Calling all Sims-class DD fans

[GERARD]

Well if you figure out the cost of another kit and add PE its really not too bad I agree though wish it was cheaper but i guess you get what you pay for good luck on you builds and have fun Gerry

[desron48]

greeting from sunny califorina..... i'm building a 1/48th scale sims class destroyer. once i find out how to posts pics i'll start sharing pics on the build.....joe

[desron48]

Another possibility for a Sims is to convert a Pit-Road Benson/Gleaves kit. The major external differences were in the superstructure, between the back of the bridge and the original #3 5" position.

I had no idea they were closely related. I always saw the single stack on the Sims opposed to the dual stacks on the Benson's and thought they were totally different. Interesting.

-Devin

the sims/benson/gleaves/livermoor shared the same hull how ever the machinery was different in theres classes.....

[MartinJQuinn]

Somewhat surprisingly, no one has mentioned the release of the reworked CW kit under the Midship Models banner:

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... eview.html

[Avery Boyer]

Somewhat surprisingly, no one has mentioned the release of the reworked CW kit under the Midship Models banner:

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... eview.html

IMHO, the Niko kit is worth the extra money. All Midship did was add PE and the kit itself is still somewhat crude.

[Guest]

If you need a Sims in 700 scale. There is also the IHP kits. They are a bit large for the scale, but pretty nice overall.


USS Sims DD-409 Early war (1940-42)



USS Walke DD-413 Mid war (1942-43)

[john ficklen]

Does anyone know the arrangement of the roof of the aft deck house of the USS WALKE DD416 .What does the 36" searchlight platform look like? Also the aft steering station, and etc. I will be starting a thread on a 1/96 build very soon. I'm gathering info now. Thanks to all

[MartinJQuinn]

Got a message from Fred Branyan asking about rigging diagrams for this class:

I am looking for overhead diagrams on how to rig a Sims class destroyer. I have a bunch of download photos, most of them too far to show good detail, and
the Squadron book 3 on destroyers, best I can find anywhere is the side diagram in the book and also the photos on p 4 of the Benson Gleaves thread. If you could please post this request for a source for reference material on this subject <snip> I would be grateful. By the way I am building a 1/350 model of a 1942 Mustin DD413 that is pretty much finished except for rigging, rails and ladders.

Thanks.

Fred Branyan

If anyone knows, please respond here.

[Sr. Gopher]

I know I'm off topic, but does anyone besides me want plastic replacements for all of those aging resin DDs? specifically the Midship Sims, Farragut, and Ward?

[Tracy White]

[les]

1/144 scale would be good.

[Devin]

Just thinking out loud here, but has anyone attempted to take one of the Dragon Benson/Gleaves kits and convert it to a Sims class? I'm curious as to how much of the Dragon kit could be used, and how much would have to be built from scratch. I seem to recall that the hull and the forward superstructure for both classes are mostly identical, but the single stack and the after superstructure would need to be fabricated (or perhaps cut down/modified from the existing kit parts).

[taskforce48]

Devin,

So far in plans to do this, I have found that if you start with the Livermore kit you can get a pretty decent Sims as long as you do exactly what you said in addition to building the small center deckhouse where the Torpedo mounts were but you can make that out of the kit deckhouse just cut and modified. I haven't gotten down to exact measurements but the Gleaves were essentially follow up Sims with different engine/boiler setup which necessitated the 2 stacks. The next thing I was going to look into was if you could use the aft structure just modified or have to scratchbuild a new one. All in all, a very doable project and good one for someone wanting to hone their scratchbuilding skills. Somewhere I have all the details, let me see if I can dig them out and it lists the major differences between the 2 classes and changes necessary.

Matt

[Devin]

That would be excellent, thanks. While I have no doubt I could scratch the after deckhouse from styrene, I probably wouldn't be able to replicate the fine detail on the rest of the model. So, being able to utilize the existing after superstructure as a basis for that would be the best route. Looking forward to whatever you've found. -Thanks

[Dick J]

The structure under the guns, fore and aft, would be unchanged between the classes. It is the segment with the stacks and TT that is different. The Sims' trunked stack fills much of that void and goes all the way down to the maindeck. The kit deckhouse walls for that segment can be recut (there should be more than enough) retaining a fair amount of detail, and it would be mostly the deck that would cause problems. (Evergreen should do it.) Even the quad TT are included in the kit. The funnel and the vents are the main issues.

[Dan K]

Hint to Dragon, then, if it hasn't already occurred.

[taskforce48]

Hint to Dragon, then, if it hasn't already occurred.

That's why I haven't started this yet, I know as soon as I am almost done they will announce they are releasing a kit of this class.

Matt

[Cadman]

That's why I haven't started this yet, I know as soon as I am almost done they will announce they are releasing a kit of this class.

Let me know when you are finished.

[BW]

Tim, that is not even right!! I have contemplated the very same issue and watched to see if one the chosen few posted some cryptic clue. Now I have to figure out if I have created a false but still self-fullfilling prophecey or if there is indeed hope and you are just merely hinting at a nice surprise. Or you are just being mean!??

[Rick E Davis]

Hey ... if it would speed up the release of a SIMS class destroyer in plastic ... I'm more than willing to see Matt scratch-build one.

On the serious side, Matt, if you do work on a conversion, I would love to see how you do it ... I have images of the class if that would help you.