This is my build thread for my latest addition to the fleet, USS Johnston DD 557. I was inspired to do this model by reading James Hornfischer's The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors. It's an excellent book, and I highly recommend reading it. My other reason for building this model was to see how much my construction skills have improved since building Suffren. So that is my introduction to this thread. Photos to follow!
Using my own plans (which can be found in the Resources section), I created rib templates. Since the Fletcher's had a curved deck most of its length, I decided to use Mike Mangus's method of construction that uses legs attached to the tops of the ribs to keep things straight when laying up. More info on that here: https://rcwarshipcombat.com/threads/uss-omaha-light-cruiser-class-fast-gun-treaty.441485/ Each template is separated to make cutting easier. Cut and sanded, just need notched. Laid the ribs on the floor, just had to see what it would look like. More to come!
Rib centers cut out. Before I cut out the centers, I used to ribs to make a subdeck template. Here it is cut out. Access hatches cut out. Test fitting the ribs. More to come!
You might have noticed in the previous photos that I seemed to be lacking some ribs. Since the plans didn't have any more rib stations, I had to make my own. To accomplish this put a piece of card stock where I wanted to put the rib and then traced a line onto it with a piece of plywood with a cut in it to allow it to slide over the card stock. By placing the tool on two ribs with the card stock in the slot, I can find the average of the ribs and can mark it on the card stock. I then fold the stock in half and mark the other side. Transfer the lines to some paper and cut out the rib, then repeat for the remaining ribs. Photo of the hull with extra ribs added.
You'll notice in the above image that the keel isn't classic wood, it's aluminum. This was an attempt to get a strong but light keel. In all, it was better than wood, but wasn't totally satisfactory. It tended to bend more than I liked, but it wasn't that bad once I started to block in the bottom. Speaking of such, photos of that soon!
On the scale. Notice that I didn't cut off the legs yet. I waited until I fiberglassed her to do that. Almost 4 ounces, gonna have to keep track of weight.
Time to fiberglass. All ready with supplies all laid out. I thought is would be interesting to note that I even modeled the scale spline on the bottom of the stern. (actually, it was totally by accident and I didn't even know it existed until I looked it up afterwards) A shot of the bow. Resin is applied and curing.
Excess fiberglass is trimmed and the legs are cut off. Underneath Inside Well, that's all for now folks, enjoy!!!
Looks pretty good so far. Should be an interesting challenge, looks like you're going scale and not adding any depth to the hull.
Looking very nice; the old traditional wood keel is plenty strong and won't bend once you glass the hull But it's always cool to try new things! For bonus coolness points, you can even make up an extended pseudoscientific definition about how using an aluminum keel changed the resonant frequency of vibration of the hull blah blah blah and then see who buys it lakeside. Always good fun. Most days when I'm talking to Kessler, I'm not sure if he's running a line on me in this fashion. He's so bloody smart it's hard to tell sometimes
Thank you for the kind compliments. @absolutek, yes, I'm building her with no added depth. Will make thing more difficult, but I prefer the scale hull.
On this model, I wanted to add bilge keels. Partly because I wanted to see how hard it was and partly for its benefits. I started by cutting a channel along the bottom and then inserting and gluing an 1/8" piece of plywood into it. I then sanded them till they were flush with the keel.
Stuffing tubes were installed. Those are 1" props. Co2 tank. Gas up before the fight, good for ten bb's. Brushless drive motor with adapter. Co2 tank with spurt gun. Rough idea of where everything will be placed.
