USS Woodworth DD-460
by David Waples

1/700 USS Woodworth DD-460 (Dragon)

This is a project I completed for the Promodeller's web club and also for our local ship modeling club. This is the 1/700 Dragon release of the USS Laffey which is one of three releases of the Benson class destroyer in 1/700 scale. I don't have a lot of experience in this scale but from observations I have to tell you that this is an exceptional kit. It has remarkable detail and everything fits extremely well.

The kit is actually two kits. It contains the USS Laffey, DD-459 and the USS Woodworth, DD-460. There are parts in this kit to make one of each but not two of the same. Because they designed this kit to do 6 different configurations you will end up with a lot of parts you don't use but because of the quality they are welcome additions to the spare parts inventory.

The kit is mostly from the box with the following exceptions...

  1. I fabricated my own masts because I intended to rig her and wanted better support than what the plastic pieces, although well made, would provide.
  2. I purchased the White Ensign Models Benson class photo etch set which includes railings, ladders, and some better done parts than the photo etch provided in the kit.
  3. I used Xtradecals black stripes for my waterline
  4. I used Orvis 8X .003 dia fly fishing tippet material for rigging.

Again, construction was straight forward. Some slight filling with Mr. Surfacer 1000. I used Tamiya Extra Thin for major assembly and Gator Glue for attaching all the tiny parts.

For finishing I tried something new. I started with Dupli-Color Adhesion Promoter which you can buy at auto parts stores as a primer. It is a clear finish but goes on very smooth and holes paint extremely well. I decanted it into a paint jar and they sprayed it through my airbrush. I used White Ensign Models Color Coats cut 25% with white paint for scale effect which I think is very convincing color. This was top coated with Future before before applying the decals from the kit which are fantastic. I then applied filters as described in David Griffith's book Ship Models from Kits which I highly recommend. After rigging was completed aid protected the model with a 50% mixture of Windsor & Newton Flow Improver and J.W. etc.'s Right-Step clear flat acrylic varnish through my airbrush.

I highly recommend this kit to anyone wishing to build ships in this scale

David Waples


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