Hello I’m new here and new to the model ship building communit. I was wondering if it possible for me to take the Tamiya USS Fletcher DD 445 and make it into the USS Erben DD 613? It’s a Fletcher class destroyer so I wasn’t sure if they were the same but with just different number? Again I’m new here haha
you mean USS Erben DD 631 which appears to be a square bridge Fletcher class compared to the original Fletcher which was a round bridge.
USS Erben http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/631.htm
USS Fletcher http://www.navsource.org/archives/05/445.htm
https://www.model-monkey.com/product-page/1-350-fletcher-square-bridge-deck-and-cic
In addition to the bridge format there were also a number of armament differences among the class. See the Fletcher class armament evolution at the armament tab
Edit: Here is the link – coudn’t access it on my phone
Fletcher-class destroyer armament in World War II (destroyerhistory.org)
The table is organized by the time the ship came online, not numerically or alphabetic. You will find that the Erben first carried 6 40mm tubes (3x twin mounts - two below the bridge P&S and one in the raised tub between 5-inch mounts 3 and 4). In 1943 she received two additional twin 40s, P&S aside the aft stack. – end edit
You might want to start with the Trumpeter USS The Sullivans It is a square bridge with several configuration options You will need to invest in replacement secondary & tertiary armament See blackcatmodels.eu for weapons choices
So I should look at getting the Trumpeter USS the Sullivans and getting those parts that that were linked in the upper post?
also thanks for respondin!
Well!
I could go on and on here, but I won’t. there are as many Fletchers as there rail cars it seems. All kinds of configurations. Lhe last ones trying to keep up with the "Gearings " as “all gun” destroyers, Why? Member those planes with the big red circles on them? Someone had to keep them from the Carriers!
USS Ereben is a Bath Iron Works built Fletcher. That gives her a distinctive bridge beyond merely being “square.”
As a BIW Fletcher, she has “flats” on her funnels.
The time period you wish to depict Ereben will matter, too. Launched in 1943, she had refits in '44 and '45, as well as getting a pot-war refit for a tripod mast.
She’s slightly unique in having kept Mount 53 after the war (this was removed dues to all the additional top hamper weight added in 1945.
She later transfered to the ROK Navy.
Luckily, there are a lot of reference photos available for getting th edetails right.
Getting 3d printed parts can help offset the slightly “soft” moulding of the Trumpy kit–if adding significantly to the cost. If you start from the Tamiya kit, you’ll have about the same amount of parts in the spares box, but those leftover bits will be moulded better.
She was painted in Measure 21in 1943. Later wartime pictures on Navsource look like Measure 22.,
Bill
So it sounds like I’ll need to get the 3D printed parts but should I go with the Trumpeter or should I go with a different one?
So it sounds like I need to get the 3D printed parts but should I get the Trumpeter or a different ship?
as long as it is a square bridge Fletcher.
Well, given that you wil lbe replacing the entrire bridge, you only need the 0100 and 0200 deck structures. The Trumpy secondary stuff (armaments, direstors, pelorous, etc.) are a bit “blobby” as moulded. You can replace much of that.
If you replace to that level, then which kit you start from really does not matter so much.
Oh, and the color callouts in all Trumpeter ship kits are largely imgainary and do not resemble actual colors used, other than in the vaguest sort of way.
I’m a bit biased against the trumpy The Sullivans kit as really did not live up to my expectations. It wound up shelved in the Box of Despair. (I wound up using a pair of RoG 1/144 kits to build USS Boyd DD-544 in her 1953 fit.)
Each Fletcher was almost unique due to various refittings. Here are some good sites to peruse.
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?p=53078#p53078
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?p=53078#p53078
https://shipcamouflage.com/fletcher_class.htm
I built a !:144 revell Fletcher and to date it has probably been one of my favorite builds
Sounds like scb-74a. Where did you find 1/144 twin 50’s?
Love to see pics.
Bill
We’ve talked about the round-bridge and square-bridge changes as well as the armament changes, but there are some additional items to think about in getting to the Erben from the Tam Fletcher …
The MK37 gun director is the tall version. Needs to be mounted lower.
The searchlights on the forward stack need to be moved from the aft stack
The aft stack needs to have MK51 directors, platforms, and tubs added.
The fantail needs to have the heart-shaped 20mm gun tub added (add three guns plus ready service lockers)
Need to research a bit more to confirm the shape of aft 40 tub between mounts 53 and 54 (round vs D-shaped).
You’re getting most of these with the Trumpeter.
I believe they were from the Eduard PE set I bought. It has been discontinued but try Ebay. The figures were from Shapeways which I think really finished things off.
Fletchers remain a favorite among many ship modelers.
However you choose to complete your conversion, starting from the Tamiya or Trumpeter kit (either can be done), please consider sharing some photos with us.