USCGC Dependable WMEC-626
Keith Bender

1/72 USCGC Dependable WMEC-626 (Scratchbuilt)

This model was built for a former crew member of Dependable who served aboard her in the early 70's. My client contact me through the coast guard museum in New London, CT near where I was living at the time. Anyway my client and I decided on 1/72 scale because of the size would fit perfect in a certain space he had.

This model had to be 100% scratchbuilt due to the fact there is no commercial fittings that I wanted to use with the exception of chain, thread and the flags. The hull is plank on bulkhead with 1/4" marine plywood and 1/16" balsa for planking. I fiberglassed the hull once all the wood work was complete.

These 210' class cutters were all overhauled in the 80's -90's. They were given a stack and the stern exhaust tubes were removed. The plans that were available were of the new configuration so the problem I had was finding plans of the as built version. Once I found some plans I began with the superstructure making it from solid bass wood.

The HH-52 is also completely scratchbuilt for there is no 1:72 kit of this that I know of or at least there wasn't in 1998. This was done with bass wood as well. The rotors are brass. I used Micro Scale coast guard C-130 decals which were a perfect fit. The spar color paint came directly from the cutter Eagle and this saved me time trying to figure out how to mix a batch which wasn't working very well. The guys on the Eagle were happy to hand over a jar of paint.

The props are my own machine work as is all the round fittings, search lights and 3"50 gun barrel. The two msb's are carved from bass wood. I made these just prior to learning resin casting so everything was hand made. If only I new casting then. All the cutters hull numbers and US CG is hand painted. The draft marks are dry transfers.The finished model is 34 7/8" long. In all this was a fun project to do and I couldn't have done half of it without the superb cooperation of the coast guard. These guys and gals really help out allot when they see your building one of their own.

Keith Bender



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