Calling all Benson-class & Gleaves-class DD fans

[almg]

Rick,

I don't speak english very well.

I'm trying to know what ship I can build with Dragon's Benson which served in the Atlantic before 1944.

So he will wear Ms 22 camo.

Are there resin parts in the market to build the differents weapons used at this time ?

[Rick E Davis]

The DML BENSON 1945 kit comes with two twin 40-mm mounts. If you are interested in the temporary extra four 20-mm (making a total of eight) and two single 40-mm mounts, then there are more than enough extra 20-mm guns in the DML kit ... looks like a total of 14. You will need to scratch build a platform to sit on the aft Torpedo Tube Foundation. I got a set of four single single 40-mm mounts from L'Arsenal (item # 350-55) which are a combo of resin and PE and they look nice. I have yet to build them up.

If you are interested in 1943 versions prior to the addition of twin 40-mm mounts, when they had six 20-mm, then it depends on which ship you wish to build. For the BENSON with two half-shield canvas top mounts, there is only one of these mounts in each kit of the early version BENSON-GLEAVES dual class units ... BENSON 1945 and LIVERMORE 1942. The LIVERMORE is already in the late 1942 - early 1943 GLEAVES class version. The BENSON (and MADISON, LANSDALE, H. P. JONES, and C. F. HUGHES) with five 5-in guns in 1943 will take some work. Getting a spare half-shield canvas top mount from another kit or trade from someone not using it and scratch building the differences is quite possible. The rumor is that DML will release in the future a pre-war version of either the BENSON or/and GLEAVES class units, which may have the extra 5-in mount. The pre-war mounts didn't have the half-shield on 53 and 54 mounts.

A close to out of the box build is possible from DML BENSON 1945 for the MADISON, LANSDALE, H. P. JONES, and C. F. HUGHES in late 1943 configuration after the twin 40-mm mounts were installed prior to the extra AA-guns being added.

Check out Navsource.org for images of these destroyers.

[almg]

Thank you very much for all this information Rick

I receive USS Benson next week.

Alban

[Frank Fowler]

I have a quick question concerning the Monssen in the 9 20 mm configuration. The Dragon 1/700 kit shows the 4 20 mm mounts on the aft deck house forward of No. 3 5" mount behind shields that look somewhat like the Laffey configuration. Is this correct or would they be in 4 individual tubs like the 2 20 mm aft deck house guns on the Livermore? I have been through most of the 30 plus pages of this post, but have not seen any mention of the tub configuration on the aft deck house for Monssen and can't seem to find a photo of Monssen during the November 1942 time frame. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Rick E Davis]

Frank,

Look for images of GRAYSON, this configuration was authorized for the four units in DesDiv 22 (DD433-436).
GRAYSON (DD-435) was modified at Mare Island Navy Yard in May-June 1942 and the others were modified at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard in June-July 1942 after the Battle of Midway.

GRAYSON (DD-435) on 10 June 1942.

[Frank Fowler]

Thanks Rick. I knew you would be able to help. Great photos. I was having trouble deciding if the aft deck house area just had enlarged single tubs for the 20 mm in the locations where the smaller tubs for the .50 cal mounts were.

Have a great New Year and thanks again for all the great information you provide.

[53ryder]

I'm new to this website but have been modeling for 30 years as an adult (although don't ask my wife about the 'adult' part). I picked up the 1/350 Dragon USS Laffey Smart Kit over Christmas. I've never done a 1/350th kit before. I've read through some of this thread but not every page. I have a few questions and I apologize if my asking them irritates anyone!

I was wondering what the decals that look to go down on horizontal surfaces, on the bridge and along the outter edges of the main decks, represent? Walkways? Were these wood or metal on a real DD? Or is this like anti-slip coatings like on modern armor (Israeli Merkava's)?

My other question, for now, has to do with the mixture of paints that the instructions list to come up with Deck Blue 20-B? I'd rather avoid doing custom mixes if I could. Is there one 'color' of paint that will do the job of replicating 'deck blue 20-B'? I'd rather use acrylics like Tamiya or ModelMaster if possible. Any help here?




Thanks in advance!

Glenn

[snipechief]

Glenn, the decals for the deck represent non-skid applications. Many of the pics of main deck surfaces in this thread show them in detail. I also prefer not to mix paint when possible. Deck Blue 20B is available from Model Masters, which I purchase along with other paints from online dealers. Good luck with the build. I have completed four of the 1:350 Benson/Gleaves kits - they are simply great little models.

[robertmelvin]

Glenn, I'm about 80% of the way through a build of Laffey DD-459 (there were two Laffeys) and the decals on the decals on the horizontal surfaces you ask about represent non-skid applied to the decks of many U.S.N. ships of that period. If you are interested PacificFront.com sells non-skid in photo etch made by L'Arsenal. I haven't used that myself yet, but I think I'm going to give it a try for my next build requiring non-skid. I've bought a number of things from Pacific Front and they are great to do business with. L'Arsenal makes some excellent PE and resin detaling items.

As to the paints, I suggest you try White Ensign Colourcoats enamels. Their color range for U.S.N. colors of the WW 2 period seems to be spot on and I use them almost exclusively, resorting to another brand only when I can't get the White Ensign paint I need. They have a U.S. Deck Blue that is exactly what you need. You can get White Ensign paints from several suppliers, including White Ensign Models themselves. I get most of mine from MidTenn Hobbies.com. You won't find better folks to do business with. Good prices, prompt shipping and the best customer service around.

I hope you'll keep us posted on your progress on Laffey. It's a great kit and I've had a lot of fun building her. Let me suggest you take a look at another thread on the forum here on a build of the U.S.S. Gearing. It will give you a number of good ideas about how to proceed on Laffey. Good luck with her and have fun.

Bob

[Tracy White]

Hey Glenn, looks like you're just a bit north of me!

I use the WEM paints as well; ModelMaster's had a line of paints in their acrylic line that had the USN colors but it was discontinued due to lack of sales. I think Emil at Skyway Model Shop has a few left but not of the more common Navy colors like Deck Blue. Another great site to get the WEM paints from is ShipCamouflage, which is a very useful site and a sponsor of ModelWarships:

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/

[53ryder]

Hey Glenn, looks like you're just a bit north of me!

I use the WEM paints as well; ModelMaster's had a line of paints in their acrylic line that had the USN colors but it was discontinued due to lack of sales. I think Emil at Skyway Model Shop has a few left but not of the more common Navy colors like Deck Blue. Another great site to get the WEM paints from is ShipCamouflage, which is a very useful site and a sponsor of ModelWarships:

http://www.shipcamouflage.com/

Tracy-
Nice to meet another 'local' modeler. Thanks for the tip on "shipcamouflage.com". I actually came across this on one of the forums here and have added to my favorites.


Glenn

[Tracy White]

The camouflage database is probably the heaviest used item, but Randy's also got the different manuals that were issued during the war as well as some other special topics, if you get more than a cursory interest in ship camouflage. I got the bug hard myself a number of years ago.....

But this is a great site for the Benson/Gleaves builder.

[solicitor]

Tough to discern much from B&W photos, and on models I've seen everything from solid 5-L or 5-H, to white, to natural (varnished) wood, to various combinations thereof (and of course I'm sure that historically there was more than one scheme). Any guidance?

[slappypappy]

New modeler to this forum, looking for some info on the Dragon Buchanan Tokyo Bay kit decals.

I figured out where everything goes, except for decals # 5 & 6 ( these look like crests or patches of some kind). I can't find them anywhere on my instructions sheets, or in any reference photos.

Does anyone know where these are supposed to go?

Thanks,

Tim Vincent

[Russ2146]

Like you, I see no indication that Buchanan wore anything but hull numbers and possibly name at Tokyo Bay.

Post-war, many ships began displaying their patch/crest on the stacks/forward stacks, so the decals might be appropriate if modeled in that time period, before she was turned over to Turkey. But, I haven'tbeed able to find any on-line photos of her in that time period.

Russ

[Cadman]

Those were supposed to be the DESRON 12 logos and were not supposed to be shrunk down to 1/350 scale. I wanted them full size to give the modelers something to dress up the base. Note my avatar is one of those images.

[Guest]

What major changes are needed to convert the 42 Buchanan to Kearny when she was torpedoed in Oct. 41? I know she had no radars but what was her armament?

[Cadman]

You might want to start with a Livermore instead. Kearny had the canvass covered #3 mount. Also the aft superstructure did not have the 1.1" mount and there was a second set of torpedo tubes. Livermore is almost a dead ringer for Kearny. I think you will need some 50 cal guns too.

[Guest]

You might want to start with a Livermore instead. Kearny had the canvass covered #3 mount. Also the aft superstructure did not have the 1.1" mount and there was a second set of torpedo tubes. Livermore is almost a dead ringer for Kearny. I think you will need some 50 cal guns too.

Thanks. I have a Livermore handy in fact.

Anyone know which kit is best for Hobson in her odd 4 color camo with the white bridge top and stack tops?

[Bigdaddy Mark]

quick question.
For the Laffey (Yep a year and a half, and I'm just starting her)
For the Mesure 21 I'm going to be using
Testors RAF Dark Sea Gray 2059 for the 20-B
Testors Dark Sea Blue 1717 for the 5-N
I have them, and this kit is going to be mostly a Skills Build
I also have the GMM PE kit.

My question is What size brass rod should I get for the mast? I know it's two sizes, is there a tube that I can use for the large size? And what do you use to glue them?

Thanks