Hi Guys,
Fooman,
Thanks for your interest and your input of which I deeply respect. Bravo Zulu.
This 1/96 scale model has been and on-and-off project since December of 2005. I have a "large scale" modeler friend whom has completed 3, ( that's three!!!), 1/96 scale models since I started this. Everyone knows that I'm lagging. I'm also building DDG-22 in 1/350 scale. It is the WEM resin kit and has been changed in almost every way, but that's another story...
viewtopic.php?f=49&t=22234&start=0Mk13 Tartar launcher? Got one in resin along with $200 worth of other resin cast accessories. Truth is, today there are higher quality castings available in 1/350th scale. BUT!!! These can be changed and made better! Now, finding an SPS-40 is another matter! The cylindrical base structure for the Mk13 launcher is not yet made. I had to enclose the 01 deckhouse at the rear with some temporary combings to keep water out. Under ideal conditions, I can run this model for a couple of hours without any water getting inside. Oh but if I have to go full reverse suddenly for whatever reason, the stern is buried rather quickly. This model, (believe it or not), has many, many scale miles on it already. See the boot-topping? Aside from my choosing the wrong type of black paint, some of that paint came off in the water, and FROM the water's action. This model is pretty fast. It can cover it's hull length 2x in a few seconds. Great bow wave too. At flank speed, the bow wave at its' highest point nearly washes the forecastle about a third the way back from the tip of the bow. Back to the title, "Incomplete Fleet runs". That's the beauty of the TF96, (Task Force 96), incomplete fleet runs. Most of the guys whom build these models are guys my age, (40's or so), and don't have the time to just build and build like a madman. Some do, most don't. Most of the ships are incomplete at these runs, and that's pretty much the norm. The guy I mentioned above builds whenever he can, and he gets things done! The exception.
I'm not certain about a DDG-22 SLEP and if so when. I do know that DDG-22 ended up with the SPQ-9 fire control system; which not all DDG's got.
I do know that in 1972, DDG-22 had, "specials', for the ASROC system. I don't know about the later set up with DDG-22, as I spend what time I do have trying to nail down all of the 1972 ship specific details. There are MANY more pics of Bennie Sweat from later on in her career. Thanks once again to Bill Halvorson, (DDG-22 vet), for sending all of those most excellent WestPac72 pics to me for study. I still have them, (for a scond time), and am still using them.
As a show of my appreciation, I have promised my long since finished 1/700 DDG-22 dio, "Gun Run Tonkin Gulf", to Bill for being so cool and now being someone I'd definitely call a friend. Thanks Bill.
Fooman, I appreciate your waking me up and giving me something to write about on this forum.
Tony