Calling all Wickes and Clemson class Four Piper fans

jep1210 · **Posted:** Sun May 07, 2006 9:09 am

Wickes class and Clemson class fans. I didn't see a topic covering these flush decks DDs so I thought I'd start one. Anyone working on one of these? My dad served aboard U.S.S. Tatnal DD125 (Wilkes) and U.S.S. Goff DD247 (Clemson) in the 40s.

J.P.

jep1210 · **Posted:** Sun May 07, 2006 9:11 am

That would be Wickes

Bill Pasenelli · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 12:14 pm

Mirage Hobby has been advertising a future series of these ships in 1/400 scale for some time includinf as built and APD versions. They have been shown as future releases fort over a year. I don't know if they will ever come out.

jep1210 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:09 pm

Interesting bit of news. I'd really like to get my hands on the old Revell kit. I always see on eBay but always seem to miss the end of the auction.

Tracy White · **Posted:** Fri Jun 09, 2006 3:55 pm

I modified your original post as you missed the Clemson class as well.

I'm a big fan, I've got this website I spent a lot of time on.... I've also built the kit you were talking about. Any questions feel free to fire them my way.

Here's some links for people:
Flush Deck Destroyers - DestroyerHistory.Org
"Flush Deck" Destroyers - HazeGray.Org

raven316 · **Joined:** Thu Jun 15, 2006 11:44 am **Posts:** 33

My dad served on the USS Crosby, APD 17 during all of WWII. Your website for theWard is very nice. I would really like to get one of the models as well.

RNfanDan · **Posted:** Fri Jun 16, 2006 12:54 pm

Any chance of this forum including Captain-class frigates and other transferred flush-deckers. or is there a better forum for these elsewhere?

Tracy White · **Posted:** Fri Jun 16, 2006 1:45 pm

I don't see any problems with the RN flush deckers... the more the merrier! Captain class from what I can find were destroyer Escorts of a different class than the flush deck four stackers though. With the upcoming Trumpeter USS England kit a Buckley Class thread it's probably a good time to do this.

Doneganart · **Posted:** Sun Jun 18, 2006 12:50 am

Proud to say that my dad served on the EDSAL and the WHIPPLE. As most of you know EDSALL is the one that disappeared during the war and was found to have been sunk in action with the Japanese. The WHIPPLE has a nice little collision with The Smith Thompson that hit her midship and truned the bow of the Edsall bacwards. The bow was removed from the Thompson and put on the bow of the Edsal and the Smith Thompson was towed out to sea and sunk as a target. I have some old 35mm film my dad too in the drydock of the two ship (I assure you NOT authorized) I need to get it on a disk or tape as it is very old and brittle and there is a lot of on board scenes including torpedo practice and so on.

Also I mention on the other site about the hull of the USS CORRY is still around somewhere up the Napa river in the San Fran area. The hull was stripped to the main deck but still survives - have to get over there some day.

Well, that is all for now - I will see I can come up with some photo, etc.

Mike

Tracy White · **Posted:** Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:00 am

Hey Mike, just so you know, you can mention SteelNavy by name here. :smallsmile:

So, too bad you can't influence Trumpeter in what they release

a good 350th PLASTIC flush decker would sell well I believe.

Doneganart · **Posted:** Sun Jun 18, 2006 11:06 am

Thanks, at least people talk normal here.

Anyway I have sent a list of things to Trumpeter in the past including DD, CA, CLs, etc. and of coursee a 4 piper. However, In that case I do not care who make just so someone does but I think it should be in a large scale like a 1/144 so we can really appreciate and detail it. I know I would buy 2 right off the bat

So every so often I send them something to think about

Right now I am puzzled by Ray D. Beans statement that DML is going to make a 1/350 WWII Carrier - wonder if they are going to upscale the CVL

That would be nice!

Devin · **Posted:** Sun Jun 18, 2006 12:25 pm

Doneganart wrote:

However, In that case I do not care who make just so someone does but I think it should be in a large scale like a 1/144 so we can really appreciate and detail it. I know I would buy 2 right off the bat

Right now I am puzzled by Ray D. Beans statement that DML is going to make a 1/350 WWII Carrier - wonder if they are going to upscale the CVL

That would be nice!

I agree that some large scale destroyer subjects by Trumpeter would be great. Of course they'd probably want to start with yet another Fletcher, but I think some WWII and modern US and British subjects in 1/200 scale would do well for them. I could really get into a 1/200 Benson, Adams DDG, or a four piper.

I think the good money is on DML doing the CVL is 1/350th. What I'd REALLY like to see is an accurate Yorktown class from them.

-Devin

Doneganart · **Posted:** Sun Jun 18, 2006 3:06 pm

I forgot that Trumpeter does do 1//200 - I will send a note to them on - who knows?

jep1210 · **Posted:** Mon Jun 19, 2006 2:27 pm

Count me in, I'd buy a new injection kit of a flush decker. I agree too it should be in large scale 1/200 or <.

treadhead1952 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 5:04 pm

Hi All,

I am currently scratching up a USS Ward in her guise as an APD in 1/400 scale. I have copies of a paper model kit that a friend in Europe scanned for me and it is slowly but surely coming along. The hull was a real trip, but once past that it is just a matter of building up the pieces parts and adding them to the deck. I have been looking for a set of LCPs or barring that have found some pretty good photos from which to scratch them up.

This is about as far as I have managed to get. The paper model kit is as a four stacker, so I am going by some drawings that I have found online to do the conversion work.

Tracy, thanks for the links, they will come in handy!

Tracy White · **Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:16 pm

Hey Jay, you might want to check out my gallery of schematics as there are some APD drawings.

treadhead1952 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 10:47 pm

Hi Tracy,

Yep, been there done that, actually about three months ago when I was researching the project. When I spotted the APD configuration drawings I knew that was the one I wanted to build. Everyone else has done it as it's original configuration due to the Submarine attack as the opening event of Pearl Harbor. I have seen a few really good scenes and ships done that way, but I have yet to see the ship as she was when she finished her days as an APD on December 7, 1944 with a kamikaze hit amidships. Fortunately no one was lost in the incident even though the front of the ship lost communications with the crew on the aft part of the ship during the fires that were started when the plane hit. I thought it was rather ironic that it would end on that particular date.

Thanks for the excellent research material by the way. It is guys such as yourself that are dedicated to keeping history alive that we all owe a debt of gratitude to. I just wish that we could reach a wider audience of youngsters to show them the sacrifices that were made by that generation to give them what they so casually enjoy today.

Tracy White · **Posted:** Sat Jun 24, 2006 11:42 pm

Jay, I've been very fortunate to have spoken to a number of Ward vets. Some of the stories they had were very humbling... like the sailor crying as Ward sank and turning to the boat officer and telling him they'd "make the Japs pay for every rivet!"

There is a photo of an APD in the gallery, 1/350th ISW APD-20 Roper by Dave Becker that might also help with the inspiration.

I've also got the camouflage design sheet for Ward's APD scheme scanned in from the national Archives.

treadhead1952 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:42 am

Tracey, thanks for the link to Mr. Beckers' excellent build and paint job. more grist for my mill. :thumbs_up_1:

The "Green Dragons" website has listings for as much information on each of the ships in the class as the site creator could find as well as an illustration of the basic camo pattern. I will dig the link up for the website up later today and post it here for ya'll. I also found a couple of pictures of APDs' in action on the NavSource website. Invaluable for reference as to the layout of mechanisms on the decks of the ships. I would really dig a copy of the camo layout if you have the time. I will PM you my E Mail addy, I hesitate to add it to an open post as the spammers do like to troll websites for such information, curse their shrivelled black little greedy hearts.

jim t · **Posted:** Thu Jul 13, 2006 11:03 am

to Mr. Doneganart,
I tried to e-mail you but was unsucessuful so I thought I would share this info w/ you & everyone. The first book on ships & espically destroyers I bought as a youngster was "Destroyers - 60 years" . I dont't know if anyone is familiar with this book but it has a passage about the "Edsal" being sunk by the IJN crusier Ashigara. I don't have the author's name & I know it is out of print. This book & flush decks & 4 pipes are my 2 most treasured naval books. Also I wish someone would come out with a 1/350 plastic kit of a Omaha CL to go with my flush deck DD's. jim tulloh

Edited by Tracy White to correct a capitalization deficiency

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