Hello all.
In the works is an oldie but goodie. I found DML's 1/350 Spruance class Destroyer on Ebay a couple years ago and its been sitting around the garage ever since. I also purchased White Ensign's PE detail set and Veteran Models' Resin Harpoon kit. I purchased it opened but in great shape and for around $10. The catch? It wasnt NIB and the previous "owner" had completed the hull and most of the superstructure already.
Why did I choose the Elliot? Its a great story actually. My older brother served on her during his run with the Navy as an I.C. Electrician. My brother was stationed on the Elliot when she was sent to the Persian Gulf during the 1st Gulf War to serve as security patrol and escort in the then hostile waters off Kuwait. I've heard some interesting stories of my brother's deployment and about his travels throughout the Pacific and Middle East. So is this an ode to my brother's sevice? Yes but not entirely. The ship actually has a sentiment with me because on their return trip from the Gulf, family members (males only) of the crew were offered a trip of a lifetime....To rendez-vous with the Elliot in Pearl Harbor and cruise back to Coronado the final leg of their deployment. An 8 day "Tiger Cruise" filled with displays of the ship's capabilities and a few fun events. I was around 13 when I embarked on this trip with a family friend (a boisterous Greek mariner named George and my little brother 9 at the time). It was an awesome experience to say the least. Ill never forget the sights, sounds and smells of the ship. Whether it was feeling the thump in my chest from the 5in guns during starlight demos or watching the Seahawk launch from inside the RAST controller's dugout, I got to experience life on a Navy destroyer and explore the ship on my own terms. Everyday was a new exercise and I was more than happy to wake up in the early hours to get breakfast in the mess hall with all-you-can-drink chocolate milk. The coolest thing by far was watching the CIWS or Phalanx Gatling gun spit out 30mm rounds at a rate that made it sound like a chainsaw. The momentos and pics I have are few but still noteworthy. Spent ammo belt from an m60, a few 25mm casings from the deck mounted Bushmaster and couple 20mm casings from the CIWS and one of the shells from the 5in cannon(makes a great umbrella holder). Its unfortunate that the Elliot was sunk in Fleet training exercises but Ill always remember those great few days I spent with her.
Im still trying to find pics from that trip in hopes of getting some good reference and to post up for those who are interested. But as of this moment I have already begun some of the assembly of miscellaneous items as follows:
The Seahawks were first job of course and I have one of them in the stored config and will be displayed in the open hangar.
The "captain's boat"
The launch davits
The whaler's boat needed to be lengthened and reshaped
Radar scanners and Fire director for the Harpoons
Got 90% done with this Scanning Radar dish just to find out I built the wrong one DOH!
the instructions tell you in 3 paragraphs how to build it and then the last sentence reads. This assembly was fitted only to the USS Hayler
Access doors to the forecastle added over drilled out doorways. The bridge windows have also been drilled out.
Anchor chain and Capstan wheels
Next post Ill tackle the Resin Harpoon kit
Thanks for reading,
James