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PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:26 pm 
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Just so you know. 175 FLETCHERS were built. 19 were lost during the war, 18 in combat. Six additional FLETCHERS were so badly damaged by Japanese Kamikaze attacks that they were scrapped after the war. Many others suffered damage, but returned to service.

A proud class manned by brave men, many who gave all.

DD-469 DE HAVEN ... Sunk 1 February 1943
DD-467 STRONG ... Sunk 5 July 1943
DD-451 CHEVALIER ... Sunk 7 October 1943
DD-518 BROWNSON ... Sunk 26 December 1943
DD-533 HOEL ... Sunk 25 October 1944
DD-557 JOHNSTON ... Sunk 25 October 1944
DD-526 ABNER READ ... Sunk 1 November 1944 (Kamikaze)
DD-512 SPENCE ... Capsized in typhoon 18 December 1944
DD-584 HALLIGAN ... Sunk 26 March 1945
DD-529 BUSH ... Sunk 6 April 1945 (Kamikaze)
DD-801 COLHOUN ... Sunk 6 April 1945 (Kamikaze)
DD-477 PRINGLE ... Sunk 16 April 1945 (Kamikaze)
DD-522 LUCE ... Sunk 3 May 1945 (Kamikaze)
DD-803 LITTLE ... Sunk 3 May 1945 (Kamikaze)
DD-560 MORRISON ... Sunk 4 May 1945 (Kamikaze)
DD-559 LONGSHAW ... Destroyed 18 May 1945
DD-579 WILLIAM D PORTER ... Sunk 10 June 1945 (Kamikaze)
DD-591 TWIGGS ... Sunk 16 June 1945 (Kamikaze)
DD-792 CALLAGHAN ... Sunk 28 July 1945 (Kamikaze)

Seriously damaged and not repaired after the war.

DD-481 LEUTZE ... Kamikaze 6 April 1945
DD-586 NEWCOMB ... Kamikaze 6 April 1945
DD-476 HUTCHINS ... Kamikaze 27 April 1945
DD-555 HAGGARD ... Kamikaze 29 April 1945
DD-552 EVANS ... Kamikaze 11 May 1945
DD-514 THATCHER ... Kamikaze 19 July 1945


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 2:01 pm 
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Greetings,

Not too long ago, I was asked to provide some additional views of my 1/125 USS MERTZ. I want to also add them here to update the build and in case they may be of interest to others. Your questions and comments are always welcome.

Cheers,

Bill


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Last edited by Red Devil Squadron on Tue Nov 20, 2012 2:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 2:04 pm 
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Some more images:


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PostPosted: Tue Nov 20, 2012 2:13 pm 
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More images......


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 1:57 am 
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Hello Bill

I have one word to say!splendid :woo_hoo: beautiful painting, well detailed, a treat for the eyes :thumbs_up_1:
congrats
Nicolas

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PostPosted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 7:50 pm 
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Hello Nicholas!

Thank you for your kind comments, I am glad you enjoyed the images.

Cheers,

Bill


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:50 pm 
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Hi Bill,
I never get tired looking at your Mertz. :thumbs_up_1: You are an inspiration to me and many of the guys whom post their work on this site. :big_grin:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You and Your Family!!!!!!!! :big_grin:

Roger DD-473/DD-555 :smallsmile:


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PostPosted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 9:12 pm 
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Thank you Roger!

Merry Xmas, Happy New Year & Best wishes to you and your family!

Cheers,

Bill


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 1:24 pm 
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Nice build! My Fletcher is driving me nuts right now: need to scratch-build the 5 separate gun tubs aft of amidship. I have no clue how I'm going to shape them but I'll figure it out sooner or later. :smallsmile:

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PostPosted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 2:17 pm 
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You can make circular shapes by using thin enough strip stock at the height of the "tub" needed and much longer than you need (makes it easier to grasp and bend) and wrapping it around a round shaft type object close to the inside diameter of the "tub". Then you can flex it to the desired diameter and fit and trim it in place. Either that or hunt for something at or close to the desired diameter (there are cylinder shaped tubes available at well stocked Hobby Shops (particularly in the train section) in metal and plastic (normally plastic is pretty thick-walled however) and cut off cylinder shapes at the proper height and cut openings as needed.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 12:42 am 
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Rick,

thanks for some ideas! Sending you a PM! :thumbs_up_1:

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Мощность для рабочих, которые просто пытаются построить простой судна под строгим тиранов! - В. И. Ленин

Hello from Elk & Steelhead country and Cody the Incorrigible Cat

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PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 12:06 pm 
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Hi Bill,
I hope you and your family are in good health. Its been a long time since I looked at the Mertz. :cool_1: I hope you don't mind me sharing it with the guys at RC Groups Scale Boats. There are a couple guys trying to improve the Blue Devil kit. I finally decided to down scale the details I had in mind so I could finally finish my DD-555. I really need to finish it so I can move on.

Thanks for your inspiration my friend,
Roger DD-555/DD-473 :wave_1:


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PostPosted: Sun Mar 08, 2015 4:09 pm 
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Very nice work, well done!

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:06 am 
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Hi Roger!

I am doing great - hope all is well with you. No problem sharing a link on R/C Groups Scale Boats. I am pleased to help out anyone attempting to improve the Lindberg Fletcher. I understand that Round 2 Models might reissue this kit - I wonder if they will attempt any improvements? They have done this with some other old kits they reissued. At least, they could get the decal right and do away with the bogus blue devil DESRON 54 stack insignia. Probably too expensive for them to redo the hull, but we can hope! Good luck with your DD-555 build, it looks very good so far.

Cheers,

Bill


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 9:13 am 
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Hi CAG-1NUT,

Many thanks for your kind words!

Cheers,

Bill


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PostPosted: Mon Mar 09, 2015 11:27 am 
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Brilliant build! Very well done.

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 8:24 am 
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Thanks Steve! Your work on DD-802 in the same scale is a real inspiration.

Cheers,

Bill


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PostPosted: Sun Jun 21, 2015 8:26 pm 
Bill,
I just came across this forum as I'm looking up info on the Mertz. My dad proudly served on the Mertz DD-691 and sailed every mile on her from the her inaugural "shake down" cruise to coming home after the surrender.

Our dad (affectionately known as "Scooter") Just passed away yesterday June 20, 2015, after 91 years, 6 months, and a day on this earth. He was so proud of his ship. His battle station was in the Main Battery Director with fire control duty. All my life I always thought he was a fireman in the navy until about 20 years ago when I went to a ship's reunion in Baton Rouge La. with my dad and son who was about 8 at the time. That's when I was able to actually see his main battle station and learn that "fire control" in his case had to do with directing the 5" main guns on target. I was in my forty's before I learned that. I don't know if you are aware, but there is a Fletcher class destroyer (USS Kidd) on display and in the water. With the reunion down there, we had virtually total access to the ship. What an experience! With your interest, I hope you find time to see it.

About 5-10 years ago my dad gave me an unopened model and asked if I'd build it for him. I totally forgot about it until I saw your incredible build. I went and found the box and saw it that it's the same kit that you started with. I wish I would have found your beautiful work years ago. I would have loved to have built it with him.

I used to build models in my teens, and with my kids when they were kids. Now I'm 60 and I think I need to build this model in his honor. Hopefully with my son.

I was glad to see that your latest post was only a few months ago. I hope you see this response. Thanks for the inspiration!

Denny


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 23, 2015 11:58 am 
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Hello Denny,

Many thanks for your kind words. I am pleased to know you enjoyed the images of this model. Please accept my condolences on the recent passing of your father. You do him a great honor by remembering his combat service during WWII. If you have any photographs of USS Mertz, I would very much like to get a copy. My father served in the same squadron (DESRON 54) as your father in WWII. He was on USS Wadleigh DD689 from late 1944 to October 1945 and then went to USS McKean DD784 until late 1946.

In addition to the "Blue Devil" kit by Lindberg, there are some other choices you might want to consider. Revell makes a round bridge Fletcher in 1/144th scale which is almost as large as the Lindberg kit, but would have to be modified with a square bridge and other changes to depict USS Mertz. There is also a very large 1/72 scale R/C kit by Aquacraft / Hobbico. Lots of other choices in smaller scales.

The Lindberg kit does have great potential, but it requires a lot of work if you want to have an accurate model. At a minimum, add the fifth window on the bridge!

Be sure to throw away that blue devil decal in the Lindberg kit - the shape is correct, but the color is wrong. The devil insignia on the forward funnel of the ships in Destroyer Squadron 54 was always red - never blue. Also note how the tail of the devil forms a number "5" and the pitchfork a number "4".

For my build of USS Mertz, I made my own decals with the proper Red Devil squadron insgnia and the large numbers (number "8" for Mertz) that appeared midships under the 40mm gun mount on many (maybe all?) of the ships in DESRON54. I have a few left over decals if you want them, just send me a private message with your address and I will mail them to you.

I you have any questions or want help with a Fletcher model, this is the best place to be. Everyone is very friendly and helpful here.

Cheers,

Bill


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PostPosted: Tue Jun 14, 2016 11:50 am 
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hi,
may be it is too late..... but can you explain how did you do the antiskid?
what did you use etc..
regards
Cobby


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