1/72 USS Moffett DD362 (13.07.1944)

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:01 pm

Hi Guys, just a small up date, my way of doing Floater net baskets.

First I take a round piece of plastic pipe, I cut about 3/8 th of an inch out of it and open it up, getting the deepest trough I can get, they should be deep.

Next I cut out 2 middle sections, also bend to shape my 1mm diamond mesh.

These are glued together, then both ends are shaped out of the mesh and glued in place, the whole assembly is then fitted either side of the bridge.

Opposite side of the bridge.

Looking from above you can see both baskets in possition.

enjoy. ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 6:32 pm

Hi Guys, The walkways from the bridge to the rear superstructure.

I drilled a piece of angled brass and soldiered three upright stantions to it.

Next I marked out the deck and drilled 3 holes.

I then placed them in position.

I then made a second one, this time a little longer and super glued them both in position, also I cut my 3 lengths of fine mesh walkway.

The mesh was then glued in position.

Next I drilled the brass angel and fixed the stantions and the wire in position, you may also notice the gaurdrail with the water outlets cut and fit also the top rail.

This picture shows how the superstructure can be moved out of the way to get inside the model, also the stantions and wire for the nearside rails.

All three structures moved to show again all the access for equipment, and the second section of walkway.

Rails and wire on the second section.

Bow shot of all the work, also the rails fitted to the top of the 2 turrets.

Stern shot, the model is now beginning to look like a Porter Class, its beginning to breath life.

enjoy, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 6:07 pm

Thanks Guys for your comments.

A small amount of building, port holes, hand rails, supports.

There is a big difference in building static models and building R/C, with a working model you have to get inside of it, that meens removing things, if you do not think about it, then things get broken easily.
This is one of those occasions, the supports for the bandstand, it is stronger to drill them into the deck and rest the structure on top of them.

I have drilled and fitted the port holes in the superstructure, also fitted the rails , you can just see the water tight door, the carly float is from the old flower, it is 1/72 scale. The ladder is fitted in place, the 3 rails above it have to be cut back and chains fitted.

A lot of the same work was done on the forward superstructure, just after the last door you can see some vertical pipework trunking on the superstructure.

A bow shot of all the work.

enjoy, ARH

Reid · Post by **Reid** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 7:20 pm

I now its not a Fletcher DD but I thought this would apply to ARH. He�s a "Tin can Sailor" now!!!!!

Reid

P.S. can i call you Ron cuz ARh is kinda hard to type

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Fri Dec 08, 2006 6:09 pm

Hi Guys, I have been working on the rails on the side of the ship, this is how I do it.

First I mark the line there going to take down the ship, then the distance between each one, then I drill all the holes.
Next I take out my Billings stantions, these are 18mm from the deck in heigth, I pass a very small drill through the top hole and super glue the stantion in place, keeping the drill in line with my pencil mark.

All rails in place on the PORT SIDE, you may also notice the stantions in place under the gun mount.

Next I pass all 3 wire cables though the stantions and glue in place.

The same sort of work on the aft deck, but only 2 wires run in , waiting for new supplies.

Viewed from a different angel.

If you look at the 5-6-7th stantion you can see a small amount of mesh up to the second rail, I will be fitting this all round the ship as in the photo,s at the beginning of the build.

Bow shot of all the work to date.

Stern shot. The work is beginning to slow down now, im very busy in my day job at the moment, trying to get a ladies house ready for xmas, also running out of supplies,

enjoy. ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 5:37 pm

Hi Guys, Thanks to all who posted wishes on my birthday today,

I continue with the stantions and rails, I drilled and glued in 17 stantions on the forecastle deck, Howie was on about the price of the stantions, there are 138 all together, they cost �31.00 or $60.00.
They are very strong and look quite nice when fitted, its these parts that get damaged on r/c models, so its worth paying a little more .

My usual drill idea, doing it this way it gives me something to hold on to while glueing, it only takes a second or two to pass the drill through the hole.

All cables passed though, what I do is glue one end , leave leave to harden for a few minutes, then pull the other end to take up the slack, and hold and glue all in place.

Here we go on the stern, the cables are left long till I fit the depth charge racks and trim to suite.

16 stantions drilled and fitted,

This is the cable I use, not expensive at �2.65 or $5.00 for 20 ft, 50lbs braking strain. FLAIR FL2145A.

All cables in and glued.

A full shot of all the work.

enjoy, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:50 pm

Here,s one of my late birthday presents from the CIC, she never noticed the guy had missed the second T off MOFFETT and had to take it back.

Its 8 inches long x 1 3/4 high.

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 6:13 pm

Hi Guys, I would like to wish every one at MW all the best for the christmas season and that you all get what you wish for, best wishes from the HORABIN FAMILY.

A few weeks ago I was talking about the safety netting at the side rails of the ship. I found this small diamond Aluminium Mesh which I think when painted will stand up to the job, it will be getting hit with water on a lot of occasions.

The sheet is 10x8 inches and costs �1.39 or $2.78

I cut it in to strips with the sissors and glue to rails with contact adhesive, the netting only came as high as two rails from the deck.

View of the bow.

A close up shot.

Port and Starboard nearly finished and every thing back in place.

Starboard side cut and glued in place, the paint cans hold everthing in place while it sets.

Port and Starboard nearly finished.

Close up of mesh and rails also stantions.

Rear superstructure back in place.

enjoy, ARH

KV_Pharaoh · Post by **KV_Pharaoh** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 8:08 pm

Ron,

have been following your build closely all along, but remained silent, having the others following the thread more actively putting all of my thoughts into words before I got a chance to. However I feel that a comment is warranted before you put the first paint on her. What a wonderful display of modelling skill. In addition to resourcefulness and efficiency, your documentation of this build, and all of your others is the best part for me. It is not often that you get a view of how things are done in what appears to be an impossibly complex model. And it is free, with feedback from the author. A wonderful service that all of the contributors to this forum provide. Keep the work coming, I'm sure the rest of the viewers are eagerly awaiting the next update as much as myself.

Regards,
Paul

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Mon Dec 25, 2006 7:15 pm

Hi Guys, Like I have said before I never throw anything away, the old parts from the flower class depth charge racks will be altered to the correct shape for the DD.

The first thing I did was to cut the legs short of the underneith of the racks.

Then I cut 8 legs and glued them to the ones I cut short, but glued inside also all on a tapper.

I did the same to the second set.

I glued the 3 sections together, I fit a block in between the two sides to keep them at the correct space while setting.

The first one fully assembled and painted, and placed in position.

Second one assembled.

Both painted and placed in position.

You may notice the rails and stantion has been cut back from the last photo, also have fit a depth charge rack davit for loading.

I made some air cylinders, these are made from plastic pipe with a white metal insert, the base is made of litho as is the guard, brass rod was bent for the ends of the cylinders.

Everything fit in to place on the stern.

enjoy, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Thu Dec 28, 2006 5:54 pm

Hi Guys, In the first shot you can see the bow rails are finished , and the jack staff is in position.

In the second shot you can see the stern section rails are finished, it still has to have some guard netting fitted.

enjoy, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:09 pm

Hi Guys, Moffett gets a little colour, I put the first coats of paint on the removeable deck section at the stern of the ship.

This shot was set up for Kenny and Timmy, hope you all like it,

enjoy. ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Sun Dec 31, 2006 8:34 pm

Hi Guys Just a very short one for the New Year.

You can see the depth charge racks also the netting at the rails are finished either side of the ship.

Also you may be able to see I have fitted handrails down the side of the superstructure.

enjoy, and a happy new year to you all, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 5:43 pm

Hi Guys, I was busy new years day fitting the second prop shaft.

Having marked the spot, I drilled the hole through the hull and filed it to the right angle for the shaft to match up with the one all ready fitted.
I then made the support A frame and soilded it in position on the shaft, the A frame was drilled at the base on either side and a small nut and bolt fitted, the second prop was then screwed in position.

You may notice the small block at the stern , helping to keep the handrails from touching the bench, there were 3 positioned the lenght of the hull.

Now we are getting nearer to painting the hull.

Enjoy, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:30 pm

Hi Guys, Here,s the start of the Torpedo Tubes.

First I cut 4 plastic tube to length,

Then I cut the taper at one end of each.

Next I took some litho plate and folded it in two, and drilled and filed 4 holes to size.

I then put it in my vice and opend up the two sections and bent them flat,

This allows it to stand up.

2 were made and tested out with a couple of odd pieces of tube

4 tubes pasted though the first section.

The second section is slide in place and a few spacers fitted to keep everything straight while the glue sets,

Small rings were cut off a slightly larger tube of plastic and glued on the end, plus 4 more were cut.

4 more rings were glued in place, also 4 half rings, the base was cut from litho also plywood underneith to thicken.

The base was made from plastic tube covered in litho plate, ladders from my P/E, door made from litho scribed on the back to make the hinges and handels stand out, tubes glued in position.

Then I cut and bent some of my electrical fittings to shape, and marked there position, also I fitted 4 bolts in the rear of the tubes

The 4 electical fittings are drilled and glued in position.

more to come.

Enjoy, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:16 pm

Hi Guys, We continue on with the build,

I fit some thin brass wire for the linkage to the lifting gear for the ends of the tubes.

Place in position to check hight and distance clearance.

Given a coat of silver paint, seat fitted and controles,

Small L shape sections fitted to the ends of the tubes, part of fireing mechanism.

First coats of paint, a little rust on the ladder.

Part moved to check on position between the stacks.

Viewed from another angle.

The controles are covered with a canvas, and tide down to keep out the weather.

also I toned down the shade of paint.

All work to date,

Enjoy, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 6:20 pm

Hi Guys, What do you think of my airbrush, My sons christmas present, I told him not to spend a lot.

enjoy, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Wed Jan 10, 2007 6:21 pm

Hi Guys, I have been building boat davits, there is only one boat on Moffett so two davits, but on different levels.

I started with my thin plywood and covered it with litho plate, then I took a small piece of aliminium tube and fit the arm inside.

A location pin was fitted and everything was wedged and glued inplace, 6 holes were drill into the arm.

I never waste things when im building, as you may know, the two brass rings are large port holes, which come in handy for making the top and bottom of the davit stand.

The second arm is made the same way as above only shorter, holes marked off from larger davit.

Both in position on the ship.

The first pully wheel fitted, made from litho plate and styrene for the wheel, some may notice the number of holes in the arm has reduced to 5, the one nearest the pully wheel was making the arm a little weak, so I recovered the arms and re drilled, the possibility of the arm getting broke when she is sailing would have been folly to leave it , especially as they are outboard.

A better view of the arms, the outer strenghtening pieces cut and ready to fit.

The arm held in my old vice and the covering superglued in place

Both arms placed in position.

Viewed from the opposite side.

Enjoy, ARH

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Fri Jan 12, 2007 1:58 pm

Hi Guys, I am working on the masts today.

This is my idea of how a mast on a working model should be built, I start at the base of the mast with the thickest piece of hollow brass rod, then I slot a new section in to it, this gives a tapper to the mast.

I have drilled though the mast and put in the first part of a bracket.

Mast in position, small plastic pieces glued in place, I have no idea what there use is, dont look like lights.

Viewed from the stern.

The cross tree tappered and soldiered to the radar platform, this has been drilled to slip down the mast to its position.

Fitted in position and a bracket made of styrene fitted undernieth.

Not strickly true but looks o/k is the mesh and side piece for the radar,

Again not correct, but will do the job, is the back part of the radar.

Fitted in position at the top of the mast.

Small radar fitted, this was made from an old ships search light cut down and the scanner bent to shape and glued in position.

4 small fitting soldiered in place , and the ladder fitted.

The cross tree brace fitted.

enjoy, ARH,

ARH · Post by **ARH** » Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:57 pm

Hi Guys, Just a small update tonight.

This is all the parts for the practise loader by JH PRODUCTS 1/72 SCALE

Only 5 parts to it, 2 sides , a front section, the loader, and the drive motor, these were all superglued together and left to dry.

Positioned on the deck, roughly in the position it will be fitted in.

enjoy. ARH