rammstein Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 hello all, I am going to build an USN Destroyer Escort in scale 1/35. I will show how I work , items I use and so one. First I will give some information on Destroyer Escorts (DE) The first DE 's built in the US were ordered under the Lend-Lease for the UK in Early 1941. The original 50 ordered was expanded to nearly 250 early in 1942 , but ironically only 55 of this group were actually transferred to the UK , the remainder being retained by the USN which had not planned to build any. Of the 1005 DE's finally ordered by 1943 , only 563 were completed , including 56 completed as high speed transporters (APD). first the Evarts Class was built , or short hulls . they were 289 feet 5 inches long with a beam off 35 feet , draught was 10 feet . This shallow draught saved many DE's from U-boat attack. These DE's were armed with 3 x 3inch/50cal guns one 1,1 inch AA gun later replaced by 40 mm Bofors twin gun , up to 9 x 20 mm Oerlikon guns , depth charge racks and depth charge throwers known as K-guns and Hedgehog anti -submarine spigot mortar system. After the Evarts Class came , Buckley Class , Cannon Class and Edsal Class or long hulls , they were 306 Feet long with a beam of 36 feet 10 inches , draught was 14 feet. these ships were armed as the Evarts Class , but they had also triple torpedo tube installed midship. Later in the war the torpedo tube was removed and additional AA was installed 4 x 40 mm single cannons Army type . The difference between these 3 classes was power plant. After these Classes came the Rudderow Class and John C. Butler Class , they had the same lenght and beam as the above Classes only their draught was rated at 11 feet 2 inches . These ships had a lower silhouet to. these DE's had 2 x 5 inch/38 caliber guns , 2x 40 mm Bofors twin guns , some had their aft twin removed and quad 40 mm Bofors installed , up to 12 x 20 mm Oerlikon guns , triple torpedo tubes , depth charge rollers K-guns and Hedgehog system. Some of the DE's were converted to High speed Transporters APD. Everything behind the bridge was removed , the sides mid ship were enlarged, 4x boat davids to handle LCVP was installed . These ship carried US Marines or US Rangers There was a large variety of camouflage used on these ship , from 1 colour Navy Blue , to up to 3 different colours used , the APD's had a mixture of 3 greens , brown and black. The ship I am going to build is 2 meters 66 long by 30 cm. Now I will show some photo's so you have some idea how the ship will look like. these are photo's of Buckley Class ships Photo's of an APD high speed transporter. More photo's to follow, regards, Rammstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattlow Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Hi rammstein This'll be interesting! I'm sure most of the techniques will be very applicable to a/c and having looked at some of your other posts I look forward to watching this come together. Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Peterpools Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 Rammstein Quite an ambitious project. I am certainly looking forward to following along and know i will be picking up lots of scratch building techniques and ideas. Good luck with the USN Destroyer Escort. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Matt Posted September 28, 2010 Share Posted September 28, 2010 1/35 is a great scale for these projects. I've got more than a few of the Italieri kits and love them. Impressive mantlepiece sitters. Will look on with interest. Cheers Matty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesMetz Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 Impressive mantlepiece sitters. It will be a "mantlepiece sitter" only if your name happens to be Charles Foster Kane or the equivalent: Charles Metz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammstein Posted September 29, 2010 Author Share Posted September 29, 2010 hello all, Thanks guys for showing some interest. I am going to build the hull by vacuum technique. Wether it is a hull of a ship or a fuslage of an a/c , the working progress is the same. The ship will have 4 seperate moulds. Making the base , cutting out the frames , glueing them together and the start has been made. Start has been made on the center part of the ship. The aft part of the ship , the rough contours have been made , these mould are about 1 meter long. The front starboard side of the ship. The 2 parts temporarely placed together. These moulds are about 80cm long. regards, Rammstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted September 29, 2010 Share Posted September 29, 2010 Very impressive, is it going to remote control and take to the seas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coors54 Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Interesting project, my old Dad served on one of these as a sonar operator - HMS Conn 21st Escort Group based at Londonderry NI from late 1943 to the wars end. She sank several U-Boats and he had a few gruesome tales to tell. The group was one of the most successful in Western Approaches Command. I have some photos somewhere.... I built a 1/350th scale resin model for him some years ago. The type was well liked by the crew (they had ice cream makers and bunks!) and was a good sea boat, one even survived having its stern blown off by an acoustic torpedo. Almark (of blessed memory) did a monograph on the type in RN service and I have a copy of "The Captain Class" in the library (I'm at work at the moment) which I may be able to scan some pics. The RN vessels did away with the torpedo tubes and had a much bigger depth charge complemnt along with rather more small calibre AA armament. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 Very nice edgework. That keel board is so smoooth. Nice. I wish my work desk were as clean and clear as yours. Are you using sheet styrene for the bulkheads, or card stock? Thank you. Sincerely, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Mike Posted September 30, 2010 Share Posted September 30, 2010 This is a kit I would love to see in 1/72, to match the Snowberry, and subs. Looks like a fun project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammstein Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 hello all, @ Kagamusha : the model will be a static one , I am not into r/c. @ Dave : I also have that book , I will use it also as reference. @ Mike in calif : a DE in scale 1/72 will be +- 126 cm long . The next thing to do is fill in the voids , I use for this Styrene foam ,MDF and some styrene strip. center part. the aft part the port front side , only styrene strips have to be glued on the center part on side is completely sanded. This gives you an idea how I work the aft mould , one side is completed. regards, Rammstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammstein Posted October 1, 2010 Author Share Posted October 1, 2010 hello dodgem37,, I use 1 mm styrene plastic for base and frames for the moulds , when the hull is formed , I will use 2 mm styrene to make the keel and frames . Rammstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Mike Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted October 1, 2010 Share Posted October 1, 2010 Thanks for the reply. From whom do you get your stock of styrene? How much do you anticipate this bad boy will weigh when complete? Thank you. Sincerely, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rammstein Posted October 4, 2010 Author Share Posted October 4, 2010 Thanks for the reply.From whom do you get your stock of styrene? How much do you anticipate this bad boy will weigh when complete? Thank you. Sincerely, Mark Mark I have bought a large quantity of styrene at Vink NV Belgium . I have plates of 1 mm 2 meters x 1 meter in colours white , light grey , dark grey and black. Now I am waiting for styrene plates in 1,5 mm thick , this thickness I need for vacuum forming the hull. I will keep you informed how much the complete ship will weigh , but I can give you some idea , the hull of my german torpedoboat weighs about 5 kilo or + 10 lbs , not that much I think. the following photo's shows how the moulds look like when finished. the complete aft part. the center part. 2 photo's of the starboard front , the port front is still in progress. To Charles Metz , I will place my ship not on a mantle piece but in my little hangar. regards, Rammstein Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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