Scale: 1/125
 
Recommended to help build a "square bridge" Fletcher-class destroyer from:
Lindberg 1/125 scale “Blue Devil Destroyer”, USS Melvin DD-680
Lindberg 1/125 scale "Greyhound of the Sea", USS The Sullivans DD-537
 
The 2,050-ton Fletcher-class was one of the most successful wartime and post-war destroyer classes of the US Navy and arguably the most significant class in the Pacific war. 175 ships of the class were produced over a 32-month period during World War II. They were produced in two groups:  58 were built with a high, "Round Bridge" and 117 (two-thirds of the class) were completed with a low, "Square Bridge" which afforded better visibility for anti-aircraft defense. Several Fletchers served in foreign navies, the last, Mexico's Cuitláhuac, the former USS John Rodgers, retired in 2001.
 
This model kit is designed for Fletcher-class destroyers with what we are calling the "Bath Iron Works" door configuration, having an airtight ("A/T") door to the captain's sea cabin aft on the starboard side, and no door on the aft bulkhead.
 
Our references indicate that the following Fletcher-class destroyers had the "Bath Iron Works" door configuration.  Check your own references to be sure this pilot house's door configuration is correct for your model.
 
DD-527 Ammen
DD-534 McCord
DD-541 Yarnall
DD-554 Franks
DD-555 Haggard
DD-556 Hailey
DD-557 Johnston
DD-558 Laws (WWII)
DD-559 Longshaw (likely)
DD-560 Morrison
DD-561 Prichett
DD-565 Smalley
DD-581 Charrette (likely)
DD-582 Connor
DD-583 Hall
DD-584 Halligan (likely)
DD-585 Haraden (likely)
DD-586 Newcomb (likely)
DD-587 Bell
DD-588 Burns
DD-589 Izard
DD-590 Paul Hamilton
DD-591 Twiggs
DD-594 Hart
DD-595 Metcalf
DD-596 Shields (WWII)
DD-629 Abbott
DD-630 Braine (WWII)
DD-642 Hale (post war)
DD-643 Sigourney
DD-644 Stembel (WWII - Korea)
DD-660 Bullard
DD-662 Bennion
DD-663 Heywood L. Edwards
DD-664 Richard P. Leary
DD-655 Bryant
DD-666 Black
DD-667 Chauncey
DD-668 Clarence K. Bronson
DD-669 Cotten
DD-670 Dortch
DD-671 Gatling
DD-672 Healy
DD-673 Hickox
DD-678 McGowan
DD-679 McNair
DD-684 Wedderburn
DD-685 Picking
DD-690 Norman Scott
DD-691 Mertz (likely)
DD-800 Porter
DD-801 Colhoun
DD-802 Gregory
DD-803 Little
DD-804 Rooks
 
A pilot house with a different door configuration, what we are calling the "Bethlehem Steel-type", is available separately (click here). Consult your resources to be sure which type you need.

Features:
Accurately scaled from Bath Iron Works builder's plans.
Open, exterior 5'-6" airtight ("A/T") door locations per Bath Iron Works drawings and photos of actual Fletchers.
Open, interior door frames for lightweight metal joiner ("M/J") doors. "M/J" doors are not included.
Interior bulkheads have accurately positioned structural framing for the pilot house forward, the starboard side light locker and the cabin's sea cabin.
Interior radio, compass and electrical component replicas positioned on bulkheads matching those found on the museum ship USS Kidd DD-661.
Scale, open, exterior 16" diameter airports (portholes) in proper locations.
Scale, open, interior 10" diameter airport (porthole) on bulkhead between the pilot house and the fire control station.
Integrated Mk.37 Fire Control Director base (Mk.37 available separately).
Exterior airport (porthole) wiper motor locations per Bath Iron Works drawings.
Mast support frame.
Ship's bell suspended from mast frame.
Integrated loudspeaker (also known as a "reproducer").
Standard antenna lead-in insulators in proper locations.
A set of separate doors of the correct type is included so that they can be posed open.
Rooftop handrail, typical 1944-1945 configuration for many ships of the class.
Radio direction finder loop antenna.
 
This 3D-printed model is designed to match the overall dimensions of features of the real ship as recorded in official Navy blueprints.  It is not a copy of any injection molded plastic or resin kits' parts and therefore may be differently shaped and sized.  Some adjustment to your kit, or other aftermarket products such as photoetch, may be necessary for best fit.

© Model Monkey LLC. This 3D-printed product may not be copied or recast.