by Bill Dunn
1/125 USS Mertz DD-691 (Lindberg)
I am new here and this is my first submission. I just completed my build of the World War II Fletcher Class Destroyer USS Mertz DD-691 in 1/125th scale. I have modeled Mertz in her end-of-war/late 1945 appearance with the DESRON 54 Red Devil insignia on the forward stack and squadron number on the midship 40 mm support. Several good photos show Mertz at the end of WWII with the DESRON 54 insignia and one photo shows her in Measure 22 so I used this information as the basis for my build.
This project started out a very long time ago with a Lindberg Blue Devil and gradually evolved into a highly modified kit that incorporated most of Toms Modelworks photo etch set, the resin turret set from Dreadnought, HR Products AA weapons & fittings, and a fiberglass hull from Hong Kong. In addition, lots of other materials were used to modify kit parts and scratch build other items. Many of the kit parts were used which can be seen if you look closely at the photos. Paints include Floquil marine colours, Testors enamels, Floquil railroad colours (spray cans) and Rustoleum spray can paints. I used a Badger 200 and Paasch airbrush. Future and Krylon Krystal Klear were used as clear gloss coat for decal application and Krylon clear flat was used as a final finish and sealer. Using Beldecal paper and an inkjet printer, I made my own decals for the deck anti-skid strips, the hatch material condition plaques, and the squadron insignia for Destroyer Squadron 54. Rigging includes silk thread, nylon thread, and various rigging line from several wood ship models. The stand is a stained piece of high quality pine fitted with brass lamp finials. I made my own custom plexiglass cover to protect the model from dust.
