The Ship Model Forum

by **Pieter** » Wed Nov 05, 2025 4:16 pm

The object on the starboard side of the bridge that cast a shadow looks like a covered chart table. All Royal Navy destroyers of that era seem to have had them on the bridge.

by **MartinJQuinn** » Thu Oct 30, 2025 9:52 am

Thank you both.

Sean - yes, I agree that they probably used photos of sisters and/or near-sisters and decided "close enough!". On my next trip to NARA, I'm going to try and dig into these ships a little deeper, and see what I can find.

I also agree it's a fascinating subject, hopefully they'll do more (but tone down the grossly overstated hull plating).

by **SeanF** » Wed Oct 29, 2025 7:23 pm

It does look like parts S33 should be out from under the canvas roof. Should be a simple matter to snip back the left and right ends of the roof piece (well, okay, tin-snip) and add a couple posts to replicate the legs of the support frames we see in the head-on shot.

Here's sister DD-20 showing a good view of that type of step-back:
https://www.navsource.net/archives/05/pix1/0502009.jpg

But that said... the full-width canopy is not imaginary, as seen on DD-18:
https://www.navsource.net/archives/05/pix1/0501804.jpg

Whether DD-17 ever had it that way... don't know. The model designer probably tried to fill in a gap in information from a sister ship.

My copy of this kit should be arriving any day now... looking forward to this fascinating subject!

- Sean F.

by **FFG-7** » Wed Oct 29, 2025 6:55 pm

even tho we do not see the actual roof but a framework for a roof, it does not match the model's roof & I think the roof is made from canvas which is why it is there in 1 picture & only the framework in the next picture.

by **MartinJQuinn** » Wed Oct 29, 2025 4:40 pm

There is some object on the starboard face of the bridge, which I think is what the shadow is. This photo, taken shortly after the underway photo, to me, also "seems" to show the bridge matching the model, but then the roof doesn't look right.

by **FFG-7** » Tue Oct 28, 2025 10:10 pm

what time period does the model represent as the model's bridge does not match your navsource picture? look at my picture & your navsource picture then compare it to the model's picture especially the lack of bridge wings in the model that is present in our 2 pictures. also the roof in your picture appears not to cover the entire 2nd level just the center area minus the bridge wings.
look at this picture that shows a shadow area that is not present on the model as cannot happen on the model as that bridge area is the wrong shape.

by **MartinJQuinn** » Tue Oct 28, 2025 7:42 pm

This is from the instructions.

The only reference I can find about the bridges being enlarged is in a photo caption from US Destroyers from Friedman. In the Chapter "A Decade of Developments 1906-1916", there is a picture of Downes, showing her in 1919 "...newly returned to peacetime status, but retaining the wartime angled bridge front...".

I know Downes is a later, larger class than Smith, but it seems that modifying the bridges is something they did across destroyer classes at this time, from looking at photos.

by **FFG-7** » Mon Oct 27, 2025 10:03 pm

can you post a cropped picture of the model that shows the bridge?

by **MartinJQuinn** » Mon Oct 27, 2025 7:21 pm

No, because the kit doesn't have that shape bridge, and has a roof, so it's not useful to me. The photo I posted, and another taken pier side in NYC shortly thereafter in 1917, seem to show a different shaped, larger bridge. I need a higher resolution photo to determine if the seemingly larger, different shaped bridge matches what is in the kit.

by **FFG-7** » Sun Oct 26, 2025 9:28 pm

did you compare it to the 1910 version that does not show a roof on it?
http://www.navsource.net/archives/05/pix1/0501702.jpg
http://www.navsource.net/archives/05/017.htm

by **MartinJQuinn** » Sun Oct 26, 2025 8:11 pm

Anyone have a higher resolution copy of this photo, or any other hi-rez 1917-1918 era photos of Smith DD-17? I am working on a review of the new 1/350 scale kit, and trying to discern if the bridge, as depicted in the model is accurate, or not.

: Photo courtesy of Navsource

by **Rick E Davis** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:33 pm

Another photo I found at the Military Collectors Show was of this unidentified destroyer tied up to a tender at Brest. If anyone has a hint, I would appreciate the help. I don't have a database of what camo schemes went with which USN destroyer during WWI. All I can tell at this time is that it is a pre-Flush-Decker destroyer class. I suspect that she may be a CASSIN class unit (or a Repeat CASSIN class?) based on the aft gun being relocated to the aft deckhouse.

Edit; I figured out that this is USS MacDONOUGH (DD-9) that arrived at Brest on 20 February 1918. The locations of the 3-in guns, rub strake, four short funnels spaced almost evenly, and the shape of the vents all match. DANFS entries eliminated her near twin sister USS LAWRENCE (DD-8).

by **Rick E Davis** » Thu Feb 25, 2016 2:03 pm

Sorry to not get around to posting earlier, but I have been very busy with other projects. I still need to cross check the images I have scanned to what has been posted here. I note that some of the images I have found in purchases or at NARA have already been posted.

I recently found this photo at a Military Collector Show of a destroyer escorting USS LEVIATHAN and after scanning it I discovered that the ID of this destroyer on NHHC and Navsource as USS DOWNES (DD-45) is wrong and is actually USS WINSLOW (DD-53). The ID was likely based on the camo scheme ... which it turns out BOTH destroyers wore in 1918.

by **moomoon** » Mon Dec 14, 2015 12:44 pm

Thank you for sharing this pictures bengtsson.
I also like the Japanese destroyer in Mediterranean Sea, especially the Kaba class.
Some very nice colorized pictures on this website:
http://blog.livedoor.jp/irootoko_jr/arc ... 20856.html

I'm working on one of this class built for French Navy (1/700):

Already committed a few ones in the past:

by **bengtsson** » Sat Dec 05, 2015 11:31 am

Gernot wrote:Those are all awesome photos, thank you very much for the time and effort of posting them, I have had some very good hours perusing them and getting lost in searches related to the ships in question.
Very nice portrait there. The early USN DDs all appear very sleek, and the camouflage looks good on such delicate vessels.

You are very welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed them. I am interested in the Imperial Japanese Navy Destroyers sent to the Mediterranean Sea during WWI to take part in the ASW along with the Royal Navy. If you know of any photos of those ships, please post them. I am about to start my own search for photos of them taken by the Royal Navy.
Bob B.

by **Gernot** » Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:48 pm

Those are all awesome photos, thank you very much for the time and effort of posting them, I have had some very good hours perusing them and getting lost in searches related to the ships in question.
Very nice portrait there. The early USN DDs all appear very sleek, and the camouflage looks good on such delicate vessels.

by **bengtsson** » Fri Dec 04, 2015 11:15 am

The file for this photo is too large to pin to the post, so I post a direct link to it in expanded form.
USS Henley a Paulding class destroyer in fresh camo paint in the European War Zone. This is probably the finest ship portrait of a USN Destroyer in World War I. Note that gun shields are fitted to each mounting, something that was added piecemeal over the war.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/ ... -1273M.jpg

If I were to build a model, I think this photo makes the perfect starting point. Expand the photo for more detail!

by **bengtsson** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 3:26 pm

Battle damage was rare. But here are two photos of one of the more famous torpedo hits to a USN DD on troop convoy duty. Once again, torpedo attacks tended to come from surfaced U-Boats. Meaning keeping them under was the name of the game.
On 15 October, she sighted the German submarine U-61 about 20 nmi (23 mi; 37 km) south of Mine Head Lighthouse, Monagoush, County Waterford, Ireland, and pursued her. At 13:30, Cassin was struck on her port stern by a torpedo. The torpedo struck above the water line, and ignited several depth charges. Cassin, her rudder blown off and stern extensively damaged.

And several other additions.

by **bengtsson** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 9:13 pm

Several construction photos and war zone photos

by **bengtsson** » Tue Dec 01, 2015 12:30 pm

With this post I will clean up the extra photos still not posted. Sort of a random cleaning up of my collection. Excuse the possible reprint of some.

NOTE: The photo of "Parker, bow gun & officers" Look at the base of the forward gun mount. Notice the cable passed around a special fitting made into the gun base. This provided a Hard Point for towing. You can see the cable passed around and fitted into this hard point.

NOTE: "Stern gun & depth bombs" photo. Notice the emergency tiller aft of the gun, a pulley system can be mounted on deck to steer the ship should steering engine fail. This would get in the way of depth charges later on, and would need shielding or removal.