AMP - Accurate Model Parts
SEA => DD => Topic started by: Mr. Bill on 10 Jan , 2010, 15:24
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Here are some photos of my modeling odyssey of USS Mertz based on a heavily modified Lindberg Blue Devil kit. By the time I finished this project, there was very little left of the original kit, most everything was modified, scratch built or an aftermarket. I also made my own decals for the squadron insignia, deck tread strips, and material condition labels. This was a very frustrating project which required a significant investment in time and effort. At the time I started, the Revell 1/144 Fletcher did not exist and the Lindberg kit was the only large scale Fletcher kit available.
I selected Mertz as she appeared at the end of the war in Measure 22 with the distinctive markings of Destroyer Squadron 54. The Red Devil squadron emblem was applied to both sides of the forward funnel of all ships in DESRON 54 near the end of the war and some carried it into 1946 and maybe 1947. The tail of the devil forms the number "5" and the pitchfork forms the number "4". Mertz also carried a large number "8" on each side just below the midships 40mm. USS Monssen DD-798 carried a number "9" in this same location. I am not sure what numbers were carried to the other seven ships in DESRON 54.
Your comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome. Enjoy the photos.
(http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2730/187e.jpg)
(http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/9762/100rz.jpg)
(http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/4035/112wk.jpg)
(http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8201/124d.jpg)
(http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/1539/126cq.jpg)
(http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/647/128zv.jpg)
(http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/9141/129uf.jpg)
(http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9251/131vmu.jpg)
(http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/8715/137h.jpg)
(http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/7999/148nz.jpg)
(http://img197.imageshack.us/img197/3222/159rl.jpg)
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/7082/146ba.jpg)
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/4724/152kl.jpg)
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Hi Bill.
The pictures are great and the build is fantastic!!!
Are the hull fixers to protect the propellers?
(http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/9141/129uf.jpg)
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Very detailed and crisp, excellent presenattion and detail
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Hello!
Thanks for your kind words. The propeller guards were a standard feature on Fletcher Class destroyers and served to keep the screws clear of fouling from lines that might pass near.
Regards,
Mr. Bill
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Very beautiful build Bill. You should be very proud of her.
Ernest
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Hi Mr. Bill,
Awesome build, you should be very proud.
Cheers,
Dougie
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I like it too Bill.
Looks almost factory fresh. I dont know if i could keep it so clean. ;)
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Thanks everyone for the comments! As you may know, trying to massage the Lindberg Blue Devil into a reasonably accurate model of a Fletcher class destroyer is a very difficult and frustrating process. The Revell 1/144 fletcher is a far better starting point. I ended up with the clean museum model like finish on Mertz as a result of a negative reaction between the initial clear gloss coat and my black wash. I am not sure exactly what happened, but the two were definitely not compatible. Fortunately, I tested in a small hidden area first and was able to repair the blemish without too much trouble. Having narrowly averted disaster, I decided to skip the wash and just go with a clear flat final finish that you see in the photos.
Regards,
Mr. Bill
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Great looking build. I really liked how you did the rigging, very nice.
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Thanks! The rigging is one of my favorite parts also! The lines for the whale boats are all rigged like the real thing.
Bill
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Beautiful model Bill.
Like the others, I particularly like the climbing lines for the whaleboats. That's the sort of detail that's usually missed, but when it's there adds a LOT to the realism.
But also of note are the chainplates and turnbuckles for the rigging and the cleating of the running rigging. Again something often missed.
What sort of knot did you use for the cleating? The photo isn't clear enough to see.
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This is a really excellent model
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John and Pat,
Thank you very much for your compliments! The lines for the whale boats are tied off at the cleat with a series of figure eights. I don't know the nautical jargon for this, but it is commonly seen in close up photos of the davits where the cleat is located. I repeated the figure eight several times until it looked right and then used a tiny drop of CA to secure it in place. Final step was to trim the end. Please let me know if you have further comments or questions.
Cheers,
Bill
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Some more photos:
(http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6194/185f.jpg)
(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/4955/175fn.jpg)
(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1900/167hg.jpg)
(http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/413/158r.jpg)
(http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/3923/157c.jpg)
(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/163/155xbl.jpg)
(http://img691.imageshack.us/img691/212/125wd.jpg)
(http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4971/123iy.jpg)
(http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/4827/120pw.jpg)
(http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/6119/119vp.jpg)
(http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3435/118nc.jpg)
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The rigging and those details "sell" it. The DC racks are nice, too.
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Oh man...thats a beauty! :o
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I can't believe that is the LINDBERG kit sir. VERY NICE job ...................
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Thank you everyone for your kind word! This project was very tedious and frustrating. The Lindberg kit needs a great deal of work to get it accurate. Really need to get the PE set from Tom's Modelworks (actually need two sets), Resin turret/director set from Dreadnought, twin 40mm's from H&R products (these may no longer be very good), and a new hull (got mine from China on eBay). This group of items will make the project tolerable.
Cheers,
Bill
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I was impressed with the build before, now that I know it is a Lindberg kit I am REALLY impressed! You have done the nearly impossible of turning a pig's ear into a slik purse. Outstanding job Bill!
Ernest
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John and Pat,
The lines for the whale boats are tied off at the cleat with a series of figure eights. I don't know the nautical jargon for this, but it is commonly seen in close up photos of the davits where the cleat is located. I repeated the figure eight several times until it looked right and then used a tiny drop of CA to secure it in place. Final step was to trim the end. Please let me know if you have further comments or questions.
The "knot" used to tie around a cleat is indeed called "figure of eight".
Usually the cleat will be at a very slight angle to direction that the line is running from, and the line is brought around to the side that the farthest horn of the cleat is pointing in, so that the first part of the cleat that the line touches will be the horn farthest away from where the line originates. This puts the greatest stress on the farthest point of the cleat and makes for the strongest fastening. It also allows the line to be released easier than if it was brought on the opposite side of the cleat where an over-riding line could cause it to jam.
Then it is "figure eighted" around usually not more than 3 times.
At the end of the last figure 6, the line is twisted so that instead of going on top of the other 8's, it goes underneath itself. This locks the knot so that it won't come undone no matter how bad the wind and waves get.
Most of that you can't see but the one part that CAN be seen is that it's a mistake to trim the end off once you put glue to hold the knot in place. The line should have been premeasured so that when let out to it's fullest extent, it was long enough to go from wherever the attachment point was and still have enough left to cleat.
That means that in most of the places you have lines cleated, there would be (in real life), several meters/yards of line left over after it's cleated.
This line is always coiled up into loops, and then hung over the ipper horn of the cleat, where it can be dropped off and released at a moment's notice. There are many ways of doing this, but the most common is to form all the loops about the same size, and then reach through the middle of the loop to grab the line as it comes off the cleat. This line is then pulled through towards the sailor and then looped over the top of the larger loops. The line pulled through the middle is the part that's actually used to hang the other loops over the horn of the cleat.
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Hello Ernest,
Thank you for your kind words. I have always had a soft spot for the Lindberg Fletcher. Glad you enjoyed it.
Cheers,
Bill