¹⁄700

USS Stevens, DD-479 Conversion

"Bob Cicconi (bobcicconi) shares images and details of his latest build, a modification of Tamiya Models Fletcher kit to depict the USS Stevens, DD-479, in this MSW Photo Feature!"

Vessel History

USS Stevens (DD-479), a Fletcher-class destroyer, was the second ship of that name in the United States Navy. This ship was named for both Rear Admiral Thomas H. Stevens, Jr. (1819–1896), and his father, Captain Thomas Holdup Stevens (1795–1841).

Stevens (DD-479) was laid down on 30 December 1941 at Charleston, South Carolina, by the Charleston Navy Yard; launched on 24 June 1942, co-sponsored by Mrs. Roland Curtin and Mrs. Frederick Stevens Hicks; and commissioned on 1 February 1943 at Charleston, with Commander Frank H. Ball in command


CLASS - FLETCHER- As Built
Displacement-2924 Tons (Full), Dimensions, 376' 5"(oa) x 39' 7" x 13' 9" (Max)
Armament-5 x 5"/38AA, 4 x 1.1" AA, 4 x 20mm AA, 10 x 21" tt.(2x5).
Machinery, 60,000 SHP; General Electric Geared Turbines, 2 screws
Speed, 38 Knots, Range 6500 NM@ 15 Knots, Crew 273

Operational and Building Data
Laid down by Charleston Navy Yard December 30 1941.
Launched June 24 1942 and commissioned February 1 1943.
Decommissioned September 28 1946.
Stricken-December 1 1972.
Fate-Sold November 27 1973 and broken up for scrap.

The Model

"This latest model is the 1/700 Tamiya Fletcher, modified to the USS Stevens, DD-479, one of 6 round bridge Fletchers that underwent a short-lived conversion to a catapult equipped destroyer with a Kingfisher scout plane.

Modifications included changing the location of the rear port and starboard 20mm galleries, scratchbuilding the crane post and base , smoke generators, foremast, and the 20mm position in front of the bridge, adding photo etch accessories from Gold Medal and Tom's, Paper Lab 5" guns, Gold Medal 20mm guns, and a combination of Niko and Loose Cannon for the aft twin 40mm gun.

Rigging was a combination of stretched sprue and caenis line, with WEM paints for the measure 21 blue, and Starfighter's excellent decals for the Kingfisher. A special thank you to Dave Shadell for providing me with excellent photos of the Stevens, without which I wouldn't have been able to build her."