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Model
Why the Battleship?
Why the Battleship?
History has always been an interest of mine, and WWII is no exception. The advance of WWII spurred countless technological innovations. I love learning about how versatile aircraft carriers and stealthy submarines began changing the rules of naval warfare, but the USS Iowa's powerful 16 inch guns and shore bombardment role still commanded respect. Such a beast of a machine deserves to be commemorated.
After finding some basic instructions from a woodworking magazine, I got to work and pumped out the pieces of this model USS Iowa with my band saw. My bedroom became a mess of sawdust and wood glue for a couple of days, but the satisfaction of having the battleship complete was like none other. I still find myself messing with the rotating turrets out of admiration and pride for my work.
How?
How?
Techniques
Techniques
The curve of the hull was established by using the table tilt feature on my band saw. This allowed for a 15 degree cut.
In order to achieve the correct hull thickness, a 1/4" poplar board was sandwiched between two 3/4" pine boards.
1/4" bolts were used to connect the main turrets to the hull of the ship, while m5 bolts were used for the small secondary turrets
Fun Facts
Fun Facts
Took ~12 hours to finish making
All turrets are freely rotatable
Approximately 3' long and 7" wide
About 1:300 scale
Real USS Iowa 887' long
The only U.S. battleship to ever have a presidential bathtub, installed for President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Next Steps
Next Steps
A good captain knows not to send a battleship on its own out to sea. Battleships are vulnerable to aerial bombs and torpedoes if left unassisted, just look at the Yamato!
I hope to expand my fleet of wooden ships by adding a more complete replication of a WWII strike force. Ships such as agile destroyers, versatile cruisers and the mighty aircraft carrier were vital parts of the war effort that led to an American victory in the Pacific Theater against Japan.
Finally, it would be cool if I could eventually try making a wooden ship that actually floats on water and is controllable with RC electronics. Maybe I could borrow ideas from my 3D printed speed boat to start drawing up plans. Who knows, maybe I could create an entire naval fleet that is controllable on the water, and RC planes could take off from the aircraft carrier!Â
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