USS Ward, Flyhawk, 1/700 Scale

[Devin]

I'm working on getting back into the ship modelling headspace. I've been building a lot for my day-job, and my freelance clients, but not much for myself. So I'm making a point of sitting down for 30 minutes a night and working on something.

I started Ward a couple of years back. The kit has an issue with the stacks, as the kit has them oval shaped, while Ward and other four-pipers had round stacks. (There's evidence that later in the war when some of the ships were modified to troop transports and mine layers, they may have changed out the stacks to oval). Regardless, I hit that roadblock and put the model aside. Now I've figured out the fix, as I've drawn and printed my own replacements.

As she sits now the forward superstructure is mostly assembled, shown here sitting in place, not attached. Waterline plate and deck have been attached, railings attached to the bridge and aft deck house.

This will be a slow build. Those expecting frequent updates will be disappointed.

[marijn van gils]

Well, you still have until october 2026 to get it finished...

It looks like you have made a sharp and clean start already. An excellent base to start detail to!

[Devin]

Thanks, Marijn! I actually started this in 2023, as a contender to bring to SMC, but ran out of time and brought HMS M-33 instead. I should be able to get this one ready, and hopefully a 1/350th scale ironclad scratch build, before October comes around.

Yes, lots of chances to detail this thing. It's the premium kit with WAY too many parts, so I'll be doing some of the super detailing, but I won't bother with removing things like the chocks to replace with three piece etched and turned brass fittings. That's too much insanity for my liking.

[marijn van gils]

You're very right Devin!
Replacing the chocks may not even be an improvement anyway, let alone visible...

I don't think I have ever used a PE fret, for AFV's or ships, of which I have used more than half of the parts.
I like working with PE, but not to replace plastic with PE only for the sake of replacing it.

[Dan K]

He's back! And it's about time.

Those expecting frequent updates will be disappointed.

Always the tease.

[Devin]

I don't think I have ever used a PE fret, for AFV's or ships, of which I have used more than half of the parts.
I like working with PE, but not to replace plastic with PE only for the sake of replacing it.

Agreed. And whenever I can replace the PE with 3D printing, I'll do that as well. For Ward I added the stack caps to the print, so I don't have to worry with the PE, and I'll likely do the prop guards and depth charge racks the same way.