USS Kidd DD-661 by tigerdvr - FINISHED - Trumpeter - 1/350 - PLASTIC - from USS The Sullivans kit

[Tigerdvr]

I wanted to build the “Anti-Kamakasi” upgrade of a Fletcher class destroyer. The kit is The Sullivans DD-527, offered by Trumpeter. The Sullivans was not upgraded to the Anti-Kamikasi configuration during the war. The USS Kidd did have the upgrade so I'm making the necessary changes to the Trumpeter kit.

Referred to as the Anti-Kamikaze Mod (AKM), the main upgrades include replacing the midship 40mm twins with 40mm quad mounts. The Mk 51 directors for the quads are moved from the rear stack to a structure where the forward torpedo tubes had been. The four midship 20mm Orlikon singles are replaced by four 20mm double mounts. Two twin 20mm mount replace the three single mounts on the fantail. There were other various electronic/radar/jamming installed. Each ship varied in their configurations

The Kidd was named after Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd who perished on the bridge of the USS Arizona at Peral Harbor. The Kidd is a National Historic Landmark berthed on the Mississippi River in Baton Rouge, LA.

The Trumpeter kit has components for a 1943 and a 1945 version. The instructions clearly define each version. As usual it’s important to go through the instructions particularly to avoid mixing up the 43 and 45 parts.

The kit is supplemented with photo etch mainly from Gold Medal Models. The GMM PE supplies parts compatible with the Trumpeter and Tamiya Fletcher models.

Master Model.PL, Alliance, Black Cat, Infini, White Ensign, and the parts box all provide additional details for this project.

Main reference: Classic Warship Publishing #45 Square Bridge Fletcher

 

Ready to start 

 

I intend on mounting the Kidd on an ocean base so the hull was formed in a full hull configuration rather than the optional waterline configuration. This gives me more room for the water effects. The rudder and screws will be left off for now. The lip(?) around the hawse pipe got sanded away while working on the bow. New ones were formed from plastic parts from the scrap box.

After the hull was assembled the deck was secured to the hull. The anchor detail was sanded off. The anchor gear will be replaced with real chain and a new capstan.

The bollards and chocks are removed. The bollards will be replaced and the chocks are part of the PE railings---

More to follow

 

[SigEp Ziggy]

I will watch your build intently, as I have the Tamiya Fletcher in my stash and plan to build her as the Kidd. I will use your build as a guild when I get the chance to build her.

Great job so far! Wish my work bench was nice and clean like yours.

[popeye the sailor]

sounds like a whole lot of fun  

[mbp521]

I will follow this build with great interest. I was there on the banks of the Mississippi River in 1982 when they towed the Kidd in to become the floating/dry docked museum. I still have the newspaper article about it stored away somewhere. I have toured her several time since then and the history of her always seems to fascinate me.

 

-Brian

[Landlubber Mike]

I'm in for this one too.  Looks like you're good to go and the extra details will make for a fantastic build!

[lmagna]

I have always had a fondness for Fletcher class destroyers. Your build really sounds interesting.

 

Count me in, I'll be in the back row. 

[Tigerdvr]

Assembly of the deck structures required some patching. I am using a putty which is new to me. Perfect Plastic Putty manufactured by Deluxe Materials works well and has no odor at all.

While forming a construction plan, I decided to not follow the kit instruction sequence. I have to consider painting and detail/PE installation. I’m building subassemblies with the less fragile PE parts installed. All the subassemblies will be brought to the primer stage so I can prime them in groups.

I recently completed the 1/350 USS Alaska. That experience is proving to be a blessing and a curse. Construction experience particularly with PE is a blessing. The research material and the MSW build logs shows what details are possible to recreate, sort of a curse. Now I see details in pictures that I previously didn’t see or wouldn’t think of trying to build. I find myself spending a lot of time checking photos on the various references that I have gathered. Meanwhile trying to make sure that I stay as close to the Kidd configuration as possible.                                                  

The superstructure components were assembled, patched where necessary, had base PE like hatches/doors, ladders, and fire hoses added. .3mm plastic strip is used for rails on the super structure etc. Some of the hatches are shown open using White Ensign doors.

Clay makes a handy part holder. A bulkhead was added to reinforce the structure because of the open doors. The wheelhouse needed the windows enlarged a hair. The open hatch/door needed a port added because it overlaps the port in the bulwark. To open the doorway I drilled progressively larger holes and then finished the shaping with a file-carefully.

Some views, nothing glued to the deck--

More to follow- - - 

 

 

[GrandpaPhil]

Using clay as a part holder is a good idea.  I’ll have to remember that.

Edited August 1, 2019 by GrandpaPhil

[SigEp Ziggy]

Great job and fantastic photos! Keep up the good work.

[Javlin]

9 hours ago, GrandpaPhil said:

Using clay as a part holder is a good idea.  I’ll have to remember that.

Shoot Phil I liked the foam holder for the hull. Good work thus far. Kevin

[Tigerdvr]

The stacks can be a bit of a project if one looks at the various photo references long enough.

Because of the poor fit of the top piece of the stack I trimmed the sides flush and used a ½ round .08mm rod to simulate the joint between the top and body of the stack.

The plastic cross member on the rear stack is replaced with a brass rod structure. The inside of the tops of the stacks was cut out and replaced with a combination of paper and plastic.

A review I read pointed out that the ventilators on the kit stacks were too thick. Checking a number of photos proved that to be correct. The ventilators were removed and replaced with PE grills and framed by Plastruct .010 strips.

The plastic around the searchlight platform has been removed and will be replaced by canvas covered PE rail. Floater net baskets were added as were pipes up the front of the stack.

PE was borrowed to make up the railings around the top of the stacks. The PE ladders seem a bit massive and will be replaced.

Edited September 10, 2019 by tigerdvr
Sequence error

[Tigerdvr]

Getting stacks ready for priming. Some of the more fragile PE pieces will be assembled later.

The first ventilator and floater net baskets are now .V2

Removing ventilators-                                                                                       New ventilators -

New Ventilators installed-                                                                                      Floater net baskets shaped by rolling with mandrel on clay-

Antenna brackets for rear stack, scratch PE-                                                              Brackets installed-

Ready for first prime-

More to follow--

 

 

 

Edited September 9, 2019 by tigerdvr

[popeye the sailor]

off to a very nice start.........the stacks and other PE additions look really good  

[SigEp Ziggy]

Fantastic work, once again, great photos! Can't wait to see more.

[Tigerdvr]

Some project progress photos--

Building replacement main mast--

 With all the references available I'm letting myself constantly find details that are not in the kit and are a great challenge to duplicate. I have not been able to locate a picture or other source that will clarify my current configuration question.

The kit shows two inclined ladders mounted on the main deck (100 I think) terminating on the next level just outside of the flag bags on the navigation bridge. I replaced the kit pieces with PE. Then I found a picture showing an inclined ladder to the starboard side of the main mast that originates at top of the deck house and terminates at the navigation bridge level.

The picture is on page 27 of "USS Kidd, On Deck" (Squadron/Signal). If anyone can clarify how the inclined ladders are configured, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks for your time, Harley

 

 

 

 

Edited September 29, 2019 by tigerdvr
Unintended picture

[mtaylor]

Your problems make it seem like the kit was designed from the original plans and "as built"/"as changed during sea tests", etc. weren't incorporated.  I'm glad your overcoming the problems. She's looking great.

[Tigerdvr]

Upgrade the anchor gear:

 

Removed the molded anchor related gear. The new chain is 40 links per inch. Hawse pipes are made from wire with grills made from pieces of 1/700 PE and bollards from a resin set.

The end covers are fashioned from PE hatch covers. I only had room for one stopper that I put on the starboard chain just for effect. The windlass brake wheel will come on later.

Ref: Squadron/Signal USS Kidd On Deck. Pages 6 & 7.

[SigEp Ziggy]

Looks great!  Where did you get the bollards? I was going to cast some made from scratch for my Arizona Memorial build, but that is box scale 1/429.

 

Also, I will check how many links per inch the walmart jewelry chain is.

Edited October 3, 2019 by SigEp Ziggy

[Tigerdvr]

1 hour ago, SigEp Ziggy said:

Looks great!  Where did you get the bollards? I was going to cast some made from scratch for my Arizona Memorial build, but that is box scale 1/429.

 

Also, I will check how many links per inch the walmart jewelry chain is.

Check Alliance Model Works, www.am-works.com, Part#35054. Warning: They have a lot of goodies that you didn't know you needed/wanted!☺️

[Tigerdvr]

Greetings, 

I recently posted a question on this website regarding the ladders behind the bridge on the Kidd. The Trumpeter kit shows two ladders going from the main deck to the top of the deck house

and another ladder from the deck house to the navigation bridge.

I have found the answer--

FYI, there are, in fact, three ladders not two as shown on the kit.

Source: NavSource, Naval History. A very nice source of information and photos of what you might be building.

Busy building PE ladders

Cheers, Harley

 

[Tigerdvr]

Begin installation of the main mast. Upgraded details with some of the antennas and equipment yet to be added.

How long will it take me to accidently knock the mast out of line.

The Mk 37 Fire Control is not glued on yet.

 

 

Edited October 6, 2019 by tigerdvr

[popeye the sailor]

hi Harley.....wonderful progress since I last looked in     your paint work and use of PE is awesome.......lots of real nice detail!

[Tigerdvr]

Thanks popeye, working on loading the depth charge racks now🤪, a bit tough one on the old eyeballs.

Edited October 9, 2019 by tigerdvr
add word

[SigEp Ziggy]

Good luck, can't wait to see them.  Are going to use those Black Cat guns on this build?

[Tigerdvr]

Hi Zippy, I am using the Black Cat 20mm Orlikon twin mounts on the Kidd. Right now

I'm hunting for a depth charge rack that got flipped off the bench. How can you lose a gray

piece on a light wood floor? Does build time include "search" time? I hate these part eating magic floors.

There, I feel better now, thanks for letting me vent a bit.

Cheers, Harley

[SigEp Ziggy]

Did you find your part?  I know what your talking about, it may be small, but how does it just disappear.

[mtaylor]

Try using a flashlight with most of the lights off in the room.  On hands and knees unfortunately. Basically start in corner of the room closed to the bench and work your away to cover the whole thing.   I find that's the only way I can find parts and even then there's a few that have gone into the ether and it's always a PITA.

[Tigerdvr]

I've tried all the systems for finding wayward pieces but to no avail. It was probably the authenticity saint that saw I was using double racks instead of singles which would be correct for the Kidd at this time period. I'll probably just make up a set of singles.

My admiral suggests tying a piece of line to the part to make it easier to find when it flies 😜, a good laugh was had by all. 

[Canute]

Try cutting them off their sprues inside a large clear plastic bag. Once off the sprue, though.... I've launched any number of eye bolts and assorted other details off into the ether. I'll hunt for a while and then get/make new pieces. Two weeks later, I'll be looking for some other suborbital part and find the one from the last part safari.

[Tigerdvr]

A lot of subassemblies have come together so I will attempt to bring the log up to date with some kind of order. Hopefully the photos will help.

The mast aft of the torpedo tubes became an interesting little project. I don't know what the proper nomenclature would be for that mast. I replaced the kit mast

with a combination of brass rod and other spare parts. Triangular gussets from Alliance Models have come in handy in various applications on this project.

The deck on the aft Mk51 director position was raised by filling the tube with Perfect Plastic Putty. All the Mk51 directors are aftermarket.

The right picture below shows the kit mast and the replacement.

The depth charge racks are Gold Metal which most of the PE is. The depth charges are cut from 1mm plastic rod. The K-guns are kit. Kit cranes(?) were replaced with brass rod. It's easier to load the depth charges in the rack if you glue them to a thin strip of plastic. Then you load the rack like a stripper clip into a rifle. 

The stern racks and smoke projectors are installed. The aft 20mm gun tube was modified to follow the configuration per references. 

Closing with some shots of other additions. The midship 40mm director platform was constructed like the aft mast by adding items to make it look like the reference photos. I'm making the backup

conning station which is not part of the kit.

 

 

 

Edited October 29, 2019 by tigerdvr
Grammer