WIP: 1/350 Dragon Buchanan

[MartinJQuinn]

Well, my plan for doing something simple and smaller turned out to be a bit more complicated than expected, so I moved onto something else while waiting for some plans to show up.

That "something" is the new Dragon 1/350 Buchanan, which I'm doing in overall Navy Blue (Ms. 21) and may build as Duncan, which was sunk at the Battle of Cape Esperance in October 1942 (if I can find a good picture of her searchlight tower, which appears to be different than Buchanan's). For this particular build, I'm also using the Dragon PE set that was released the same time as the kit.

I'm pretty far along on the build, and so far it's been a real pleasure. The model is just about everything you could want in an injection molded kit. The only problem was the center deck house, where I ran into some fit problems. Currently, I'm working on laying down the anti-skid decals, and again I've run into some trouble, especially the one's for the top of the pilot house, which got really screwed up. Because I had already installed the director, I had to cut the decals in half. When I tried to slip the back 1/2 onto the model, they curled into a ball, and I couldn't fix them. IMO, the decals should have been broken down into smaller bites to add to the model - some of the pieces are quite long. It also appears to me that the hull numbers are undersized. Minor nit-picks, I know, but my opinion none the less.

Here's some photos. The model has been airbrushed with a couple coats of Future floor fax for the decals, hence the "shine". Hopefully I'll be able to actually finish this model before getting the urge to jump onto something else!

[Dave Hill]

Great start Martin!!!...lookin' good

Dave

[Quincy]

Looks great Martin!

Your simple and smaller build can be remedied by drinking a bottle of Jack Daniels, then plug away at it.
You'll be happy and won't worry about the kits fit major issues.
This what I did for mine, although, I can't seem to remember if I finished it or not?


Bob Pink.

[Cadman]

Use the alternate searchlight platform in the kit. It is the type Duncan used.

[MartinJQuinn]

Ah - thanks Tim. I thought it looked a bit stubbier in a photo Rick Davis posted in the CASF Benson/Gleaves class thread.

[Jon]

Hi Martin

Nice job.

I see that your photos at the top of this page show that the anti-skid tiles are too light. I had the same problem with mine, but it still looks good. Hopefully Dragon can fix this on there next release.

[MartinJQuinn]

I see that your photos at the top of this page show that the anti-skid tiles are too light.

Thanks. I don't mind that so much, as it makes them stand out a little bit.

Finished all the anti-skid decals yesterday morning (I was home fighting a bad head cold). Started adding parts to the bridge - boy, some of the parts are TINY. Or should I say TINY? Of course, in my never ending effort to make life more difficult and my hobby less fun, I seems to have misplaced the brass shields for the sky lookouts. Grrrrr...

[MartinJQuinn]

Use the alternate searchlight platform in the kit. It is the type Duncan used.

Tim,

In the drawings you did in Wipers Benson/Gleaves/Livermore/etc book, the curved end of the alternate platform faces forward and the flat end of the platform faces aft, correct? If I place the part like that on model and use the location hole in the deck, the aft end of the platform overhangs the aft end of the deckhouse. Do I cut off the locating pin and move the platform (and hence the small box on the deck) forward so the aft end of the platform is flush with the edge of the deckhouse?

Put the platform like this...

...or like this?

A couple of more shots...

[Avery Boyer]

Looks great Martin, coincidentally I have the exact same project (USS Duncan) glaring at me from the "to do" pile.

[Zach P.]

Good looking build. I can only hope mine will look as good.

I had been working on one of the Mirage 1/400 Flush deckers but I am waiting for photo-etch from Freetime so in the meanwhile I may dig out my Buchanan. I intend to do her as Buchanan 1945 per the kit.

[johndon]

Nice job as usual Martin

John

[Dan K]

will it be done in time, he wonders............

[Gordon Bjorklund]

Martin,
Great stuff as always. I'm looking forward to more progress pictures.
I think the decals are to long also and will be cutting them into smaller sections when the time comes for installation on my Laffey.

[MartinJQuinn]

Thanks guys, appreciate the kind words. Dan - as you know, the wee folk tend to interrupt any sustained building. Not sure if she'll be done for April 4th.

Made more progress on the forward superstructure. First, this afternoon:

Then, this evening:

The instructions call for part K3 (I believe they are the pelorus) to go on either side of the pilot house. However, my kit only has one K3 and one K2 (which is noticeably taller). Anyone else who's building this kit notice that?

[Timmy C]

There is another K3 near the center of the sprue, next to the davits on the border with the plastic doors.

[Martin (not logged in)]

There is another K3 near the center of the sprue, next to the davits on the border with the plastic doors.

Ah, there it is! Thanks Timmy.

[Cadman]

Looking good Martin, a clean sharp build.


We almost left the second Pelorus out of the kit. Two styles were provided and Dragon only added one of each. When I pointed out that two of each were needed, the second was was inserted into the mold where we could squeeze it in. OOPS.

[MartinJQuinn]

Some more progress...a shot from last night:

With the Trumpeter DE USS England (foreground). The Dragon kit is MILES ahead of the Trump kit in fit & detail

And then from tonight:

[Elvis965]

Very nice work, Martin! As usual!

Bob

[Quincy]

Very nice work, Martin! As usual!

Bob

My sentiments exactly!



Bob Pink.