Calling all Fletcher-class (DD-445) fans

[sixman]

Timmy,

Thanks. Don't know hoew I overlooked that review.

[Rotorhead]

I'm building a scale Fletcher Destroyer in late 1942 timeframe. I need some help from those that know this period of time and can interpret B&W period photos.

Since most photos are in B&W I'm having a few problems with camo and ancillary ships equipment. As I understand it, during the early part of the war the US Navy was understandably groping for effective camo especially for night fighting.

OK, I�m not having the issue with the camo per se but the peripheral equipment such as fire hoses, rope, inner hatch doors, emergency wheels and equipment ETC. There were orders from on high on how to paint the ship, did that pertain to ancillary equipment also? Was that up to the Captain�s judgment? I know they learned early on to not have any white show at night.

What about UNREP stations and markings (is this before standardization?) , Emergency shutoff wheels? White fire hoses? (did they spray them camo also?) I�ve seen some period photos with the inner hatches still white, others not. Was it a matter of just painting anything that didn�t move?

When I go to paint this thing, I don�t want it to look like a museum piece, but alive with equipment on it.

This could be pertinant to any period US naval vessel.
Regards
Steve

[Rick E Davis]

Steve,

Generally speaking, ships equipment was suppose to be painted to match the camo background with exceptions for equipment that wasn't suppose to be painted (brass couplings for mating are a good example). This had to drive the crew nuts on dazzle schemes. As for the insides of doors ... I have not figured out what the rule of thumb was ... some are painted white, some were painted a matching shade of "gray". The funny areas are items like depth charges. Sometimes you will see them painted one solid color, other times the "tops" will be painted deck blue and the "sides" whatever the vertical camo called for. What I could not fathom, is how they figure which part was the top on a "barrel" on its side.

[Sleepwalker]

Has anyone a photo showing USS Heermann's deck in 1944? I'm especially interested if there was a boat winch installed on the deck - port side nearby bow torpedo tubes.

[Rick E Davis]

Sleepwalker,

This isn't Heermann herself, but is one of her Bethlehem-built sisters ... Miller (DD-435) ... does this answer your question? Normally the winch was covered in canvas and this is kind of poor focus, but the best I can find in short order ... uncovered.

[Sleepwalker]

Thanks Rick. I think since this winch was used to operate ship's boat it was present always on Fletchers. However I saw few photos without a winch, but maybe these ships were during refit?

[Rick E Davis]

Since the winch was installed as completed and still onboard in 1957 ... I think it is a safe bet that it was there in late 1944.

Unless in use, the winch is covered with canvas and being behind the breakwater, it cannot be seen unless from an aerial view. The August 1944 Mare Island Navy Yard overhaul views of Heermann are from the starboard side and the winch area is blocked from view.

[MEGADETH9mm]

hello all, i'm doing a fletcher with my tamiya kit that just arrived in the mail(keeping it secret for now, dont want to jinx my work). here's a pic of her, and i was wondering, do you guys have any idea what these two shades of color would be? i pointed at the 2 colors. they look to me like off white and black, but this pic is of poor quality.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... rclass.jpg


by the way, some great work in this thread and great help all around. thanks.

[MEGADETH9mm]

Yes, review is here: http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/mi ... rsenal.htm

how embarrassing for trumpeter. so many of thier kits are flat out poor quality. it's detail sets like this that garner them sales. i once got the trumpeter nimitz. returned it the next day after looking at the poor quality molding. i didnt even have to remove anything from the plastic bags. it was that bad. not to mention, every review of trumpeter kits says the modeler was severely dissapointed with the level of detail.

[PeteM]

hello all, i'm doing a fletcher with my tamiya kit that just arrived in the mail(keeping it secret for now, dont want to jinx my work). here's a pic of her, and i was wondering, do you guys have any idea what these two shades of color would be? i pointed at the 2 colors. they look to me like off white and black, but this pic is of poor quality.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... rclass.jpg


by the way, some great work in this thread and great help all around. thanks.

Check out the ShipCamouflage website. Lists all the ships in each class, which scheme they wore when and what colors make up each scheme. There are even drawings of many of the detail sheets. Here is the link for the Fletcher class page:

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/fletcher_class.htm

An invaluable resource for USN WWII modelers.

[MEGADETH9mm]

hello all, i'm doing a fletcher with my tamiya kit that just arrived in the mail(keeping it secret for now, dont want to jinx my work). here's a pic of her, and i was wondering, do you guys have any idea what these two shades of color would be? i pointed at the 2 colors. they look to me like off white and black, but this pic is of poor quality.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... rclass.jpg


by the way, some great work in this thread and great help all around. thanks.

Check out the ShipCamouflage website. Lists all the ships in each class, which scheme they wore when and what colors make up each scheme. There are even drawings of many of the detail sheets. Here is the link for the Fletcher class page:

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/fletcher_class.htm

An invaluable resource for USN WWII modelers.

i dont know how to thank you enough. this is great!!!

[Guest]

Check out the ShipCamouflage website. Lists all the ships in each class, which scheme they wore when and what colors make up each scheme. There are even drawings of many of the detail sheets. Here is the link for the Fletcher class page:

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/fletcher_class.htm

An invaluable resource for USN WWII modelers.

i dont know how to thank you enough. this is great!!!

now the only question is, how do i adequately apply this sheme to the hull without screwing the whole thing up.... :O

[PeteM]

now the only question is, how do i adequately apply this sheme to the hull without screwing the whole thing up.... :O

http://www.gatorsmask.com/ddde.html

Great product. The only real drawback is the vinyl masks are sometimes difficult to get to conform to curved surfaces and the way they are laid out (they're cut from a vinyl sheet on a computer somehow using side profiles) there are no masks for the forward and aft portions of the scheme, so you need to improvise there a bit. All in all though there isn't a better way that I know of to reproduce the Ms.12 mod schemes on US ships.

[Guest]

now the only question is, how do i adequately apply this sheme to the hull without screwing the whole thing up.... :O

http://www.gatorsmask.com/ddde.html

Great product. The only real drawback is the vinyl masks are sometimes difficult to get to conform to curved surfaces and the way they are laid out (they're cut from a vinyl sheet on a computer somehow using side profiles) there are no masks for the forward and aft portions of the scheme, so you need to improvise there a bit. All in all though there isn't a better way that I know of to reproduce the Ms.12 mod schemes on US ships.

i completely forgot about this thread and made a scotch tape custom mask. it took about 2 hours total but this is what was achieved.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/3d1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/3d2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/3d3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/3d4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/3d5.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/3d6.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/3d7.jpg

[MEGADETH9mm]

Deck pattern completed.

masked, painted sea grey pattern.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/sociopath1/l2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/sociopath1/l3.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/sociopath1/l1.jpg



masked over sea grey pattern, painted black.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/sociopath1/l4.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/sociopath1/l5.jpg

completed, accurate pattern.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/sociopath1/l7.jpg


with deck fitted to hull.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/l10.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/l11.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/s ... h1/l12.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/sociopath1/l8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v65/sociopath1/l9.jpg

[MEGADETH9mm]

question: i think i saw someone in this forum was drilling out the windows of the bridge. what kind of drill do i need to do this? we are talking "micro" sized drill bit here.... any other "clean" methods of drilling the holes that you might know of?

[Timmy C]

I drilled open the windows on my Buchanan with a 0.5mm drill bit (clasp in 0.5mm mechanical pencil, due to lack of small collet). However, I think it should be 0.7mm, but I didn't have that size.

Another way to do it would be to put the tip of your #11 blade in the center of the window and then turn - this will clear out the plastic in a circle from the center of the window.

[MEGADETH9mm]

I used the Corsair Armada turrets, complete with the PE set and L'Arsenal barrels (about 15 parts per turret IIRC) on my Fletcher, they do a good job, so far as I can see, of representing the real thing. Couple of pics below:




Must try to get it finished one day

John

John, How did you achieve those holes for the windows of the bridge? outstanding work, btw. wow.

[MEGADETH9mm]

I drilled open the windows on my Buchanan with a 0.5mm drill bit (clasp in 0.5mm mechanical pencil, due to lack of small collet). However, I think it should be 0.7mm, but I didn't have that size.

Another way to do it would be to put the tip of your #11 blade in the center of the window and then turn - this will clear out the plastic in a circle from the center of the window.

thanks timmy.

[Sauragnmon]

Just be advised - the #11 exacto blade trick is best used on a piece with thin molding - the blade will clear an angled hole, so you could also use it like a countersink bit for a small drill bit to get into the place.