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DRAGON,S version of the GEARING class DESTROYERS

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  • Member since
    August 2008
DRAGON,S version of the GEARING class DESTROYERS
Posted by tankerbuilder on Monday, July 6, 2009 6:42 PM
 I can say nothing other than WOW !!!!!!! WOW !!!!! WOW !!!!! . I know thats quite enthusiastic for me . Guys , I got that box and was stunned by the artwork , which shows the p.e. parts in yellow . The moldings made me think I,d died and gone to modelers heaven . You got to remember ,I,ve never bought a DRAGON product at any time in the past . I was not aware they used slide molding in this small a size . I have seen slide molding used for electronic parts and other stuff . The reason is it,s accuracy in rendering the parts without the usual warping and mold inaccuracies in regular mold techniques . Well , you might have other opinions on this company,s products , but give me my excitement . This ship model makes one want to continue to get involved more and more in the hobby .This kit comes with p.e. , clear parts . walkway decals and hull numbers etc.The p.e. does have me guessing on the ladders as I remember the U.S.S. OZBOURN  D D 846 as having handrails on the stairs going to the 01 deck . These don,t . That,s alright though, I,ve got plenty of parts to use . I will keep you posted .....TANKERBUILDER
  • Member since
    June 2006
  • From: Michigan
Posted by ps1scw on Monday, July 6, 2009 7:30 PM

Do the Gearings come with the 1/350 crew ?

  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Spartanburg, SC
Posted by subfixer on Monday, July 6, 2009 7:50 PM
Tankerbuilder, were you on the Ozbourne? I served with a guy who was a QM on that can. I did a little time on the T.E. Chandler, another Gearing.

I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Monday, July 6, 2009 8:54 PM
 ps1scw wrote:

Do the Gearings come with the 1/350 crew ?

Yes, 6 figures - 5 enlisted and one officer

The enlisted are wearing helmets, but no kapoks.  The enlisted are in relaxed or action poses -- not stiffly at attention

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: EG48
Posted by Tracy White on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 1:27 AM

Not that I'm trying to disuade people from buying the current kit, but there are others of the class on the ways at Dragon as well. So if the current kit doesn't get you what you want... wait a couple of months or so.

Now if my SAL shipped kit would just get here! 

Tracy White Researcher@Large

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Windy city, US
Posted by keilau on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 7:29 AM
 Tracy White wrote:

Not that I'm trying to disuade people from buying the current kit, but there are others of the class on the ways at Dragon as well. So if the current kit doesn't get you what you want... wait a couple of months or so.

Now if my SAL shipped kit would just get here! 

It looks like Dragon left out the railing PE again. It is so easy to add the extra fret. Why they left it out since the Arleigh Burke class?

A ship model looks so bare without the railing.

I am waiting for Cyberhobby to fill the gap and may be another package deal for the railing PE.

 

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 8:12 AM

Loren Perry at Gold Medal Models has already announced that his set is on the way.   It will provide the railings as well as other items missed by the Dragon set.   I went to begin assembling the 40mm mounts and found that there was no railings for them either. 

Dragon gives you things like the 40mm pointer & trainer handwheels, but neglects other more visible items.   Most likely a cost thing as the number of square-inches of brass required for railings would have made the 30 dollar kit a 50 dollar kit.   Where is your cost/sales break point?

  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: EG48
Posted by Tracy White on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 3:25 PM

 keilau wrote:
It looks like Dragon left out the railing PE again. It is so easy to add the extra fret. Why they left it out since the Arleigh Burke class?

I actually prefer the manufacturers not do their own photo-etch as it's usually not as good as what we can get after market and it kills most of the incentive for a 3rd party company to make their own PE. Hasegawa's Akagi is a case in point; their inclined ladders are fairly worthless and Gold Medal Models declined to do a set as Hasegawa had already put out their own.

Tracy White Researcher@Large

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: Windy city, US
Posted by keilau on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 5:55 PM

Yes, I agree that the sky is the limit when we want to add PE details.

The Arleigh Burke class are the largest ship in Dragon's 1:350 scale destroyer lists. The railing PE did not make it any more expensive than the other kits.

The inclusion of a small PE never discouraged the aftermarket set. They are for different market segments. The aftermarket PE are higher quality, more elaborate and MUCH more expensive. I can spend what I spent on the kit to get the WEM PE for the Arleigh Burke. It should be the option for the modeler who wants it. But I don't like to HAVE to spend another extra $30-40 to get railings for a $30-40 destroyer kit.

Yes, I know that Tom's Model Works has some generic WW2 railing sets. But it is better to have a dedicated set like the Cybermodel set for Buchanan at reasonable cost.

 

 

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:33 PM
 Hey subfixer ---- YES ,I was on the OZBOURN and the JOHN PAUL JONES and the MAHAN . Then I did an interservice transfer as I found there was no up in my rate anymore . So I went USMC .Finished up 14 years and went to SHELL INTL. their SEA division . Sailed as a tanker captain until I was in my late thirties . Never forgot the OZZIE though . Started as a normal GEARING and then got FRAMMED . Wow , what a difference! I don,t know about the way they do it now , but I got to be an observer on a sub during our asroc trials .Now that was an experience !!! . Back to the model, I have found others but not like this . I will be buying more DRAGON kits , mainly the BENSON class . I do buy ALL my p.e. from Toms and am putting together an order for G.M.M. . You know how it is when you,re on a budget . What did you do on those ships ??? Contact me at gjgeracci@satx.rr.com and lets let memories get in gear .
  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:46 PM
 TRACY ---- I agree with those who would buy aftermarket . The fret in the SULLIVANS by TRUMPETER was rather heavy handed and I don,t like the stairs and ladders in the gearing kit . Hey , a gentle reminder , do you still want to find a home for the BUCKLEY by REVELL ??? I am still trying to get one . ??? I have also found that the p.e. is more malleable and easier to work in the aftermarket brands . While TOM,S may not lead you step by step in their inst . I find them to be very forgiving . Now I am not familiar with G.M.M. except one small sample . OH , While we are on the subject of p.e. , watch out if you build REVELL of germany,s SMIT hOUSTON .!!! The kit is labeled to be 1/200 but in my scaling it works out to 1/187 ! 1/200 p.e. are too large and 1/192 is too small ???????? Go figure ,!! the ladders and rails on board are also two different scales !!! -----TANKERBUILDER
  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 6:48 PM
 Hi ,fellow texan !! Say do you know where I might get figures this size that are NOT photoetched .!!!!! The ship really needs some more to come to life . ----TANKERBUILDER
  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: EG48
Posted by Tracy White on Tuesday, July 7, 2009 10:42 PM

 tankerbuilder wrote:
Hey , a gentle reminder , do you still want to find a home for the BUCKLEY by REVELL ???

I haven't forgot you, I just haven't been able to find it yet!

It's not in the boxes I've managed to dig through. I've got your PM though, and will let you know when I find it. 

Tracy White Researcher@Large

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