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Looking for WW2 destroyer decals.

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  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Looking for WW2 destroyer decals.
Posted by New Hampshire on Friday, January 22, 2010 5:58 PM

Hey folks,

I have the Tamiya 1/700 USS Cushing kit in my stash.  What I want to do is build this up as USS Johnston, DD557, of the battle of Samar fame.  But this kit only comes with two sets of numbers.  Is there a decal set out there I can get the numbers I need?

Brian

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Friday, January 22, 2010 6:11 PM

One other quick question.  Does anyone know of a real good photo etch kit for this model?  I know I can get the radar, secondary armament and railings all seperately, but does anyone make an "all-in-one" kit?

Brian

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Friday, January 22, 2010 8:49 PM

There are a number of 1/700 decal sheets with hull numbers around.  I know from experience that this one, from Gold Medal Models, works nicely - though there are dozens of subjects on it that you won't need:  http://www.goldmm.com/ships/700-1D.htm .

Another option (somewhat more expensive - but not ruinously so) is to buy any of the 1/700 plastic destroyer kits by Midship Models.  Every one of them, so far as I know, contains a decal sheet with enough hull numbers (and other subjects) to outfit a fleet.  The kits themselves aren't quite up to Tamiya or Trumpeter standards, but they're basically sound.  Each also comes with a sprue of weapons that goes far beyond what's required for the specific ship in the box.  Excellent additions to the spares box.

As for aftermarket detail sets - again, there are quite a few on the market.  The only one with which I have personal experience is the one from Gold Medal:    http://www.goldmm.com/ships/gms7w2cd.htm .  I've built a couple of models using that sheet; it's excellent.  The only major items it doesn't contain are the 20mm Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns.  Different modelers have different opinions on how best to handle those on 1/700 scale.  The ones in the Tamiya kit aren't bad, but there's just no way that a 20mm gun shield can be reproduced to scale in plastic.  Photo-etched ones can be had from several aftermarket companies, including Gold Medal (  http://www.goldmm.com/ships/gmsaoerc.htm ).  Some modelers like that approach; others think photo-etched guns look too skinny.  A compromise approach is to trim the shields off the plastic parts (either the kit versions or the ones on the aforementioned Midship Models sprue) and replace them with the shields from the photo-etched set.

Hope that helps a little.  Good luck.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Saturday, January 23, 2010 8:18 PM

Thanks a lot jtilley!  That might just do the ticket!  As usual you are a huge help.

Brian

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