US Navy USS The Sullivans, DDG-68, Dragon 1/350 scale kit#1033, OOB Build and Review
My Review and Build of Dragon's 1/350 scale KIT #1033,
USS The Sullivans DDG-68 Arleigh Burke Flight I Aegis Destroyer
Arleigh Burke Class AEGIS Destroyers
The United States navy embarked on an ambitious ship building program in the 1980s to entirely overhaul and modernize its guided missile destroyer fleet and standardize them on a single, powerful, multi-role hull with the full AEGIS capability that had proven so successful with the Ticonderoga class guided missile cruisers. In addition, learning from the experiences of the USS Stark, the new class was built as an all steel design to improve battle damage capabilities. In addition, the new class introduced sloping and shaping deesign into its structure above the water line to reduce its radar cross section considerably.
The result of all of this development was the Arleigh Burke class destroyers, the first of which, DDG 51, Arleigh Burke, was commissioned in 1985.
These vessles represent very powerful surface combatants that can act in any escort role, in surface action groups, or independently to accomplish any anti-air, anti-surface, anti-shipping, or anti-submarine warfare role assigned to them. They are projected to have a 35 year service life. Although the first and second groups (or "flights") oif these vessels do not have helicopter hangar facilities, they do have a full size landing pad and electronic capabilities to accomodate and support LAMPS III Seahawk helicopters from their deck, including refueling and arming,
Later, starting with the USS Oscar Austin, DDG-79, they added two full hangers to accomodate two heicopters. The Flight IIA, and the new Flight III vessels hhave been built that way ever since, the latest vessel launched ws the USS Rafael Peralta, DDG-115.
So, to date, a total of 65 Burke Class Destroyers have been launchedin 30 years. Of those, the first 28 had nno helicopter hanger, thpough they have a landing pad and facilities to refuel and rearm heicopters as neeed.
Thirty-six destroyers have been built to the full helicopter standard. Eight more Flight IIA ships are funded and planned. At least 12, and possible as many as 20 Flight III ships will also be built.
The USS The Sullvans, DDG-68, is a Flight I vessel without the hanger and displaces, like her sisters, 8,900 tons. The Flight IIA vessel displace 9,300 tons, and the Flight III vessels will displace right at 10,000 tons.
As stated, twenty eight of these 8,300 ton vessels were built.
USS The Sullivans, DDG-68
USS The Sullivans was launched in August 1995 and commissioned in April 1997. She is the second destroyer named "The Sullivans." She in honor of the five Sullivan brothers (George, Francis, Joseph, Madison, and Albert) ages 20 to 27 who were all killed when their ship, the USS Juneau, a light cruiser, was sunk by a Japanese submarine during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on 13 November 1942.
The Five Sullivan brothers killed in November 1942 off of GUadalcanal.
This was the greatest military loss by any one American family during World War II.
The US Navy moved quickly to honor this family and their loss. A new Fletcher class destroyer, which bwas about to be built, had its name changed to the USS The Sullivans. Five months after their deaths, this vessel honoring them was launched in April 1943 and commissioned in September 1943. She fought throughout World War II and then served in Korea and throughout the Vietnam War period. She was finally struck in 1977 and made into a museum ship and is now an offical US Landmark as well as a Museum ship in BUffalo New York.
The USS The Sullivans was the first ship commissioned in the Navy that honored more than one person, and that tradition now continued with the Burke class destroyer, the USS The Sullivans, DDG-68.
The USS The Sullivans, DD-537, a World War II Fletcher Class named for the Sullivans.
After USS The Sullivans, DD-537, was decommissioned, the US Navy bided its time waiting for the moment to name another destroyer after these five brothers.
Before the official keel laying, in 1993, the Secretary of the Navy announced that the next Arleigh Burke class destroyer would be named for the Sullivan brohers. Thereafter, The Sullivans (DDG-68) was laid down on 14 June 1993 at Bath, Maine, by Bath Iron Works Co. and launched on 12 August 1995 sponsored by Kelly Sullivan Loughren, granddaughter of Albert Leo Sullivan. She was Commissioned on 19 April 1997 at Staten Island, New York under the command of Commander Gerard D. Roncolato, Captain Roncolato announced that the offial motto of the ship would be "We Stick Together," a saying that the Sullivan brothers often spoke of beofre and during their service.
The Sullivans is a powerful vessel, as are all Areliegh Burke destroyers.
She is fitted with the most powerful sensors, the most powerful battle management systems, the strongest electronics, and the most powerful weapons the US Navy can place on a destroyer.
Her official specifaltions include:
Displacement: Full: 8,300 tons (9,000 t)
Length: 505 ft (154 m)
Beam: 66 ft (20 m)
Draft: 31 ft (9.4 m)
Propulsion:
- 4 General Electric LM2500-30 gas turbines,
- wo shafts, 100,000 total shaft horsepower (75 MW)
Speed: 30+ knots (56 km/h)
Range: 4,400 nautical miles at 20 knots (8,100 km at 37 km/h)
Complement:
- 33 commissioned officers
- 38 chief petty officers
- 210 enlisted personnel
Sensors and processing systems:
- AN/SPY-1D 3D Radar
- AN/SPS-67(V)2 Surface Search Radar
- AN/SPS-73(V)12 Surface Search Radar
- AN/SPG-62 Fire Control Radar
- AN/SQS-53C Sonar Array
- AN/SQR-19 Tactical Towed Array Sonar
- AN/SQQ-28 LAMPS III Shipboard System
Electronic warfare & decoys:
- AN/SLQ-32(V)2 Electronic Warfare System
- AN/SLQ-25 Nixie Torpedo Countermeasures
- MK 36 MOD 12 Decoy Launching System
- AN/SLQ-39 CHAFF Buoys
Armament:
1 × 29 cell Mk 41 VLS w/ 29 × SM-2, Tomahawk or VL-ASROC missiles
1 × 61 cell Mk 41 vVLS w/61 × SM-2, Tomahawk or VL-ASROC missiles
2 x Mk 141 Harpoon Missile Launcher SSM
1 × Mark 45 5/54 in (127/54 mm)
2 × 25 mm chain gun
4 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) guns
2 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
2 × Mk 32 triple torpedo tubes
Aircraft carried: No hanger, 2 x Sikorsky MH-60R helicopters can be embarked
The Sullivans has been involved in numerous exercises and combat deployements over the last 21 years. Notably she served as a part of Opertion Noble Eagle, the offial US Armed Forces Opertipon related to homeland security and support to federal, state, and local agencies in direct response to the September 11, 2001 attacks.
She also served as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom, whch were the ongoing Military operations in Afghanistan directed against the Taliban and Al Qaeda to find, prosecute, hunt down, and destroy and punnish them for the 911 attacks.
As a direct response, the enemy of the United States sought to attack the USS The Sullivans. Most people are unaware, but al-Qaeda attempted to attack on The Sullivans while in port at Aden, Yemen on January 3, 2000 as a part of their overall 2000 millennium attack plots. They loaded a boat full of explosives and tried to stear it near The Sullivans and explode it. However the terrorist boat was so overladen with explosives that it sank before it could reach the Sullivans and the attack was foiled.
Later, al-Qaeda tried the same type of attack against the USS Cole, DDG-67 in October of 2000. That attack was successful, severelly damaging the vessel and killing 17 US Naval peronnel and injuring 39 more. But the vessel returned to the United States and was completely repaired and has been back on duty ever since...and serves to this day.
Like all Burke destroyers, the Sullivans receives regular upgrades to her software, electronics, sensors, and weapons. The entire class was designed with this in mind, providing ample contingency spaces for newer, better equipment long before it ever came out.
To this day, 21 years after her launch, the USS The Sullivans remains a strong and powerful component of the US Navy at-sea capability.
She is expected to serve well into the 2030s.
Introduction and What's in the Box - August 9, 2016
This Dragon Model's kit comes in a beautifully illustrated box, that is well built and very protective. It also has numerous pictures around the box that depict the various features of the model, including the fact that the model comes with two Photo Etch sheets and a very complete set of decals. Inside, the hull comes in a single piece. It is a very well molded and detailed pieces with a few exceptions.
There is no "waterline" option for this mdel. The hull comes in a single, well molded piece for the Flight I or flight II Burke models. If you wanted a waterlinbe version, you would have to painstakingly cut the bottom off the vessel and sratch build a base plate to fit to it.
Decal numbers and names are included for up to ten of the Flight I ships, including the Sullivans, or, for that matter, the Cole and several others.
The hull does have some really nice surface detail along both sides, including the bilge keels.
There are five plastic sprues that come with this model, and two Photo Etch sheets. The various sprues contain all the parts you will need for the model, but they also contain a number of parts you will not use which Dragon (and other model makers including Trupmeter) place in the model as a cost savings measure so they do not have to package different versions of the model (Flight I and II vessels versus the Flight IIA version) with completely different bills of materials and molds. They just make a single mold to cover both and pump them out and include them in all models.
They DO NOT include the additional pieces for the Flight IIA helicopter hangers, so do not tke this statement wrong. They do include some of the poieces that are easy for them to include.
The kit does not include the 25mm Mk-38 guns that have been added to all Arleigh Burke Fvessels after the USS Cole attack in Yemen. I simply purchased 25mm Mk-38 guns in 1/350 scale from White Ensign Models, and if you want to have them on the vessel, you will have to do something similar.
Finally, there are a couple of areas where the instructions do not call out the location of some of the parts at all, for example with the torpedo tubes, which it shows being assembled in a sub-assembly bullet, but then does not show where they should be placed.
As stated, he decals include names for ten different vessels. I intend to go ahead an build the The Sullivans, DDG-68. for me, the history of the name and those brothers is just too compelling not too.
Aside fromn this, the decals are also fairly complete with various markings for various awards for the vessel, and all of the warning markings and the forward replensihment spot...but sadly, there are no major makings (ouside of the hash markinhgs) for the helo landing deck. I expect Dragon intends you to pain those markings on in Flat White, and there are raised edges/lines for this. I intend to utilize after-market decals to do so, and decal set to ensure that they fold down around the raised surfaces properly. The decals that are there (and there are quite a few of them) are rather tightly packed on the sheet so you will have to be carful cutting them out when that time comes.
In addition, the instructions are fairly intuitive...and in a couple of cases they have to be because, a stated, they leave out a couple of parts that are included and shown in some pictures, but never shown how they are to be put on. The paint scheme is not the glossy, color print you have come to expect from Trumpeter or Bronco or Gallery, but it is a decent paint scheme and gets the job done very adequately.
All in all, a decent kit, and with the photo etch parts it should build into a very good model.
Trumpeter has more detail and does a better job IMHO, but you also pay for it. I can usually get these Dragon models of the Burke class for $15-20 less than the Trumpeter...and when I add the after market and other parts I gather from older kits, I get just about as ood a build out of them.
Here are the initial parts out of the box.
The Build - Painting the hull and adding the main deck - August 12, 2016
I painted the entire hull in MOdel Master Neutral Gray (which I will also paint all of the vertical surfaces on the various deck houses in. T paint the below the waterline part of the hull in the hull red" I devised for the US mailitary vessels I build, which consists of 1 part flat brown and 2 parts flat red. The waterline mark is flat black. Here's how that turned out (I added the strutrs and rudders to the bottom of the hull before painting):
I then painted the main deck, which I use Tstors Flat gray for. It is a darker gray than the vertical surfaces and not so dark as the landing areas and works out fine for my purposes, particularly when staying consistant. I then added the three main deck portions to the hulls:
Here's how that went:
Looking good.
In the next session I will begin adding the main deck houses (the bridge, smoke stacks, etc. amnd some of the detail.
....pictures so far. I will add the descriptions later:
The Build - Adding the two main deck houses and the main weapons - August 13, 2016
At this point it was time to build the two main deck houses.
Forwrd, you have the bridge and first smoke stack combined into on. This holds the forward CIWS, the bridge and AEGIS Phased Array Radars (PARs), and ultimtely the main mast and then the smoke stack behind that.
The second holds the second smoke stack, the decks for the radar illuminators for the missiles, and the aft CIWS.
Here's how they look once built and attached to the vessels:
At this point I added the main weapons. This included the 5 inch gun forward, the Phalanx 20mm CIWS just behind the forward VLS (which came modled into themain deck, the aft CIWS, on the second deck house just forward of the aft VLS )(which was also molded into the main deck), the Harpoon surface to surface missile launchers (2 x quad launchers) between the aft CIWS and the aft VLS, and the two triple torpedo launchers on the port and starboard side pn either soide of the aft VLS.
I also added the two ship's launches (bpoats) and their crane.
Here's how the vessel looked once those main weapons were added:
The Build - Adding the main mast and various sensors, Illuminators, decoy/chaff launchers, and life rafts - August 14, 2016
Now it was time to build the distinctive "raked" Main Mast the Burke AEGIS destroyers have. This is angled back, and the mast itself is made of angled metal so as to reduce its radar signature. This mast and its two spars hold many sensors for the ship[. I also added a number of sensors after building and installing the mast.
I added the illuminators for the missles. There are three. One forward of the mast on a small deck house on top of the bridge, and two on the aft deck house.
I also added the decoy/chaff launchers. These are located on the main deck house, towards the aft end of it on a deck nect to the smike stack, three launchers on each side with six launchers in each. I then also added the life rafts located around the vessel, mpost of which are on the main deck house, but also some on the after deck house. There were also several radar domes of vaious types on the main dek house, on top of the bridge.
She's looking pretty good. But there are more details to go yet.
The Build - Antennae, more sensors, flag poles - August 14, 2016
At this point ai added the various antennaes (some of them actually show in the earlier pictures). The main one are aft of the main smoke stack and forward of the second smoke stack. The flag poles are forwrd on the vessel and aft, on the fantail.
with all of the sensors, weapons, antennae and other equipment added, she is looking very good ineed.
Here's how all of that looked:
Now, in th enext couple of sessions Iwill add all of the photo etch metal details. These indlude the Phased Array Radars, various sensors and antennae, ladders, and all of the railing for the vessel. These details will really spruce up the model and add significantly to its realism.
The Build - Railing and PARs photo etch details - August 17, 2016
During this session I added the railing to the ship. it really adds to the detail and authentic look. I also add the photo etch Phased Array Radars (PARs). Here's how they turned out looking:
That is looking very good now. In the next session I will finish the photo etch details...lots of panels, ladders/stairs, and otheer equipment...and hopefully also add the decals, do the touch up, and complete the model.
The Build - More Photo Etch and decals, touch up and complete - August 18, 2016
In this session I added the final photo etch metal parts (numerous grills especially) and then the decals. There was no helicopter pad decal that came with the model so I used old pieces of decals from other models to complete that part. It turned out fine. I suggest any model builder save old decals that they do not us for instances like this.
The decals went on fine and ended up looking like this:
The it was time for touch up paint work, the final coats of dull-coat, and then the display photos.
The USS The Sullivans ended up looking very good. Here she is:
...and some detail pictures to complete her:
A very nice depiction if I do say so myself.
SCHEDULE for Future Activities - August 18, 2016
- By November30, 2016 Buy and complete the Orange Hobby USS HArper's Ferry, LSD-49
The completion of the PLAN Carrier group was centered on the already completed Trumpeter's 1/350 scale PLA Navy's Aircraft Carrier CV-16, Liaoning, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Mini Hobby's PLAN Guangzhou, DDG-168. I recently pre-ordered a 1/350 scale model of the PLAN Type 071 LPD, Yuzhao Class, announced by Dragon and due out in October, 2013. I will end up adding two of those, probably LPD-998 Yuzhao and LPD-999, Jinggangshan, add the PLAN- DDG-139, Ningbo, and the PLAN DDG-115, Shenyang, along with the PLAN Weifang, FFG-550 and thus build a PLAN ARG.
The completion of the US Carrier Strike group was centered on the completed Tamyia's 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-65, (in addition to the other escorts already completed) included Dragon's, USS Freedom, LCS-1, Dragon's USS Preble, DDG-88 and Hobby Boss's USS Texas, SSN-775. When a 1/350 scale USS Enterprise, CVN-80 (or any Gerald R. Ford Class) is released from Dragon, Tamiya, Dragon, or whomever else, I will add it to this group along with another AEGIS Cruiser. Whichever Ford Class coms out in 1/350 scale, I will build it as the USS Enterprise, CVN-80.
The US ARG will include Tamiya's 1/350 scale, USS Iowa, BB-62 (which I have already completed), Gallery's 1/350 scale USS Iwo Jima LHD-7, Gallery's 1/350 scale USS New York, LPD-21, Cyber Hobby's USS Independence, LCS-2, Bronco Model's 1/350 scale USS Coronado, LCS-4, a Flight IIA US AEGIS class destroyer based on Dragon's 1/350 scale USS The Sullivans, DDG-68, and a Ticonderoga AEGIS cruiser...all of these models which I already own.
The completion of the UK Group featured the Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Illustrious, R06 as its center piece until a 1/350 scale Queen Elizabeth carrier is released. When that happens, I will add that carrier to the group as its centerpiece. The Royal Navy CSG will also include two Airfix 1/350 scale Daring Class DDGs (one of which is already completed), two Dragon 1/350 scale Type 23 HMS Duke class Frigates (one of which is already completed), and the Hobby Boss 1/350 scale HMS Astute SSN (which is also already completed) and Airfix 1/350 scale HMS Trafalgar SSN. One day, when a 1/350 scale HMS Ocean LPD comes out, I will use it to start building a Royal Navy ARG.
The French CSG is centered on Heller's 1/400 scale Charles De Gaulle, R91. I have purchased the 1/400 scale Heller French De Grasse, D612 DDG, which is an ASW DDG, the French Aconit F713 and Gueprattet F714 Lafayette FFGs, both of which are Lafayette class frigates. These four vessels round out my French CSG and are all completed. As soon as a French Robin class nuclear sub, like the French Pearle S606 SSN is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will add that to the group. Also as soon as the Forbin D620, Horizon class anti-air DDG is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale, I will purchase one of them for the AAW defense DDG. One day, when a Mistral Class LPD is released in 1/350 or 1/400 scale so I will create a French ARG.
The completion of the Japanese JMSDF group was centered on Fujimi's very finely detailed, 1/350 scale Hyuga, DDH-181. It will be escorted by Dragon's 1/350 scale DDG-177, Atago, an AEGIS class DDG and the JMSDF, DDG-174, Kongo class (which I own), Dragon’s 1/350 scale DDG-114 Susunami and DDG-111 (both of which are Takinami Class DDGs which I own), and by the 1/350 scale SS-503 Hakuryu (which I own), one of Japans new, very modern and capable AIP Diesel Electric submarines. As soon as a DDG-115 Akizuki in 1/350 scale is released, I will add it to this group. Should a 1/350 scale Osumi Class LPD be released, I will buy two of those vessels and create a JMSDF ARG.
Then, finally the Russian CSG (centered on Trumpeter's Kuznetsov which I own) the Russian Kirov Class nuclear battle cruiser (CGN), the Peter the Great, by Trumpeter, the Russian Slava Class cruiser, Varyag by Dragon (which I own), two Dragon 1/350 scale Udaloy DDGs (which I own), Hobby Boss's Akula II class SSN (which I own), and the new Yasen class Russian SSN (which I own), all in 1/350 scale. Sometime in the more distant future when a 1/350 scale Russian version of the French Mistral class comes out (which is building in real life right now), I will add two of those and build a Russian ARG.
Recently I purchased Heller's 1/400 scale Foch, the Clemenceau Class carrier that was sold to the Brazilians in 2000 and in 2002 was refitted and became the Brazilian CV, Sao Paulo, using steam catapults. I will build the model as the Sao Paulo and thus start a Brazilian group, though the Type 22 DDGs and the FFGs the Brazilians use are not available at present. I have however purchased a set of 1/400 scale A-4 Skyhawks and S-3 Trackers to build a suitable air wing for the Sao Paulo.
Then, again, once the models are available, I'd like to build an Italian Carrier Strike Group centered on the Cavour and their Horizon DDGs, a Spanish Carrier Strike Group centered on the Juan Carlos and their F-100 AEGIS FFGs, and ultimately an Australian Strike Group centered on the new Canberra Class LPD and the Hobart class AEGIS DDGs. If they ever build the models, an Indian Carrier Strike Group centered on either the Vikramaditya or their new ADS Carrier, the Vikrant, and their Kolkata class DDGs and Shivlak class FFGs would also be nice.
Years more worth of work!
You can see all of these actual carriers, read their histories and specifications at my site:
WORLD-WIDE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS