1/125 Fletcher-class with scratchbuilt detailing - work in progress

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

Not sure if anyone here will be interested, but this is currently my main ship modelling project. It’s the infamous Lindberg 1/125 Fletcher-class destroyer (aka “Blue Devil”) which I am improving with (a lot of) scratchbuilt parts and details in an attempt to produce a model with a level of detail appropriate to its huge scale!
It’s been in progress for nearly 2 months although work has been very intermittent, frequently pausing for a week or so! (partly due to other modelling projects)


Currently I’m halfway through the first stage of the project, which is scratchbuilding all of the surface detail on the superstructure as well as splinter shields, ladders, etc. Some parts such as the aft 40mm gun tub, bridge roof, and funnel searchlight platforms have also needed re-building from scratch as the kit parts are too crude and/or inaccurate to salvage.


It’s fairly rough-looking at the minute and many areas are either incomplete or have not yet been detailed - e.g the aft 40mm tub does not have any bracing or railings.

The next stage will be armament, fittings, mast details, etc. , then painting, rigging and weathering. Some areas of the deck and superstructure have already been painted as these will be inaccessible once the model is assembled.


I’ve also done some work on the smaller parts and fittings; you can see the completed 5’ director in the first few photos, and I’ve scratchbuilt its radar though the mount is not yet completed. Also I’ve started work on the 5’ turrets and 40mm AA guns. Most of the fittings will be scratchbuild using whatever pieces of the kit parts are usable; for example, with the 40mms, I’ve kept the breeches, the ends of the barrels, and the bases of the mounts.

These will have additional breech and platform/mount detail as well as scratchbuilt sights, gunner seats, etc. Recoil springs are thin tinned-copper wire. (One of the pairs of guns is noticeably out of alignment, this will be corrected on the completed model!)

Detail parts are mostly scratchbuilt from styrene stock, along with various other bits like copper mesh for vent grilles and inside the funnels (not really visible in the photos) and various gauges of metal wire. HO-scale railway parts are used for the ladders (overscale by almost 50%, but they are cheap and widely available). I’ll use PE brass parts for the 40mm and 20mm sights, but haven’t got to this stage yet needless to say!

I haven’t picked an individual ship yet but the model will definitely represent a mid-war Fletcher with a two-tone grey camouflage scheme (Measure 31). My main references are photos of the 1/96 models on www.fineartmodels.com, the Floating Drydock publication on the USS Kidd, and the first issue of Warship Modeller magazine.

I’ll post more photos here (hopefully) as the model progresses.

(edited to fix 40mm image link)

2

Looking good so far. I like your scratchbuilt details! Keep us updated with progress photos. [:)]

3

This is exciting. I put together the same model a few years back when I was a super novice, so I am looking forward to what I am sure will be a nice build. Please keep us posted.

Paul Fitch

4

That looks good, you clearly have more patience than I did with the kit.

Mine kept “losing” bits evertime something was built.

This was not helped as my original goal was DD-544 USS Boyd in post-war configuration. The eniter main deck was installed inverted, as that was simpler than correcting every raised or moulded item on its surface.

Then, one day, the clunky venturi on the bridge just had to go (Boyd had the "square-bridge Fletcher windscreen and fabric top–which just would not “set” on Lindburg’s 22-something inch bulkhead-thingy. After that, the “wrongness” of the bridge portholes was a tad too obvious . . .

About the time I got ahold of good photos of the Sadn Diego style “slab sided” stacks, I kind of quit whittling on the gun director & turrets. I’ve still got the hull around the house somewhere, halfway into a semi-scale semi-DE using scrapbox parts. Makes (made) for an interesting test bed for techniques every so often.

5

I know what you mean! The trouble with this kit is, the more work you do on it, the more things you find that need fixing/improving/modifying or even completely replacing.[sigh]
I’ve decided to leave certain inaccuracies of the kit (lower hull shape, lack of bilge keels, number of bridge portholes, etc.) but it will hopefully still look good when completed.

The bridge portholes theoretically wouldn’t be too hard to fix (just replace the front end of the bridge and drill out the holes), but I couldn’t think of a good way of representing the “rims” of the portholes (not sure of the technical term), not having a Waldron punch tool.

Another problem is the 5" gun barrels, which are noticeably too short. I’m probably going to try adding a length of styrene rod to the breech end of each one and then filing it down to get the correct taper.

6

That is some great looking scratch work! I’ve got the old Lindberg minesweeper that I hope to start later this summer and your work has inspired me.

Cheers,

Eric

7

Shoot, already looks better than out-of-the box. Add some PE to help “lighten” the look up, and some paint, and she’ll be shining.

The lack of bilge keels on what started out as a motorized, for-the-water, kit is still a bit of a head-scratcher (even if I know what the moulding reasons are . . . ). Tougher than bilge keels, though, is the “rudder problem.” (A whole, separate, BlueDevil problem ).

Now, rims on the portholes, that’s not so bad–a bit of judicious work with the correct-sized bras tubing will solve that (ecepting that, then, y’gotta go “do” all the superstructure p/h, too . . .

But, the excercise is really about enjoyment, isn’t it? We do this because we like it, right? (and not, as some crassly suggest out of some peculiar fume-induced form of masochism . . .)

8

Ah, now, there’s a blast from the past. All sorts of good “clutter” on board (and a huge potential for more).

The paravane marker floats were well shaped, the otter boards were a bit funky, and there probably should have been more davits (which would have busted off of the railings . . . ) The one thing that kit really needed was some sort of generic crew. About the only time you can find a crew-less MS is in mothballs.

Plenty or room for sweep stuff, too, if memory serves. Spar bouys and their gear; more p’vanes, cable reels; sweep cable . . .

Would make a good dio, I always thought, one wire out, and getting set to sweep from the other side.

9

John Metchan’s Blue devil kit was modified to match the older round bridges built on some of the earlier builds.

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/3016/p10100782at.jpg

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Haven’t done any more work on this over the last week (I’ve been concentrating on finishing a 1/350 Italian cruiser, and have also started work on the Revell 1/96 USS Kearsarge) but hopefully will continue work on the Fletcher soon. Currently my main priority is the superstructure and deck detailing; fittings and armament will be next.

For anyone else building a Fletcher (Lindberg or otherwise), a very good source of reference is the photos at http://www.fineartmodels.com. These are models, but the most detailed and accurate large-scale warship models I’ve seen (not exaggerating!). Both round- and square-bridge Fletchers in early, mid and late war configurations are represented.