1/144 Fletcher Class?

http://www.hyperscale.com/2009/reviews/kits/revell05901reviewrh_1.htm

http://modelingmadness.com/reviews/misc/ships/previews/05091.htm

And you can buy it now.

http://www.freetimehobbies.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=49551

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/wti0001p?&P=SM&I=LXWPW6

I am going to buy this kit, however my normal supplier is Tower and their prices have been fluctuating wildly. There is no way I'm paying $112. They had it for $94 two weeks ago and now its $112 and not in stock. I would pay $94 with free delivery.

Someone is doing a PE set as well but not GMM as I asked them last week.

Nautilus Models has their PE set available for pre-order. 

http://nautilusmodels.com/144-203.htm

It should be ready for shipping soon.    It will be very complete on two sheets of differing thickness brass and unfortunately it will not be cheap.  

James Corley @ Nautilus has said that he has made some tests of burning sheet styrene with his deck-burning laser in order to to cut parts for a square-bridge variant.   He has expressed an interest in doing the ultimate late-war anti-Kamikaze version as well as post-War FRAM conversions 

Any chance of you posting screenies here Len, otherwise I would appear to have to register at your online hangout. Very interested in your build since I bought the Revell Fletcher last month and have it sitting pretty in my stash waiting for PE and other add-ons.

cheers,

Julian

Thank you Len, that is much better. Now that is a very good looking build you have going there. The brass barrels make a world of difference. What is generic PE rails (who makes 'em to be more exact) and will you be using them on the main deck? I am dreading all those seperate stanchions because it will not look good. PE would seem to be the only possibility to me.

cheers,

Julian

Check this build out:

http://modelshipwrights.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=134929&page=1

Steve is doing an excellent job on the oil-canning.

Like your cammo Len, that's the version I want to do as well (once I finish my S-100).

Cheers,

Julian

I got the kit a couple of days ago and am halfway through shooting photos for a review on ModelWarships.

Big and fun looking, hull plating is overscale and detail a tad bit thick in my opinion, but its a great model for the price, considering what was available (fiberglass hulls) prior to its release.

more pics-  just decals , touch up and rigging to go...

 -Len

One alternative to spending $42 for the GMM 200th rails is to use the kit stanchions and then use evergreen styrene rod in the correct diameter in place of the thread. Its quite easy to do and of course in the smaller diameter needed can bend around a semi-circle or an upsweep on the bow.

I used this method on my Snowberry instead of the thread.

Hi Len,

Thanks for sharing the photos - it looks like it is coming along very nicely.  One quick question:  where did you purchase the brass barrels from?

Thanks, Rick

Revell, MSW review here;

http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=3836

Build WIP here:

http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=134929&page=1

(includes a superb example of how to modify plastic to show oil-canning effect)

PE for revell here:

http://www.modelshipwrights.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=4998