"US pre-Dreadnought Question" Topic

Simply put, were there any significant cosmetic differences within the early BB classes? I have a hankering to build some in 1/700 scale, so things like armor thickness, engines, etc., don't really matter.

Specifically, I'm looking at the Niko kits and they seem to offer only one or two hull numbers for each type, and for the latter case it would be a modification that was applied to all ships in the class, e.g., replacing military masts with cage masts. I ask because I'm more familiar with later classes where there can be noticeable differences between sister ships, requiring different parts for an accurate model.

What time frame are you going to model? Cosmetic changes would occur on earlier designs the later you get in this period.

Check commission dates on the various hulls to choose likely subjests for changes.

There were almost always outward differences between ships of a class, in any era. Sometimes you can find out about them from written descriptions and accounts, but most of the time you have to study period photos. And like StoneMtnMinis points out, updates/upgrades happen to each member of a class at different times, so sometimes you have two or more sisters sailing in company with a mix of previous fit and next fit. It's a deep, esoteric, and persnickety research topic.

Yes, I've been reviewing photos and haven't been able to spot any differences, which surprised me. Even things like the arrangement of portholes, ship's boats, tertiary and quaternary armament , etc. all seem to be identical. The information I've been able to dig up online notes that when there were differences in each class, it was either propulsion (boilers, screws) or armor thickness. Even the modifications and refits all seemed to be applied identically and rapidly! I suppose this isn't so surprising in the classes that comprised only two ships, but even the five and six ship classes seem to be essentially identical.

I do have my eye on some reference books.

I've found that the photographs for the various ships and classes found on Wikipedia to be fairly accurate so you could use those as sources for the differences.

Jim

A copy of "Janes" would be a great reference.

Pick a year.

link

I located and ordered a very inexpensive copy of The American Steel Navy: A Photographic History of the U.S. Navy from the Introduction of the Steel Hull in 1883 to the Cruise of the Great White Fleet which, I think, should have all the answers!

"The text is heavily illustrated by photographs and drawings of the ships themselves, their equipment, and the men who designed and served on them. Appendices include outline plans of the major ships and biographical sketches of important people involved in their development."

The construction and modifications of US Navy ships was driven by plans generated by the US Bureau of Construction and Repair. Once completed, copies of the plans for each class would be provided to the various yards responsible for construction.

Like 2 kitchens working from the same recipe, the meals generated would have only the most subtle variations.

The often wild variations in US warships that resulted from wartime repairs and opportunity upgrades during WWII were quite a departure from prior practice.

No doubt a discerning eye could readily know where to look to tell 2 sisters apart. One had the antennas strung one way vs another. One had tan boat covers instead of white. One had a different model of boat crane than the other. None being things that one would notice on a 700 scale model.

That was my thinking. Niko strikes me as the sort of dedicated crew who would at the very least provide variant resin or PE parts if necessary.

Seek the Conway books. Very useful.