By Richard Sliwka
1/350 USS Porter DD-356 1942 (Yankee Model Works)
This model was a modification of the Yankee Modelworks kit using the Alan Raven June 42 general arrangements as shown in Plastic Ship Modeler #17 as the basis as well as numerous photo studies in books and on the net. I would estimate that 25% to 35% of this model was scratch-built or heavily modifying the kit parts. This included the bridge area, aft superstructure, various gun tubs, masts, additional life rafts, platforms, etc. the materials used were plastic sheet, brass photo etch material, and brass tubing/rods. The modifications were not overly difficult: and, this build was actually easier than the building the 1937 version of the Porter. Non-kit parts used were L'Arsenal's 26' whale boat and Tom's SC-1 and Mark 3 photo-etch radars. The 20mm guns were a combination of kit parts (photo-etch barrels with sights), L'Arsenal's (bases, photo-etch gun carriages, and shields), and GMM's (hand wheels).
The model was air- and hand-brushed painted in the dark navy gray measure using Poly Scale 5-N Navy Gray (vertical surfaces), 20-B Deck Blue (horizontal surfaces), and Model Masters Arycl's Boot Top Black and Anti-fouling Red for the hull bottom. Rigging material was the same as the 1937 Porter.
The total time required to complete this model was about 100-120 hours. The building time for both models was in-line with my initial personal modeling skill estimate of 1 hour of building time for every dollar of retail kit purchase price.
Editor's note: This ship took 2nd place for large ships at the 2004 IPMSWCMO contest.
