By Drew Nix
1/350 USS Wedderburn DD-684 (Tamiya)
| U.S.S. Wedderburn DD-684
Commissioned: 9 March 1944 Basic Kit: Tamiya 1/350 scale U.S.S. Fletcher (DD-445) Tom’s Model Works: Fletcher Square Bridge Conversion Set (Resin, photo-etch, white metal, and decals) Gold Medal Models: Photo-etch Fletcher Set Campbell Details: Anchor chain Corsair Armada: 5-inch/38 caliber gun mounts (Resin, photo-etch) Detail Accessories: Siren/Air horn K&S Brass: Rigging wire L’Arsenal: 5-inch gun barrels (turned brass); twin 40mm Bofors gun mounts (Resin and photo-etched brass) Eduard: 1/350 photo-etched figure on stern (Item #17-501) Evergreen Styrene: Depth charges (.060” rod) Archer Dry Transfers: Decals |
| The jack staff was replaced by stretched sprue. Motor launches are
covered with facial tissue dampened with water, put in place, then sealed
with Elmer’s White Glue. This represents their canvas covers and adds a
touch of color. Steam pipe and whistle pipe on front stack were fashioned
from brass wire. Tom’s Model Works’ searchlight platform was replaced with
one cut from styrene sheet to shape using the Tom’s one as a master. Stack
emblems were made from paper after being reduced from a drawing sent to
me by Jeff Herne. The ship is painted in Measure 31/22d, which the Wedderburn
wore during her entire World War II career.
This kit represents my uncle’s ship at her commissioning. He served aboard her from her commissioning in March of 1944 until his discharge from the U.S, Navy on January 1,1946. He was a “plank owner” and Wedderburn was the only ship on which he served. The lone figure on the fantail represents my uncle, Eugene S. Berry, standing near his battle station, the stern 20mm guns. |
Sources:
Berry, Eugene S. Cruise book from World War II Harmon, J. Scott. U.S.S. Cassin Young (DD-793): A Fletcher Class Destroyer. Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. 1984. 48pp. Herne, Jeffery J. Warship Perspectives: Fletcher, Gearing, & Sumner Class Destroyers in World War Two. W.R. Press, Inc. 1998. 80pp. Sumrall, Robert F. and Thomas F. Walkowiak. Warship’s Data I: U.S.S. Kidd. (DD661) Pictorial Histories Publishing Company. 1985. 36pp |
