MidShip Models Gridley

[NCMac]

As a modeler of U.S. Navy ships from World War II, the pre-war destroyers are a critical piece. They bore the brunt of the early naval battles and particularly those around Guadalcanal. When MidShip Models released their kits for many of these ships, I was overjoyed. I ordered all eight destroyer models and figured I could expand my fleet even faster than President Roosevelt. Like the President, I was in for a rude surprise.

The first build was a Mahan. This was my third 1/700 ship and while the fit seemed rather poor and detail crude, it wasn�t much different from the Revell Arizona or Matchbox(?) Atlanta I�d built earlier. What really bothered me was that it just didn�t look right. The proportions seemed wrong and there was a generally �chunky� look to it. So much for my vision of a pre-war destroyer fleet. Other models came along, and the seven remaining kits stayed in their boxes.

I built more models, discovered �Model Warships�, photo-etch, and resin. I still wanted models of the 1,500 Tonners but now had some ideas of what I wanted to change and how to do it. Built a Fanning in pre-war guise, a couple of Bagleys, early and late war, and like to think I learned something with each of them. The proportions seemed better and they didn�t appear quite so �chunky�. I found some changes common to all these kits, aftermarket parts, and a willingness to modify more parts.

The next Mahan, the Cushing, incorporated more of these �lessons learned� and can be seen here, along with the first Mahan: viewtopic.php?f=60&t=153045

The follow-up ship, the Maury, is the subject of this posting. http://imgur.com/a/U0R1i#0 I�ve included photos showing most of the modifications I make to these kits. I don�t claim these to result in an exact model, but I do like the proportions and overall look much better than an out-of-the-box build. Hopefully, you�ll find something here that may assist you.

Thanks for looking and I welcome any comments.

Mac

[Quincy]

Your Gridley looks great NCMac!!!!

Are you going to be doing any of the Benham's by any chance?





Bob Pink.

[NCMac]

Thank you Bob (Quincy),

Your very kind words made my day.

You bet I want a Benham, specifically the Sterett. You're familiar with both the MidShips kits and the Benhams. The kit supplied stack for the Bagleys is workable and I think they are the easiest to model (I'm lazy so built them first). The Gridley stack was fabricated from the kit trunking, a funnel cut from the Bagley, plastic stock, and filler. Harder, but the kit still supplied the basis. I don't think there is anything in the kit for a Benham stack. Hardest of all. I've been playing with one out of brass tube and plastic. It's not there yet, but I haven't quit yet. Kind of interested in what the new Tamiya Sims may offer too.

I confess it won't be my next build. Have done a bunch of DDs recently and need a change. Started an AO today.

Best regards,

Mac

[Quincy]

I am going to check out modifying the Hammanns funnel too for the Benham kits. You have given me a new resolve to try to work on my other DD kits.



Bob Pink.