barton-00

USS Barton DD-599 (1942)
by Fred Branyan

1/350 USS Barton DD-599 (Dragon)

This is my version of the Dragon 1/350 Laffey DD 459 as USS Barton DD 599. No major modifications were needed to convert it to Barton other than trimming the forward edge of the upper bridge deck to make it completely circular.

Paints used were Life Color Haze Grey, Deck Blue and Navy Blue, Tamiya XF 66 Light Grey for Ocean Grey, and Polly S Boxcar Red for Hull Red. Life Color Ocean Gray was darker than color photos of actual ships. Forward hull numbers done with Woodland Scenics dry transfers. Rigging mostly with EZ line except for signal lines, done with nylon thread and painted. Camo was applied by enlarging photos of the ship to actual size of the model by trial and error, printing the photos, and placing the photos into a document protector. Once there use either masking tape or frisket paper to trace the pattern. Turrets are from the kit with roof railings/mast on number 2 added with PE ladder/brass rod. The masts are scratch built brass rod. Research indicates that Fall River built their ships with the same camo on both sides, which I did on this model except for minor variations on the stacks. That is the reason for no starboard side photos. My father's friend James Johnson was the gunner on the 20mm behind turret 2 on the port side, another reason the photos are from that side.

If anyone else wants to do Barton with this kit I suggest you contact me for a few tips to match the kit to the real ship.

Detail kits used were:

A Line anchor Chain
Bobs Buckles for insulators on rigging just behind main mast
Cyber Hobby Gleaves Class PE
G factor 1/350 Gleaves class props
Gold Medal Models Gleaves Class Fittings Set
L’Arsenal deck railings for destroyers
Micro glaze for the portholes and bridge round windows
Paper lab boats and 1.1 unit
Voyager 20mm guns with Model Master barrels (if you need my how to put these together instruction sheet send me an email.)

This is an excellent kit that went together with very few problems. As you can see from the name plate this model is to honor my father and his CV8 friend James C. Johnson. You can read about the experience James had on Hornet and Barton at number 16 at this site. As you can see from this site, James was picked up after departing Hornet with my father by Barton. They forgot to medevac him at Noumea, and he got to go through another combat sinking with Barton. The port signal flags are the initials of my father, the starboard ones are for James Johnson. WWII photos of my father, Norman E. Branyan, and James Johnson are included with the model ship photos .

Next project Santa Cruz escort USS San Diego. I am in touch with a veteran of that ship also.

Fred Branyan

Gallery updated 2013