Calling all Oliver Hazard Perry-class FFG fans

[jellin96]

One other thing missing...

I'm not sure which hulls were eventually backfit versus original equipment, but those choosing to model longdeck OHP's will also want to add the fin stabilizers, which are not, as far as I can tell, included with the Academy kit.

[Doclat]

Here are some pics that I took one day while crossing the Elizabeth River in Norfolk.






You can see the rudder offset in this shot.



They are high-res images, I have a lot more.
Here is a link to the album on webshots. Just click the photo. Enjoy!


Mike

[bearcat]

Willie, your work is sooo inspiring, my eyes wide open, i wonder what glue you use and how do you move these tiny bits around?, i use the tip of an No,11 knife, but i cant see any knife marks on any of your parts, please tell me.

The beauty of building parts like this, is that if one is not satisfied, just make a another one.

[Cliffy B]

So I got the Academy OHP kit and some GMM PE to spruce it up. Now I notice that Yankee Model Works is selling their OHP PE fret separately for $15 at Free Time Hobbies. Questions to you guys; has anyone built the YMW kit and have opinions/photos/scans of the PE fret? I've looked all over for a review of the kit hoping to see a picture of the PE fret but to no avail, and free time just shows a photo of the Academy kit in the catalog. Should I grab the YMW PE or save my $15 and just use the GMM PE?


I know WEM has a really nice looking PE fret but no one is carrying it yet State side (or are they?) and importing from the UK sucks monetarily.

Thoughts?

[oneslim]

Cliffy B,

I'm in the middle of building USS Doyle FFG-39 from the YMW kit. I started before the Academy kit came out. Went and got the OHP from Academy to get the details. You can view my build here:

viewtopic.php?f=59&t=37817

If You read my build there are some small areas that are wrong with the YMW kit but, overall i like the kit better than the Academy one.

Below are photos of the YMW photo etch. Keep in mind that the railings are made to fit the kit with the chock openings and other areas.

Also, i bought the WEM Arleigh Burke set #3550 just for the air cooled 50 cal. guns, may use some of the other parts.

And, picked up a GMM Morden USN set #35012 for the props and radars. It also has some nice railings.

I'm not sure yet which masts to use, the YMW photo etch, or the Academy kit parts. I will build both to see which looks best.

I hope this helps.

[Willie]

I wonder what glue you use and how do you move these tiny bits around?, i use the tip of an No,11 knife, but i cant see any knife marks on any of your parts, please tell me.

Hi Bjorn and all,

Sorry for the delay in my answer. My PC has been out of work for 15 days, and I consequently and completely appart from the world.
As for glue I use Humbrol liquid poly, and as for tools, X-acto blades, very fine sandpaper and very thin and sharp tweezers, nothing else.
Tak for your interest, heie Norge --I know it a bit --, and very best regards from Spain,

Willie.

[carr]

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[Timmy C]

World-wide pirate hunting seems to be the role they can do the best right now.

[Joe Ellias]

The LCS does indeed appear to be the replacement to the FFGs. It is important to note that the primary role of the FFG was as an ocean escort to transport from North America to Europe in the event of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe, and secondarily as a member of a carrier battle group or amphibious expedition unit. As the Soviet threat faded, the FFGs were utilized as a multi-purpose surface combatants. The single armed missile launcher was removed due to high maintananc and replacement by more modern DDGs. Current Geopolitical conditions require a ship that can operate close to shore (littoral) against minimal air threat. The LCSs are designed to serve this function better than the FFGs. The LCS assets v. FFGs include:
1) Stealth characteristics
2) Significantly larger helo capability
3) Greater surface speed (particulary in short runs)
4) Seal unit birthing and launch capability
5) Smaller crew requirements
6) More comfortable birthing and living environmnet for entire crew
7) More modern and efficient powerplant
Less maintanance requirements

I personally believe that, despite the criticism of the LCS program, this program is vital to the current threat environment and complements the Arleigh Burkes very well in providing a balanced and effective naval presence in today's world.

[carr]

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[Joe Ellias]

Bob

Your comments are all good. I think the Navy has made a decision that a new platform is needed to operate in the littoral threat for the next 25-30 years. If the issue was 10-12 years, I think the Navy would have tried to use the FFGs in this role.
As for the comparison, let me follow up on your comments:
1)Stealth..I think Stealth capability in the littoral is valuable beyond visual. A platform may operate 30-40 miles offshore. This is beyond visual but within range of helo and/or boat driven insertion.
2) Helos..Have you seen the decks and hangars on these LCSs? They're huge! My guess is they can support several (4-5) helos.
3) Tactical Speed.. This is a valuable capability. Just look back at the Somali pirate rescue in April. Hours may have made the difference between success and failure of that mission.
4) Boat Launching..Again I think this is a capability that the Navy felt a long term need justified a new platform.
5,6,7, and 8...You and I are in agreement
One more thing... I believe the LCS has a shallower draft then the FFGs. Could be of value in some circumstances.

As far as the future of the FFGs, my guess is that short term they will be used just as you describe, but long term, due to manning and all other factors previously mentioned, I think they are on the "cash for clunkers" plan, perhaps of use to some of our second tier allies (Latin America, Oceana, etc.)

Let me say that this is all pure speculation on my part. I am not, nor have I ever been, a member of the US Navy, a military consultant, contractor, etc. I am merely an interested citizen with a lot of enthusiam about all things nautical.

Thanks for the discussion Bob, and all the best,
Joe

[carr]

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[Sauragnmon]

I have to say, it leaves me the question, gentlemen, of what is the LCS Really designed for? Just in reading your discussion, I think they're trying to justify the design replacing the FFG-7 as more of an "on the books" kind of situation. In truth, it seems the LCS is more designed as a SEAL insertion and support system. Stealth, to avoid detection and engagement during insertion/recovery tasks. Speed, to GTFOD as quickly as possible, and to get to the deployment zone faster. Helo support, for rapid extractions. Call me crazy, it just seems to me like it's the Mk5 SOC on drugs, and they're using the FFG-7's shortcomings to retire it and push this in as an Official reasoning to get it on the books.

[carr]

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[darkwolf29a]

I am currently in the planning stages of building the USS Wadsworth, FFG-9. My father was the ship's commanding officer at the time of her commissioning. So, it goes without saying that this ship means a lot to me personally.

I'm wondering what everyone's take is on the best sources for parts. I'm thinking to start with the Academy kit and add A LOT more details.

I am looking for an SH-2D Seasprite model as well, but haven't found one in 350th scale.

Any suggestions you have would be helpful.

Thanks for your time.

[Christian Bruer]

I am looking for an SH-2D Seasprite model as well, but haven't found one in 350th scale.

Hi,

take a look to White Ensign Models. They have a SH-2 Kaman Seasprite. Reference #FD 038 with to Seapsrites in the pack. The models are casted in white metal with photo etched rotor blades.

Take also a look to their PE set, here a link to a review on Modellversium:
http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=4187

And to the MASTER detail set:
http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=4257

Hope that helps a bit!

Next to a lot of other projects I work on USS Thach (FFG-43 ). I did some corrections to get a Flight II and start a detailed hangar deck. By the way, are there some hangar inside photos available?

[carr]

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[darkwolf29a]

Christian...Thank you very much for the information.

I do not have any pictures of the inside of the hangers. But, if I do find some, I will post them up for you.

Your build looks fantastic, by the way.

[Christian Bruer]

Christian,

Nice hangar modifications! Do you have plans showing the internal bulkhead arrangements or are you working off photos? By the way, what scale is that? I'd love to see more pics as work progresses. Thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Bob

Hi Bob,

At first, thank you for the compliment! No I have any plans or photos, the main structure is only guess work. The only thing I know is, that the hangar on OHP frigates is separated by a bulkhead. Well, before I proceed with the hangar some photos would be nice!

The model is Acadamys 1/350 Oliver Hazard Perry (FFG-7):
http://www.modellversium.de/kit/artikel.php?id=3910

The kit is well detailed and available for a fair price. But there are some worse casted parts included. Most of the boxes and lockers on the upper deck are casted with the deck and you find a lot of washed out edges.

I cut off all the details and plan to make them new. Self made sketch with some measures for the lockers and boxes and 3D flagg lockers.

The upper works aren't finished yet and look like some Swiss cheese at the moment.

[Christian Bruer]

Christian...Thank you very much for the information.

I do not have any pictures of the inside of the hangers. But, if I do find some, I will post them up for you.

Your build looks fantastic, by the way.

Hi,

no problem and thank you also for your compliment. Would be nice to get some hangar photos. As I wrote before the hangar details are only guess work until now.

I don't know if the USS Wadsworth you plan to build has a bilge keel like the one you find with the kit. Because I build the Flight III USS Thach I had to rework the long bilge keel to a shorter one compared with stabilizers. See photo no. 7:
http://www.navybook.com/nohigherhonor/pic-servant.shtml

I closed the furrows in both hull sides, shortend the bilge keels and glued the keels to the hull. The rest was filled with white putty and sanded carfully to a correct form.

The parts for the long hull Flight III are included. Next to some other details they forgot to add the chocks along the deck line. I made new ones from styrene because the L'Arsenal chocks are much to big for a frigate.