The Ship Model Forum

Willie,

The sonar installations on destroyers have been difficult to track down. The equipment installed and the domes (different materials and construction methods) changed over the years and I have incomplete data on what each destroyer had installed. But, I think I finally got drawings with dimensions for the 100-in domes that appear to be "accurate", but not completely "engineering" style drawings used to manufacture them. For modeling purposes. I think they will do.

The dome is sort of elliptical in shape, but the forward "face" is shaped more circular and the aft end is tapered to a near point. Also, the bottom is shaped so it is "deeper" in the middle, but is more or less flat side to side with rounded edges.

The first two images/drawings, thanks to Ed Zajkowski from his collection, shows drawing views that come closest to understanding the shape of the 100-in long dome. The dimensions give you length, height, and width. Curve sections need to be "extrapolated"





These four views show the installation of either 100-in or 185-in domes on two different FLETCHER's. I the first two images are for a 185-in dome (more bolts) since that is what was installed on USS McDERMUTT (DD-677) and the bottom two images are likely for the 100-in dome.

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Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Lk 23,43).

Willie,

I also used these photos that R.E.D. had provided when I constructed my SONAR dome for STODDARD. Had I been doing the 3D design/printing at that time of construction, I would have made a 3D resin dome with ALL the details rather than the one I've actually constructed out of basswood & styrene. However, since its location is in a rather obscure location, I'm not going to change anything at this stage of the build.

Hope this helps!

Hank

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

_________________
Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Lk 23,43).

_________________
Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Lk 23,43).

Willie,

Your progress is looking good, as usual - nice job

Re. the SONAR Dome - You've done a great job and had I not already completed the one on my hull, I would have followed your construction only in 3D. However, at this stage of the game, I'm going to leave it alone - the bottom paint came out well and anything changed now would be courting disaster.

Re. your last entry - I can't see from your photo what the additional 01 Level Torpedo Deck addition might be used for, but I did notice a vertical ladder that is located on the after end of that small addition. As noted often before, many of these ships were altered as needed - it's possible that the equipment directly BELOW that overhang (on the main deck) needed some sort of overhead protection as it doesn't appear that the deck itself has anything located on it. Your representation is quite correct as you've constructed it. Perhaps if you can get a better shot of this area, it may give you a better idea of what's there. I did also notice on the corner of the overhang a vertical round stanchion (supporting the overhang?). I think the opening to the left is an entrance to one of the workshops that was usually located on the main deck around this area. As for the equipment, I hesitate to speculate as it could be virtually anything.

Hope this helps,

Hank

_________________
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

I'm always struck by what beautiful and functional ships these were. Even with a lot of photos, there are never enough. Most of us would overlook the maybe empty or not empty small cave on the main deck. When I did my Missouri I had hundreds of photos, but so many areas of the ship were inaccessible. In the photo rich areas, much detail could be fashioned, in other areas, total blankness not appropriate. Sometimes info for similar equipment is sometimes useful, though with time, few ships are alike, especially as years accumulate.

Your ship has a colorful history, how many destroyers have made a night torpedo attack against an enemy Battleship!

Keep up the fine work! Cheers: Tom

_________________
Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Lk 23,43).

_________________
Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Lk 23,43).

_________________
Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Lk 23,43).

Willie,

Your bridge & signal lamps look really good - high quality work, as usual!! I'm glad I was able to help you out on the drawings, etc. for your commander's cabin - something that was a bit rare on the FLETCHER class DDs.

Nice to see progress on your build!

Hank

_________________
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

I wonder when the Commanders Cabin was added? Perhaps some ships were outfitted as division flagships, but because of top weight increases during the war (electronics and AA) it's possible this was added post war? The BB South Dakota had two less 5" twin mounts than her sisters due to space requirements for Flag and staff quarters and facilities.

Very clean and sharp work, one of the advantages of working with styrene! The searchlights came out well, having made a number of such items both traditionally and by printing I judge yours to be very good indeed. Each a separate mini model.

Bridge structure coming along well, an enjoyable part of the ship to construct!

Regards: Tom

What an inspirational build this is. Awesome job on the scratchbuilding!

One must have built such parts in this scale to appreciate the fine work that Willie is accomplishing. The completed ship will be both detailed and authentic!

Cheers: Tom

_________________
Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Lk 23,43).

Willie wrote:


Well, this is not exactly an area of the bridge that you see a lot of photos, in fact, perhaps "none"! However, I have only one photo of STODDARD's stbd. side bridge bulwark from above that does show some equipment on the inside of the bulkhead just ahead of the stbd. flag bin -

This was taken in 1966 or 67 so would be appropriate for your bridge, as well.

Nice work, by the way - hope this helps!

Hank

_________________
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

Willi! Nice work on the bridge area, especially the 12" searchlights and brackets. Hank's photo of Stoddard was interesting, as are photos that have been taken just of sailors lounging or at station, unintentionally showing details a modeler would appreciate. Stoddard's signal bridge is a different shape, with a taper towards the flag bag, but the shape of the reinforcing beams is interesting, a plain I beam with the top not curving, but just the beam connector (normal to the bulkhead) open and curved.

Cheers: Tom

Fantastic work! The entire bridge looks amazing!

_________________
Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Lk 23,43).

What was mounted on the bulwarks on the bridge will vary a lot. The USN changed/updated the "authorized" equipment as time went by. So depending on when the USN last updated/overhauled the ship transferred (in this case JORGE JUAN, ex-McGOWAN), that ship may or may not have the same equipment installed. As has been mentioned, few photos are available of this area on the bridge of FLETCHER's (or many other ships), I do have a couple of views of FLETCHER's after the mid-1950's (dtd 1956) bridge mods where pilothouse equipment was duplicated on the once open bridge front. Ironically, many photos were "TAKEN" from the aft end of the bridge next to the flagbags. The images I have don't show much of the aft bridge wings, but in general they show fewer pieces of equipment than Hank's view from the 1970's. The images I have from that period were from photos I found in Textual Records and don't seem to be generally available.

Also, the Spanish Navy could very well make their own additions/changes to their requirements. Plus it is possible, but rare, that crews may make minor additions outside authorizations.

In the attached photos, notice the differences between the two destroyers bridge details.

So you are right not to get TOO anal about what you don't have photos of for your subject.