The internet can be so distracting for my modeling.
I'm barely into my Revell 1/72 Flower Class Corvette and I'm interesting in getting a Revell kit of a Clemson Class destroyer. At least the 2008 re-release has made plenty of kits available. I want to do a Western Approaches scheme version so these posted images from Falcon04 help a lot (thanks Falcon).
I start building WEMs HMS Montgomery. I would like to build her in a 1941 fit (approx. September 1941, 4th Escort Group based at Greenock), with the modifications made between April and July 1941 at Barrows:
According to naval-history.net, the following modifications were made:
Pt. 1
� Type 271 radar installed
� Torpedo tubes replaced by a British triple mount
� 20mm Oerlikons in place of 4in guns
� what kind of searchlight tower does she wear at that time, US or British style?
If these are all modifications at that time, I�m not sure about the following points. Does she carry them at the same time or were they replaced or resp. installed after the mod. at Barrows?!
Pt. 2
� Type 268 radar (should be replaced by Type 271?)
� 20mm Oerlikons on port and starboard on main deck platforms
� Hedgehog
If she did not carry the 20mm on port and stb., are there other installations at the same position?
Mmhh, a lot of questions but I hope I can get some more information about Montgomerys look during the timeframe September 1941. Next to this all other information about HMS Montgomery are appreciated!
TIA
Attachments
Cheers,
Christian
_________________
AKA "Painter"
VMF'06 - German Gamblers
Veritable Modelling Friends 2006, Germany
It shows 4"/50s or 3"/50s in the waist positions. If you look at almost any source that talks about the 4 piper destroyers, they are bound to mention something about the British modifications to them.
Last edited by Sr. Gopher on Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
Current builds:
Hobby Boss 1/700 Type VIIC U-Boat for my AH
Yep, I know this, it was taken early 1941 before she was modified at Barrows. I have searched a lot and there are some photos on navsource and also in the "WP book Flushdeckers" but not a detailed one for the time period September 1941!
Thanx again
Cheers,
Christian
_________________
AKA "Painter"
VMF'06 - German Gamblers
Veritable Modelling Friends 2006, Germany
I too have an interest in four stackers. My dad served on the Kennison (DD 138) and later YW-94, possibly a converted four -piper. I have no information om the YW and can find none.
A YW was a self-propelled or non-self-propelled water barge. Basically a tanker for water.
I see no listing for YW-94.
The Naval Ship Register does not indicate a YW-94. From YW-83 on, YW's were purpose built. Prior to that, some are indicated as conversions.
This is a picture of YW-85
Navsource does indicate that two destoyers were converted. This is the only picure of what that looked like, YW-56 Moosehead ex Turner (DD-259)
KENNISON was Reclassified AG-83 October 1 1944. So your Dad may have remembered the hull number wrong, since YW-94 doesn't appear to have existed. He could have transferred to AG-84 HATFIELD another flush-decker.
Many of the old flush-deckers were reclassified as AG's when they became training ships late in the war. Both KENNISON and HATFIELD were target towing ships out of San Diego.
I have always been fascinated by the "4 pipers" Wickes, Clemson, Town. I noticed that there is some difference with the bridge/Conning tower layout between classes. Not sure which one I like: the enclosed bridge or the open one......
What is the best 1/350 kit out there? I am toying with getting the Iron Shipwright Resin kit, but am put off by the price and in working with resin in general. I know the Mirage Hobby 1/400s but don't like the odd scale....wanna display it next to my still unbuild Dragon USS Livermore
I've got one of the ISW APD Roper kits and it's passable. The hull is slightly banana and some of the topside deck details have air bubbles in them. Only flush-deck APD in town in that scale though....
I recently purchased the ISW USS Roper to do a USS McKean, APD-5, at the time of the Guadalcanal operation. I've searched and surfed around and haven't found much detail as well as being confused by what I have found. At that time (August-September 1942), what was the armament of the McKean? It looks like it was 3 4"/50 guns, one forward with a gun-shield and no tub, one along the ceterline just forward of the stacks, and one aft on the bandstand. Is that right? Also, do you have any idea on the camoflage that she was wearing? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Would a set of plans from The Floating Drydock be of help?
With regards to the ISW USS Roper, I was somewhat disappointed with the casting of the small parts, the casting on the deck, and the shape of the hull (banana-like, as you stated). It is going to take some time to figure out what some of those little blobs are and where they go.
I don't know much about when or what changes were made to Flush-Decker APD's, but I happen to have an image of McKEAN reported as taken on 2 March 1943. She still has 4-in guns. Likely this was pretty close to her August-September 1942 configuration.
This close-up shows what appear to be a 20-mm and a 50-cal behind 41 mount and before the bridge (repeated on the portside?) along with a 20-mm atop the bridge.
Camouflage could be Measure 21 as a lot of the ships were. The earliest I've been able to find any official order for green was January of 1943. Prior to that, as mentioned (and linked to) in the previous link, ships were ordered to be in Measure 21.
Does anyone out there have an idea of where I can find some plans for a Town-class destroyer with the squared-off bridge/superstructure? I'm putting together materials for my next build, the HMCS ANNAPOLIS in a late war fit. I have AotS Campbeltown and Warship Perspective Flush Deck Destroyers, and the plans in both of them depict Town's with different superstructure fits from what I'm looking for. Based on the Airfix/Mirage HMS ST ALBANS kit, it looks like the squared-off bridge was a deck higher than the other designs, and lacked the wind deflectors.
I'm especially interested in what the flying bridge looked like--Haze Gray & Underway has a shot of the flying bridge of what might be HMCS HAMILTON taken from the crow's nest, but again, that's the same fit as HMS MONTGOMERY (the ship who's plans come with the WP book) and not exactly what I need.
I'm intending on dusting off my drafting skills and drawing the plans I need in 1/72 scale, but I need a starting point, and I'd prefer something more concrete than a 1/400 model kit and a dozen photos--a draftsman that good, I ain't
Cheers,
Sean
Now Complete: 1/72 HMCS SUMMERSIDE (MM 711) Now Complete: 1/72 HMCS ST. CROIX(I-81)
I don't know if this will help you much ... I don't have any plans/drawings ... but I found these four RCN TOWN class destroyers photos at NARA. They were taken by a patrolling Blimp off the USA Coast and the ID of the ships were way off-base and I had to re-label them after the fact. They appear to fall into two different configurations. I scanned them at a low-res and always think I will revisit them to scan at a higher res and never have yet. Also, have you tried looking in Friedman's RN destroyer book ... Vol 1 "Earliest Days to WWII"? There is an overhead plan view drawing (and profile view) of ex-CLEMSON class with RN @1943 mods including the new bridge on page 255.
Thanks Rick! Those photos, and Chelsea especially are handy to have--the angle on the bridge structure is exactly what I need to compare it with the photos of Annapolis that I have.
It looks like I`m going to have to get myself a copy of Friedman's British Destroyers
Cheers,
Sean
Now Complete: 1/72 HMCS SUMMERSIDE (MM 711) Now Complete: 1/72 HMCS ST. CROIX(I-81)
Hi-
Some great models in the pictures of this thread. Being a Minnesota native (now in KY) and having visited Pearl Harbor a few times, I am interested in working on a USS Ward model.
The last time I visited Pearl Harbor, the grandson of one of the MN navy reserve gunners was along with us (my nephews best friend at the time) and it was a very special moment for us visiting the USS Arizona memorial/museum and seeing the pictures and stories of the USS Ward. I also visited the gun at the MN capitol a few years back and saw his grandfathers name on the plaque nearby.
I was trying to find the model in plastic and saw a 1/400 Mirage model and a 1/240 Revell model. I would like to do the Ward from Dec 1941. Any opinions of which is better and why? It has been a while since I have worked on models and photo etch is pretty new to me also. Would this be a good "starter" kit for photo etch?
Thanks-
J Seeling
I noticed that there is some difference with the bridge/Conning tower layout between classes. Not sure which one I like: the enclosed bridge or the open one...... 
