1/700 WWII Fletcher class destroyer kits

[Geno the Viking]

Hi gang,

What is everyones experience with 1/700 WWII Flectcher class waterline kits? I have on my shelf a Trumpeter Sullivans, Tamiya Fletcher, Skywave Callaghan, Skywave Fletcher, and a Matchbox Fletcher. Over the years I've modified and put together the older kits and I'm looking forward to tackeling the newer ones once I complete my IJN destroyers.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks

[USS California BB44]

I have built the Tamiya Fletcher and it goes together well. Replace the 5" mounts as they are undersized.

[D-Boy]

I have built the Tamiya Fletcher and it goes together well. Replace the 5" mounts as they are undersized.

BB44 - What is your recommended source for replacement mounts?

-D-Boy

[USS California BB44]

I really don't know as I built the kit entirely before realizing the mounts were undersized.

[robertmelvin]

Check Alliance Model Works. I have their 5/38 turrets in 1/350 and they are very nice. I'm assuming they do them in 1/700 as well, but I'm not 100% sure. You might also check L' Arsenal.

Bob

[D-Boy]

Check Alliance Model Works. I have their 5/38 turrets in 1/350 and they are very nice. I'm assuming they do them in 1/700 as well, but I'm not 100% sure. You might also check L' Arsenal.

Bob

Alliance does not seem to have any resin aftermarket in 1:700. Those 1:350 kits look nice, though.

The review on this board of the Tamiya kit notes the undersized turrets and an associated build swaps in turrets from Pit Road's "Equipment for US Navy Ships No. 3": http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/mi ... ve-e6.html

Admiralty Modelworks has some lovely 5/38 Twins, but no singles: http://www.admiraltymodelworks.com/inde ... ducts.html

[Timmy C]

Lionroar and Voyager made some resin 5"/38 singles with brass barrels, as I recall.

[Cliffy B]

So does JAG (5-10 resin) and Neptune (10 white metal). Both are highly detailed but JAG comes with separate barrels (with attached blast bags) and the Neptune guns come with them already attached (no blast bags) at either 45 or 0 degrees (5 of each). JAG makes a set specifically for Fletchers with 5 guns (2 with hoods) and one for the Idaho with 10 guns (all hooded). The hoods protect the backup manual sights of the lower mounts from the blast of the mounts above.

Both sets look great but I've only used the Neptune guns before and would recommend them highly. Great little guns that take paint well and turn out spectacular. Whatever paint you're using though be sure to use light coats since they have a lot of fine detail that thick paint would destroy.

[MartinJQuinn]

Paper Lab makes them as well. Available through Pacific Front, one of our sponsors.

[Cliffy B]

D'oh! I meant Paper Lab, not Neptune. I want to say Neptune cast them for Paper Lab.

[robertmelvin]

I have some of Pit Road's products and they are quite nice. Recommended, though I have not seen the turrets. But, if they are up to the quality of the other items I have, you should be quite satisfied.

Bob

[raggs]

The Skywave E6 1/700 weapons kit has a good casting on the 5".

Plus you get all the other goodies. 2 sprues per box.

There's a review onsite under reviews, then "misc tools".

I couldnt get a link to work.

[mopy]

This one?
http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/mi ... ve-e6.html

[USS California BB44]

I got that sprue recently, and while it is good, it is starting to show its age. It could do with a retooling.

[sirpaul]

The Pit Road kit is the best out of the bunch(Callaghan). Comes with 3 different bridge options. The turrets ain't bad and the barrels have nice detail to the blast bags. The deck details are much better than the Tamiya Fletcher and Cushing kits. Stay away from the Matchbox kit. It's from another time all together. The Trumpeter one is nice too. The details are more to scale than the rest of the kits. I would mix the Pit Road and Trumpeter kit together and it should make a pretty nice model. If you want to spend a little more cash for more detail? You should go with the AM works resin turrets and guns and the paper lab aa guns. Hope this helps.

[Geno the Viking]

Thanks sirpaul, I didn't think anyone was going to finally answer my question - ha ha. All the miscellaneous info is always great though. The Callaghan is a pretty old kit now but I do love Skywave kits.

The Fletcher class is THE classic US destroyer of WWII - someone should make the perfect kit someday!

[sirpaul]

Thanks sirpaul, I didn't think anyone was going to finally answer my question - ha ha. All the miscellaneous info is always great though. The Callaghan is a pretty old kit now but I do love Skywave kits.

The Fletcher class is THE classic US destroyer of WWII - someone should make the perfect kit someday!

True i've been wating for a new one myself. I always go with Pit Road kits when in doubt. Good luck on your build.
Paul

[Rick E Davis]

In truth, all of the plastic 1/700 scale and for that matter most of the 1/350 scale and in particular the 1/144 scale FLETCHER kits are lacking. There are errors with all of them. The Matchbox and Greenmax/Pitroad SKYWAVE kits are very old (dating from the 1970s), the Trumpeter kits are poor in detail and have accuracy issues, the Tamiya kits are generally nice, but could be better and they never did a Square-bridge version in 1/350 scale. The Revell 1/144 scale kit is a mess ... leaving off many pieces of equipment from this large scale kit is just sad and how could they get the wrong Mk 37 director?? Some of the resin kits have looked quite nice, but others have errors as well. I have the out-of-production 1/700 scale Samek THE SULLIVANS kit and it is nice.

The FLETCHER class was large, with 175 units, during WWII there were at least eight major configurations where at least two-three ships had the same configuration. And there are more "one-of-a-kind" units. Post-WWII the configurations add another five major types. With eleven builders, there were plenty of variation even with-in the major groups. In most cases, the kits out there focus on the first FLETCHERS built by Federal. Ignore the next four groups and some cover the mid-war 10-40mm and anti-kamikaze versions. Only the resin kits cover ... or did cover ... any of the post-war versions. I don't expect a kit manufacturer to produce a kit that can be built out-of-box with parts for all these variations, but some have kits that don't really match any of the versions. The Square-Bridges are wrong on most kits ... the wrong shape to the navigation bridge.

I find the Tamiya 1/700 scale kits to be the most accurate for the versions they model ... expect for those undersized 5-in/38 gun mounts. The Skywave kits have the wrong shaped 01 deckhouse below the navigation bridge for either of the two Square bridge types ... for the six or ten 40-mm configurations. The third type of bridge Pitroad includes with the CALLAGHAN kit goes to the JMSDF FLETCHERS in the 1950-60s. The 5-in/38 mounts on both kits need to be replaced.

I have mixed and matched parts from various 1/700 scale kits trying to get a nice model and have still run into problems. I have done the same with the two available 1/350 scale plastic kits from Tamiya and Trumpeter ... and run into issues that neither have some key parts.

Yes, I wish DML or some other company serious about producing accurate kits in both 1/350 scale and 1/700 scale would do so. Some post-WWII kits would be nice as well.

[Geno the Viking]

Wow Rick, what a depressing answer - ha.

I have pretty much all of the Fletcher 1/700 kits so I will take your advice and work something out. If you haven't been there yet, you have got to see the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge. It is possibly the best preserved WWII ship in existance. I took dozens of photos of her.

Thanks for the info.

[Rick E Davis]

Sorry to be depressing. The fact is that most FLETCHER kits have been around for awhile and although pretty good when they came out, better kits can be made today. Their weapons can be replaced with better items from aftermarket firms, but thick bulwarks and oversized details can't. The last two "new" FLETCHER class releases ... the Trumpeter kits (1/350 and 1/700 scales) and the Revell 1/144 scale kits have been disappointing. Errors and poor details. I sure don't feel they advanced the hobby any. When I see the detail possible with the DML BENSON-GLEAVES-GEARING kits, I know better kits can be done.

I saw a rumor about a new 1/200 scale FLETCHER kit potentially being released in the next year or so by some unnamed firm. Maybe.

Meanwhile, I didn't see the Tamiya 1/700 CUSHING kit in your list, I suggest picking up a Tamiya CUSHING (or two for some extra parts and kit-bashing with what you have), some spare weapons, and you can have fun making some fairly decent models. I even have one of the old Matchbox FLETCHERS half completed as a "challenge" to make it better.

The newer Skywave kits of IJN and WWII USN ships are much better than the old formerly Greenmax Skywave kit molds that Pitroad bought.