1/144 Scale USS STODDARD (DD-566) - Kitbash, Revell FLETCHER

[BB62vet]

Brad,

Thanks a million!! Will certainly help with the design of the "hog" and back check my launcher, etc.

Appears that the controls are arranged & mounted a bit different on SACKSVILLE than on the Mk. 10 units on FLETCHER class DDs. But not a problem.

Hank

[BB62vet]

So, here is my final version, complete with "hogs" -

Now, whether or not this prints out in 1/144 scale is another thing - we'll find out soon enough!

Once again, thanks for assistance from Tom Falley & Brad Browne - nothing like a collaboration of interested modelers to help one another out!

Hank

[NavyShooter]

Looks great!

Glad to have been able to contribute a bit!

[Fliger747]

Hank:

Looks very good indeed! I might use yours if I ever build Stoddard's birth mate "What's" DD 567 (easy to remember). Though I'm not sure the world need yet another Fletcher model as elegant and effective as they were.

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Brad, Tom -

Thanks for the kind remarks; always appreciated!!!

I've now made a print file for (4) of the launchers, so this goes into the queue with another set of parts. My new jugs of Model Gray and Rapid Black resin arrived today so I'm back in stock on that end of things. The new hull decal sheet should be here Friday, so that will allow me to finally get the hull exterior completed and move on to working on the keel blocks for the display board. I need to get the hull mtd. on something more than the flimsy kit stand.

Tom,

If DD-567 had a baseball team, would WATTS be on First?

I guess only WREN they're at bat!!!!

Hank

[Fliger747]

Except he got hauled off to the gulag, one could ask for the Chinese team if Hu's on first.

[Willie]

Hi there Hank and all,

At this 1/144 scale, every details soon develops into a models by itself, and the Hedgehog is no exception.

I have to say that I had never seen before the Hedgehog that NavyShooter has uploaded in the thread. Extremely interesting all these pictures, that have already been downloaded and treasured in the corresponding folder --and thanks for them from this side as well.

You can find here the pics that I used for my sets, taken onboard USS The Sullivans:
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=163082&start=20

And already painted and set in place:
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=163082&start=340

According to my own pics, what you have designed is 100% correct, so the printing should not be a problem at all.

Please keep uploading your pictures /sketches, and very best regards from Spain,

Willie.

[BB62vet]

Except he got hauled off to the gulag, one could ask for the Chinese team if Hu's on first.

I love it!!!!

[BB62vet]

Willie,

Thanks so much!! Nice to have you "aboard" again - at this point they have NOT printed as expected, so more work to do on the design and also the printing orientation - very important. I will check your links out but basically these are complete, just to refine to get acceptable parts.

Hank

[BB62vet]

Here are a few other shots of the Mk. 10 Launcher after a couple of modifications -

2nd Edition print run about to begin with the units turned up 90 deg. and quite a bit of support for all the projectors and lid.

[NavyShooter]

Willie - your build skills are impressive as well! You were on the Balaeres? What years? I recall during NATO '98 when I was on HMCS Charlottetown that we may have sailed with the Balaeres.

I love the ability to run a 3D print production run as a rapid prototype and then adjust for the next version.

When I was doing the island of my HMCS Bonaventure, I did 7 major revisions before I was satisfied. There's always more detail that can be added, but for my level, I am quite pleased.

Hank, I'm looking forward to the finished product!

[BB62vet]

Finally! I have the final set of stacks (fwd/aft) complete and set aside for safety until they are installed -

This version uses my own emblem decal rather than a cut/paste paper version. It took several tries to get this as close to what was actually there in 1968, and this will have to do!

I have received my sheet of custom draft marks/numbers decals from a new vendor and once I've gotten the hull decals completed, I'll then post info regarding this vendor if they turn out satisfactory. Once those decals are in place, I hope to get the display board finished as the hull needs something sturdy to sit on at this point.

Having a new supply of resins, I've also beefed up the 01 Level after deckhouse handrails and successfully printed those and will be installing them shortly; I removed the older ones and cleaned up the deck edges, etc. These were printed in both rapid black and model gray resins - the long side pieces in the gray. Orientation & supports once again played a big factor in having a successful print of these parts.

Hank

[BB62vet]

I've recently finished applying the hull decals and can mention a new vendor that I purchased from:

Bedlam Creations
Josh Muma, owner
P.O. Box 548
Charlevoix, MI 49720
231-437-0200
Here is a link to his waterslide decal quote website page:
https://www.bedlamcreations.com/request ... cal-quote/

I had him print an 8.5x11 sheet of hull nos. for the draft nos. & marks (Roman & Arabic Numerals). He includes an instruction sheet with his decals which I found very helpful. While these decals at 1/144 scale are somewhat difficult to manipulate, they did prove to be satisfactory in application - patience, care, and following directions is necessary. So, now on to completing my display board...

Rather than use the wood blocks I had cut out, I decided to 3D design/print the keel blocks to hold the hull. Centerline blocks and side blocks based on ones used in a drydock photo of a FLETCHER class DD -

I have made a couple runs as tests for these parts and am now printing the balance of what's needed after making some design/print setting adjustments along the way. Here is a photo of one of the Centerline Blocks after painting -

The side blocks will be painted in similar fashion. The center hole is for a round head wood screw to be inserted in addition to CA being used sparely in adhering these blocks to the board. Side blocks will be sanded to fit as needed.
Lastly, here is the display board prior to laying out where the blocks will be located -

Hank

[Iceman 29]

I use larger or smaller brush hairs to make the flexible antennas, they can be given a slightly curved shape like when there is wind or the ship is moving.
It is very solid of course.

The presentation of the ship will be nice.

Bravo Hank!

[BB62vet]

Pascal,

Thanks for the nice comment!! it took me a minute to figure out what you were referring to but I got it - yes, that's another way to accomplich nice, thin whip antennas. I originally had these a bit thinner but decided to thicken them as the others were very brittle. These do have some "give" to them.

I will be printing more blocks tomorrow until I have enough. I'm getting about 90% success rate on a print run of 15 blocks. I'm going to try a new orientation in order to print the bottom flat without a rounded corner.

Hank

[Willie]

Hi there Hank and all,

Why, thanks a million for the excellent info in your last posts, specially the one reg. decals. I will try to hand paint my numerals, but were I not able to do it, this contact of yours can be a good solution.

And Hank, your dry dock blocks are of breathtaking quality. I have never seen such an excellent thing as this. As a display solution I cannot think of anything better, specially if you are planning to show your ship under repair after the shelling off Vietnam you have told us about.

Keep the excellent work, and very best regards from this side,

Willie.

[BB62vet]

Willie,

Thanks again for your kind remarks and support!!! Painting those little devils is proving to be much more difficult than designing them certainly was. Very painstaking and I'll have to do quite a bit of touch up on these before they're ready to put on the display board.

While I have already purchased 2 of the commercially available Mk. 32 triple torpedo tubes, I decided to try designing them myself for a side project - here is what I've got at the moment, not quite complete as yet -

I may get these finished before Christmas and a print made, or not...we shall see

[Fliger747]

Hank:

Indeed the blocks do quite nicely and I expect that the sheer number will provide entertainment for some time. Do you have a docking plan for their arrangement?

Cheers: Tom

[BB62vet]

Hank:
Indeed the blocks do quite nicely and I expect that the sheer number will provide entertainment for some time. Do you have a docking plan for their arrangement?
Cheers: Tom

Tom,
Thanks! I actually do have a docking plan - it's 6' long and I do NOT plan to replicate all the blocks. It will be a "stylized" keel block layout - I think each block located about 1 1/2" apart. The size of the model is such that I don't think making a "drydock" setting like I did for NEW JERSEY would be a bit convoluted.

Hank

[BB62vet]

A newer photo of the current state of the Mk. 32 torpedo tube design -

I'm a bit skeptical that any of these very tiny knobs will print and if they do, I will be quite surprised!

Admiralty escort duties scheduled, so little, if any model work will be accomplished today