Thanks!~ I didn't think that I had dreamed about those "page 5 posts." But when I first bought that kit, I did have dreams about having a model that loos that good. Glen has shown us that the Melvin is worth the effort to make it a great addition to a collection.
I have been to a lot of maritime museums, and a great many models on display are not 100% accurate unless they are the "builders models," as they were carved our as best as the modelers could do with what was available, yet they capture the spirit of the real ship, if not the dimensional accuracy. I believe that Glen's model really captures the spirit of the Fletchers, even if there are those that take issue with the hull of the Lindberg kit.
Even more modern "precise" models have errors. For example:
Just today when I was reviewing photos of my intended Fletcher project, the USS Van Valkenburgh (DD656), I noticed that the forward torpedo mount did not have the "dog house" or cylindrical shield. (Note teh absence of the dog house seen on the absence of the aft mount from the forward torpedo mount. There is just a canvas cover over the mount controls.)
In the USS Kidd walk around book, it states that the shield was to protect the torpedo aimer and fuse setter from the blast of the 5"/38 guns. So I realized that the forward torpedo mount is not in the path of the aft 5"/38 blast, so it does not need a shield. When I went to check the model of Van Valkenburgh sold by MotionModels.com to see if they had a "doghouse" on the forward torpedo mount, I was very surprised to see they do not even have a torpedo mount in that location. The Motion Models Van Valkenburgh model is in the anti-aircraft refit configuration, just like the USS Kidd, with the aft quad 40's moved forward and their directors located on the 01 level where the forward torpedo tubes were originally located.
But Van Valkenburgh was never fitted out with the anti-aircraft upgrade prior to her decommissioning in April of 1946. So the Motion Models USS Van Valkenburgh model is essentially a USS Kidd 'boilerplate' with measure 31 painted on and a 656 decal on the bow and stern.
I would much rather get the configuration of the ship right than make that kind of error with a diimensionally perfect hull. Glen has shown that the kit can be detailed and assembled with a very high level of craftsmanship to be proud of, and, as an operating model, it is a lot more than a piece of decor. When I lived in San Diego, I found that the family was much more responsive to going to the Model Yacht basin to operate model ships and boats than to go to a model flying field.
Looking forward to seeing Glen's Melvin out on the water.
PeeJay