Ringadingdong Posted March 20, 2020 Share #1 Posted March 20, 2020 As I mentioned in my introduction, I am currently working on Tamiya's 1/350 Fletcher. As I'm genetically unable to simply build a kit as provided, I'm trying to build her as USS Thatcher DD-514, as she appeared ca. February 1944 after she was rebuilt at Mare Island. That requires some extra work, as the kit covers only the earliest (6?) Fletchers, which differed a little in their AA arrangement Thankfully, I could borrow a couple of the required parts from Trumpeter's 'The Sullivans' kit. Furthermore, I'm throwing in some aftermarket for additional excitement. Enough of the words for the moment, here she as she currently appears: There's still quite some way to go, apparently... Canute, Papa, CDW and 9 others 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yvesvidal Posted March 20, 2020 Share #2 Posted March 20, 2020 10 minutes ago, Ringadingdong said: As I'm genetically unable to simply build a kit as provided, I'm trying to build her as USS Thatcher DD-514, as she appeared ca. We are quite numerous to suffer from the same debilitating disease. Yves Ringadingdong, CDW, Canute and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted March 20, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted March 20, 2020 7 hours ago, yvesvidal said: We are quite numerous to suffer from the same debilitating disease. Yves Maybe we should establish a support group? "Hello, my name is Michael, and I'm unable to build kits as intended!" Anyways, todays harvest, a little work on the funnels. Funnel caps, the whistle platform and the center tube leading up to the ship's whistle. More tubework ahead! GrandpaPhil, Canute, Beef Wellington and 7 others 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share #4 Posted April 4, 2020 Two weeks and a couple of unquotable exclamations later, main work on the funnels is done. The rear one was pretty straightforward, but the forward one almost gave me the fits. I had to make 8 of the large whistle, and for the small one, I went through about 10 cm of 0.75 mm plastic rod. That railing around the middle platform went through three or four iterations, and then, the platform itself wouldn't want to stick at the first attempt, as well. The railing on the searchlight platform is from the Tom's Modelworks set, which is made from a somewhat soft brass and thus pretty delicate. That definitely still needs a little extra care. The forward funnel still needs the persenning around the searchlight platform and some floater baskets, and both still need ladders. And a good cleanup, as the makro reveals... Unfortunately, I lost a significant piece of ladder from the rear funnel and need a replacement. The ones from the Eduard set are much smaller than the ladders from the Tom's set, so I'm looking for some generic ladders in a comparable size. Jack12477, RGL, hexnut and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share #5 Posted April 4, 2020 To chill down inbetween, the direction finder received some attention: Also, checking the few pictures of the ship I have, I suddenly realised Thatcher had the revised stern Bofors platform. Running a bit out of motivation to modify the kit-supplied platform (especially after I already put a few hours effort in it), I made an order at Shapeways and got that lil' gem: I'm certain it'll look awesome once it got some paint! RGL, mtaylor, american and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share #6 Posted April 4, 2020 I also started work on the reinforcements on the forward quad Bofors and gun director platforms. While the platforms were pretty quickly done with some 0.5 mm plastic and some brass sheet (and to my surprise, unlike some funnel parts, just the plastic parts needed more than one attempt!), it took me a while to find a solution for those reinforcements. In the end, I decided to try some 0.25mm plastic strips: Still quite a way to go, but it seems I can pull that off! Missing some basic supplies usually isn't a big thing, but what's 'usual' these days? Thanks to everything closed due to Corona, I had to place an order for 5€ worth of plastic (okay, 10 € of plastic and 15 more for paint...) and had to wait five days until the parcel arrived. Oh, well... Overall view: and because it is so nice, a better view on the funnels: Thanks for watching! :) lmagna, GrandpaPhil, american and 5 others 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerdvr Posted April 4, 2020 Share #7 Posted April 4, 2020 A nice project. Sharing the same ailment you are experiencing. I recently finished building 1/350 USS Kidd using the Trumpeter The Sullivans kit as a base and a combination of aftermarket and scratch built items to bring her to the anti-kamikaze configuration. Fortunately the Kidd is preserved in Baton Rouge in her late WWII configuration providing a great information source in addition to all the many other good sources. Looking forward to following your Thatcher build. Enjoy. mtaylor, Canute, lmagna and 1 other 4 Quote Cheers, Harley<p Under Construction: USS Curtis Wilbur DDG-54 1/200 by ILoveKit Completed: F-35A 1/48 by Tamiya USS Atlanta CL-51 1/350 by Very Fire Liberty Ship John W. Brown 1/350 by Trumpeter HMS Spiraea K-08 1/350 USS Arizona BB-39 1/200 by Trumpeter/Mk1 Design HMS Sir Gareth 1/350 by Starling Models USS Missouri BB-63 1945 1/350 by Joy-Yard, 9/11/21 USS Indianapolis CA-35 1945 1/350 by Trumpeter USS Kidd DD-661, 1945, 1/350, on The Sullivans kit by Trumpeter USS Alaska CB-1, 1/350, Hobby Boss, Circa 2/1945 Brig Syren 1/64 Model Shipways, Wood Started,On Hold: Frigate Confederacy 1/64 Model Shipways, Wood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted April 4, 2020 Author Share #8 Posted April 4, 2020 Just had a look at your USS Kidd, very nice! I have two of those kits in my posession, I bought the first to borrow some parts for Thatcher and build it in a '45 configuration with the remaining parts. Then I got a offer for the second kit which I just couldn't ignore. That'll end up in a 60's configuration, if I can find some 3" guns. Oh well, so many ideas and such slow progress... I saw you also used the Black Cat Oerlikons. Is there anything on these that needs some extra attention? mtaylor, lmagna and Canute 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tigerdvr Posted April 5, 2020 Share #9 Posted April 5, 2020 I believe I used them as is with painting of course. Off hand, I would think Shapeway is the best bet to find the 3" twins. I understand the overload of ideas. Every time I opened USS Kidd On Deck I saw another little detail and started thinking how I could replicate that on the model. Must be part of the disease! Ringadingdong, Canute, lmagna and 1 other 4 Quote Cheers, Harley<p Under Construction: USS Curtis Wilbur DDG-54 1/200 by ILoveKit Completed: F-35A 1/48 by Tamiya USS Atlanta CL-51 1/350 by Very Fire Liberty Ship John W. Brown 1/350 by Trumpeter HMS Spiraea K-08 1/350 USS Arizona BB-39 1/200 by Trumpeter/Mk1 Design HMS Sir Gareth 1/350 by Starling Models USS Missouri BB-63 1945 1/350 by Joy-Yard, 9/11/21 USS Indianapolis CA-35 1945 1/350 by Trumpeter USS Kidd DD-661, 1945, 1/350, on The Sullivans kit by Trumpeter USS Alaska CB-1, 1/350, Hobby Boss, Circa 2/1945 Brig Syren 1/64 Model Shipways, Wood Started,On Hold: Frigate Confederacy 1/64 Model Shipways, Wood Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papa Posted April 5, 2020 Share #10 Posted April 5, 2020 “As I'm genetically unable to simply build a kit as provided, I'm trying to build her as USS Thatcher DD-514, as she appeared” i have the opposite problem. I have trouble building a plastic model as intended. mtaylor, Canute and Ringadingdong 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGL Posted April 5, 2020 Share #11 Posted April 5, 2020 Love to see a kit bash Ringadingdong, mtaylor, lmagna and 1 other 4 Quote Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted April 19, 2020 Author Share #12 Posted April 19, 2020 I can almost smell the primer! Canute, GrandpaPhil, american and 4 others 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmagna Posted April 19, 2020 Share #13 Posted April 19, 2020 Nice progress Canute, Ringadingdong and mtaylor 3 Quote Lou Build logs: Colonial sloop Providence 1/48th scale kit bashed from AL Independence Currant builds: Constructo Brigantine Sentinel (Union) (On hold) Minicraft 1/350 Titanic (For the Admiral) 1/350 Heavy Cruiser USS Houston (Resin) Currant research/scratchbuild: Schooner USS Lanikai/Hermes Non ship build log: 1/35th UH-1H Huey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted May 5, 2020 Author Share #14 Posted May 5, 2020 Now to the fun part. Everything starts bland in grey primer Minutes later, some black emphasizes the areas that usually see now light: 2 1/2 hours and various shades of grey, brown, orange, green and white later break the monotony of the surface: Time for coffee. Next time you see her, she'll have a red bum, err, bottom! mtaylor, yvesvidal, GrandpaPhil and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted May 5, 2020 Author Share #15 Posted May 5, 2020 And red: 5 parts Vallejo hull red and 1 part Vallejo flat red, as the hull red is a bit too dark for my taste. Camera sucks, I have to realise again. Its definitely nicer than it shows up here. Thanks for watching! mtaylor, yvesvidal, lmagna and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGL Posted May 5, 2020 Share #16 Posted May 5, 2020 Are you going to oil can her? mtaylor 1 Quote Greg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted May 6, 2020 Author Share #17 Posted May 6, 2020 10 hours ago, RGL said: Are you going to oil can her? I gave it a thought, but I'll save that for a later project. I have to keep complexity managable, because I tend to work all over the place, and the paintwork on this one will already give me a good amount of headache... mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted May 24, 2020 Author Share #18 Posted May 24, 2020 Time for an update: Now everything is in a grey haze, err, Haze Grey, we can move on to the camouflage, nuffin' more than a little bit of colour by numbers: Should be a walk in the park! :D I just bulked up my inventory, just in case... What else? Ah, I made a base: That's it for today. Thanks for watching! GrandpaPhil, ccoyle, Jack12477 and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ringadingdong Posted June 11, 2020 Author Share #19 Posted June 11, 2020 I'll have to rework a few blemishes, but overall I'm quite pleased how it turned out: I don't know what I'm going to build next, but one thing I know for sure: it'll have a far less complex paint scheme! 😉 Also, I got some valuable informations regarding the forward funnel, though I'm still short of appropriately sized ladders. Thanks for watching! GrandpaPhil, rvchima, mtaylor and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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