by Bob Cicconi
1/700 USS Sampson DD-394 1943 (Niko)
I've included photos of the Niko 1/700 USS Sampson, 1943, which I've just completed. It's pretty much out of the box with the addition of some extra carley floats and float racks, and the exchange of the kit 20mm guns with Gold Medal units. I used Floquil Reefer White and White Ensign's Thayer Blue for the Measure 16 camo scheme. I also used Lion Roar 5" metal barrels and their photo etched canopy braces for the aerial masts on the sides of the stack. Railings and carley float racks are by Gold Medal, ladders and step ladders, and the smoke generators are from the spares box. Rigging is stretched sprue. I used Ron Smith's CD on the Somers class for research on the camo scheme and it came in handy as his photos are very clear, enabling one to see very minute detail and subtle color changes not visible in the Navsource photos. Overall it was a fun and interesting build of an interesting subject in an off-beat color scheme.
