scottbowsher Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 Hi everyone, I've decided to document the build of a very exciting Christmas gift, Revell's Platinum USS Fletcher. As you can see from the handy coke can, the box was absolutely massive. And the hull was no different (please ignore the messy work station) This image shows what separates it from a regular Revell kit: I'm really excited for this kit because it will allow me to stretch my photoetch skills without having to murder my wallet in aftermarket etch. I've done research on the Fletcher, and will be making it as it was in 1942, with a camouflage system called 'Measure 12 Modified' http://www.shipcamouflage.com/measure_12_modified.htm Luckily this website lists the official names of the paint colours in this scheme, which the White Ensign Colourcoat paint line apparently recreate almost perfectly, so these have been ordered. I will soon start work on this, but if you guys have any tips or anything you would like to pass on, it would be much appreciated! 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted December 27, 2017 Share Posted December 27, 2017 Watching with interest. There's a lot of metal work there! That's going to keep you busy for a while! I've built a couple of the basic Fletcher class destroyers, about 7 years ago for a customer's model railway. Believe it or not, this is the first one......... used as the basis for a Liberty Ship!! Yes, really, there's a destroyer under all that! The other was built out of the box with some battle damage, for a dry dock scene. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbowsher Posted December 28, 2017 Author Share Posted December 28, 2017 @Army_Air_Force Those pictures are going to be really helpful when it comes to weathering, thanks! So far today I've managed to successfully join the hull halves together, so an excellent start I'd say As for the photoetch, I've completed the first booklet which concerns the mast: Decently happy with how this turned out, on to the next step 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kris B Posted December 28, 2017 Share Posted December 28, 2017 The mast looks amazing. Good job. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morty_3333 Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 Hi Scottbowsher! Great start on the Fletcher, I wondered what was involved in the Platinum Edition,plenty of photoetch to play with there! Just started My 'ood on this forum,so will be following Your build with interest! Keep Sticking! Cheers, Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 1 Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 Wow, that Platinum kit looks really comprehensive - may add one to my wishlist. Will enjoy watching this build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbowsher Posted December 29, 2017 Author Share Posted December 29, 2017 Thank you guys for all your comments, they really mean a lot to me. As for progress I have finished the two stacks, one of which features a searchlight platform made entirely out of photo-etch which was a massive improvement from the plastic part You can see the other stack in the background but it's currently being used to support the mast from falling down so I wasn't able to get a particularly clear picture. I cannot wait to finally be able to get some primer on these things and actually unify the pieces. Speaking of paints, I received a parcel today: I've had a peek at the anti-fouling red colour on the left and I have to say, they look like some of the best paints I've used in a while. There's no difference between the colour of the lid and the paint itself. I've been having some problems with Imgur today, the site I use to upload the images, so this update has been slightly delayed. Since finishing the stacks I've started on the gun director, which has the wonderful feature of 18 two-part tiny hatches which can be folded together to allow for opening and closing. I'm not actually sure why I didn't just glue them shut and make life easier but I've managed to get all but one of them movable. Anyway, back to work I reckon. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted December 29, 2017 Share Posted December 29, 2017 Good progress! Kev 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod bettencourt Posted December 30, 2017 Share Posted December 30, 2017 Nice work!! Rod 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted December 31, 2017 Share Posted December 31, 2017 (edited) This looks to be a cracking build. Super Nice progress so far with some really clan etch work going on there. I love the intended camo scheme. Looking forward to seeing you use the Colourcoat paints, I must try them. Seeing this Platinum edition makes me wonder whether Revell will do the same for their Corvette - now that would be interesting! Happy New Year and be sure to keep this coming Rob Edited December 31, 2017 by robgizlu Seplling!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbowsher Posted January 1, 2018 Author Share Posted January 1, 2018 Happy New year everyone! I hope you are all doing well and thank you all for the comments. First off, here's the Gun Director, which suffered slightly when the radar on top decided to break apart in my hands and had to be salvaged as best as possible. One thing that really annoys me about superglue is how it whitens photoetch. At least the barrier-fence thing came out well. Next up, something I've been working on over the last few days, which got so tedious I honestly considered leaving them for last, was all of the 5-inch guns as they all required the same etch on 5 panels making up the 5 guns. Also included is the twin Bofors which I worked on when I couldn't stand the main guns anymore. On the bright side, I only have three A3 sheets of etch instructions left before I can throw it all on to the main ship, which I haven't done anything to since gluing the hull halves together. Thank you all for reading! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbowsher Posted January 3, 2018 Author Share Posted January 3, 2018 Only a small update today, have finished all the 20mm Oerlikon guns. Also picked up some new CA which might make gluing easier. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beema Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Excellent work.. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 Man! That's some really serious detail there!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted January 3, 2018 Share Posted January 3, 2018 I really enjoyed building this kit, and I get the impression you are too! My build used the Eduard PE but unfortunately Photob*cket means it's gone from the BM site. Great job so far, and I like the look of that dedicated PE set. I've got the Platinum New Jersey and it's also got some excellent PE. Wonder why Revell don't include it more often. Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbowsher Posted January 5, 2018 Author Share Posted January 5, 2018 Hey everyone, hope you are all doing well. Sorry for the lack of updates but I've been getting carried away in the amount I do between pictures. Anyway here's the torpedo tubes, depth charges and holders, some reels, and the practice 5-inch gun loader. I've done some other small things which didn't seem picture-worthy but honestly I'm so close to finishing this photo-etch I just want to keep going. I honestly don't know how you guys use Pontos kits and stuff because this is a pretty basic PE set and I can already feel myself going insane at the mere sight of twisted brass. Anyway, hopefully I can move on to getting it all together and painting soon enough. Thanks for reading! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted January 5, 2018 Share Posted January 5, 2018 Posting pictures should come second to the actual modelling! I think we'd all prefer you to be building than typing, as long as we get some updates on progress! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbowsher Posted January 9, 2018 Author Share Posted January 9, 2018 Another picture for you all, of the ship with all the main bits and pieces attached: Almost all the photo etch is completed, save for some ladders and such, and the only plastic I really have to worry about are the barriers, which I will rig with the included string when it's all painted. I want to keep some parts separate to make painting the floor and camouflage as easy as possible. I'm at university for the next few days, then back home for a bit, so future updates might become weekends only until around April. Thank you all for reading! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbowsher Posted January 28, 2018 Author Share Posted January 28, 2018 Hey guys! This may be a surprise to some of you but I haven't actually abandoned the ship, I've just been incredibly busy. Also I may have been putting it off slightly. Luckily all the building is done, and that means priming: Unfortunately I'm not sure if it's the new airbrush I got or some less than perfect paint but I can't seem to paint for more than a minute without the brush clogging up so I need to sort that out. Until then, just thought I'd let you know this still exists and hasn't been 'hit by many torpedoes'. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
k5054nz Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 And I thought the PE for my 1/700 HMS Sheffield was too much...this is fascinating to follow! The detail added by the PE is just exquisite. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbowsher Posted February 1, 2018 Author Share Posted February 1, 2018 @k5054nz I must imagine you're dealing with tiny pieces of PE compared to mine so I have much sympathy for you Update time! I certainly have been busy. I think finishing the plastic and PE work means that I could finally do something different (mainly painting) and so I spent basically all day doing so. Also, sorry about the picture quality, when it's all done I'll take pictures in natural light with a decent camera. You may remember a while ago I showed off those Colourcoat paints and I finally got to use them today: I would like to start off by saying I'm not sponsored (If that was possible) but these paints were absolutely wonderful to paint with. I've always been a little afraid of enamel paints but these were so smooth. So smooth, in fact, that to avoid masking the Measure 12 Scheme I just decided to free-hand the airbrush which turned out pretty fancy: Then it was just a matter of adding all the other parts: And all of the painting was done! Since these pictures I've started on the tedious task of rigging (made worse by the fact due to the scale, the barriers on the ship require actual string) then just decals and weathering. Since we are approaching the end of the build, I was curious as to what you guys think I should make next. As you may have noticed hidden in the pictures above, I have a Dragon Sherman with MiniArt Crew and ValueGear stowage, but I also have a Takom Chieftain Mk.10 With Voyager Basic PE and Peddinghaus figures. Let me know what you guys think and as always thank you so much for reading! 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 Great job with the paint scheme - I'm going to get some Colourcoat paints - it's all looking Fab and enviable speedy progress. It's got to be the Chieftain Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottbowsher Posted February 5, 2018 Author Share Posted February 5, 2018 Hi everyone, Managed to finish all the rigging over the last few days, then added some weathering. The Ready for Inspection post is here: http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235033422-revell-platinum-1144-uss-fletcher/ Thank you all for joining me, it was a very fun experience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnuts Posted February 5, 2018 Share Posted February 5, 2018 Superb work going on here. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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