1/350 USS O'Bannon DDE-450 Fletcher Class Escort Destroyer (ISW)
|
by Richard Sliwka |
ISW's USS Renshaw kit was modified to represent the USS O'Bannon in its early-1950's configuration as escort destroyer (DDE). References used were numerous USS O'Bannon photographs from various sources, kit instructions/drawings, and Alan Ravens "Fletcher-Class Destroyers" drawings.
A major modification to reflect the O'Bannon configuration involved the forward O-1 deck level. The kit's deck was replaced with one fabricated from .015" sheet plastic with proper MK15 trainable hedgehog mounting and platform. The MK15 trainable hedgehog was completely scratch-built with numerous control details including 24 individual spigots made from a PE ladder section. (The kit MK15, while very detailed, was somewhat over scale.)
Other modifications were increasing the height of the stacks by 3/64" and replacing the rudder with one made from plastic sheet using the pattern in Raven's book. Also, the "between-the-stacks" O-1 deck was modified to include the addition of a 5-tube torpedo mount (Yankee Modelworks).
Many scratch-built deck details (signal lamps, ranging/sighting devices, storage lockers, antennae, 3" loading machine trainer, stack footholds, internal 3"/50 tub shell casing collection containers support stanchions, etc.) were added. The masts/mast details were made from brass rod, tubing and plate. The aft radio detection antenna was from a Gold Medal PE sheet (the kit's antenna was very over scale and extremely complex to assemble).
L'Arsenal's 5"/38 gun houses/brass barrels, Mk37 director, twin 20mm guns, floater net baskets, whaleboats, and railing with safety netting; and, Vetran's 3/50 twin guns and MK56 director were used. Rigging and radio lines were .002" and .003 dia. nylon fishing line.
The model was painted using Model Master acrylics-- a mixture of 2 parts
Medium Gray/1 part Camouflage Gray for the hull and vertical surfaces,
Gunship Gray for the decks, and Anti-fouling Red
for the underwater hull. Deck anti-skid walkways were kit furnished
decals.
This "build" took about 150 hours and resulted in a very satisfying
model of a famous ship that served from the dark days of 1942 to the late
1960's.
