1/350 USS Jenkins DD-447 Fletcher Class FRAM Destroyer (ISW)
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by Richard Sliwka |
ISW's USS Jenkins kit was the basis for this "build". Many modifications were made; and, many after-market/scratch-built details were added. References used were numerous USS Jenkins photographs from various sources, kit-provided instructions/drawings, and Alan Raven's "Fletcher-Class Destroyers" USS Jenkins drawings.
The single-piece hull required filling numerous pinholes and replacing the molded bilge keels with .015" plastic strip. Also, many of the molded deck details (lockers, hatches, vents, etc.) had voids that needed to be filled/corrected.
Modifications were required for the bridge platform/deck, the stacks, and the rudder. The bridge platform/deck's length had to be shortened by approximately 1/4" at the aft end to obtain the proper distance between it and the forward stack. ( The cause of this problem appears to be that the master model-maker used the Raven Jenkins' bridge platform drawings which, unfortunately, differ in plan and profile views.) In addition, the bridge was enclosed with "window" framing added. The stacks were approximately 5/64" too short so plastic sheet sections were added the each stack base. A larger rudder was fabricated to reflect the correct DDE rudder configuration.
Major scratch-built items were the MK 108 ASW "Weapon ALPHA" mounting platform; the tripod mast (requiring 50+ individual pieces of brass and plastic); the stern Variable Depth Sonar (VDS) reel, winch, and "fish" (the kit VDS configuration did not match my references); and the QH-50 DASH helicopter/torpedoes (WEM's excellent 1/350 DASH was not available when I built this model). Other scratch-built details were signal lamps, ranging/sighting devices, replenishment mast, various antennae, stack footholds, support stanchions, etc. PE ladder sections were used to represent the 24 spigots in the detailed MK 10 hedgehogs.
L'Arsenal's 5"/38 gun houses/brass barrels, MK37 director, whaleboats, and railings with safety netting were used. Rigging was .002" and .003" dia. nylon fishing line.
The model was painted using Model Master acrylics--a mixture of 2 parts Medium Gray/ 1 part Camouflage Gray for the hull and vertical surfaces, Gunship Gray for decks, and Anti-fouling Red for the underwater hull. Deck anti-skid walkways were decals provided with the kit.
This was a challenging "build" that took about 150 hours to complete.
