After lanquishing about two years on the layout, I decided to go back to this Benson-class WWII destroyer, and do my own version of a Fleet Revitalization And Modernization (FRAM). I'd always been unhappy with the bow, which was too bulbous for this class. I'd used fir for the hull, which was too soft to hold a proper contour. The difference between winter (hard) and summer (soft) growth was driving me crazy--the bow secion would undulate no matter what I did. Last night, it occurred to me that I could harden the wood by applying coats of thin superglue. I was also unhappy with the paint job. I had applied too many coats of primer, and it had gotten too rough. Sanding around details to smooth things out for a finish coat would be difficult. This morning, while I was sanding the bow, a lot of details started popping off. So I removed the turrets. Wow, that will make sanding easier. More to come.
Well, the super glue didn't work. The bow looked fine, until I put a light coat of primer on it. Still, the undulations. So I sanded past my target line, and covered the whole mess with Squadron putty. That did the trick.
Bill Bitner's Canberra cruiser got me motivated to share some more pictures, as promised, of my re-do of a Benson-class destroyer. I got some very nice rework done on it. I reshaped the bow and modified the portholes to a recessed style rather than a protruding one. I built tapered gun barrels to replace the purchased stepped ones. I added all sorts of details--better depth charge racks and all the davits, new hose racks, some antenna details, and better proportioned whaleboats. And I painted things in a more reasonable scheme. But there comes a time when I have to recognize my modeling skills two years ago were far lesser than they are now. Aside from scraping everything off to a bare hull, I wasn't going to make the Benson any better. So I put her back together, and placed her on the layout. She is a Naval Reserve ship, sometimes a training ship, and doesn't have all the latest 1957 radars and other weapons. Here's some quick images. The depth charge racks (below) The gun barrels and finished rear gun tub The slimmed-down whaleboats The flash bags on the tapered barrels I think Bill and I inspire each other to get better and better, and I thinks that's perfect!
:happy19pb: Pete, great work! Pretty soon, we'll have a maritime forum on Trainboard, at the rate you and Bill are going!:happy3: :cool6xb:
Hemi, It's been kinda strange for me. Until I started these ships, my modeling was partially locked up in what I could buy from N scale suppliers. Now I look everywhere for little bits and pieces that can improve all of my modeling, not just ships. N scale is pretty small, but there's still a lot of stuff out there in craft and hobby shops. In fact, you just suggested a new topic!
Pete, that DD looks fantastic. I'm not sure if I heard, did you name it yet? I like the photoetch railings, they look great. I have yet to be able to use that stuff very well.
No, I haven't named it yet. I'll have to look through my notes of two years ago. I know that a Benson class was stationed in Boston in 1957, as part of the reserve fleet. I know I read it on navsource--but I can't remember, and don't really want to go through 300 ships again! The railings take some patience, and a lot of wasted superglue. I just found a 1:192 stanchion set from Tom's Modelworks that I might use for a Fletcher--I don't know yet. One of the reasons I built the Benson was the gunwhales, instead of stanchions.
Hi Pete, I think I know which Benson you are talking about but darned if I can remember the name of it right now. I finished the construction stage of the Canberra, now I just need to paint it. I've also just about got the hull done on the battleship West Virginia.
Another big ship! That's almost as wide as an aircraft carrier. About the same length as the Canberra? Jeanne want to have a "coming-out" party for the railroad this fall, so I think I'll be working on other stuff for a while. I've got just about everything for the freighter Beavercove.
