Picture of the Week 67

An unusual perspective looking down from the superstructure of the Battleship USS Arkansas (BB 33) taken in February 1944 in the North Atlantic. This view shows details of her secondary battery and anti-aircraft guns. In the bottom left corner of the photograph is a quad 40mm Bofers mount which was effective against aircraft. One deck below are a pair of 3”/50 dual-purpose guns, the 3”/50 was the smallest gun capable of firing shells fitted with the VT proximity fuse which proved so lethal against aircraft. Projecting from casements in the side of the hull are the barrels of a pair of 5”/51 guns which were intended for use against surface targets. Note that her wooden decks have been stained Deck Blue.

ONE MILLION VIEWS!

Sometime last night the Inch High Guy blog received its one Millionth view! It is humbling that so many people have taken the time to view the content here, and it is my hope that it has proven useful and entertaining. I also hope it has contributed in some small way to your enjoyment of the hobby. I’d like to thank all those who take the time visit here regularly, and especially those who comment, or who post links back to the blog on other forums as this is the best way for people to find out about the blog. I look forward to continuing to post content here, and perhaps the second Million will not take as long!

Remember – time spent modeling is not deducted from your lifespan, so carry on!

By Way of Introduction

Forsake hope all ye who enter. Here be Dragons.

… and Tamiya, and Eduard, and Revell, and Airfix. So nothing really dangerous save the occasional slip of the Xacto knife. Nothing of general interest to average folk either, but if you are one of the modeling fraternity then hopefully you will find these pages enjoyable. I have had an interest in modeling as long as I can remember, and a corresponding interest in military history. Early on I focused on 1/72 scale due to the wide variety of subjects available in that scale and my desire for commonality. The name “Inch High” is a reflection of that, a six foot tall man is an inch high in a 1/72 world.

With the desire for accuracy comes the need for research, modelers tend to collect reference material by the truckload. I am but one example of that among many. Half the fun of a modeling project is the research. When I come across a particularly useful reference I will cite it, when I can I will offer a brief review. Hopefully I will be able to present some material which is new to many readers, and also to dispel some persistent misconceptions. Much of what you will see here is the result of my own curiosity and efforts to research a potential modeling project. Sometimes that results in a model, sometimes it simply results in interest in another rabbit hole.

The internet has opened up additional avenues for research. History must be preserved in order to be understood, and the internet affords a remarkable opportunity to enhance our knowledge. I believe in the legal doctrine of Fair Use, but I also believe in attributing due credit wherever possible and acknowledging the research of others, along with any historical information regarding the time, place, or military service members involved.

Errors or omissions are my own, but they can be corrected. I will edit posts as needed to correct any factual errors or include amplifying information. If you notice a problem please contact me, my desire is accuracy.

Happy modeling!

– Jeff