by Bob Cicconi
1/700 USS Stevens DD-479 (Tamiya)
My latest build, the 1/700 Tamiya Fletcher modified to the USS Stevens DD-479, one of 6 round bridge Fletchers that underwent a short-lived conversion to a catapult equipped destroyer with a Kingfisher scout plane. Modifications included changing the location of the rear port and starboard 20mm galleries, scratchbuilding the crane post and base , smoke generators, foremast, and the 20mm position in front of the bridge, adding photo etch accessories from Gold Medal and Tom's, Paper Lab 5" guns, Gold Medal 20mm guns, and a combination of Niko and Loose Cannon for the aft twin 40mm gun. Rigging was a combination of stretched sprue and caenis line, with WEM paints for the measure 21 blue, and Starfighter's excellent decals for the Kingfisher. A special thank you to Dave Shadell for providing me with excellent photos of the Stevens, without which I wouldn't have been able to build her.
