The USS Momsen DDG-92 1/350 Trumpeter ~ My Second Build

[Bigdaddy Mark]

After reading Sean Hert's review http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/reviews.html I couldn't wait to purchase this kit. I honestly had it ordered before my morning coffee finished brewing. I received the kit three days later, and spent well over three hours admiring the detail.

Even with the outstanding detail Trumpeter put into this kit I still ordered the White Ensign PE kit http://www.steelnavy.com/WEM350Burke.htm to make some upgrades to the mast. I know this was primarily designed for the Dragon kit, so if anyone's interested in this they can keep an eye on the post. I'll make sure I write about how it all fits along with pictures If I remember to take them.

Other than a little PE work I think I'll be building this straight out of the box. I do have a nice ship's bell for the fordeck, but I doubt I'll be doing any resin additions to this one. Well maybe a tug or two, but that's a few hundred hours down the road

[GTDEATH13]

I am intending to build a superdetailed USS The Sullivans but with a Dragon kit. Looking forward to your progress... Keep the photos coming...

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I had that kit in my hand today, but got a look from the wife.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

The WEM PE kit came today, and even though it was made for the Panda kits, I think I will be able to use most of it!

http://www.steelnavy.com/WEM350Burke.htm

[GTDEATH13]

The WEM PE kit came today, and even though it was made for the Panda kits, I think I will be able to use most of it!

http://www.steelnavy.com/WEM350Burke.htm

it is a fine kit with lovely details and additions... Which parts of the set do you think that are of no use to you?

[Bigdaddy Mark]

So far the only part of the kit I don't think I can use is the RHI stands. The Momsen has them stacked, where as these are designed for side by side use. No mater, the rest of the sheet is going to be used. I think I will have to modify the attachment points for the mast these seem a little wider than the kits. Again not a big deal.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I glued the deck down today, and decided to not follow the directions. I wanted to get the forward superstructure built first. After the last build I don't want to have the little parts get in the way.

I found that the mitered fittings weren't going to be easy to glue up. I decided to do a dry fit with tape before I removed the ladders.


You can see how the tape is a big help.


The color for the deck is spot on. I did a few parts with a brush and now I think I'm going to do everything over. It gives it a good weathered look.

[nick]

Excellent progress Mark!!


I'm still trying to figure out if I should make mine wateline or full hull....Oh well

Nick

[Timmy C]

Looking good! I've posted a possible solution for the aft CIWS mount in the CASF Burke thread - hopefully you see it before starting work on the rear superstructure!

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I've been looking at the windows of the kit for a few days now, and couldn't come up with a way tint the windows. I cut a part of the sprew and dipped it in Future with food coloring, but that didn't quite go as planned. The edges looked great, but the middle was clear and untinted. This bothered me all week, then tonight I had a revelation. A Sharpie! I'll try a Sharpie. I used green, but that didn't do, black was way to dark, but light blue was perfect. I coated the inside of the windows with the light blue and then painted the outside in gray. I think it worked out well. Here are a few shots of the attempt.





The main super structure is coming along now. Most of the parts were mitered. I think this was to make less seams, but it also made it very difficult to glue up. I found the best way for me to get everything to work was to start with the forward section and the roof. This made the two sides line up. I taped them to the front, then added the roof aft of the bridge. Once that was done everything else worked out. The forward stack needed taped then glued with the top sitting in place. After that I glued down the top. This was the best way for me. There was still a lot of seams to fill, and I'm still not great at that, but I'm happy with the results.

[Timothyo]

Good idea using the marker for the windows- I'm going to remember that one!

Timothy

[Bigdaddy Mark]

I took a look at the decal for the white markings today. The aft stripes are all one piece, and I knew there was no way I would be able to place it without a lot of frustration and colorful words. I decided to try my hand at freehand painting them. I am happy with the way they came out. I did make the center line about a foot wider than it should be, but all in all I think it came out well. I did weather it along with the two things (if anyone knows what they are called or do please let me know) that lead to the hangers. I also took the advice and purchased some Bondo spot putty. Boy is that the stuff!!!

Anyhow here are a few pictures.







Here is a shot of the glass. That Sharpie did the trick! I tried food coloring in Future, and it didn't do nearly as well as the Sharpie.

Also this picture shows the fit between the super structure and the side of the hull. I needed a lot of spot putty there. (Thanks again guys)

[Bigdaddy Mark]

The build is moving along. I've become a huge fan of Bondo Spot Putty. The PE looks good, but I'm still a novice and the PE is designed for the Dragon kit.

Here is a look at the ship's bell. I didn't like the one from the kit, so I used a brass one. I also added the bracing. It looked like it would fall off without it.



The mast is a challenge to say the least. Like I said the PE is nice, but it's made for the dragon. For anyone doing this please remember to undercut the mast for the lower platform as well as for the middle mast. I got into some hot water with this. For not having the proper tools I think it came out great.

[el Cid]

"I did weather it along with the two things (if anyone knows what they are called or do please let me know) that lead to the hangers."

Well, these DDGs are after my time, but I believe the flight deck features you're referring to are the Recovery Assist, Secure, and Traverse (RAST) tracks. In heavy seas a hovering SH-60 drops a messenger cable which pulls up a heavier cable from the RAST system (I forget the actual terms). The cable is attached to the belly of the helo and the system helps pull the aircraft down to the deck where it is then clamped into a moving trolly. The RAST trolly with attached helo is then automatically pulled into the hanger. The system was developed in Canada and was originally used on our FFGs.

HTH,

Keith
USS McInerney (FFG-8)
(RAST test platform 1980 - 82)

[Neptune]

That's true, the original system was called Bear Trap I think, used to pull the (larger than normal) helo's (Sea Kings) of the Canadian Navy onto their relatively small ships. RAST is now used on many ships.
The kit does have them going all the way into the hangars, which is a nice addition for any kit, gives a lot of freedom to the modeller without forcing anyone into extensive scratch building.

Great job so far, I was surprised by the excellent result of the Sharpie!

[Bigdaddy Mark]

It was a great summer, but now I'm back to work on the Momsen.
Tonight I moved the build to my Navy room (the basement), and got all set up. It was nice to do a little work on the ship. I missed it.

So here are a few shots of her.




The aft upper deck isn't attached yet.









The missile is all done by eye, but I think it looks great, and will add a lot to the model when it's done. The small fins are so small that my tweezers had a hard time picking them up.

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Well here is an update. I got a lot done since the last update, and I'm very excited in how she is coming out.


I know the anchor chain is a bit big, but it still looks great.


The railing on the forward structure is done


I had some fun here. There was no way I wanted to hide this, and was excited to see the door open with the ship underway.


I am so happy with the sharpie for the windows on the helicopter. It seems to give it a little life.


I wanted to show how nice the hanger bay doors are, so I'm showing one open, and one closed.

[ex-navy]

great job.. BZ....

[Bigdaddy Mark]

Thanks ex-navy. After a not so sure start to this build, I'm starting to have fun with it.

[GTDEATH13]

I love it!!!!

Another great build... The helo deck is really great... I wish i could do that..