by John Bange
1/500 USS Downes DD-375 (Scratchbuilt)
USS Downes, DD-375 as she appeared in 1944/45.
With only her machinery reused, she is "back from the dead" after her Pearl Harbor ordeal.
To do this, I used the Squadron Signal book. The hull is cedar. The bridge is from a Lindberg DE, as is the mast. The 5" mounts are made from both Lindberg and Revell. I used the breech assemblies from Revell's Arizona's 5/25's, cut the fat barrels off and with the rear mounts inserted straight pins for barrels. I did the same up forward but used a trimmed piece of the Lindberg DE's 5" enclosed mount. The torpedo tubes are from 2 Lindberg DE Kits, cut out of the deck house. The funnels are UPC's from a Tribal. Depth charge racks are cut from the deck of the DE as were the K guns...one anchor chain only from wifes jewlery box.
