1/144 USS NICHOLAS DD-449 late war
Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 1:30 pm
Hey Guys,
I'm going to build the USS Nicholas DD 449 late war from the Revell of Germany Fletcher kit#5091.
http://www.ussnicholas.org/index.html
This will be a slow build, only updated when I make some progress. Plus I have to get back to the USS Doyle FFG-37. I've been at it for a couple months so far.
The materials on hand are:
NAUTILUS MODELS: 144-203 Fletcher photo etch brass set, 144-020 USS Fletcher Turret & Whaleboat Upgrade set, 144-021 USS Fletcher 40mm Twin Stern Tub, 144-601 USS Fletcher Anti-Skid Decal , 144-602 1/144 Fletcher Class Destroyer Decals.
EDUARD MODEL ACCESSORIES: #53040 Fletcher 1942 1/144.
THE FLOATING DRYDOCK: Fletcher Class Plan eBook, A number of drawings of Fletchers. Ordnance Pamphlet #6 40mm twin Bofors mount, General Arrangement Drawings of same.
DESTROYER HISTORY FOUNDATION: Fletcher Class Destoryer Engineering Drawings Bath Iron Works.
STILLMOTIONSPHOYOGRAPHICS.COM: Fletchers volume 58.
And everything I could find on the net.
Well, as everyone knows the real roadblock to a late war Fletcher fom this kit is the five 40mm twin mounts. The gun tubs should not be a big deal to scratch. The mounts themselves are the the problem. To this end I emailed Revell of Germany to purchase additional sprues for the mounts and the Mk-51 directors. They replied after two weeks that they do not sell extra sprues ever. What a waste, to my mind this would be a sure money maker. Next I bought a Nautilus Models twin 40mm stern mount and tub. I was not happy with the casting, and I broke the carrige trying to add the guns to it.
So, I thought that I could copy the kit mounts for my own personel use without violating the copyright. BTW, please don't ask for copies, I can't do it.
To start I purchased the 'Starter Kit' for resin casting from Micro-Mark. The cost was just over $100. This does not include the extra supplies I've had to obtain.
I thought this would be an easy job, BOY WAS I WRONG. The first thing, Klean Klay is a pain in the a** to work with on very small parts. You are to embed the part in it to make a two part mold, pour the rubber for the first half, remove the Klean Klay, then pour the second half. The stuff gets everywhere, sticks to the part, and is difficult to clean off parts. Because the parts are small with many holes, angles, and under cuts, the rubber just won't hold up and tears after one or two castings. For some of these parts I've had to make three molds to get uasable parts. I've since obtained the high strength rubber and hard resin. Haven't had a chance to try it as yet. To overcome the Klean Klay I now suspend a part from it's sprue pour the first half of rubber then after curing pour the second half. In the next few days I'll show my methods with photos.
Just some shots to show progess so far.
I'm going to build the USS Nicholas DD 449 late war from the Revell of Germany Fletcher kit#5091.
http://www.ussnicholas.org/index.html
This will be a slow build, only updated when I make some progress. Plus I have to get back to the USS Doyle FFG-37. I've been at it for a couple months so far.
The materials on hand are:
NAUTILUS MODELS: 144-203 Fletcher photo etch brass set, 144-020 USS Fletcher Turret & Whaleboat Upgrade set, 144-021 USS Fletcher 40mm Twin Stern Tub, 144-601 USS Fletcher Anti-Skid Decal , 144-602 1/144 Fletcher Class Destroyer Decals.
EDUARD MODEL ACCESSORIES: #53040 Fletcher 1942 1/144.
THE FLOATING DRYDOCK: Fletcher Class Plan eBook, A number of drawings of Fletchers. Ordnance Pamphlet #6 40mm twin Bofors mount, General Arrangement Drawings of same.
DESTROYER HISTORY FOUNDATION: Fletcher Class Destoryer Engineering Drawings Bath Iron Works.
STILLMOTIONSPHOYOGRAPHICS.COM: Fletchers volume 58.
And everything I could find on the net.
Well, as everyone knows the real roadblock to a late war Fletcher fom this kit is the five 40mm twin mounts. The gun tubs should not be a big deal to scratch. The mounts themselves are the the problem. To this end I emailed Revell of Germany to purchase additional sprues for the mounts and the Mk-51 directors. They replied after two weeks that they do not sell extra sprues ever. What a waste, to my mind this would be a sure money maker. Next I bought a Nautilus Models twin 40mm stern mount and tub. I was not happy with the casting, and I broke the carrige trying to add the guns to it.
So, I thought that I could copy the kit mounts for my own personel use without violating the copyright. BTW, please don't ask for copies, I can't do it.
To start I purchased the 'Starter Kit' for resin casting from Micro-Mark. The cost was just over $100. This does not include the extra supplies I've had to obtain.
I thought this would be an easy job, BOY WAS I WRONG. The first thing, Klean Klay is a pain in the a** to work with on very small parts. You are to embed the part in it to make a two part mold, pour the rubber for the first half, remove the Klean Klay, then pour the second half. The stuff gets everywhere, sticks to the part, and is difficult to clean off parts. Because the parts are small with many holes, angles, and under cuts, the rubber just won't hold up and tears after one or two castings. For some of these parts I've had to make three molds to get uasable parts. I've since obtained the high strength rubber and hard resin. Haven't had a chance to try it as yet. To overcome the Klean Klay I now suspend a part from it's sprue pour the first half of rubber then after curing pour the second half. In the next few days I'll show my methods with photos.
Just some shots to show progess so far.
in a good way