Tim.  Here is the info on my USS Chevalier destroyer model to accompany the photos that you took in early November.  Feel free to use as much or modify as necessary to meet your needs.
 
                                                        USS Chevalier
 
The USS Chevalier (DDR-805) model was built using the Blue Water Navy (now Yankee Modelworks) USS Dennis J. Buckley Gearing Class radar picket destroyer kit.  I elected to build my model as the nearly identical USS Chevalier because I had more reference material and photos available for this particular destroyer.
 
My basic references were J. Scott Herne's Warship Perspectives, Fletcher, Gearing and Sumner Class Destroyers in World War Two and Robert F. Sumerall's Sumner-Gearing Class Destroyers and (Tin Can Sailors) USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. (DD-850), as well as the kit instructions/drawings.
 
The kit scaled-out to almost exactly 1/350 scale, so I reduced/enlarged line drawings in the above references to 1/350 scale at a local print shop. 
 
I built the model basically out-of-the box.  It was not an overly difficult build.  The most difficult part of the "build" was the midship SP radar tower.  The kit provides a four-legged photo-etch tower; however, I could not locate any reference or photo of a four-legged radar tower on any Gearing Class DDR--all were tripod type towers.  (There may have been some; but, I couldn't find any).  My first tower attempt was a modification of the kit's photo-etch tower into a tripod using half-round plastic rods to supplement the tower legs.  That didn't "turn out" too well--looked too bulky.  I then scratch-built a tripod tower using Special Shapes 3/64" and 1/32" dia. brass tubing for the legs and .016" and .012" brass rods for the supports.  I used the radar tower line drawing in Herne's Warship Perspectives as the pattern for my effort--it was extremely helpful.  I cut the brass tubing to the correct length, notched the cross-support member locations, drilled a .016" hole at those locations, and superglued the supports to the legs to form the basic tripod.  (I'm not proficient at soldering).  The diagonal supports (.012" rod) were then glued in place.  The kit photo-etch provided the various tower platforms and details.  The kit provides a solid metal SP radar dish antenna (perfectly acceptable); but, I replaced it wash GMM SP radar antenna from the Essex Class Carrier photo-etch sheet.  The result as a very delicate rendition of the SP radar antenna.  (If you elect to do this, be forewarned--it is not easy and requires much patience to glue the small pieces together and make an acceptable dish).  Regardless of which SP radar antenna is used, a conical base will have to be scratch-built.  I shaped a plastic rod to the correct dimensions.  I also used brass tubing and rod to scratch-build the mast and prop shafts. 
 
Non-kit parts used were L'Arsenal's whaleboats and MK 51 gun directors (more detailed than kit's) and Tom's SC-2 radar antenna.  (Kit's appear to be too large).  The 20mm guns were a combination of kit (tripod base and gun barrels) and L'Arsenal (gun carriage and shield).  The props were BlueJacket three-bladed props in lieu of the four-bladed photo-etch props provided in the kit.  (The Chevalier probably had three-bladed props in 1945).
 
The model was painted (air- and hand-brushed) in the Measure 22 scheme using Poly Scale 5-H Haze Gray and 5-N Navy Blue for the vertical surfaces and 20-B Deck Blue for the decks.  Model Masters Marine Acryl Antifouling Red and Boottop Black were used for the hull bottom.
 
The model took approximately 100 hours to complete.
 
Overall, this is an excellent kit.  The resin and metal parts are well-engineered and detailed.  The photo-etch sheet is excellent and extensive (detailed and forgiving when mistakes are made); however, the delicate railings should be cut into smaller lengths at the bow and stern areas to match the deck line curve (this should prevent misshaping/warping in those areas).  The instructions are good and easy to follow.  With minor modifications/scratch-building, any World War Two-era through the early 1950's Gearing Class destroyer can be modeled using this kit. 
  
I'll provide info my the South Dakota next week.  Have a great Thanksgiving.
 
Richard