USS Crockett by mtdoramike - FINISHED - Dumas

[mtdoramike]

Here is another orphaned kit that I came across where the original owner with all good intentions I'm sure started the build by taking most of the parts off of the parts trees and that is about where they stopped their efforts. At least from what I can tell is that they numbered all the pieces so no harm I guess. Upon inspection, I noticed the rudders and drive shaft struts are missing, which is easily replaced. This is an old kit, which has been bounced around from pillar to post. I hate seeing this, but I can't save them all. But as long as I'm able, I will finish it.

 

The USS Crockett is a Vietnam area gun boat: is one of seventeen gunboats in the Ashville Class. This is the first group of US Navy ships to be powered by gas turbine. The Crockett was designed for Coastal patrol, blockade reconnaissance and support missions in South Vietnam.

Scale 5/16" = 1 foot

Length 51"

Beam 7 1/2"

Draft 4" 

[ccoyle]

Another very interesting find, Mike! I will be keen to see how this one turns out, as I built Revell's USS Defiance (same class) as a kid.

[mtdoramike]

Thanks Chris, I picked up this kit for about $50.00. I wasn't really looking for one at the time, but when the opportunity arose, I figured what the heck I'll give it a try. I hated to see it getting kicked around and as you can tell from the looks of the box, it's been around the block a few times. I think I'm like the third or possibly the fourth owner of the kit and not much has been done to it other than missing a few parts.

 

I have built a few Dumas kits and this is one of their old, old kits, no pictorials, limited instructions and basic building diagrams on the plan sheets themselves.    

[clearway]

god speed and good luck- this new generation of modellers don't know how lucky they are- no laser cutting and photoetch upgrades for us back in the day!

 

Keith

[mtdoramike]

You got that right, nothing like a pressed wood panel or better yet printed on wood. Better have a sharp knife. 

[popeye the sailor]

I hear ya there........the Nordkap I built and the one I'm currently building,  both are not laser cut.   it's a good thing I'm scratch building the progress with the second kit {wait....that amounts to the same thing }.  I've always wanted to try a Dumas kit........I saw the PT boat at a local HobbyTown.....I wonder if it's still there?.   should be a fun project to watch.........first to unravel the pile of parts    good price!

[mtdoramike]

Popeye, that PT would be a humdinger to build. 

[popeye the sailor]

still trying to sweet talk the admiral.........Mog is building one.

[CDW]

14 minutes ago, popeye the sailor said:

still trying to sweet talk the admiral.........Mog is building one.

Don't forget Mother's Day is coming up. A chance to score some brownie points. 🙂

[mtdoramike]

Man I'm so far in the deficit I would have to live another life to score brownie points

[CDW]

36 minutes ago, mtdoramike said:

Man I'm so far in the deficit I would have to live another life to score brownie points

😂🤣😅

[mtdoramike]

As with most all used and sometimes abused kit, you run into a snag. It's how you choose to deal with that snag. It's seems that some where along the 25 or so years that the Dumas USS Crockett had been passed around from hand to hand, pillar to post, someone took out the three part sheets DC1, DC2 & DC3, which contained the hull frames. I'm assuming it was the owner that started work on the keel, but dropped off at that point. So I called Dumas, who were nice enough to send me the three parts sheets for $5.00 each total of $15.00. I explained to them that this was an orphaned kit that had been treated like an unwanted step child and I was making it my life long journey to bring a little love into it's life and fulfill it's modeling destiny and I was doing a build log on it on Model Ship World to record our journey. Hopefully they will stop in an say how do.   

[CDW]

3 minutes ago, mtdoramike said:

As with most all used and sometimes abused kit, you run into a snag. It's how you choose to deal with that snag. It's seems that some where along the 25 or so years that the Dumas USS Crockett had been passed around from hand to hand, pillar to post, someone took out the three part sheets DC1, DC2 & DC3, which contained the hull frames. I'm assuming it was the owner that started work on the keel, but dropped off at that point. So I called Dumas, who were nice enough to send me the three parts sheets for $5.00 each total of $15.00. I explained to them that this was an orphaned kit that had been treated like an unwanted step child and I was making it my life long journey to bring a little love into it's life and fulfill it's modeling destiny and I was doing a build log on it on Model Ship World to record our journey. Hopefully they will stop in an say how do.   

Wow, Dumas is good people.

[mtdoramike]

I received the 3 frame sheets from Dumas Friday and although it was nice not to have to trace and cut them out myself, One of the sheets was warped, and all of them had to be basically cut out with a razor knife anyway because it seems their cutter either needed to have the blades replaced or sharpened. Out of all the Dumas kits I have built over the years which are numerous, these were the worst cut sheets I have found. But I always like to find a bright spot on everything, at least I didn't have to traces and cut the frames as well as buy the 3 sheets hobby grade plywood, which would have cost me about the same if not a bit more than the $15.00 Dumas charged me. So I'm good with it. now to wet and press those few frames to get the warp out of them.  

[BobG]

You take on the most interesting orphan models to build, Mike. I'll be following along on this interesting project.

[ccoyle]

8 hours ago, BobG said:

You take on the most interesting orphan models to build, Mike.

I agree! I bet there's a lot of orphaned models out there hoping that Mike will stumble upon them. 😉

[mtdoramike]

Thanks Bob and Chris, yes there are a lot of orphaned kits that have been offered to me lately it seems more so now than in years past. I have had to turn down a couple of them last week. I wish I had time to build them all, but unfortunately time is not on my side. I would love to accept them, give them a home and the opportunity to be all they can be, but the admiral has put her foot down and gave me an executive order, "you must find them homes by the time they are finished and re-coop most of your investment". So far I have been lucky and have only received a few demerits.      

[BobG]

4 hours ago, mtdoramike said:

I wish I had time to build them all, but unfortunately time is not on my side.

I'm a latecomer to the ship modeling party and time is not on my side either. I'd need another lifetime to build all the models that I find are so interesting to me. Then there's always the question that my wife asks me that I need to consider, "So where are we going to put it." There's still a little bit of space in the house since I only have 3  completed models on the shelf currently but I've got 9 models still in their boxes. I'm about to put a few of them up for sale if I can bear to part with them. Are you sure that you don't need to adopt another orphan....? 🤔

[mtdoramike]

hahahahaha, I never say never Bob. I had built a huge wall unit about 20 years ago which could hold about 15 models depending on the size of them. I had it filled up within a couple of years and ran out of room, that is when I realized I needed an intervention🥺. So I sold, traded and donated all of the models, took the wall display unit apart and sold it on Craigslist for next to nothing so my wife could have the house back. So I know the feeling. 

[VTHokiEE]

4 hours ago, BobG said:

I'm about to put a few of them up for sale if I can bear to part with them.

I’ll believe when I see it 😉 (but if you have an AL Red Dragon let me know)

[BobG]

Sorry, VTHokiEE, that's one I don't have...

[J11]

Very nice find for a rare kit. USS Crockett a hard model to find being in such good condition along with what seems most of the pieces. Look forward to your updates! Did it come with a motor system? Seems to be one of the old RC boat kits from the images I see, I also love to rescue kits I have interest in and always on the hunt, Hint, Hint @Bob G What yea got??

 

[mtdoramike]

No, no motor system, which is no big deal, but it did come with the running hardware (drive Shafts), which is more important than the motor. 

[J11]

Very nice! Have you decided if you will static display her or add water flow details to the base? Are you planning on turning her into a RC? Man she's a beauty and a bunch can be done with that size of a kit.

 

 

[mtdoramike]

The Crockett will be fully functional as far as R/C operation. Yes, at over 50 inches long, it will be a lengthy model and easy to place all the running hardware,  

[mtdoramike]

OK, I have finally started building the Crockett. This is a long model. One thing I noticed right away is the length of this model versus the width meaning it will be quite top heavy.  

[Sparkyb]

Just finished sanding the hill and applied my first 2sheets of fiberglass. One can not be in a hurry and be sure you get the knuckle correct it is what makes the ship unique.

[mtdoramike]

You are right about that Spark. I have started the planking and am very mindful of that knuckle.

 

 

[mtdoramike]

I have finished the hull planking which was non-eventful, but I did use scrap balsa pieces and added it to the sides of the frames to give more of a seat for the plank. I also skim coated the exterior of the hull with bondo, which really wasn't needed since the planking went on very nicely, but rather to give additional strength to the balsa planking and also to add a bit more weight to the hull since it is quite light and the narrowness of the hull along with quite a bit of super structure above the deck. I'm figuring it will require quite a bit of weight to keep it from wanting to pitch to much and to be more stable.   

 

The instructions call for 2oz cloth for the exterior of the hull. I have 2oz fiberglass cloth as well as 4oz cloth. I usually prefer to work with 2oz cloth over the 4oz cloth because the 2oz drapes better and a bit easier to work with than the 4oz. But, I like the 4oz for more rigidity than the 2oz.  

[mtdoramike]

I started putting the deck house together while I'm waiting for the weather to cool off a bit before I start fiber glassing the hull.