Calling all Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) fans

[GTDEATH13]

Is there a good PE kit that will work with the Trumpeter 1/350 USS Momsen?

I think WEM is the answer...

http://www.whiteensignmodels.com/brochu ... pe3550.jpg

http://www.steelnavy.com/WEM350Burke.htm

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I looked at that, but wasn't sure if it would work out on the Trumpeter Momsen.

The kit came today! It is everything the reviews said it was. I can't wait to sink my teeth into this one. My North Carolina was at anchor, I think this one will be under way in moderate seas.

If the PE kit will work with the Trumpeter I will order it in the morning.

[Thundergrunt]

AB experts, I am i need of some help, I am curious as to what Mods i need to do to a FLT I Dragon kit in 1/700 to replicate a Flt II ship, USS Higgins and Decatur I hear there is some mast changes??, also what Mods or kit do i need for a IIA USS. Halsey and Gravley?? thanks.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I have read in several different sources that the USS Momsen has two 20mm Phalanx CIWS.
If this is correct I can't find a picture of her with them.

Does anyone know if this is correct, and if so where is the placement?

Thanks.

[Timmy C]

From what I see in the Navsource and Navy Newstand photos, she was commissioned without any Phalanxes. Sometime in 2006-2007, she received one in the stern position. The most recent photos that I can find (from October 2009) show no Phalanx in the front/below-the-bridge position.

This is consistent with navydavesof's post about the Phalanx procurement process of the 2000s.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

From what I see in the Navsource and Navy Newstand photos, she was commissioned without any Phalanxes. Sometime in 2006-2007, she received one in the stern position. The most recent photos that I can find (from October 2009) show no Phalanx in the front/below-the-bridge position.

This is consistent with navydavesof's post about the Phalanx procurement process of the 2000s.

Thanks for the reply, I did just happen to find this shot. but it is difficult to tell exactly where the placement is. Could you give me an idea of the placement?

Thanks again.

[Timmy C]

It's located on the centreline in a little modular housing (which looks to be the same as the ones on other ships), just on that bit of superstructure aft of the dish antennae. Here's a side shot of it:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/05019357.jpg
An aft view:
http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/05018934.jpg

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Outstanding! That's where I figured it would be, but I had to make sure.

Thanks again.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I hope someone has the answer for me. From what I can see the Trumpeter 350 Momsen kit has the CWIS gun on Sprue D parts 44, 45, 46, and 61. Please correct me if I am wrong about this.




Now for the life of me I can't see the rest of the mount, so I am figuring they were not included. If I am right about this, does anyone have dimensions so I can scratch build it.

Thanks again for the help.

[Timmy C]

David, he's talking about the larger platform that the CIWS sits on/in - if it's in the kit, it's not on that sprue.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I haven't been able to find it in the kit, so I think I'm going to try my hand at scratch building.

If anyone has one I would appreciate if you could shoot me the dimensions.

[Timmy C]

You might try asking navydavesof - he made a similar platform for the Phalanxes on his upgraded Iowa and Spruance models:
viewtopic.php?f=67&t=43658&start=240

They are a little different from the ones on the Burkes (sloped top on the Burkes verses stepped top on Dave's), but it should be useful anyway.

[Timmy C]

Ok, I have sort of a solution for you - use G1 and G2 instead of N16 and N18 for the rear stack/exhaust. G1 and G2 includes the sides of the CIWS platform, so you'll only have to scratchbuild the top of the platform (which is in sprue C, which is not included in the Momsen kit).

If you do this, though, you will have to flatten the top of the funnel - thus, you might have to do a little surgery.

For reference, here is the Lassen's (the FIIA kit that has the CIWS structure sans stealthy funnels) instruction page for this area: http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10078111z7/70/7

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Great idea! I will have to start laying everything out. I know I can scratch build the CWIS deck, that doesn't look that bad, and with everything else my kit has it should be a breeze.

Thanks for the help and the reference.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Today I found a fantastic picture of the aft of the Momsen showing the CWIS mount, and on the port and starboard sides of the ship I see these. . .



Does anyone have a clue of what these are? It looks like a high tech chain gun, but I've never seen them before.

[Timmy C]

They are the 25mm chainguns - installed in somewhat hard-to-see (every once in a while someone asks where they are located ) locations on various USN vessels.

Navweaps' page of pictures:
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_25mm_mk38_pics.htm

I'm guessing the one in your picture is the remote-controlled version, mod2, around halfway down the navweaps page.

[Seasick]

The 25mm gun goes back to the tanker war in the 1980s. The Navy originally had 4 0.50 caliber M2 machine guns as light armament. They proved inadequate against the Iranian speed boats, The Navy had to pull WW2 era 20mm Okies, and 40mm Bofors out of storage and fit them to ships if the gulf willy nilly. The 25mm was procured because the old guns had problems. The 25mm are fit to vessels before deployment to hot spots. There is stabilized mounting that is being purchased now. A second generation 40mm stabilized mount has been tested, but grew into the current 57mm being fit the the LCS and new USCG vessels. The 57mm (2.25 inchs) has a very high rate of fire and high muzzle velocity.

Phalanx being built or refurbished now are the Block 1B variety. They have many improvements over the Earlier Block 0, 1, and 1A models. The barrels are longer and have a brace added The radars in the dome have been improved. On the side you will see a visual/IR camera. The Phalanx can now attack surface targets, and light aircraft as well as missiles. The software has been upgraded and the gun made smarter, this is because of the Cole bombing and the Gulf One incident where a Phalanx gun decided to fire at the chaff launched by the USS Missouri rather than the Iraqi anti-ship missile. The Phalanx is expected to remain in service for a considerable amount of time, and will most likely out live Goalkeeper. Its mission evolve to be more of an anti-surface than anti-missile weapon.

[navydavesof]

Hello, ladies and gets!

I am going to be starting an advanced Burke-class DDG (as if the Flight IIAs were not advanced enough). I am looking at either using the Lassen or the Momsen kit to build what the future Burke-class DDGs should be. The difference is that the Lassen has no UWV deck hanger and the Momsen does. IF memory serves correctly, the Lassen type, the Flight IIA without the UWV hanger is the one that is the model we will continue with. Please let me know. I would appreciate it.

I know that this is something that Seasick and a few others would have input on.
Thanks, guys! I look forward to your input!

navydavesof

[Timmy C]

If you want a kit of the latest Burke variant (flat funnel tops, no RMS hangar), then get the Forrest Sherman (DDG-98) kit. We'll have a review posted tomorrow.

[navydavesof]

If you want a kit of the latest Burke variant...flat funnel tops, no RMS hangar

fo shizzle!

then get the Forrest Sherman (DDG-98) kit. We'll have a review posted tomorrow.

Most totally awesome. I look forward to the review. Is it safe to assume it is simply additional parts to the Lassen kit?

I can't wait. Other than the UWV not really working too well, does anyone know why the UWV shelter was removed from future ships?

I know what I am going to add to the ship! It's going to be great!