1/144 DD-451 USS Chevalier

[Douglas]

[Douglas]

Nautilus' search light platform looks way too heavy. Comparing with historical photos, it looks the photo etched braces are incorrect. I might be wrong. I guess you experts got some idea. I will revert to use the kit part. Poor me that I need to fill the recess I cut on the funnel.

Regards,

Douglas

[Douglas]

I also replaced (Eduard set) and added some details on the middle and stern structure.

Regards,

Douglas

[Rotorhead]

Outstanding Douglas!

Clean and neat. So you srpung for both the Eduards and Nautilus sets? Which one do you like the best?

Regards
Steve

[les]

Douglas said:

Nautilus' search light platform looks way too heavy. Comparing with historical photos, it looks the photo etched braces are incorrect. I might be wrong.

You are not wrong. The Eduard set is correct and you could add plastic I-beams also. Maybe a later fit had that set up. I haven't checked yet. Good work.

[les]

Rotor head said:

So you srpung for both the Eduards and Nautilus sets? Which one do you like the best?

I also have both sets. There are things I like about both of them. Generally the Eduard set is a bit heavier which is good for people like me who have ten thumbs. I like the Nautilus doors better than Eduards (Eduard's are two part doors and Nuatilus is one part unless you want it open). Eduard does have the after steering bulkhead (little use to me now on the present model as I scratched mine), flag bags, 20mm hull gun shield and other odds and ends. If you're going to use the handrails, the Eduard set is thicker and would probably look better in this scale. I suggest you look over any reviews and promotional material of the companies to see which you would prefer.

[Thomas E. Johnson]

I heard that this kit was top notch right out of the box. Does it really need this much PE to bring it up to specs?

This is a fine looking build up so far!

[Red Devil Squadron]

Just my opinion, I think the Revell kit is good, but certainly has some faults. I can't speak about the PE sets because I don't have them, but there does seem to be some areas of the kit that could benefit from PE such as the kit railings. I tried to thin these down, but they still appear way too thick. PE is a good replacement for the railings. Several other areas could also benefit from PE, especially some of the very fine details.

There are some obscure details on the Revell kit that are correctly done and then other basic things are absent or wrong. Kind of strange. It is a much better start than the Lindberg Fletcher in terms of accuracy, but still demands some extra work to get it accurate. Absence of pelorus and torpedo directors for the bridge wings are glaring omissions. The equipment for the aft emergency steering station are totally absent. The AA gun tub (40mm or 1.1 quad) is not correct and needs some work. There are other things as well that could perhaps use some extra attention. Revell did catch the subtle inset on the port side of the central superstructure wall at the deck scuttle hatch location which is almost always missed. The deck camber seems well done. I don't have a detailed list of the good and the bad, just some basic impressions.

Overall, the kit is fair/good OOB. Aftermarket PE will benefit accuracy and detail. At this point in time, some scratch building is needed until some of the missing stuff is offered as aftermarket. I decided to scratch build (USS Chevalier also) missing/incorrect items along with modified old PE and creative use of the spares box to improve the kit accuracy rather than buy the aftermarket stuff.

Just my thoughts here, there are far more knowledgeable people that can comment on this subject with more authority than me.

Cheers,

Bill

[Douglas]

Outstanding Douglas!

Clean and neat. So you srpung for both the Eduards and Nautilus sets? Which one do you like the best?

Regards
Steve

Hi Steve, thanks for your compliments.

I like the Eduard set more than the Nautilus set. The Nautilus set looks of more detail. However, I found it hard and stiff to be handled. For some parts I couldn't even fold it as a square tube. Also, it seems the parts are not test fitted onto the kit. I found photos of the Eduard set on the model, but it seems I never see any of the Nautilus set.

About the water tight doors, the door itself I will vote for Eduard, because of the little square watch opening on it, which I see the same on historical photos. For the frame and the handle, I will vote for Nautilus, becuase they have the handle handy, just a fold and that is it. Eduard has the handle made as a separate piece. And it is way too small for me to attach eight of them onto one door.

For the railing, I think I will use the Nautilus set and add railing using the YLI thread as recommended in Nautilus' instruction sheets. The ordinary photo etched railing as in the Eduard set might be just too simple for this large scale. 1/350 should be the limit for the conventional production method.

This is just my two cents. May be I would not be able to handle the skills required and go back to using all Eduard parts.

Oh, one more thing, yes, it is a good kit OOB, still, one might like to add more details because it is large enough to do so. The gun director would be a perfect illustration.

Regards,

Douglas

[GTDEATH13]

Do you guys think that when primed and painted the Eduard pe rails will look better ?

I am waiting for this set to start my early Fletcher...

What thickness styrene are you using to make the handle bars on the bulkheads?

Nice work so far... Keep the photos coming...

Thanks to all of you guys for this informative conversation...

[Rotorhead]

Interesting comments about the differences in Nautilus and Eduard PE Douglas, thank you. I too have both sets but have not "studied" them that closely enough yet. I think the Nautilus set allows for opened hatches (thus more grinding). I've kinda got sidetracked on something else right now. I did start my Fletcher though, and did the hull oil canning.........viewtopic.php?f=59&t=40032

My "start" is why I'm interested in your build. Your doing a great job.

Regards
Steve

[Douglas]

Do you guys think that when primed and painted the Eduard pe rails will look better ?

I am waiting for this set to start my early Fletcher...

What thickness styrene are you using to make the handle bars on the bulkheads?

Nice work so far... Keep the photos coming...

Thanks to all of you guys for this informative conversation...

Absolutely. When primed and painted it will be a whole difference. It is just I want to show you guys what I did.

For those handle bars, I use Evergreen 0.5 mm rod. I should use smaller diameter rod but 0.5 mm is the smallest in plastics. I don't want to use copper rod as it will be difficult to handle, in my view.

Yes, I too learnt, discovered, and realised a lot in this post. You guys are just great !!

Regards,

Douglas

[Douglas]

Interesting comments about the differences in Nautilus and Eduard PE Douglas, thank you. I too have both sets but have not "studied" them that closely enough yet. I think the Nautilus set allows for opened hatches (thus more grinding). I've kinda got sidetracked on something else right now. I did start my Fletcher though, and did the hull oil canning.........viewtopic.php?f=59&t=40032

My "start" is why I'm interested in your build. Your doing a great job.

Regards
Steve

You are absolutely right, Steve. I too think that Nautilus' doors are perfect for open position. But then, you will need to add some details for the inside, which would be another challenge.

Haha, yes, I did follow your build too. I would like to follow you to do the condenser discharge but I give it up after studying the drawings. Actually you are doing a great job, not me.

Regards,

Douglas

[travelling_man]

Hi Douglas

AWESOME build! Tell me, how do you get the brass soldering so clean???? Looking at the searchlight base, the work is great! How do I do it!!!

Steve

[les]

Thomas Johnson said:

I heard that this kit was top notch right out of the box.

Another major discrepency is the deck is mounted too low on the hull. The deck and the hull should be even with each other. I raised my deck by putting plastic strips under it.

[Douglas]

Hi Douglas

AWESOME build! Tell me, how do you get the brass soldering so clean???? Looking at the searchlight base, the work is great! How do I do it!!!

Steve

Hello Steve,

No, I glued the copper parts with cyno glue only. I think it is too small to solder them together.

Keep on your good work on the Udaloy. Shame that I cannot build one. I love that ship.

Regards,

Douglas

[travelling_man]

Hi Douglas

AWESOME build! Tell me, how do you get the brass soldering so clean???? Looking at the searchlight base, the work is great! How do I do it!!!

Steve

Hello Steve,

No, I glued the copper parts with cyno glue only. I think it is too small to solder them together.

Keep on your good work on the Udaloy. Shame that I cannot build one. I love that ship.

Regards,

Douglas

Ok, for us barn bumkins..... cyno glue? And where can I get it?

Cheers

Steve

[Timmy C]

He probably meant cyanoacrylate - Superglue.

[travelling_man]

He probably meant cyanoacrylate - Superglue.

Ahhhhhh! Superglue! That I know! (he says trying to pull his fingers apart)

[Douglas]

Haha, right, I am getting old that I mixed things up and spell it wrong.

Steve, you might like to buy the small nylon nozzle which you could plug onto the superglue so as to get more control on the amount of glue you want. Tamiya got a pack of about ten, if I remember correctly.

Regards,

Douglas