Completed Pics DD-445 + DD-537 = DD-670 Destroyer Math

Hey guys,

I've made some progress on my Dortch build.  This being my first ship, I'm taking my time.  There was even a break to build a 707, which was a nice simple build before jumping into a challenge. 

First off.  Ships are an entirely different monster than planes or tanks.  Ships take more deliberate planning for the propper installation and painting of the details and fine "fidely bits." I have alot more PE on my hands than usual.  Confusion would prevail if it weren't for "The Basics of Ship Modeling" by Mike Ashely.  I need to think in depth about every subassembly even with this general guide book.  It's a challenge, but I'm confident it'll be worth it.  It's that important to have my Great Uncle's destroyer. 

I've been assembling stuff from Tamiya and from Trumpeter to see what looks and works best.  The 5 inch gun mounts from Corsair Armada through Pacific Front Hobbies are built, and some of the Gold Medal PE subassembies are built. 

Here's a mock up.  The subs are assembled, but not glued on. 

I have 2 questions for you guys. 

1. Is the plate patterns on the side of the Tamiya Fletcher Hull Accurate?  I have my doubts, it seems like raised panel seems are out of scale for a 350th ship. 

2. Is my approach all wrong for my first ship? 

Semper Fi,

Chris

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Chris

Chris, the files are 1 meg each, and I didn't want to drive everyone nuts with the file size, so I uploaded them to a file sharing site.  Here's the address of the first one:

http://www.freeimagehost.eu/image/a57ba01411822

There are 20 or so.  Keep hitting "next" 'til it hits the end of the gallery.

Good luck with your model!

Comanche Test wrote:

You're probably using a web-based e-mail program (yahoo, etc).  That address always blocks those.  Just post here what you're looking for, I'll try to provide.  Dan

Can you post pics of life rafts, radars, and gun directors.

Thanks Army,

Semper Fi,

Chris

You're probably using a web-based e-mail program (yahoo, etc).  That address always blocks those.  Just post here what you're looking for, I'll try to provide. 

Dan

Hey Dan,

I tried to send you a direct email, but it was blocked. 

Thanks for your offer.

Chris

Hey John,

This is great.  Your dad served on the same ship as my Great Uncle.  Different times though.  I'm not sure when my Great Uncle was assigned to the Dortch.  I know he was on her for the battle of the Phillipenes and for the signing of the Surrender in Tokyo Bay.  

My Uncle A was Career Navy, and he served on quite a few vessels.  I'm not sure about this, but he may have been on the USS Newport News during Korea.  He did have numerous ship and shore assignments which included Icebreakers, Cruisers, Destroyers, Destroyer Escorts, Teaching Gunnery, etc, etc... He retired as a Senior Chief in the 70's.  One Photo of him has hash marks going so far up his arm, it almost touches his rank.  Maybe your Father met my Uncle during their time in service.  He was pretty annoyed that his favorite nephew (my father) went the Jar-Head route.  He was probably annoyed in heaven when his favorite grand-nephew (Me) went the Jar-head route.  He didn't like Marines.   

John, good luck on your Dortch.  I know the mast and armorment changed between World War II and Korea, so you'll need to do some refitting.  I can't wait to see it.

Dan, I sent you an email  

Drew, So the Trumpeter 43 structure will work, cool. 

Semper Fi,

Chris   

You're welcome, Chris.  I went over the Kidd taking photos of everything - I have 173 hi-res pics.  I was collecting them as reference for the absolutely magnificent model of the USS Johnston I intend to build once I finish all these other projects. :^)  Drop me an e-mail if there's any other area you need a detail shot of.  For example, I have several more shots of the dual 40mm mounts from different angles.

Dan

Hi Chris,

Just saw your post on the DD-670 Dortch you are building. I'm getting ready to start one myself, my Dad served on her in Korea. I have pictures from his Navy scrapbook of how she looked then.

 John F.

I bought some turrets from pacificfront.com.  I just have to wait for the mail. 

I passed on the 40mm and 20mm's, because I have some white metal pieces from toms that look very nice. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

Chris - That pic is of an early war Fletcher before under going AAA refit in '44.  The aft twin 40 bofors on the upper deck is not in a 'tub' like you think. None of the 40mm's were in a tub like on the larger ships. They just had a thin shield, at railing height, around the outer edge only. If you look at the upper deck on the Trumpeter kit, that's exactly how it should be according to the references I found.

The turrets are cheap. I think I got mine for $6. And are a far cry better than the kit ones. They come with turned metal barrels for the one's without the blast bags. They are beautiful.

Email Tony  larsenal_usa@cox.net and he'll let you know the details.

That's a great pic too. You can see all the details you need to make your kit accurate. Bravo!

Thanks Dan and Drew,

I haven't had much of a chance to track down those turrets, but I'm going to get to it soon.  Great reference pics of the Kidd, they'll help alot. 

I have a picture here of the USS Dortch in 1943 (one of those guys on deck may be my Great Uncle).  It looks to me like the aft AAA mount (between the 3rd and 4th 5 inch turrets) looks like a 40mm sitting on the deck without a gun tub.  What does it look like to you guys?

Semper Fi,

Chris

Looks good Chris You seem to have alot of good help here. I am building the Trumpeter Sullivans kit right now also. The fit is pretty good. I have hardly used any fillers. I used the L'arsenal twin 40's and there is a supplier in the states. Tony Bunch sels them. He is working on his web site so all I could do is give you his email.

Nice pics of the Kidd. Thanks for sharing!

For reference, here's some photos I shot last year in Baton Rouge on the USS Kidd (DD661) of the areas mentioned in this post:

Kidd is touted as the remaining Fletcher class most closely restored to its WWII configuration.  I've got more pics, if there's any specific area you're interested in.

Dan

Thanks Ed, Thanks Gerard,

I'll try that after work.

Semper Fi,

Chris

In the States, try Pacific Front Hobbies

http://www.pacificfront.com/

Bill Gruner has a secure site.

I've also ordered L'Arsenal from White Ensign in the UK 

http://www.whiteensignmodels.com/

Hey Ed,

Thanks for the info on L'arsenal.  I think I'm just going to use the 5" turrets from the Tamiya kit.  It's not the expense, their prices seem very fair and reasonable.  What worries me is that they don't have a encoded ordering system.  I'm a bit of a worrier.

Semper Fi,

Chris   

ridleusmc wrote:

Thanks Ed,  I'm checking it out.  Edit:  This may be difficult, I don't know French.  Semper Fi, Chris

Jacques posts notices on SteelNavy in English which is much better than my French. 

They also have an English side to the website

Thanks Ed, 

I'm checking it out. 

Edit:  This may be difficult, I don't know French. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

You have the right way of attacking the problem.   But let me add a few extras ...

You should look at the L'Arsenal 5-inch guns.   They are properly sized.  Both the Tamiya and Trumpeter ones are too small

You will also want to look at the L'Arsenal 40mm guns.  

The Tam kit doesn't have enough and the Trump ones are suitable only for the dustbin.

The 20mm Oerlikons in either kit need to be replaced too.   These are sweet.

Jaques at L'Arsenal is supposed to be readying a set of replacement weapons and a comprehensive PE set which I believe will rival the GMM set as far as detail and accuracy.  I have a couple on pre-order.

http://www.larsenal.com/GB/index.php

Order direct from L'Arsenal or from WEM, PacFront, or shipcamouflage.com