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[glendavis1971]

Hi guys sorry been a bit busy over the last week not had much time to do anything and the dreaded school holidays are here.

Thats not no good kraftykid

Its in my conservatory norseman

Thanks for the link rob i had a good read through very interesting

The props cane from the prop shop harquebus they are world war 2 pattern props http://www.prop-shop.co.uk/index.php?id=42&section=store&sub_section=products&product_type=42 I emailed them and ask them to recommend props they are very helpful

Well over the past week and a bit a little progress has been made I have fitted all the running gear and checked access through the existing holes in the deck my biggest worry was battery fitting and removal for charging. With control run for guns its tight but just fits. You'll notice I have fitted a speaker this is for the model sounds sfx7 sound module I intend to fit as soon as i saved enough pennies to order it very soon i hope. I have also wire the 2 smoke generators in parallel with motors to give proportional smoke for speed.

Also I have start making the some of brass details at mo only the floation baskets I made a former from some spare brass tube rolled the main section around it folded the ended in and super glued it and my fingers to the first one  and after i unstuck myself made the other 5 without a hitch.

Next phase will be to fit the deck and remove the stanchion raised holes and fill any hole that wont be used.















Any questions guys feel free to ask

Glen

[Armo61]

Looking good there Glen a wee bit per day keeps King Neptune at Bay eh???

Charles

[Rmay]

I still have a few minor details to finish with my current build. Then another boat to be starting soon – but you sure have me looking forward to again one day opening the box on my old Blue Devil. Started mine SEVERAL years ago and fell into the trap of trying to fix the problems and got bogged down. It’s been in the box ever since. Next time I’ll take your approach and keep it fun! Keep up the good work

[Armo61]

Hey Glen sorry I just couldnt resist I hope it is the correct model. It is in the box which is still sealed and was stuck away in a cupboard for a few years.









I am in no hurry to build this as a lot on the go as you know but it will be good to have and guess what I know where to come to get all the help I need.
I think Raaartygunner said he had one also.
So I havent got it as yet will no tomorrow still working a deal but I.m pretty sure something will be worked out.

Charles

[AlanT]

I've also managed to get hold of a Kit.....at last!...

Regards

Alan

[bikerdude999]

I've been trying to get hold of 1 of these but keep getting out bid! I've got the Revell fletcher in 1/144 but it's just too small for me the slightly bigger scale lindberg kit would be much better!

[glendavis1971]

It looks like i have started a bit of a revival for this kit.

Thats the hard bit Rmay knowing where to draw the line and when it ceases to be fun and becomes a chore you've gone wrong somewhere

  Charles you have deff been bitten hard by the bug

enjoy Alan I'm having a ball

Thats a shame biker I got mine at a model show its amazing what you can find with the dealers that sell at these shows

Any how I have managed to spend a few hours in workshop this week I really wanted to get the deck fitted and filled so I could start painting the hull this weekend.

I fitted the deck bu gradually fitting and dribbling liquid poly into the joint carefully working my way around. Then wait for the glue to set then adding more layers of glue until i achieved a good plastic weld around the entire deck. after removing the raised stanchion supports i applied a large of filler around the joint area and left to set for 24 hours before the first sand. once sanded a second layer of filler to fill and missed spots and left a further 24 hours before sanding again.

Some of you may of notice in the previous set of photos I had removed the gun splinter shielding, gun tub support and the thingy that ran along the side after the wheelhouse section. 2 reasons, the first that there would be a 2mm gap to the side of ship and second made it easier to fit the deck. After the deck was fitted and sanded these were fitted back in position this time flush with the ships side. for the thingy (if anyone can tell me whats called I'd be grateful) I cut a 1mm square piece of plastic cut into 5mm lengths and glued to the thingy's base to raise to correct height.

I got bored while waiting for the filler to set and just for the hell of it corrected the error thats been niggling harquebus for sometime  . I carefully removed the wheel house front section and with a razor saw cut the offending 4 port hole off just above the pipe. I then cut a piece of 1mm plastic card to size. I just happened to have a 4mm brass tube thats exactly the same size as the original moulding and carefully cut and filed 2.5mm lengths. I marked the 5 port hole positions a drilled out to 4mm and fitted the brass rings. These where fixed in place using runny super glue. once set I fitted the new section and once the glue had set filed to size and angle before refitting to super structure. I think this was well worth the effort and not hard to do even easier if you do it before making this section of the wheelhouse









next stage tomorrow working on the forecastle detail

Glen

[Armo61]

What Bug Glen? Do you realise that monies spent on this Kit has eaten into my much luved Glen Fiddich Kitty. Geez I might even have to be prime sober when building this one.

Another nice bit of work there Glen it's really starting to look the part. You must know a lot of History re this Ship or have you bought books on Her to complete the amazing Scale Work. If so could you advise book to purchase and It might be available here in Australia also, It would be a great read also.

Your work is Just a delight to read. I am also going to help Bikerdud out here if he really wants a model of this kit. But not until tomorrow when I get the correct information for him so I hope he is signed in when we send messages to this forum. NO CHARGE BIKER haha you will need the monies to buy the kit.

Have been researching also on the Nimitz and have a lot of details on her but I can discuss that in the correct location.

Okay my friend keep going, god bless and look forward to your next. What are we going to do next by the way haha, I should'nt say much I have a few coming and hopefully that new Trumpeter Bismarck is in the winds blowing ever so gently I must add.

Charles

[bikerdude999]

I was incredibly disappointed yesterday, I wouldve bet money it was a 1/200 hms hood trumpeter were releasing, but after scouring google I came back on here and found the thread, only to realise it was Bismarck :( still need to convince my gf the 1/200 Arizona is a good addition to the fleet lol I am going away for a couple of nights, but I'm never far from a wifi hotspot so can still check messages...

[Armo61]

Okay Biker Dude no problems I will work on your Lindberg today and see what I can come up with.
Spoke with one of my chinese sources last night and they contacted Trumpeter direct for me. The 1/200 Bismarck is due for release in November and they can secure me one for 250.00 plus 20.00 Postage so time to save for her. Last price I looked at they wanted order for 299.00 so its still 49.00 saving so I am glad I have held off.
Will contact you on the Nimitz forum later on as I want to leave this as Glens baby.
Cheers
Charles

[Armo61]

Righto Glen deal worked out aok so I now am expecting the Blue Devil to add to my fleet. I got away with a good deal I think. With ship paid for and postage from the US total worked out at just over 100.00 Aussie, so I am happy with that.
Biker dude if you got to Ebay US Military Kits Sea, I believe there are 3 Blue Devils being shown at this time. I think 2 are buy now prices and 1 is a bid.
Ok some great deals there.
Cheers
Charles

[glendavis1971]

lol amour theres much better single malts than glen fiddich  . Part of the pleasure of modelling for me is the researching the subject  I love to find out as much as I can.

Good luck with your girlfriend biker 

Well guys had an interesting weekend working on her and learnt a new skill.

As most of you are aware the forecastle ares of this kit is completely wrong and does need sorting out. First thing I did was scan the drawing of the forecastle into my PC and using photoshop scaled it to 1/125 and printed 2 copies



I cut out one to use as a overlay



I Have also rescent bought some john Haynes fitting at 1/96 scale which is over scale but on small items i might be able to get away with. However the hawser plates are a bit to big but the oddly the chain guide are the exact right size. I used the second print at a template to make 2 new hawser guides





Now with a mind look at a future build to go along with this ship (Casablanca class escort carrier) a lot of the fittings are common so I decided to make a mould to manufacture the common parts in the future. Using the smallest amount of super glue possible i glue the fitting to a piece of plasticard and made box which I then filled with silicon rubber to make a mould and set aside



While I wait for the rubber to cure I started works on the anchor hawser tubes. The original kit supplies 1 massively oversized anchor as far I can seen all Fletcher's have 2 anchors. So using my overlay i marked out the correct positions for both anchors and pilot drill the holes. now these have to line up perfectly with deck hole and the holes have be at the correct angle. I achieved this by drilling progressively larger holes adjusting the angle as i went and on the final 4mm hole the brass tube fitted perfectly.



The brass tube was then cut and filed to size angles and fitted in place with super glues ensuring all gaps are filled.



On sunday morning the rubber had cured and couldn't  help myself I had to test it and mixed up the rest and had trail cast. It took 2 attempts but i got it right chuffed to bits 



The forecastle area is now manufactured nothing is fixed yet.



Next stage prepping hull for paint and building all the details

[Harquebus]

Ha ha ha ha...! I laughed out loud reading what you had done.    I'm a bit embarrassed and gratified at the same time. The pilot house looks so much better doesn't it? I think the heart of the matter is that you are making this Blue Devil destroyer your own, like adding your unique signature to it. You'll never correct all the inaccuracies (unless insanity is your goal) but so far the steps you are taking are above and beyond what I think many would bother with. Most are content with leaving it as-is.

I really like what you have done with the forecastle, anchor windlass and "anchor chain ports". Fine work.

[Harquebus]

I've been trying to get hold of 1 of these but keep getting out bid! I've got the Revell fletcher in 1/144 but it's just too small for me the slightly bigger scale lindberg kit would be much better!

I've seen the Revell Fletcher kit converted to R/C so don't let its slightly smaller scale frighten you off. I say build it to survive a scaled-down Pacific typhoon, fill the voids in the hull with styrofoam and head into harm's way. I think there are conversion kits available to fashion it into a later square bridge Fletcher (which I prefer) just like the Blue Devil.

[bikerdude999]

Righto Glen deal worked out aok so I now am expecting the Blue Devil to add to my fleet. I got away with a good deal I think. With ship paid for and postage from the US total worked out at just over 100.00 Aussie, so I am happy with that.
Biker dude if you got to Ebay US Military Kits Sea, I believe there are 3 Blue Devils being shown at this time. I think 2 are buy now prices and 1 is a bid.
Ok some great deals there.
Cheers
Charles

Thanks, I had a look and there's quite a few on there now, but after having 2 new tyres on the car I'll have to wait til next month now. Will keep reading this thread though, very interesting to see the improvements you're making.

[Armo61]

Hey BikerDude not my ship Glen Davis has the Helm its all his work matey and a great job too. I will be posting soon on the US Nimitz so follow up on that also if you like. No I wish I was as good as Glen mate but practice will make perfect tks.
Charles

[glendavis1971]

Hi guys

Been nearly a week since i last posted progress has been slow but worth the efforts.

  Harquebus I agree was worth the effort in the end and has massively improved the visual look of her. Insanity can never be my goal I got there years ago. I do think your right with the revel fletcher no problem. If it was me I'd go for a single screw and rudder. plenty of space to squeeze everything in I'd even consider lipo battery pack due to size and weight.

Keep the faith biker all good things come to those who wait they say.

  thanks Charles I no master modeller just guy that loves to build models and your right practice does make perfect, But I'd also say taking your time and lots of patients are the biggest factors.

Well guys over the last week I have been work hard on the brass details. All the 20mm and 40mm have been converted at first i thought the oerlikons were to tall but after surfer 100's of pics of Fletcher's it was obvious these guns are tall. I made the depth charge rails and K gun reload racks but they lacked depth charges so either use the kit ones or make new ones. after a rumage through my odds box I found a length of 4mm brass tube and 3.2 plastic rod that fitted snuggly into the tube. I cut the tube to the same width as the internal width of the rack smoothed everything up and cut the rod to 1/2mm small than the tube width and fixed slightly recesses either end. I made 5 glued them to a strip of plastic and made a silicon mould and reproduced 40 depth charges a few spare to account for bad casts. I glue 9 to strips of 0.25 mm plastic cut to the rack width and carefully glued 3 per K gun reloader and sliding the brass shelfs in. The radars are made as per the brass instruction sheet and directly replace the clunky plastic ones. Also the yard fittings replaced the plastic ones I had make 1 aerial from 0.5mm brass wire. I have finished the funnels by fitting the the steam pipes and making the supports for the HF antennae I also made a ensign staff thats mounted on the rear funnel. Everything Is coming together slowly just a few more details to finish then its painting and the home straight.

Lots of pics this week enjoy guys feel free ask questions

[glendavis1971]

[glendavis1971]

Hope you all like and find this helpful with your models

[shipmate60]

Biker,
If you go to MMB Website and Gallery you will see "Dodes's" conversion of the Revel Fletcher to twin screw.

http://marksmodelbits.com/

Bob

[Stormbringer]

looking good 

[RAAArtyGunner]

Hi Glen,

Are you in UK.

Can you give more details about the "brass, instruction sheet, etc" is it a aftermarket 'fret'

 

[Armo61]

Geez Mate that is really terrific work, Do not I repeat Do not expect my ship when she arrives to look  like that hahaha, what do you reckon Raaartygunner,
Your in Brisbane going to do your ship as well as this one Hmmm.
You should start a Melvin shipyard Glen and start selling all these parts to us poor buggers who in no way could do something like that, only joking mate I know it will be a Oncer.
No worries, looking great its a shame to paint over all that nice brass work,  WAIT I know what, buy another keep it as your sailer and keep this one for display and unpainted what about that haha.
Ok be good
 

[Harquebus]

This is impressive work and a fine photo essay showing how the photo etch (PE) set really looks. Believe me, I have scoured the net for any and all builds of this age-old kit and have found nothing showing how the assembled PE is supposed to look and before paint is added as well. I have the kit and Tom's Modelworks PE set set aside for a later build and can only participate vicariously through your efforts. I thank you for the superb photography and the service you are providing to those of us who have not yet taken the plunge. Do you recall the size of the Prop Shop props you used?

raaartygunner: If I may be so bold, the PE fret is indeed aftermarket. ---> Tom's Modelworks #125-01 Fletcher Destroyer:

http://www.tomsmodelworks.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_39&products_id=166

HR Products also manufactures a set of 20 and 40mm AA guns for this kit in cast metal. Others have used them with good results but I think I will utilize the "clunky" kit parts.

http://www.hrprod.com/125.html  I have the single Oerlikons and twin Bofors but like I said I prefer to work in plastic and will not use them.

[RAAArtyGunner]

Harquebus,

Many thanks for the link for the PE fret.

Certainly makes a difference and well worth getting.

Think will go the way you are, namely, using the "clunky" bits also.

 

[glendavis1971]

That 1/144 fletcher looks good shipmate but still think single screw will give better handling with the single rudder.

many thanks strombringer

Raaty I'm in england I got the etched brass set from the link Harquebus posted took nearly 2 months to get here from states think they set by ship rather than airmail. Some sections of the instruction sheet are a bit vague and I've only just worked out were a part for the bofors goes will post pics with my next build update.

Thanks Charles Theres no chance of building another ones enough . However anyone building that wants a set of my scratch built fitting only has to ask and I'm sure some arrangement can be made.

Thanks a lot Harquebus Its nice to know others are finding my efforts are of use. The props from the prop shop are WW2/1011/3/LH/BR and WW2/1011/3/RH/BR. Is there any photos of the 20mm and 40mm guns from hrprod I'd like to see as might be handy for my next model.

No pics today guys as thought I'd respond to questions. I have added to the bit to the 40mm guns the instruction do tell you where they go. Ive built the whalers and modified the carly floats and taken a mould.

will post pics soon have fun guys

PS Charles lets see some picks of Nimitz

[AlanT]

Thanks Guys...The build will prove most useful when I get around to building mine.

Work on the Enterprise is progressing and the twin additional keels, for stability,  seems to work well....Time will tell. I will provide details following maiden voyage...assumming all is OK!!!!.

Keep up the great work and photo's....

Regards

Alan

PS what paint schemes are you going to use?.....I thought of a USS Melvin type of camouflage paint scheme that it wore during part of it's life cycle.

[Harquebus]

I provided a direct link to the PE set (even though glendavis noted it on the first page) just to indicate what it looks like and the asking price. Perhaps another vendor carries Tom's PE and is located in the UK or wherever anyone else watching this thread lives? I would research that before committing to ordering the set from the USA, thinking it's the only option and being stuck with a long wait for arrival.

BigGun Rob posted the Yahoo Group "lindyfletcher" as a great source of info, also on the first page, and that is where you can find pictures of the 20mm Oerlikons and 40mm Bofors sets. I think they are cast in white metal and are located in the Photos section in a folder titled "HR Products". The twin 20's are not shown but I surmise they are nearly identical. I intended on making my Blue Devil into a mid-war variant, before they received (I think) twin 20's and quad 40's to counter the growing kamikaze threat. The mount for the 20mm's is also the earlier solid "conical" shaped mount and not the later tripod style mount. The metal is perhaps too soft for the thin barrels of the Oerlikons (especially if the model is to be handled) so I also intended to replace them with hypodermic needle pieces. The adjusting wheel on the side of the 20mm mount is molded solid so I ordered some N gauge model RR brake wheels to replace those and just about every other hatch closure and wheel valve on the vessel. I have great ideas but no execution...

The 40mm Bofors? Decent also but not perfect. Perhaps both of these detail sets can be further imrpoved with PE, sort of combining the two but in all honesty the HR Products AA guns are on the crude side.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lindyfletcher/photos/album/401911586/pic/list

I am also a member of the group and was quite astonished to find such a group dedicated to this model and to RC plastic model conversion.

One more thing: Glendavis, have you considered adding bilge keels? Seeing the USS Kidd high and dry at low tide and with the bilge keels in all their glory makes them difficult to ignore... a prominent feature of the hull.

[Armo61]

Am I enjoying all these links and info re the build. I am awaiting mine from the states and as I said before I know where to come to creat a great model.
thanks everyone. Re the Nimitz yes I am working on it. I am just awaiting this camera card which i had to order from the UK to fit this camera of mine, and pictures on her will be forthcoming. Please do not be too critical as this will be my first attempt at a scale model. Oh I did do a few Airfix Aircraft when I was a kid like everyone else but that was that. So I will post pikkies as soon as the card arrives and Alan T hope you can give advice re flotation.
But will talk about that in the correct place.
Thanks all for the info. I have posted on the Sovremenny also if anyone wants to take a look if they have one.
Charles

[glendavis1971]

Hi Guys

I hope so Alan. Theres only once choice to paint Melvin Measure 21 as she spent the entire war in this scheme of all over navy blue

Thanks Harquebus I had a look at those parts they look OK to me. Yes I intend the fit bilge keels as they will aid stability on the water.  I spent hours looking for UK dealer but sadly there is none.

Will look forward to seeing your efforts Charles

Today I finished the brass work. You'll notice the gunsights on the bofors now have shrouds fitted. Took me age to work out where those part went like said before the instructions are very vague in parts. The Carly floats are simply remove the bottom and replace, I also made a mould for the next model. The forward float racks have to be fixed to the forward superstructure and while i tend avoid soldering where possible as its not my strong point it seem the only way to strongly fix 0.5 brass wire to act as a strengthener and fixing for rack. the rear rack is I used the wire as a peg to in place. Once I had bent the ladder I soldered more 0.5 brass to strengthen and fix the stairs in place.

I have also started prepare the fitting and fitting temporally in place note the white metal torpedo director and Mk51 gun directors these are 1/96 scale at the moment still a little high but at 5mm width they will be slightly overscale. I will be reducing the height where necessary.

Only a few more fitting to clean up and bilge keels to make and its ready to paint.

































sneaking up on finishing this model soon

[Armo61]

Looks terrific Glen, boyo your eyes must be in great shape to do all this brass work re soldering etc Nah Im afraid I would not have a clue how to do all that gear. I had better look for the Manufactured after market stuff me thinks haha
Great Pikkies too.

[Armo61]

Here you are all doing or watching the work being done by Glen.
A bit of Nostalgia, watch the video some good shots and does'nt go for too long.
http://youtu.be/Kns22_ujPAc
Enjoy
Charles

[RAAArtyGunner]

Glen,

Have now taken the first step, ventured into the "vault" and found my Lindberg kit. 

After dusting off the cobwebs, checked contents.

Next step......................can't rush it 

[Harquebus]

Looks terrific Glen, boyo your eyes must be in great shape to do all this brass work re soldering etc Nah Im afraid I would not have a clue how to do all that gear. I had better look for the Manufactured after market stuff me thinks haha
Great Pikkies too.

Well, it is 1/125 scale so it's comparatively larger than other more common scales such as 1/350 or even 1/200. It should be easy to work on. Soldering and reinforcing these PE pieces is a great idea whereas I thought that CA was the (only) way to go. Think how much stronger they will be with solder.

Measure 21 is an interesting ship camo scheme but it actually comprises two colors: Navy Blue 5-N and Deck Blue 20-B. So it is not as monotonous as it sounds.
http://www.shipcamouflage.com/measure_21.htm

Incidentally, when I obtained this kit I was also made aware that Lindberg made several other kits in the same scale so I bought them as companion pieces: Lindberg Minesweeper and Lindberg LCT (marketed as an LSU, Landing Ship Utility). I have seen both converted to R/C; the minesweeper with ease (larger in size) and the LCT requiring more skill.
The thing that these two latter kits offer that the Blue Devil does not is...crew members. Not sure of the exact numbers but roughly 5-8 or less for each kit. More like a skeleton crew to be precise. Among the many considerations I was having was, can they be cloned? I wanted to make molds of them and cast copies in resin. Anyone ever delve into such an undertaking?

Thanks.

[AlanT]

The thing that these two latter kits offer that the Blue Devil does not is...crew members. Not sure of the exact numbers but roughly 5-8 or less for each kit. More like a skeleton crew to be precise. Among the many considerations I was having was, can they be cloned? I wanted to make molds of them and cast copies in resin. Anyone ever delve into such an undertaking?

My "Past Life" hobby was model slot cars, and resin casting is an important part of the hobby.

This link will show how to cast 1/32nd scale figures, but the same principals apply to your smaller little fellows.

http://www.slotforum.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=15288

I hope this link works, it is from a Forum similar to this one, of which I am a member....If it doesn't work for you I may be able to copy the info for you.

Regards

Alan