United States of America, Japan's formal surrender of World War Two on the deck of this ship. The Missouri served in WWII, the Korean War, and in the Persian Gulf. It also supported troops in Operation Desert Storm. It truly was an incredible ship with an incredible history.

Haven't modeled a military ship since the sixties but I know I did this one. At that time I knew nothing about modeling but loved WWII and built everything I could get my hands on. All that stuff has been long gone. I was disappointed with this kit not knowing what to expect after so many years. It is simple and poor in detail but as good as it can be in this small scale. I may go bigger but my first love is aircraft and those are more possible to be seen in person. The only ships I have visited are the aircraft carrier at Pensacola, the U.S.S. Alabama in Mobile, AL and the U.S.S. Texas in Houston, TX.

Flash is everywhere on this model, the parts are ill-fitting and the detail is laughable at best (the planes are particularly horrible). I wasn't expecting perfection for a $20 model but honestly, the underachieved based on a really low expectation. I would not recommend this except for a first model that is meant to be tossed soon after completion.