1/350 Spruance-class destroyers (Dragon)

Originally I wanted to build three vessels in various stages of development: the Merrill still with the original ASROC system, the Elliot after the installation of the VLS system on the bow, but still with the original narrow hangar, and the Cushing with the wider hangar and the Rolling Airframe Missile RIM-116 launcher at the starboard side at the stern. As so often with fleet plans, I didn't quite made it: I only purchased the original kit (Ingersoll) later, from which the Merrill can be built.
 
The Dragon kit of the Spruance-class destroyer certainly dates back to the eighties or is even older, when Dragon was not yet known for the quality where it is currently known for. There were lots of fitting issues.
The hull consists of two long longitudinally-split halves, which in both kits were bent like a banana. It is advisable to build the superstructure separately. The superstructure consists of 13 parts, which have to come together more or less simultaneously and have to sit square.

On the other hand, the kit forms a good basis, as the outline is good and there is enough nice detail. Using photo-etching railing and radar's and some resin additions, a very good looking model of this underrated and undervalued, but important class of modern destroyers can be built.

The Cushing kit appeared later on the market, and is equipped with a good-looking photoetch railing set. However, I have used the 350-12 “Modern USN Warship” of Gold Medal Models for both vessels. The same set also provided the AN/SPS-40 air search radar, wind vanes and other smaller parts that adorn the masts.
The stacks in the kit of the Cushing are executed in nice turned metal, and they look much better than the original plastic stacks.

I replaced the kits´ boats by resin ones, made by Veteran Model. Veteran also provided the two MK44 30mm Bushmaster "chain guns" amidships in the Cushing. Both kits are missing some small platforms to port and starboard for the liferaft canisters, so a little scratchbuilding with Evergreen sheet is needed. The best components of the kit are the helicopters, the SH-60B Seahawk. They look good, although I have cut off the tail to fold it, and I have replaced the thick plastic rotors by the photo-etched rotors from the GMM set.
All in all both models came out quite nicely.

Gallery updated 4/14/2015

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