USS Haggard DD-555

[PeeJay]

While at a "Post-Op" checkup for a retinal tear in my left eye, which has completely healed, they found another small one in the top of the left eye, so I will be without 3D vision again for a few more weeks. But I will continue to do research and looking for detail parts in the meantime.

PeeJay

[PeeJay]

I meant to ask earlier: I went through your threads and downloaded pictures of the mods to the Lindbergh parts. Your joinery is excellent. What kind of adhesive are you using? The liquid plastic cement with an applicator?

PeeJay

[snaphappy321]

Hi PeeJay,
I hope your eye sight returns to normal soon . I don't know what I would do if I couldn't see.

I have used regular testors model glue on some of the deck structures. I have also use Plastruct plastic weld. I use a couple different types of CA for instance, I use Krazy Glue in the brush on container. I got it at Wal-Mart but I have seen it at other stores also. I also use Zap medium CA. When I use the Zap, I put a few drops in a water bottle cap and I use a modified sewing needle to apply it to the parts I'm gluing.

Take any sewing needle, I used the biggest one my wife had and I ground the end of the eye off so you have what looks like a tuning fork. Just dip it in the glue you have in your bottle cap and it picks up a tiny drop. Then just touch it to what you want to glue. I find this works great and It helps by not applying to much glue. The less glue the less chance of gluing your fingers together and the bottle of Zap lasts a lot longer and if you knock over the bottle cap with glue it doesn�t create as much of a mess.

Roger DD-555/DD-473

[PeeJay]

Thanks, Roger.

I just finished my last good bottle of Zap, so I am due for replenishment. My other bottles had hardened. I really should refrigerate them to extend shelf life, but if I do that, I will need to put the bottles in a marked container, or they will get lost or thrown out. I have some needles from my "tall ship rigging days," so I won't have to worry about anyone becoming upset.

I have the drawing CD now, and I have been experimenting with printing out tiled copies. I should be able to scale them to match the kit parts, especially if they are in actual 1/96 scale. Then the scaling factor would be 96/125.

While looking for something else the other day, I found some Plastruct sheets and shapes I had bought for another (still unbuilt) project, so I need to find them again to see if I can use them on the Van Valkenburgh. I believe I may have had some beams and "T" shapes, which would be helpful for the bulwark reinforcements and structure underneath the upper decks. I also have a Northwest Chopper squirreled away, which will be great for cutting multiple pieces the same length. So the 'mental plan' continues to evolve, and hopefully, I will be able to cut some plastic soon.

Thanks for your assistance and encouragement, and I hope you have a great Thanksgiving holiday!!!

PeeJay

[snaphappy321]

Hi PeeJay,
I should buy the CD one of these days, but every spare dollar I have is being spent on material and fittings for my 1/96 scale USS Bennett DD-473!!!!!!!!!!!

May your ship sail in calm sea's and your sunsets always be red!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Roger DD-555/DD-473

[PeeJay]

Roger -- you may have already run into these manuals that I found while looking for more details on the Mk 51 Directors. This page at http://www.hnsa.org/doc/index.htm has links to manuals on the 20MM and 40MM guns, as well as the torpedo tubes and torpedo fire control equipment. I also found the GE Manual for the 24" Searchlights. The manual on torpedo fire control systems will be a great help for detailing the torpedo directors on the bridge.

Additionally, I found manuals for the Mk 14 gunsight and Mk 15 gunsight that show them in detail, as well as mounted on the 20 MM guns and the Mk 51 Director. The manuals are here:

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ref ... index.html http://www.eugeneleeslover.com/USNAVY/CHAPTER-26-C.html

I know that the level of detail found in these manuals will be difficult to model in the 1:125 scale of the Blue Devil kit, but I would rather be limited by my ability than by the available information.

The second tear in the retina of my left eye has nearly completely healed. I do still have a light gray semi-transparent "cloud" from the original tear, but I can see pretty well. Right now, I am fully immersed in Christmas -- lights, the tree, decorations, shopping, etc., but I should get a little time off and to do my own thing after the big day. We are even trying to create a "craft space" which will be a good place to do all but major painting work.

I hope the holidays find you in good health and good spirits!

PeeJay

[snaphappy321]

PeeJay My Friend,
First of all, I�m very happy to hear your eye sight is getting better. I to am caught up in the Christmas rush and after the New Year I hope to get back down to business on both of my Fletcher builds.

I have seen most of the manuals you speak of except the Gun Fire Control System Mk-63. I have looking for images of the Mk-63 gun director because the Bennett would have had them for the quad 40mm Bofor�s mounts. Thank you very much PeeJay for that particular link; I�m sooooooooo excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The torpedo tube manual at HNSA is great, but sadly it�s the only one that I have seen with dimensions until just a couple days ago. Friday afternoon I was doing the usual surfing for information and I came across a page about the 5inch 38 Cal guns used on many USN ships during WWII including the Fletcher�s we love so much. When I got to almost the end of the page I found several line drawings of the single and open gun mounts with dimensions. I was so happy I almost fell off my chair.

This first link is for the 5�/38 Mark 30 Mod 18 Mount used on the Fletcher�s and other USN ships. The other links are for weapons used by the USN most of which were used on the Fletcher's. I�m sure you will like these sites.
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_5-38_mk12_pics.htm (w/dimensions)
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_5-38_mk12.htm
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4c ... 2_pics.htm
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_4cm-56_mk12.htm
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_2c ... 4_pics.htm
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_2cm-70_mk234.htm
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_50 ... G_pics.htm
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_50cal-M2_MG.htm
http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNUS_1- ... 1_pics.htm
http://www.navweaps.com/index_tech/index_tech.htm

As you can see, each weapon system has a picture link and an information link. Within each web page there are many other links that can be searched. That�s how I found most in this list. First I found the 5�/38 gun pages and I just started checking out everything else that was of interest to me.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You and Your Family!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish you and everyone who reads my two build logs the best in the coming New Year!!!!!!!!

Roger DD-555/DD-473

[Rick E Davis]

The Mk 63 GFCS really was a "system". The director used was an upgraded Mk 51 director ... the Mk 51 Mod 6. The radar was installed on the gun mount itself and of course the computer was below decks.

Only about one in three FLETCHERS received the Mk 63 GFCS during their Anti-Kamikaze refit due to a shortage of sets with so many ships of all sizes requiring them in mid-1945. BENNETT was one of the destroyers to NOT get the Mk 63 GFCS and relied on the Mk 51 directors alone.

[snaphappy321]

Thanks Rick, you�re the best!!!! You just saved me from making another mistake and a lot of work I was planning to do on the Bennett!!!!!!!

Roger DD-555/DD-473

[PeeJay]

Roger: I missed your post of December 15 regarding the gun pages. Great post! Hopefully, I will be able to "cut plastic" soon. Still have a lot of post-holiday clean-up to do. I will be taking down Christmas lights this weekend, but should at least be able to get to the Fletcher box so I can measure some kit pieces to scale the drawings I have for their modification.

PeeJay

P.S. Vision is much better now.

[PeeJay]

During my annual taking down of the Christmas lights yesterday, I was able to work a path in the garage to my Fletcher box containing the remnants of my original Blue Devil and the parts from an unbuilt kit. I pulled a couple of decks to help in scaling the plans.

I had forgotten how small some of those parts are in 1:125 scale, which causes me to marvel even more at the outstanding job you have done on your conversion thus far. You have set the bar high.


PeeJay

[PeeJay]

One other quick question, Roger:

What are you going to use (or are already using) to simulate canvas on your build? Doped tissue?

PeeJay

[snaphappy321]

Thanks PeeJay for your kind words on the Haggard!!!!!!! I really appreciate it!!!!!!!
I�m not sure if I�m going to put canvas blast bags on my 5� guns. The gun barrels are moveable and if I were to attach the canvas blast bags they would be fixed in position defeating all the work I did on them. I know they are used on almost every USN ship during WWII, but I don�t like the look of them. I know this is a mistake on my part; oh well!!!!!!

Thanks Again!!!!!!!
Roger DD-473/DD-555

[PeeJay]

Thanks PeeJay for your kind words on the Haggard!!!!!!! I really appreciate it!!!!!!!
I�m not sure if I�m going to put canvas blast bags on my 5� guns. The gun barrels are moveable and if I were to attach the canvas blast bags they would be fixed in position defeating all the work I did on them. I know they are used on almost every USN ship during WWII, but I don�t like the look of them. I know this is a mistake on my part; oh well!!!!!!

Thanks Again!!!!!!!
Roger DD-473/DD-555

Actually, I wasn't really thinking about the blast bags. I was thinking more about the canvas 'windbreakers' attached to the railings, at places like the stack platforms and the top of the pilot house. Lindbergh represents those sections as solid bulwarks, and I intend to cut the plastic down and put in railings. But I would like to then attach the canvas where it was present.

PeeJay

[snaphappy321]

[/quote]

Actually, I wasn't really thinking about the blast bags. I was thinking more about the canvas 'windbreakers' attached to the railings, at places like the stack platforms and the top of the pilot house. Lindbergh represents those sections as solid bulwarks, and I intend to cut the plastic down and put in railings. But I would like to then attach the canvas where it was present.

PeeJay[/quote]

I know what you mean PeeJay. I'm going to make railings and when the time comes I might add canvas to the search light and Mk-51 gun director platforms on the stacks. I have seen a couple different techniques used and I'm not sure how I will do it at this time.
I am presently making prop shaft struts for the Bennett and I hope to show some progress on both the Haggard and Bennett soon. Thanks for following my work.

Roger DD-555/DD-473

[PeeJay333]

Well, Roger -- your transformation of this kit, and the availability of Tom's photo etch -- which you have used so expertly -- have gotten me going. "Research" continues, but the actual build is underway on the USS Valkenburgh (DD656). She will need a scratch aft 40 MM tub and supporting deckhouse like the one you did in your conversion. Also, as you noted, there are numerous other modifications to be done on the other structures and weapons. I think that if I treat sections of the ship as models in themselves, it will not seem like such a humongous undertaking.

My Tom's order has been sent, and I think I now have the Fletcher CD plans properly scaled for the Blue Devil build. Next post from me regarding my work will be on my own build thread.


PeeJay

[snaphappy321]

Sounds great PeeJay, I'll be watching your work for sure. Lately I'm working on my 1/96 scale Bennett. The plan is, to get both Fletchers to the same state of completion so I can perform the same task on each at the same time. The weather will be getting better in a couple months and I hope to have both operational RC wise while I continue with the detailing process until completion.

Thanks for the interest in my work and best wishes on the start of your USS Valkenburgh DD656.
Roger DD-555/DD-473

[snaphappy321]

Hi Everyone,
It's been a long time since I've done any work on this one. First I would like to say that John R. Haynes came out with some new fittings in 1/128th scale for USN ships. I ordered his new Mk-51 gun directors, 20mm single Oerlikon's, torpedo tubes, compass and PE stanchions. The fittings should be in soon and when they arrive, I will post some photos of them.

I recently got a small servo for the rudder and I mounted it yesterday and made up the connecting rod for the rudder. All the running gear is now complete. I will finally be gluing the deck on and moving forward with this build. Here's a couple photos of where I am today.

As always, check back for more on the Haggard!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roger DD-555/DD-473

[PeeJay333]

Hi Everyone,
It's been a long time since I've done any work on this one. First I would like to say that John R. Haynes came out with some new fittings in 1/128th scale for USN ships. I ordered his new Mk-51 gun directors, 20mm single Oerlikon's, torpedo tubes, compass and PE stanchions. The fittings should be in soon and when they arrive, I will post some photos of them.

Roger DD-555/DD-473

I have Googled John Haynes for those 128th scale parts and did not find them. A link would be greatly appreciated!

PeeJay

[pghgeorge]

Nice install.

Hi Everyone,
It's been a long time since I've done any work on this one. First I would like to say that John R. Haynes came out with some new fittings in 1/128th scale for USN ships. I ordered his new Mk-51 gun directors, 20mm single Oerlikon's, torpedo tubes, compass and PE stanchions. The fittings should be in soon and when they arrive, I will post some photos of them.

I recently got a small servo for the rudder and I mounted it yesterday and made up the connecting rod for the rudder. All the running gear is now complete. I will finally be gluing the deck on and moving forward with this build. Here's a couple photos of where I am today.

IMG_3032 13 x 8.667 low res.jpg

IMG_3039 13 x 8.667 low res.jpg

As always, check back for more on the Haggard!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Roger DD-555/DD-473