1:350 Dragon USS Buchanan DD-484 1942 #1021

The HMS Campbeltown (I 42) was formerly the USS Buchanan (DD131)

The US Navy's destroyer force during WWI included all of the Navy's destroyers dating back to the Bainbridge (DD-1), from the birth of the destroyer force in 1902.  Most had four stacks, but some of the Smiths & Pauldings had three (two engines were trunked together into one broad funnel). 

There were also some Spanish American War-era torpedo boats still operating.  Most had two funnels

Mikeym_us wrote:

<<SNIP>>  And the Gleaves Class was a WWI build Destroyer (basically a precurser of the Fletcher).

Yes the Benson/Gleaves class was a precursor to the Fletchers, but they were far from being World War One destroyers.  

The Bensons were built under FY 1938 defense authorizations.    The firrst Gleaves (i.e. the Buchanan and her sisters) were authorized under FY 1940 spending.

Once again I'll recommend Steve Backer's article on the development of the US Destroyer force following the first World War. 

http://www.steelnavy.com/DragonBuchanan1942.htm

The Navy had almost 300 destroyers available or under construction at the end of WWI.   The Navy did not begin looking at modernizing their destroyer fleet until 1927, and contracts for the first of the post-war destroyer classes, the Farragut, were not funded until 1931.  Between 1931 and 1938 there were several additional destroyer contracts let which were incremental improvements in capability.  Evolution was rapid. 

If the Fletchers were the ultimate WWII destroyer (some may argue in favor of the Sumner or Gearings),  the Benson/Gleaves were the penultimate class

searat12 wrote:

Well, of course there ain't no such thing as a self-respecting squid!  Besides, they sell more icecream in the dress whites (an' the Airforce pick up more bus fares when they wear their blues!)!

Good point.

Mine arrived yesterday, just as FedEx promised

WOW!  Everything in the previous review and more!

I was afraid that it might be something like a Dragon armor kit  -- why do something in 5 parts when 20 will do.  But the parts breakdown is logical and unused parts on the frets hint at kits to come. 

The basic brass fret included with the set covers ladders, braces, brackets and other small details which are beyond the limits of injection styrene.   The kit includes bending forms for complex shapes.  The basic brass also includes hatches.   The superstructure bulkheads are molded with depressions which represent the hatchways.  Cement the PE brass hatch to the side of the depression and you have an open hatchway.   Check your references for paint colors applied to interior surfaces.

I got the bonus pre-order brass set.   It includes a nicely pre-formed MK37 radar with supports as well as railings  with dodgers and netting.   Very well done.   There will be little the aftermarket guys can do for this kit. 

The included figures are nice and in natural poses.  Very unlike the new Gumbie-like figures from Tamiya.   I wish there were more of them.   Perhaps Dragon will offer a pack like their aftermarket aircraft sets.

The non-skid tile decals for the decks are nice too.   I want Dragon to offer the decals as aftermarket too.  

The painting diagram for the Ms12R camouflage is full size for the kit.  A little bit of creative Xerography and it will be useable as painting masks.    For the camouflage faint of heart there is also a Ms21 scheme (overall Navy Blue) identified for the Battle of Kolombangara (Solomons campaign) in 1943.

The bar has been raised.  This is the kit that the Trumpeter Sullivans should have been!  The Tamiya Fletcher pales in the comparison.

This is my new recommendation for the first ship with rails & details.  

searat12 wrote:

Has anyone compared this kit to the Tamiya USS Fletcher?  I have been hearing for a long time that the Tamiya Fletcher sets the standard......

Yes, Tamiya set the standard a long time ago and the world passed them by. Not only Hesagawa and Dragon are bring out new kit with much better details. The new destroyer kit most watched is the 1:144 USS Fletcher to be released by Revelle Monogram later this year.

/forums/882343/ShowPost.aspx

Thanks guys!

All we need now is the mask for the camo

The link may be of interest to those planning to attempt the camo.

http://www.destroyerhistory.org/benson-gleavesclass/ussbuchanan/index.html

The basic kit contains brass details, but not railings. 

The Dragon/Cyberhobby Upgrade set includes PE railings, both with & without canvas dodgers.  It also contains MK37 fire control radar details

http://www.dragonusaonline.com/ItemSummary.aspx?ItemCode=CHC3830

The special upgrade set is available at a special early-bird sales price of 2.00 USD if you order the Buchanan direct from Dragon/Cyberhobby

Steve Backer's SteelNavy review of the new Buchanan by Dragon

"The DML Buchanan is a superb kit. Wait...that's not right... the word superb is too pale, too vague, too understated for this kit. Simply put, this kit is the best injected plastic kit that I have ever seen. I have not seen every plastic kit ever produced but among those that I have seen, none provides the level of detail of the DML Buchanan."

Note that statement is not just best injected plastic ship kit,  it is best kit.  Period.

http://www.steelnavy.com/DragonBuchanan1942.htm

Steve offers an extensive summary of the genesis of the US Navy destroyer force following WWI, followed by a summary of the naval battles of the Solomons Islands.  Steve's article needs to be read to understand the history of this important class.   Then he examines the kit,  with photos of not only the sprues, but individual parts on the sprues. 

"Verdict
Dragon has long been known as the producer of the most detailed, injected plastic armor kits in the world. Now, DML has extended this commitment to world class excellence to the realm of 1:350 scale warships. You want the best in the world? The Dragon 1:350 scale USS Buchanan 1942 kit is simply the best detailed injected plastic warship kit yet produced in that scale."

Mine is on order.  I can't wait for it to arrive.  I'm sure that I will be buying two or three more

Mikeym_us wrote:

Wow it even includes 1/350 scale figures!

I'd like to see them release some sprue's of squids "milling about smartly"