It’s my memory that all the Fletchers (eventually) had QC mounts. Some of those may have been in “bathtup” domes about 4’ x 8’ x 3’ which was the standard (maybe) on the pre-Fletcher classes. Later ships were given an 8’ (96 or 100") diameter dome about 3’ below the keel. Ships scheduled for refit in '44 got the streamlined domes which were teardrop shaped (around a 100" diamter dimension). For some Fletchers this happened post war, as the refit schedule allowed.
For my father’s DD, USS Boyd, she did not get QCA until '46. Which was replaced with QCC in 1950, and a different set just two years later.
We covered various kinds of hull-mounted sonar in SWO school, but mostly in genralities. My specific knowledge tends to be limited to the research I’ve done on my father’s ship DD-554. So, my knowledg winds up being a mix of a mile deep and an inch wide mixed with mile wide and inch deep [bnghead]
The Encyclopedia for American Fighting Ships is still pretty good by “D” (falls off like they ran out of energy starting with “E”
WesPac ships were much lower priority for QCA sets given how few Japanese submarines were left, and the probability of engaging them. So LantFlt ships were more likely to get new sets, and the hull fairings, too. Which is complicated by ships being swapped from WesPac to LantFlt and vice versa.
Thank you very much for the info. I’ll keep digging for QC domes on Fletchers, but I would never have imagined sonar installations unless you had mentioned it. Thank you.
I began to form a sonar fairing. I took a piece of scrap metal from a brass photo etch fret. I formed it into a teardrop shape with a stiring rod, then I glued the ends. I squeezed it to compress the fairing to make it skinnier. The interior of the brass teardrop was filled with super-glue. I’ll give it some paint tomorrow.
Haha! Yes! I just applied the hull numbers. The Dortch will get some clear coat after they dry. Then, I’ll do some light weathering.
I have a question about flags and ensigns. I have a nice decal set from Blue Ridge Models. It has a nice 48-star Stars and Stripes flag waterslide decal. It looks like the flag decal is meant to be folded over on itself to form the two sides of the flag. I’ve been looking over the internet to see how these decals are applied, but I’m not having much luck. I thought that I could apply the decal to a piece of Scotch tape. After it dries, I could fold it over and trim the tape as necessary.
How do you make flags waiving then the wind from a decal? Do you just fold the decal over on itself?
My preferred technique is to use Heavy Duty aluminum foil, the regular is a shade too thin.
Align a fine bit of thread (6/0 suture thread, 25 dernier silk, whatever) to one endge of the foil. It helps to have something withe really flat clampint surfaces (I used to use wooden spring clothespins with the legs inverted and sanded flush to each other).
Now, stand that assembly, thread side up between two bulldog spring clamps.
Now, you will be able to drape the flag decals over the foil on both sides, with the hoisting thread pinched inside.
Let that dry thoroughly, then use a brand new xacto blade to slide the foil free (leaving the thread intact.
At 1/350 only national ensigns are worth that much effort. For signal flags, just string a thread between two handy objeccts and drape the decals over that thread to adhere to themselves. To scale, each signal flage ought to have 72" of lanyard, which is 0.205" at 1/350, call that 3/16" a hair over 5mm. (From the top of the signal flag.)
Thank you for the technique. Unfortunately, I finally found a method by searching another forum. I folded the decal over a piece of aluminum foil, then I white glued it to a line which was already installed on the model. It looks good, but your method sounds better. I will try that next time. I’ll have completed pics soon. I’m waiting for an engraved plate to come in the mail for the base.
This one is done. I was waiting a few days for the dedication plate to arrive.
I was going to do some light weathering by applying an enamel pin-wash. I experimented with turret 53, but I didn’t like the result. I cleaned it off, and I think it looks just perfect without weathering. I’ll just say that the model depicts the ship at commisioning, August 7, 1943.
I had a lot of fun, and it opens the door to more ships in the future. I’ve been building aircraft and armor for years, but ships present entirely different challenges. They require a great deal of planning and a great deal of work. They’re worth it.
Hey How would like to have to do this in 1/96 scale ?
Every part of the ship turns out to be a seperate kit in and of itself .I have been working on one such ship for a client .The U.S.S.KIDD .
The books available on here contradict each other constantly because of her being hit by a Kamakazi in late war .
She has different ladders , Rails and other stuff in different places than original and I find myself working out of two books constantly . If I can do it ( What with that “Gunny” thing hanging on me ) You can and did it too . Wonderful job .Have you noticed how " Busy " she seems in the Blue Paint ? That’s why since my "Butler Blue Incident " I don’t use Sea Blue anymore in that scale .
Again , great thread and wonderful work with the P.E. T.B. P.S. If you ever get to the Nauticus Museum and the U.S.S. Wisconsin . There’s a model in there that I assisted on the build . Yup ! A 17 ’ U.S.S. Wisconsin model !
Come on down to New Braunfels Railroad Museum on a First or Third Saturday of the month ( Kids Fun Day ) 'We can connect in person .T.B. Look for the Vice -President of Modeling ! That’s 10 A.M.to 2 P.M.
I know Cap’n Mac explained about the list . Why didn’t you correct it ? LOL.LOL.LOL. Oh an aside . Many of the ships , even in Blue had the funnel caps painted Semi - Gloss or Flat T.B.
Nah, 1/96 scale is too big for my display cabinets, but I’d love to check out the USS Wisconsin Model. I selected the paint from AK Interactive, and I do like them. They seem to fit references pretty well. The USS Texas is a great reference for measure 21 camouflage. There aren’t many references to the wartime USS Dortch available, but I took queues from mid-war Fletchers. I paid special attention to Kearny, NJ built vessels, and DD-671 (the USS Gatling) was well represented in books and on the internet.
I have to thank CapnMac for pointing to the sonar fairing. I would’ve had no idea (even with all the money and time I spent on reference books).
Chris, Thank you for sharing an extremely fun to read built journal. It is very inspiring to those of us who has plan, but not enough time to execute. The model is beautiful.
