Model Monkey
1/350 USS Pennsylvania (1941) Upgrade Parts

 

Reviewed by Martin J Quinn
September 2026
HISTORY
USS Pennsylvania, hull number BB-38, was the lead ship of the Pennsylvania class of super-dreadnought battleships built for the United States Navy in the 1910s. The Pennsylvania's were part of the standard-type battleship series, and marked an incremental improvement over the preceding Nevada class, carrying an extra pair of 14-inch (356 mm) guns for a total of twelve guns. Named for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, she was laid down at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in October 1913, was launched in March 1915, and was commissioned in June 1916. Equipped with an oil-burning propulsion system, Pennsylvania was not sent to European waters during World War I, since the necessary fuel oil was not as readily available as coal. Instead, she remained in American waters and took part in training exercises; in 1918, she escorted President Woodrow Wilson to France to take part in peace negotiations.
 
The ship was modernized in 1929–1931, at the Philadephia Naval Yard. She received a number of modifications, including increased deck and turret roof armor, anti-torpedo bulges, new turbo-generators, new turbines, and six new three-drum boilers. Her main battery turrets were modified to allow them to elevate to 30 degrees, significantly increasing the range of her guns, and her secondary battery was revised. The number of 5-inch guns was reduced to twelve, and her 3-inch anti-aircraft guns were replaced with eight 5-inch /25 guns. Her torpedo tubes were removed, as were her lattice masts, which were replaced with sturdier tripod masts. Her bridge was also enlarged to increase the space available for an admiral's staff, since she was used as a flagship. Her living space was increased to 2,037 crew and marines, and she was fitted with two catapults for seaplanes. 
 
On the morning of 7 December, Pennsylvania was in Dry Dock No. 1 in Pearl Harbor undergoing a refit; three of her four screws were removed. The destroyers Cassin and Downes were also in the dock with her. When it became clear that the port was under air attack from the Japanese fleet, Pennsylvania's crew rushed to their battle stations, and between 08:02 and 08:05, her anti-aircraft gunners began engaging the hostile aircraft. Japanese torpedo bombers unsuccessfully attempted to torpedo the side of the drydock to flood it; having failed, several aircraft then strafed Pennsylvania. At 08:30, several high-altitude bombers began a series of attacks on the ship; over the course of the following fifteen minutes, five aircraft attempted to hit her from different directions. One of the Japanese bombers hit Downes and one scored a hit on Pennsylvania that passed through the boat deck and exploded in casemate No. 9. Pennsylvania's anti-aircraft gunners fired at all of these aircraft but failed to hit any of them, apparently owing to incorrect fuse settings that caused the shells to explode before they reached the correct altitude. The gunners did manage to shoot down a low-flying aircraft that attempted to strafe the ship; they claimed to have shot down another five aircraft, but the after-action investigation noted that only two aircraft were likely hit by Pennsylvania's guns
 
By 09:20, both destroyers were on fire from bomb hits and the fire had spread to Pennsylvania, so the drydock was flooded to help contain the fire. Ten minutes later, the destroyers began to explode as the fires spread to ammunition magazines, and at 09:41, Downes was shattered by an explosion that scattered parts of the ship around the area. One of her torpedo tubes, weighing 500 to 1,000 pounds, was launched into the air, striking Pennsylvania's forecastle. 
 
In the course of the attack, Pennsylvania had 15 men killed (including her executive officer), 14 missing, and 38 wounded.[12] On 12 December, Pennsylvania was refloated and taken out of the drydock; having been only lightly damaged in the attack, she was ready to go to sea. She departed Pearl Harbor on 20 December and arrived in San Francisco nine days later. She went into drydock at Hunter's Point on 1 January 1942 for repairs that were completed on 12 January.

This history was pulled from Wikipedia, here. 

Model Monkey's USS Pennsylvania Upgrade Parts

Not nearly as well known as her tragic sister Arizona, USS Pennsylvania survived the Pearl Harbor attack, was quickly repaired and subsequently modernized.  These Model Monkey upgrade parts will help you convert the ancient Banner Arizona kit into a 1941 Pennsylvania, at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack.  Model Monkey also makes a conversion set to turn the Banner kit into a 1945 Pennsylvania. 

 
Click to enlarge images
THE PARTS
The Model Monkey has sent along several of their upgrade sets for the USS Pennsylvania (BB-38), including their newly released Boat/Casemate Deck.  Included in this review are:
  • 1/350 USS Pennsylvania BB-38 Superstructure, December 7, 1941
  • 1/350 USS Pennsylvania Boat Deck, Casemate & Cranes
  • 1/350 USS Pennsylvania Barbettes 1, 3 and 4
  • 1/350 USS Arizona Fighting Tops, 7 December 1941 
1/350 USS Pennsylvania BB-38 Superstructure, December 7, 1941

 
The superstructure is actually four separate parts:
  • Signal Deck
  • Flag Bridge
  • Navigating Bridge
  • Range Finder Platform

SIGNAL DECK

 
This is the largest part in the set, consisting of the base of the forward superstructure and the signal deck.  It is really well done.  The print is very crisp with no visible print lines to the Mk1 eyeball.  There are a pair of pelorus printed to the deck, one to port, one to starboard, which is a nice touch.  The flags bags are well done as do the W/T doors. 
FLAG BRIDGE

 
The top of this part is a large, flat, smooth deck.  Just like the signal deck, I can't discern any print lines by the naked eyeball.  The bridge windows and doors are crisply rendered. 
NAVIGATING BRIDGE

 
The navigating bridge is terrific.  Sharp windows, periscopes on top of the conning tower, along with nice W/T doors.  My only nit-pick is that the interior is completely hollow.  Being that I try to put figures inside my pilot houses, I would have liked a deck included. Most modelers won't notice or care, but I wanted to mention it.
RANGEFINDER PLATFORM

 
This has both the Air Defense station and the tops of the tripod masts printed integral to it, along with the platforms and foundations for the Mk19 gun directors.  Also included is the machine gun platform, with splinter shields, that was just below the fighting top.  Everything is really well done. 
BOAT/CASEMATE DECK & CRANES

 
The boat/casemate deck is a fairly new release from Model Monkey.  For the record, I've been pestering the Monkey to come out with one of these for a long, long time.  In my opinion, the wait was worth it.  This part is BIG, and beautiful.  As with the superstructure parts, it is beautifully printed.  Along with number 2 barbette, on it you'll find skylights, finely rendered planking, splinter shields, the piping for the incinerator, and the king posts for the cranes. There are also ready ammo boxes and a really nicely done vegetable locker.  If you flip the part over, you can see that the underside is accurately compartmentalized, to match US Navy plans.  Also included are the tops of the two boat cranes.  Both this deck and the cranes on Pennsylvania were different than those on Arizona. 
BARBETTES 1, 3 & 4

 
To go along with the really nice barbette printed to the boat/casemate deck, 3D printed barbettes for turrets 1, 3 & 4 are offered by Model Monkey.  As with everything else, they are nicely done.
FIGHTING TOPS

 
While labeled as being for Arizona, both sisters had identical structures on top of their tripod masts.  The forward top includes the support post for the CXAM radar, which Pennsylvania carried on December 7th, and Arizona was destined never to receive.  There are sharply printed, with nice details.  They are hollow inside, and no birdbath is included for the top of the mainmast.

INSTRUCTIONS
There are no instructions in the box, but if you go to the product page on the Model Moneky website, you'll find some simple instructions.

CONCLUSIONS
As of this writing, there is no 1/350 model of the USS Pennsylvania currently available.  You may be able to find the old resin ISW BB-38 available on auction sites, or at model shows, but it's pretty rare.  If you want to build Arizona's "big sister", the US Navy's fleet flagship, USS Pennsylvania at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, you will need a Banner Arizona kit and these upgrade parts (along with a funnel, turrets and more). 

I've been buying from Model Monkey ever since his stuff was only available from Shapeways.  As time has gone by, his products have continued to get better and better, in both design and print quality.  These are the best I've seen come out of his workshop, to date.  Other 3D print vendors, who churn out an endless line of low quality products, should take note: this is how you do it. 

These upgrade/conversion parts for Pennsylvania are all really well done. In fact, I'd say they are terrific.  Everything is very crisply printed, and I could find no visible print lines with my Mk1 eyeballs.  If you are looking to convert a Banner Arizona to a 12/7/41 Pennsylvania, you can't go wrong with these parts. 

  • 1/350 USS Pennsylvania BB-38 Superstructure, December 7, 1941  (350-BB38 Superstructure) $48.00
  • 1/350 USS Pennsylvania Boat Deck, Casemate & Cranes  (350-Pennsylvania Boat Deck)  $78.00
  • 1/350 USS Pennsylvania Barbettes 1, 3 and 4  (350-BB38 barbettes-3) $12.00
  • 1/350 USS Arizona Fighting Tops, 7 December 1941   (350-BB39 fighting tops 9141)  $16.00

These parts, and more, are available directly from Model Monkey, who I'd like to thank for these review samples.   Highly recommended!


 
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