Gallery Page 37

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Brett Griffin builds a Dean's Marine Battle Class Destroyer

Brett has sent in a number of building photos for his destroyer, which will be built into one of the RAN variants.  Stay tuned for more shots as the build progresses!


Some shots of the kit as purchased


Initial Framing Started


Exit holes for prop shafts cut, and prop shafts lined up


Shafts bedded in using Marine Epoxy


Underside view showing shafts as they exit from hull, and struts.


Motor mounts fabricated, foreground shows rudder servo mounting plate.


Another view, showing the overall machinery layout


Custom made motor clamp


Hull ready to receive electronics


Electronics being installed. The stringers, motor mount, rudder servo mount and radio gear tray are all made of 6 layers or fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin laid up in a flat sheet and then cut to shape.


Electronics in. A custom plate for the controls has been made up, and installed in the forecastle area.  Note the clean wiring - not only does this look good, but it makes diagnosing problems in the future much easier.

I fitted the decks today on the model. Once it was all prepared I stuck it down on a layer of Epifil marine epoxy filler and when the deck was pushed down into the filler it squeezed out and filled all the gaps around the sides. Then just sanded the surrounds down to deck level.

This is the start of the deck fittings, Scotsman, breakwater, anti slip, scuppers and the galley on the beginning of the iron deck.

Here  you can see the start of the forward superstructure...

...and in this view, the bridge is taking shape, with a close up of the wind deflectors on the bridge.

The arrangement used to mount the turrets using plastic stand tubes through the deck ,and 3/16 brass rod to mount the turrets on.

The turrets in place

The start of the aft superstructure.

An overall view of the ship at this stage.

The barrels have been fitted to the gun mounts

Mast and midships deckhouse fitted

Another view of the photoetched mast assembly

The midships gun platform, made up of computer printed styrene sheet

Another overview of the model at this point

Q Gun Platform

Midships Radio Mast

Main Mast Side

Main Mast Front

Aft Mast

The gun director taking shape

Funnel Cap soldered up

Anchor hawes pipes installed

Starting to look like a warship!

A bit of sanding on the hull, and it will be ready for paint.

Marking out the waterline

Hull Painted

Deck color sprayed on

Masking removed

November 8, 2005

First sea trial after painting

Second sea trial after painting

Draft Markings Applied

Rigging is being started in these photos

Torpedo Tubes and Small Guns are added

Another overall view of the project at this point


More detail added to the forecastle


Another view of the forecastle


A shot of the electronics bay.  A RAM products # 61 Whopper module has been installed, controlled by a RAM # 35 electronic switch.


Starting to prepare the kit's photoetched railing for installation


A Stern view of the ship with the railings installed


The walkway connecting the two superstructure components is installed


The kit's turrets were replaced with Sirmar castings to provide an accurate RAN version.


An overall view of the model at this point.


An aluminum case found at a local supermarket makes a fine place to store materials and supplies


Mostly small detail added like the Blue Jacket port holes, ammunitioning davits and lockers, Carley floats and scrambling nets. Brett has some ships boats coming from John Haynes which should help complete her.

March 19, 2006

Brett writes:

These are the ships boats I got from John Haynes. They are quite good quality and didn't require much preparation to paint and fit. 3 photos of the boats as received and 2 painted and fitted.


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  This page maintained by Kurt Greiner.  Email me here.

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