by Gil Costa
1/350 USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD-850 (ISW)
This is the Commander Series USS Johnston Gearing Fram Destroyer kit in 1/350 scale converted to the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. DD850 after her Fram I Group B "short mast" program in the early 1960's. The kit had good molded in detail and the dimensions are correct but required much modifying to recreate my subject as well as to bring it up to satisfactory standards. Both masts were basically scratchbuilt as the resin examples were unusable and not like the JPK's. The deck’s bits had to be added and the outside railings were taken from the Yankee Modelworks Gearing class destroyer photoetch fret. These had chocks and safety nets included. (The model didn't have chocks either). also many added details include various spotlights, brass wire as support posts (correct number and placement), L'Arsenal whateboats and figures, scale anchor chain, tissue paper as wind barrier on upper reaches, and plastic rod, steel wire and stretched sprue for antennae and various support poles. The rigging was done with fine fly fishing monofilament in two sizes and the water was created with the use of Celluclay as a base coated with Acrylic Gel Medium, painted, and cleared with Future.
