The Ship Model Forum

Modified the two mast's, made changes to the layout of rigging-poles and the brackets that connected to them. Thanks to DavidP for his input.

online search under: uss decatur ddg-31, searched under image tab, look through the images there

If I remember correctly the image was originally on NavSource, under destroyers, John Robert Barratt, is the artist that created this, and other artworks used on NavSource

http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/pix1/05013115.jpg

Scratch built few more items to add to the build: FAST replenishment crane, Asroc crane, antenna/mast poles in front of the original fwd 3"/50 location, lengthened the upper deckhouse that above the bridge/pilot house, set of ULQ-6 DECMs, the one in the photo is not glued down there to show.

detail work on deck, added bitts and chocks (not know size ? using bolard/bitts height as twelve inchs = 1 mm 1/320 scale), added doors, did some repairs, added satcom antennas to the DDG (OE-82 earlier version with square shaped antenna, as opposed to later version with circular antenna) based on online photos, next step is do some painting in selected areas before gluing the mast down, scratch built a few life raft racks,(was confused on this part thought ships had floater net racks, looking online see that there was a change after WW2, racks with a raft, this is before the egg shell types used today, not in photo, next post should have the mast glued down and radars and other ship systems in place before overall primer/painting.

update" did not like the way the bollards and bitts looked so removed all of them, and replaced them with thicker and longer ones, and removed deck hatches/misc stuff and replaced with different ones.

I see another scratchbuilder being born here. Eventually you get tired of correcting someone else's (kit manufacturer) mistakes and start building everything by yourself

You did a very crisp job at those fittings, wonderful

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The merchant shipyard

thanks neptune,

posting last photos before overall primer/base coat, added bridge to DD, and more deck fittings to both, reduced part of L2 deck on DDG to make room for stairs by boat davit area, now plan to spray primer/base coat overall and then add remainder of the ship's systems.

getting there, closer to spray overall primer, more systems glued on, and did some repairs

primer coating delayed, here where the build is at

Added few more details to the DD, replaced the mk4 dropside ASW torpedo lchrs, first set was damage tried to repair them , made mess with super glue, so I scratch build another set, added some detail to 3"/50 gun mounts they had a void below the guns, detailed the whale boats, to look more like a motorized whaleboats, next step is to detail the rectangles that represent the liferaft bungles, the add them to the life raft racks, add flagstaff/jackstaff *Not decided on the railings, was thinking of scratchbuilding the railings instead using a photo etch set.

scratch built a ship's boat to add to the DDG

Looks really good to me.
For what it's worth, the holes for the anchor chains are called "hawse pipes" going from the deck to the anchor mounting locations, and the holes going from the deck down to the chain locker are called "chain pipes". No matter what you call it, you have them looking right.
Rick

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On the workbench:
1/700 Jouett - JAG
1/700 Lupo - Delphis
1/700 Ulsan - Kobo Hiryu
--and dozens more

Thanks Rick_H for letting Me know the correct names of the anchor holes corrected to hawse pipe and chain pipes. Iam open to learning the correct terms of ship's/naval systems.

Finally sprayed overall primer on both builds, ran out of primer before I could spray the individual parts not glued on such as life boats etc, now have to use a brush on primer on these; next step more repairs and some putty work, then start to paint.

It didn't click for me that these are from the really old Revell kit until I saw the base they are mounted on. (I failed to notice the title too)

These are really looking nice!

_________________
On the workbench:
1/700 Jouett - JAG
1/700 Lupo - Delphis
1/700 Ulsan - Kobo Hiryu
--and dozens more

Thanks Rick_H for your appreciative comments,

I built one of these models when I was about ten years olds, when these became available again decided to give it a try, after starting the first kit with the plan to build out of the box as is; the cleaning up of ejector pin marks, and flash, I damage some of the parts of the model, now needed to do scratch build repairs, after gluing the main deck down, I did not like the look of the molded on railings, I removed the railings which cause more damage, led to more scratch build repairs, which led to scratch build modifications, after looking at online photos of the ships,(mostly NavSource), then brought another kit with major modifications planned, now build the two together, after second kit catches up with the first kit, (not glue down the main deck on 2nd kit until late into the build). I had fun with the scratch building part, big learning curve with this, this first and most scratch build i ever done with a ship model, before this build I built a towed Vulcan AA gun mostly scratch built in 1/35 scale. I plan to build more of F. Sherman types; plan on the Barry with bow sonar, plan on a what if of F. Sherman types kept in service into the 1990s, add: phalanx CIWS, Chaffroc, SLQ-32 ECM, etc. maybe do lenghtened hull variant.

DavidP, I would like to build a Adams class DDG in 1/300 or 1/320 scale, or maybe in 1/350 scale, 20 years ago I built a 1/700 scale C.F.Adams that was my last ship model, until I started these F.Sherman kits. not a fan of 1/700 scale, brought it anyways as I wanted an Adams DDG model. If I do a lenghted F.Sherman hull probably be using the Adams class as the starting point, maybe work in some of the features/physical appearance of the Mitscher or Farragut classes, looking at before the Adams class, or if keep original F. Sherman hull size do a possible FRAM lll/FRAM lV version in 1969+ (This was actually a proposal dated June 1969 CNO asked NavShips to evaluate DD 710 and DD 931/945 for FRAM lll and lV, Appears: LAMPS, Sea Sparrow, Vulcan-Phalanx were contemplated)* info from Norman Friedman U.S. Destroyers an illustrated design history, chapter 12, pg 290. some of my favorite modern ships types are Farragut/F.Shermans/C.F.Adams/Gearing FRAM l/lls DDs, Boston CAGs, Cleveland/Galveston CLGs, Essex 27A/27C/125 CVs, Bainbridge DLGN, SkipJack SSN.

Started to paint the DD.DDG builds, included photo in the is Monogram 1/228 Skipjack SSN waiting on overall primer, and 1/700 scale CF.Adams Class DDG over 20 years old in need of repairs/replacment parts, 2nd photo my stack of ship models Under the work bench in waiting: two Revell 1/542 Forrestal class CVs, four Renwal 1/500 DDGs(King* this kit is incorrect looks more like an Mitscher class, has the aft mk42 5"/54 replaced with crude Terrier Msl lchr, has no fire ctrl, this will be a interesting scratchbuild correction), one Atlantis/Revell 1/490 Pittsburg CA, three Renwal 1/500 Springfield CLGs(*this more of a Cleveland/Galveston class with aft 6" gun turrets replaced with crude Terrier msl lchrs, and no fire ctrl another kit in need of scratchbuild correction), one Monogram 1/500 Chicago CG, one Revell 1/253 George washington class SSBN, five Revell 1/530 CVs Essex class 27A-C/125, one Renwal 1/500 Essex class 27C/125 CV, one Lindberg 1/525 Tanker. * the kit corrections needed for the Renwal DDG King kit and Renwal CLG Springfield kit might be a interesting post for discussion?

Main deck and higher mostly painted, still in the painting phase

build status: about done from main deck and up, next is to paint the hull below the main deck, will add the flag staff/Jackstaff, ship's boat, and life rafts after done with painting the hull.