U.S.S. Fletcher Launches

[robtmelvin]

Hi. I thought I'd post some quick photos of a couple of World War II U.S.N. ships I'm working on. When I came back to modeling a couple of years ago I started out with ship modeling. Well, I've relapsed and interrupted an LSP build with not one but two ships. The first is Trumpeter's U.S.S. North Carolina, the second is Tamiya's U.S.S. Fletcher. Both are in 1/350. Both are are in the beginning stages with the hulls assembled and decks on, most of the hull camouflage painted. I'm using a mix of Eduard's and GMM's PE sets and bits and pieces of the Yankee Model Works resin turret upgrade with Sea Master's barrels for the main and secondary armament, as well as their 20 mm set. Also using G Factor props. Painting her in Measure 22 since I feel the earlier Measure 32 hides to much topside detail.

 

On the Fletcher I'm using the Eduard PE set along with Sea Master barrels for the 5" guns and the 20 mm Oerlikons. Again using G Factor props. Doing her in Measure 12 modified.

 

Here are a few pics for your consideration:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I suppose once a ship modeler, always a ship modeler. There is just something about them that keeps me coming back. I have to say that the difference between the Trumpeter kit and the new tool Tamiya kit is nothing short of amazing. The fit and detail just can't be compared. The North Carolina is a real pig of a kit as far as fit of the upper and lower hulls and upper hull to deck are concerned. I ended up using epoxy to create the bonds between the upper and lower hulls, the upper hull and the deck portions as well as the three sections of the main weather deck. The kit also has some major accuracy issues, but even so, can be built up into a very nice build with some effort.

 

So far the Tamiya kit looks to be one of those typical Tamiya new tool kits that you can almost build just by shaking the box. It also doesn't suffer from what, in my opinion, is the over engineering that seems to be typical of the new tool Dragon ship kits (why do something with 3 parts when 8 or 10 can be used?). I appreciate Dragon's excellent detail, but to some extent I feel like they jack up the parts count simply for the sake of doing so. That can make a build, especially in a scale like 1/350, become rather tedious unnecessarily. IMHO. That being said, I do have Dragon's Scharnhorst in my stash and fully intend to build her, and I'll almost certainly build some more of their DDs.

 

Hope you enjoyed this little diversion from our usual fare here.

 

Bob

Edited July 5, 2011 by robtmelvin

[Cunumdrum61]

Your paintwork looks nice.Nothing wrong with building ships as well as aircraft. Different subjects teach us different methods of construction. I build aircraft and ships. Currently working on the 1/72 scale Gato.Have the hull just about completed. I will be building Flasher in her last fit so there is a lot of scratchbuilding to do in the bridge area.

I look forward to seeing them completed. Dont forget to post photos as you go.

Cheers.

Edited May 10, 2011 by Cunumdrum61

[ladder4boy]

good start so far Bob! I've got the Carolina in my stash as well, as i spent many a summer trip to the beach walking on her decks.. lovely ship.. too bad the same can't be said for the kit! You've gotten farther on yours than i have on mine tho.. started it when i got back into modeling a few years ago and i'm still not sure my skill set is up to doing it justice. I got the Lion Roar PE set for it, and to be honest, it's way too much. Spent too much time sanding off doors to replace with PE doors, etc.. etc.. the Only thing i'll probably end up using is the metal barrels and the railings, so save your money unless your a huge glutton for punishment on that end. I think white ensign makes a nice little PE set for her that's very affordable, and i know they carry the barrels as well. Lots of bad fits and definately a challenging build, but you're doing her justice! Keep on rockin! And don't start on that sharnhorst until you've got about 3 weeks with nothing to do.. i couldn't put it down once i got started, and can't wait to get back to painting her when i get my bench cleared off a bit.

 

Cheers!

Jerry

[JamesHatch]

What a great build. The hull paint job looks class. I have the Hasegawa 1/350 Nagato in the attic, and I hope I can match your finish on that hull.

[robtmelvin]

Thanks for all the nice comments guys. I've decided to limit myself to the Eduard PE set and SeaMasters turned barrels for the main armament. I'm not even sue I'll replace the 5" barrels with brass, since on a build this large I doubt it will make a noticeable difference. I don't even attempt to use all the PE on any set. I try to figure out what my skill set will allow me use successfully and go with that. I might experiment with the other stuff, trying to expand my reach, but I've learned to content myself with what I can do well, or at least reasonably well. I have the Yankee Modelworks PE set, as well as the GMM set, but I think I'll keep them for emergencies, like if I screw something up (a real good possibility on stuff like catapults, cranes, etc.). If I get by without having to use them I'll probably e-bay them, or sell then through one of the forums.

 

When I started back modeling a couple of years ago I had to learn to restrict myself using after market. I found that it was easy for me to get in over my head. That ended up sucking the fun out of what I was doing, and that to me defeated the whole purpose of the effort. I'm working on North Carolina along with Tamiya's 1/350 Fletcher and Trumpy's 1/32 F4F-4 Wildcat, so my bench time is divided for sure. I usually have at least 3 or 4 builds going at once. I've found that helps stave off burn out with one project and also lets me try to time my airbrush sessions so that I can do multiple projects at once when I have to break out the airbrush.

 

I'll be working on North Carolina some more this weekend and I'll try to post some update pics. I'd love to share information with anybody else who is working on or interested in working on North Carolina or Fletcher, so don't hesitate to give me a shout out by e-mail. My e-mail addy is posted in my profile. PM's are ok too.

 

Happy modeling guys,

 

 

Bob

[robtmelvin]

I got some progress made on North Carolina and Fletcher this past weekend that I thought I'd share with you guys. Fletcher is somewhat further along than North Carolina, but she has a much smaller parts count. Both are being done with the respective Eduard's PE sets for each kit. The PE is excellent, by the way. The superstructure on Fletcher is merely dry fitted. I have a few details to add and some touch up to do before I glue them down. Next will be the turrets, depth charge racks and K-guns, etc. I'm particularly pleased with how the PE has turned out so far.

 

On North Carolina the main deck level bulkheads have been painted and glued. Though its hard to tell in these pictures, the Eduard PE hatches have been added, as has some of the main deck PE. The 01 deck is just dry fitted.

 

Enjoy, guys, and let me know what you think,

 

Bob

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[LSP_K2]

I'm watching with great interest; the Fletcher class destroyers are my favorites.

[Jeff Herne]

Rob,

 

Let me know if you need any detail photos, I have thousands (literally)...

 

Jeff

 

[robtmelvin]

Thanks, guys. I've always thought the Fletchers were some of the most graceful ships ever put to sea. I'm seriously debating tackling Revell's 1/444 Fletcher soon. I'd like to modify her to represent the U.S.S. Melvin, since that is my last name. I'd considered doing the Lindberg kit, but it has so many problems that I doubt my scratch building skills would be up to the task of all the problem solving. Any ideas about how difficult it would be to convert Revell's Fletcher to Melvin, Jeff?

 

Bob

[Jeff Herne]

Well, the problem with Revell's 1/144 Fletcher is that its an early war round bridge. Melvin was a mid-war square bridge, so you'll need to make some pretty drastic changes to the kit.

 

Your first step would be an entirely new bridge structure. In the photo in the previous post, that's a round bridge. A square bridge will look like this:

 

 

This will involve a new scratchbuilt structure - but don't worry, its not that bad and I have all the line drawings of the bridge I can send you. Most of the fittings on the existing round bridge can be removed and used on the square.

 

Your next step will be replacing the two 20mm guns in the forward tubs with Mk.I twin 40mm. This will mean new tubs and new guns. Again, not too difficult as I have all the dimensional data you need.

 

I'm pretty sure Melvin carried a different funnel platform arrangement as well, again, tedious but not difficult. Early Fletchers carried no platform on the forward funnel, and searchlights on the after funnel.

 

Once they started receiving their midship 40mm mounts (I'll get to those next), the searchlights were moved to a new platform on the forward funnel and Mk.51 Fire Control Directors were put on the after funnel.

 

You'll need to add 2 midship sponsons with tubs for the 40mm mounts. Sometimes, depending on the individual ship, this meant moving the torpedo crane. I can look into that for you.

 

The 40mm tub between turrets 4 and 5 will change, they were much higher on the early war ships than they were on the later war square bridges. Again, a pretty simple fix.

 

Lastly, the shape of the 20mm gallery on the fantail will probably change from a two-mount oval to a heart-shaped 3-mount gallery. Again, pretty simple to change.

 

You were smart in avoiding the Lindbergh Fletcher. I wrote the book on correcting that kit, the story, 'Trial By Ordeal' was the first feature story over on Steelnavy.

 

Whatever you need, drawings, photos, etc., let me know. Same with the Showboat, I have tons of detail shots. I have a very rare Fletcher plan book I can loan you - you can pretty much build the real thing with this book. If you need it - just let me know.

 

Jeff

[robtmelvin]

Jeff, thanks for all the information. Sounds like trying to convert Fletcher to Melvin might be more than a little above my pay grade. I'm not a particularly gifted scratch builder and I doubt that my skill set would be adequate to pull all those changes off. Maybe later on down the road.

 

I have ordered Revell's big Fletcher and should have her the first of next week. I also got the three Eduard PE sets. Free Time Hobbies was out of the replacement barrels and I haven't been able to find them at any of the other vendors I usually use. Those will have to wait until another production run I suppose. Unless I'm very surprised when I get the kit, the build will definitely benefit from a nice set of brass barrels. I'm anxious to get my hands on this kit. I had planned to move on to either the U.S.S. San Francisco or IJN Yukikaze once I got done with the Tamiya Fletcher, but I've enjoyed the build so much that I may bump the Revell kit to the top of the build list. So many kits, so little time. Its making it awfully hard for me to make any progress conquering my ship kit addiction! LOL.

 

When I do start on the big Fletcher I'll post some progress shots here as I go.

 

Bob

[Jeff Herne]

When you decide which ship you're going to model (Fletcher, O'Bannon, Nicholas, Radford, Jenkins, LaVallette can all be done with this kit), let me know and I'll send you close up detail shots of the ships in yard.

 

I can also get you the camo design sheets (they were specific).

 

Jeff

[robtmelvin]

Jeff, thanks. Fletcher docked yesterday, along with Eduards 3 PE sets. Only thing I'm lacking is the replacement barrels, which on a kit this size I think are a "must have". So, I'm probably going to wait until I can score a set to start her (it will be a little while anyway, since I want to at least finish my 1/350 Fletcher first). I'll be on vacation with the grand kids next week, so I may fetch around on the 'net in the next couple of days and see if I can order a set to be waiting on me when I get back.

 

I appreciate your offer of help and I'll definitely take you up on it. I've not decided if I want to build her as "Fletcher", or one of the other possibles. I'll be thinking about that while "enjoying" the mouse kingdom.

 

Ah, I think I've totally relapsed on my ship addiction now. I just ordered and got not only Fletcher and her PE, but PE for some other kits in the stash, including Trumpeter's 1/350 U.S.S. San Francisco (1942) and the old Revell box scale U.S.S. Buckley. I'm curious to see how that dinosaur looks with some PE added. So many ships, so many kits, so little time to build them! And, I'm still plugging away at North Carolina.

 

Bob

[Jeff Herne]

Someone had a Buckley at a Nationals a few years ago and it was stunning - from what I can recall, the dimensions and basic shapes are all spot-on, but most of the weapons will have to be replaced. I shudder when I mention that HR Products used to do 20mm and 40mm and other fittings in 1/250 (the kit is 1/249). Depending on what batch you got parts from, they were either really good, or really, really bad. Might be better off scratchbuilding them yourself (20mm aren't that bad).

 

If you can't find barrels, drop me a line, I have a lathe.

 

Jeff

[LSP_K2]

When I do start on the big Fletcher I'll post some progress shots here as I go.

 

Bob

This is as far as I've gotten with my Revell Fletcher so far. I don't post it it on this site as it's an on/off sort of project. Still lots of work to do. This will be depicted under way. Pieces just sitting there for now. I also have a 1:350 Titanic under way, so to speak.

 

Edited June 5, 2011 by Typhoonattack1