Not sure if anyone here will be interested, but this is currently my
main ship modelling project. It's the infamous Lindberg 1/125
Fletcher-class destroyer (aka "Blue Devil") which I am improving with
(a lot of) scratchbuilt parts and details in an attempt to produce a
model with a level of detail appropriate to its huge scale!
It's been in progress for nearly 2 months although work has been very
intermittent, frequently pausing for a week or so! (partly due to other
modelling projects)
Currently I'm halfway through the first stage of the project, which is
scratchbuilding all of the surface detail on the superstructure as well
as splinter shields, ladders, etc. Some parts such as the aft 40mm gun
tub, bridge roof, and funnel searchlight platforms have also needed
re-building from scratch as the kit parts are too crude and/or
inaccurate to salvage.
It's fairly rough-looking at the minute and many areas are either
incomplete or have not yet been detailed - e.g the aft 40mm tub does
not have any bracing or railings.
The next stage will be armament, fittings, mast details, etc. , then
painting, rigging and weathering. Some areas of the deck and
superstructure have already been painted as these will be inaccessible
once the model is assembled.
I've also done some work on the smaller parts and fittings; you can see
the completed 5' director in the first few photos, and I've
scratchbuilt its radar though the mount is not yet completed. Also I've
started work on the 5' turrets and 40mm AA guns. Most of the fittings
will be scratchbuild using whatever pieces of the kit parts are usable;
for example, with the 40mms, I've kept the breeches, the ends of the
barrels, and the bases of the mounts.
These will have additional breech and platform/mount detail as well as
scratchbuilt sights, gunner seats, etc. Recoil springs are thin
tinned-copper wire. (One of the pairs of guns is noticeably out of
alignment, this will be corrected on the completed model!)
Detail parts are mostly scratchbuilt from styrene stock, along with
various other bits like copper mesh for vent grilles and inside the
funnels (not really visible in the photos) and various gauges of metal
wire. HO-scale railway parts are used for the ladders (overscale by
almost 50%, but they are cheap and widely available). I'll use PE brass
parts for the 40mm and 20mm sights, but haven't got to this stage yet
needless to say!
I haven't picked an individual ship yet but the model will definitely
represent a mid-war Fletcher with a two-tone grey camouflage scheme
(Measure 31). My main references are photos of the 1/96 models on
www.fineartmodels.com, the Floating Drydock publication on the USS Kidd, and the first
issue of Warship Modeller magazine.
I'll post more photos here (hopefully) as the model progresses.
(edited to fix 40mm image link)