Destroyer Group Build 6/1/05 - 12/1/05

Kudo's on the Badge. That sketch is nice.

And about the "frigate" jokes, my United States model is now cut down to the gun deck, so I guess that makes it "flush deck" right now?. Get it???

Sorry, just tryin to fit in with you tin can builders.

Hmmm... been trying to resist this one but the 1/700 scale is grossly underrepresented so I'll have to amend that. I have a pair of Tamiya "O" class destroyers waiting to be built so I will enter those but I will not be able to get to them for awhile yet. Looking forward to following this thread.

Here's the badge....



My apologies to MBT70 who did the badge, sent it to me, and I've neglected to post it until now...my bad.

If you're doing the group build and have actually started something, you're entitled to the group badge. Of course, you'll need to save it to your own server and resize it to fit the FSM guidelines for image size in your sig line.

Jeff

well frigate lol
i guess i will have to figure out a destroyer or two to make also

There is a badge already...let me find it and I'll post it up...

Jeff

I made a badge and don't know how to post it.

Isn't this the badge...



Or maybe the knot on your forehead that develops for such actions as we try to find the time to get these done.

Is there a group build badge yet? I'm not qualified to produce one, so don't take tlhis as an offer to make one. Since this is my first group build I was hoping to figure the mechanics of adding it to my signature (naturally, not until after actually completing the model).

Hey Jeff,
I was rummaging thorugh my 90 back issues of FSM and found an old article on a 1/72 Takao buildup. Have you checked on that one?

Actually Scott, my thinking on the next big project will be based on how well it can be moved from the basement workshop to outdoors, and, will it fit into the minivan with seats down.

I'd love to do a 1/96 cruiser of some sort...trouble is, once I decide on a scale, I'll have to stick with it, since I'll be doing much of my own castings for fittings, etc. This way, basic stuff (20mm, 40mm, directors, life rafts, ships' boats) will all be common fittings across multiple projects.

At this point...I'm thinking of moving into two scales...1/200-1/192 and a couple of 1/96 or 1/144 projects...mostly likely a carrier, since 1/144 scale aircraft are readily available.

Jeff

Yes Aimee, nice inspiration, I still go to your website to look at your Washington State Ferry. I know what you mean about work interferring with pleasure. All my time for the next month will be spent on a new design project for work. However, that does not stop me from taking the Dremmel to the old Revell Constitution kit and cutting the hull down to the gundeck. That kit drives me nuts with its enclosed foc'ale and enclosed maindeck, so I've cut out all the plastic, and I'm scratching the upper freeboards with Evergreen and basewood. I can't wait to have a US Frigate that will look like it did in 1798 and not 1927.

Jeff, you are living up to the old saying that modelers are like fish, they build models as big as their space will allow.

Scott

Lookin' good Aimee, I might just have to start one of these *BIG* projects myself...since I now have the space...

Jeff

Is it June already??

The Akikaze, as it sits today.
It has sat prominently on a "to do" shelf for several years.
It was one of three 1/72nd scale boats started off of a plan set I drew.
And the #2 hull of the two I built up for myself and one other person.
With so many projects in and out of the studio, it is difficult to focus on
my own models. I am hoping that this Group Build will help me get this
"Minikaze Class" destroyer finished.

Here's my Z-37 so far, built OOTB from the Tamiya 1/700 kit. It's looking a little bland at this stage, but will shortly get it's camo and then some details.

Here's a fun piece of trivia I turned up looking for details on the Mk 33 3"/50 gun. Two of the Gearings were launched after the war with twin, open 3" guns instead of the 5" armored turrets. One, the Carpenter, became the testbed for the bizarre USS Norfolk destroyer leaders and it mounted two rounded twin turrets with the 3"/70 guns like Norfolk, plus Weapon Able and a Norfolk style bridge buildup. What a kitbash conversion that would make ....

www.navsource.org/archives/05/825.htm

I may as well get in. I am building the Tamaya 1/350 Fletcher class. I am going to try to turn her into the USS Hickox DD 673 and display her with the USS Franklin CV 13.

Jeff,

Okay, here I go getting in over my head again. Put me down for a WEM 1/350th scale Stoddert kit, to be built as USS Barney (DDG-6).

I should be concentrating on the CV-10 build exclusively, but the WEM DDG kit is so well cast that the major building won't take any time at all.

-Devin

Mack, there are a few. I will jump into the research into the archives (aka the basement of books) and see what I can find.

Jeff

Jeff: Any other tincans have five namesakes? I served on the Sumner class USS O'Brien (DD-725) 1959-61. She was the #4 O'Brien. No. 1 was Torpedo Boat 30, No. 2 was DD-51, No. 3 was DD 415 lost during the Guadalcanal campaign and replaced by 725 in January of 1944. 725 was hit by a German shore battery while screening the BB Texas right after D-Day, rebuilt and sent to the Pacific where she took a Kami Kaze at Okinawa. She survived Korea, under the command of C.W. Nimitz, Jr., with only near misses but took three shore battery hits during Vietnam. She received six battle stars in WWII, five in Korea and three for Nam service before being expended as a target in 1972. A fifth O'Brien (DD975) served and, I believe, has now been decommissioned. Have there been any other destroyer name legacies that have gone through five different ships? And when is someone going to put out a decent 350 scale Sumner circa late 50s? There were almost 150 Sumner/Gearings around in those years.

Where's the torpedoes? ;)

I'd like to sign up. My "destroyer" is the USS Constitution, 1/196 Revell model. Current progress pictures available at http://shipmodel0.tripod.com/revell_1196_uss_cons

Ralph

You've been added. Welcome aboard Ray!!

Jeff

Howdy Jeff,

I'm in on the build if it's all right with you gents. I'll build me a flush deck destroyer. The ward- fired on and sunk the first jap sub of the war.

Ray Leathers

I did the Warship Perspectives book, Fletcher, Gearing and Sumner Class Destroyers in WW2, from WR Press.

That was my 15 minutes of fame...

It's still in print, and still available. Saw one go on Ebay awhile ago, and it sold for more than you can buy it for retail...course, it was autographed...question is, I wonder which one of my family members sold their autographed copy!!! LOL.

The naming of a ship for one lost is not uncommon, especially amongst DDs. Some you'll recognize (off the top of my head), include the Gwin (DD-433 and DD-722), Cushing (DD-376 and DD-797), DeHaven (DD-469 and DD-727), Laffey (DD- 459 and DD- 724), Blue, (DD-387 and DD-744), and of course, Aaron Ward (DD-483 and DD-773). I'm sure there's alot more...but I'd have to look them up. These are just ships that were lost in combat and the name quickly assigned to another ship. Many DD names are passed on from ship to ship, but seemed to be expedited in cases where the namesake was lost in combat.

In some instances, crews from vessels lost would have the option of being assigned to their new namesake if they chose. I learned this from a USS Cushing survivor (DD-376) who transferred to DD-797 and served with my grandfather.

Best,

Jeff

Thanks for the info, Jeff. I did not realize that. I pretty much confine my ships to USN/IJN prior to 1944. What book did you write on the DDs?
Kevin (Winks)

I know Tom's Modelworks does 1/400 rails, as does GMM, but Tom's does a German radar set in 1/400 as well...as for ship specific sets, I don't know of any.

Jeff

hey Jeff,
put me down for Heller's 1/400 Zerstorer Z 31.A ww 2 german destroyer in Z31 class 1942.I put the Graf Zeppelin aside for now..I'm ready to build something besides a carrier..

If anyone knows if they make any PE sets or aftermarket pieces for the Zerstorer, i would be highly interested..thank you.

Coolness ... several DDs in that category and some with three or more namesakes. BTW - just bought the Heller 1:400 Maille Breze French destroyer on eBay. Looks like a lot of flash to shave off, but a pretty trim looking little corvette if I build it nice.

USS Gwin was also a Sumner Class, DD-772, named after the namesake was sunk. Just a little FYI from a guy who wrote a book on 'em.

I'll update your listing Winks.

Jeff

USS Gwin is Benson-Livermore Class. Sorry, I meant to include that info.
Winks