Calling all Fletcher-class (DD-445) fans

[Rick E Davis]

I have looked at it yes. You are doing great work. In a sense I think your effort is wasted on the the "Blue Devil" kit. I understand that your build will be a RC platform, so some leeway is allowed to accommodate that purpose. You will have a much better than an "Out-of-the-Box" model when done for sure. If you ever take on one of the 1/144 scale FLETCHER kits, you efforts with this kit will help you get through that one as well.

The Revell 1/144 scale kit has quite a few problems ... mostly in the number of limited builds out-of-the-box possible and in missing some key components that in this scale should be there. The number of after-market components available for 1/144 scale are rather limited to expand into other destroyers in the class and by the time you get all of them, can be expensive.

[snaphappy321]

Hi Rick,
Thanks for your comment I really appreciate it coming from you. I have checked out the 1:144 scale Fletcher, and you can drop some serious cash if you were to purchase all the aftermarket parts. The main thing I like about the Lindberg kit is its size to convert it to RC. My work on her is a learning process that I will be able to use when I build my 1/96 scale Fletcher in the future.

Once again Thanks
Roger

[snaphappy321]

Hey Rick,
In my constant search for Fletcher pictures I took a look at the Cassin Young Volunteers web site: http://www.aha-engineers.com/dd793/index.html. There are some really great pictures of her entering the dry-dock at the Charlestown Navy Yard for repairs back in August of 2010. I found her dry-dock pictures after you sent me the pic�s of the props to show me the correct rotation. Although you may already have seen this site it�s a great site for anyone who is interested in the Fletcher Class Destroyers to take a look.

Cheers!!!!!!!! DD-555

[snaphappy321]

Hi Rick,
I just got some Woodland Scenics Dry Transfer Gothic 45-Degree USA Numbers and letters on E-bay for only $5.79 each set. It's still a little down the road in my build, but I need to know how tall in inches the hull numbers were for the Fletcher's during WWII. The transfers have many sizes to choose from, they are really a good set for anyone needing numbers other than what comes with the kit they're working with.

Thanks Roger DD-555

[Rick E Davis]

I posted these before, but I can't remember where to reference it. The official specs for letters and numbers from the BIW FLETCHER CLASS ENGINEERING DRAWINGS DVD.






Examples of the spacing of the letters for the name on the stern.

[Geno the Viking]

This is great Rick. Thanks

I love this forum......

[snaphappy321]

Hi Rick,
Thanks for the info!!!!! I can always count on you!!!!!

Anyone needing numbers or letters check out the sets I purchased on E-bay, you will be glad you did!!!!

Thanks again,
DD-555

[snaphappy321]

Hi Rick,
I am detailing my 5 inch gun housings for the Haggard. The hand rails I made on each side of the gun barrel are not exactly correct but they are finished and super glued on and I don�t want to fix them.

Which turret looks the best?

I don�t want to make any more mistakes. I have been looking at pictures of the first four Fletchers built at Sea Tac the Franks, Haggard, Hailey, and the Johnston. I do not see the blast shields on the 51 and 55 turrets on any of them. Also I can not see any ladders on the turrets.

The Haggard has its own web site that was created by the daughter of one of the crew and another crewman helped out as well. I found a great picture of the Haggard�s port side as a Chaplain was brought aboard on a bos'n's chair while underway.

The picture shows the back of 51 turret and it has a ladder on the back port side. The question is, would it be safe to assume that all of the Haggards 5 inch gun turrets had the ladders on the back?

Thanks DD-555

[Rick E Davis]

DD-555,

Yes I think it is safe to say that the ladders were on the backside of the 5-in gun mounts on SeaTac-built units.

In all the "completed" views of SeaTac FLETCHERS there are painted canvas "bloomers" on all of the mounts. However, I have seen photos of FLETCHERS where they didn't bother adding bloomers on the 53 mount since little water hit this mount. The canvas covers were difficult to keep "whole" on destroyers (they wore off or were burned off in firing, so you will find photos where one or more are gone or they were replaced onboard with plain canvas) and they tried several different styles and even sliding metal covers during the war. The rails weren't really hand rails, they were for attaching the canvas ... and if there was a standard for "how" they installed those I will be amazed. Each Navy Yard did their best in coming up with the "perfect" bloomer and everyone "tried" their own design for doing so. Post-war they came up with a design that used air inflated bladders to fill the voids that could be inflated and deflated with movement of the gun to keep out the water that entered the space between the gun and the mount shield ... the whole reason for covers.

Below are images showing various views of the 5-in gun mounts on DD-554 during fitting out prior to bloomers added (first image), DD-555 as completed at PSNY (second and third image), and DD-556 in January 1945 (fourth image).

[Geno the Viking]

Fantastic photos, keep them coming.

FYI my son works at Sea-Tac/Todd/Vigor in Seattle now.

Thanks

[snaphappy321]

Hey Rick,
Just when I thought there were no more pictures of the Haggard you seem to come up with more. Awesome thanks so much for the new pic's!!!!!!!

Roger DD-555

[snaphappy321]

Hi Rick,
It�s good to know that there was no standard method for attaching the bloomers. I don�t know what type of cloth to use for them, but that will be one of the last thing I make for my Haggard.

What about the blast shield for the gun captains hatch? I don�t see them on the first four out of Sea Tac.

Although, in the early 50's I have a picture of DD-556 possibly still in her late WWII configuration note the quad 40mm's and the blast shields were in place on 51 and 55 turret.

Thanks Roger

[Rick E Davis]

The covers on the lower mounts (51 and 55 mounts) was a retrofit mod for many FLETCHERS. The only way to know when they were installed is to check photos. It is even hard to spot in Departure Reports because they many times listed it as an "OrdAlt" # and unless you can find/know which # was associated with it, it is a mystery. Anyway, I don't have many photos of these early SeaTac destroyers other than as completed in mid-1943 and as you say DD-554 through DD-557 don't have the 51 and 55 mounts mount commander cover. I have post-war photos showing the covers. DD-558 on appear to have the covers from completion. So "exactly" when the earlier units had the covers installed is unknown to me.

[snaphappy321]

Thanks Rick,
I will omit those shields on my build and in the future if any photos are found of the Haggard with them that�s when I'll add them.

Thanks Again
Roger DD-555

[snaphappy321]

Hi Rick,
Would you happen to have any more close up photos of the Haggard like the ones you posted a couple days ago? Also do you have a close up photo of the gun sight that�s mounted on top of the 5inch gun housing?

Thanks Roger DD-555

[Russ2146]

That's the Mount captain's open sight Mk 39
Rick may have something but what I've seen is usually a couple of lines on drawings of the mount. But HNSA comes through again:
http://www.hnsa.org/doc/fiveinchtwin/five512.htm

http://www.hnsa.org/doc/fiveinchtwin/five511.htm

[snaphappy321]

Thanks Russ that's just what I needed. I should be able to scratch build them from those drawings!!!!

DD-555

[Rick E Davis]

Russ provided drawings of the sights. Finding good photos of these sights is difficult because of their size and because these could be and often were folded down for stowage.

Here is as good of an image I have ... on DD-546 BROWN, I don't have anything this close on the early SeaTac units ... also provides some close-up details of mount 52.

As for more close-up photos of HAGGARD, you either need to be more specific of what areas or you ned to PM/E-mail me for full size images.

[snaphappy321]

Hi Rick,
Very nice photo Thanks!!! I will PM you later to ask for a couple full size photos.

Thank You Very Much
Roger DD-555

[Armstrong440]

Hello chaps: Limey here, who's just re-entered into the world of ship modelling after a 30-year break (life and stuff...)

My partner is from Iowa, and I want to build a 1:350 model of her (the ship, not my partner...) Not wanting to be over-ambitious, I thought I should start on a slightly more modest project to get my hand in and, reading through the history of the Iowa, I was struck by her run-in with the William D Porter (DD579). So I have decided to build a model of the Porter as she was at the time when she escorted the Iowa and President Roosevelt to North Africa, with the intention of one day building the Iowa to match.

I've ploughed through 28 pages of this thread, and so far there's not been one mention of the Porter. Is she in some kind of disgrace? However, I have established the basic facts about her to whit: round bridge, 5x twin Bofors, 7x single Oerlikons, waist Oerlikon tub faired into the clipping room... So this is going to be a cut-and-shut job between the Tamiya and Trumpeter kits with some PE and scratchbuilding thrown into the mix. I should be okay, as I have been a railway modeller (boo hiss) all my adult life. However, I have a couple of details that need filling in if someone can oblige.

When were the extra 600lb depth charge racks installed?

In Nov 43 would her spare 300lb charges have been stored on spigots or in racks?

Additionally, I've nabbed a photo of her dated 24 Sept 43 in which she seems to be painted overall in a dark colour, which I take to be the 5-N Navy Blue of Measure 21. Does anyone have any info as to whether she was still carrying that colour scheme two months later when she rendezvoused with the Iowa? My concern is that Measure 21 would make a rather boring model to look at. If that's what she was wearing, then so be it: but I'd prefer to be able to paint her in something a little more... cheerful!

Advice, opinions and abuse for the railway modelling community are all welcome.