New to this community and Fletcher class ?s

Hello there! Welcome to the Forums! Glad to have you with us.

I don't do modern war ships but if you go to the "Ships" section, ask your question there, and I think you will get the answer to your question. You'll probably get a lot more than you ask for. 

To answer your paint question, I think they are saying 1 part XF-1 mixed with 3 parts XF-50. I don't use Tamiya paints so I don't know what those colors are.

Hope that this helps.

Jim 

Stay Safe.

Yes, Ships is the place for you. I've a fair amount of information that I can share, and there are actual experts over there.

One thing- While it's probably true that there are/were 175 "different" Fletchers, they start as two basic types. The earlier ones were the so called "round bridge", which is what the Tamiya kit is. The later ones were the so-called "square bridge", to which group Wadleigh belongs and those are represented by the Turmpeter kit. In the best of both worlds you get both kits and combine the best of each to get a really superior project. 

Is the idea to model Wadleigh at any particular time, for instance did he serve on her and when. I'm going to guess it was post WW2, so that narrows down some options.

This informs your paint choices. I wouldn't bother with trying to mix Tamiya colors. There are a number of really good acrylic paint sets made that don't require mixing and come complete with the three or four colors you need. Remember, Tamiya is selling the very first ship of the class in warpaint, but that may not be what he remembers. I'm going to guess his Wadleigh was a version of light gray verticals and dark gray decks, specific paints are not at all difficult to find.

Take a look at this site, it will be of general interest to you.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/689.htm

Thank you both for your service, and see you in Ships!

Bill

Welcome aboard from another GRUNT.

I agree with GM. For spacific answers you can't go wrong posing the question in ships. Like he said, there are a few experts that can answer your question right off or give you some links that will.
Good luck with your search and I'm sure you'll get the correct answers.

thank you for your service and I'll see you in ships.

Morrison gives you a good synopsis.

I assume (and you know what they say about assume) that your family member was not on the Wadleigh during WWII, rather served on her during Korea up to the transfer to Chile.    There are some photos on NAVSOURCE of her, both during WWII and Korea/post-Korea.

http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/689.htm

At her '51 recommissioning she looked very much like her WWII appearance.   By 1958 the third 5-inch gunhouse had been replaced with a radar gun director structure.  MK25 (round dish) radar on the MK37 director on the bridge roof, and a tripod mast.  Subtle changes, but your family member may appreciate them.

Yes, during WWII the decks were painted blue.   The camouflage paints were based on a purple-blue system, even the light grays had a blue cast to them.    After the war they went to a more neutral gray system,  decks were a dark gray without the blue cast.

Welcome to the forum, LT, and that's a great project you have going.  I look forward to seeing it when you've finished!

I'll second Bill about NavSource, it's an excellent online reference source. Not the only reference, of course, but it is very handy to use and worth bookmarking.

Best regards,

Brad

Hi;

      Most deck color after Korea and possibly at the time was what refferred to as " Cadet Blue: At that time that color was a Dark Blue Grey sort of like a bluer slate color. Have you ever seen regular dark grey slate when wet? That's the color as a base then a couple of drops of Sea Blue for the blue tint:

    I hope this helps.

And not to be the anal Navy guy here, but your family member is either a retired Senior Chief (E-8), or a retired Master Chief (E-9); there is no such thing as a senior master chief. Okay, that covers his rank or 'rate'; now for his 'rating', which would be what job he did, such as Boatswain's Mate, or Gunner's Mate. Do you happen to know what he did while he was in?

If we knew this and you plan on putting a plaque on your model for him, we could help make sure it is correct and proper.       Hey, we're here to help.

The Lt387

Im in Thomaston, lower litchfield county. and i mean LOWER!!

 

What is it about infantry guys and Navy destroyers???  There's some good advice here.  I am working on DD-560, USS Morrison, that was lost during the Okinawa operations.  My great uncle went down with the ship.  Morrison was a square bridge Fletcher built in Seattle. I highly recommend NAVSource for ship pictures, operational history, and crew contacts that are listed.  

If you get both the Tamiya and Trumpeter kits, you can see for yourself the strengths and weaknesses of each kit and combine them for a better overall representation of your ship.  I'm still a long way off, as ships aren't my strong suite, as I usually model things that I am more familiar with like Bradleys, Abrams, HMMWVs, and artillery pieces.

Good luck on your project!!

TAD

Going back to NAVSOURCE, this is Wadleigh in 1958.    There is something happening between the stacks which will require some scratchbuilding and aftermarket parts.   I compared this photo with a grainy halftone photo from her Chilean service.   IMO she received 3"/70 guns at the waist. replacing the earlier twin BOFORS (P&S).   She also has a raised structure with the directors immediately aft of the forward funnel.   She retains the aft quint torpedo tube bank, but without the tuna fish can (the superfiring 53 mount was removed).   The forward twin BOFORS (below the bridge, P&S) were also removed and replaced with Hedgehog launchers & ready service racks.

Look at Black Cat Models of France for the 3"/70s and Hedgehogs

Welcome! My dad was on USS Wadleigh as well. I've done a bit of research to replicate my dad's ship as well. Since he served after he graduated from high school in the 50s, USS Wadleigh had the square bridge. I believe the USS Sullivans fits the bill since it has the square bridge.

Such a shame there aren't any destroyer escort kits for me to replicate USS Courtney.

Cool! So what was the deckhouse for that was behind the forward stack?

Bill

DooeyPyle67

Such a shame there aren't any destroyer escort kits for me to replicate USS Courtney.

A gun director support structure similar to those on the 1945 anti-Kamikaze refit on Fletchers.  Provided a more stable base than a platform attached to the side of the stack.   Reviewing other photos on the NAVSOURCE page the directors appear to be MK49/MOD ? or similar.    I'll have to walk upstairs to look at my Freidman Naval Weapon systems.    The raised director structure replacing gun mount 53 sports a MK56 gunfire director.   Photos on the Wadleigh page definately show 3"/70 twin guns at the waist and in the raised tub forward of the 54 mount.

Thanks for the response, maybe he knew Bob Hanley? its a shot..

Honestly, I don't know. My dad passed away in 2017.

Welcome

Nice Avatar

Hes always on in the background when im building!

I got to see him once during is '84 tour.  I miss him very much.

The Alex Winter documentary was very good.

You're welcome @The Lt387! :) I look forward to seeing completed builds from you! :)