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Ships by Class/Type: Frigates
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1/350 Academy FFG-57 Build
Blespooky
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Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2015 - 05:45 PM UTC
1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Hey Everyone,

I just finished my MA thesis so I am starting a build thread of the Academy Special Edition Reuben James FFG-57. I thought it would be nice to do something modern after watching all of the amazing WWII and prior builds which are the tradition in this community. This is a long hull Oliver Hazard Perry Class guided missile frigate. These ships offered anti submarine and anti aircraft capabilities as well escorting larger ships. The James was commissioned in 1986 and served until 2013. I will be building the 1986 version of the ship (pictured) because it reminds me of Hunt for the Red October (even though the ship in the movie was FFG-51 Gary).

The James in 1986 (note the 26 foot whaleboat which is not included in the kit) (Source: Navsource):


My brother got the kit off Ebay:


I will be using the MKI detail up set which includes an incorrect launch for this build but nice detail parts including a masking set for the flight deck etc.


I started building with the MK-13 launcher. The launcher was the main anti aircraft weapon of the ship firing the RIM-66 surface to air missile. The kit part is alright but why not overdo it. Extra pieces are stretched sprue and sheets of .25mm sheet.





More to come
Thanks,
Bryan
Aurora-7
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Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2015 - 06:48 PM UTC
Very cool! Thanks for initiating this, Bryan!
Blespooky
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Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2015 - 08:56 PM UTC
1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Some more progress, lots of extra bits in tandem with PE make for a pretty detailed piece. Next up, the stack:





Thanks,
Bryan
s4usea
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Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2015 - 11:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text

1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James



The James in 1986 (note the 26 foot whaleboat which is not included in the kit) (Source: Navsource):



More to come
Thanks,
Bryan



I've got some extra whaleboats if you need one. PM me at [email protected]
RedDuster
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Posted: Sunday, January 11, 2015 - 11:45 PM UTC
Cracking start Bryan,

Will be following with interest.

Si
Fordboy
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Posted: Monday, January 12, 2015 - 12:19 AM UTC
Ahoy Bryan

Great looking build.

I will be following along with interest.

Cheers


Sean
Blespooky
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Posted: Monday, January 12, 2015 - 03:58 AM UTC
1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Final post for the day

76mm canon complete:





Red - molded detail to be removed and scratch built.
Black - incorrect detail to be removed completely.
Blue - holes necessary for the addition of other parts. The model has a million other holes which are necessary for fitting the plastic railings which are part of the Academy FFG-7 Perry model kit. This kit used PE railings so all those little holes have to be filled.



Thanks for the good wished everyone,
Ill try and keep progress smooth,
Bryan
JJ1973
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Posted: Monday, January 12, 2015 - 10:23 AM UTC
Bryan,

very nice subject - the FFG 7 look is quite unique and hands down, for what they were intended, they were great ships!

You made a very nice start I'll definitely follow your build! I have one of those in my stack, little different add-ons, not quite sure when to start it yet...

All the best for your build!!

Jan
Blespooky
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Posted: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 - 03:07 AM UTC
1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Jan I agree, the base kit has great fit but many details are just not good enough, in addition there are three different sets of instructions. Also, the ship underwent many many changes over its history and this kit model is a mishmash of different eras. In general it needs to be back dated. I am working closely with photos I found of the ship in Long Beach Port in 1987 which provide closeups of the whole ship.

Today I recreated many of the molded superstructure roof details. In real life they look great but the camera shows them a little bit goofy looking (that judgmental macro lens). I have to admit these pieces are dizzingly small, going back to building aircraft and AFVs will feel huge after this experience.



Thanks for having a look, any questions or comments are welcome,

Bryan
Blespooky
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Posted: Wednesday, January 14, 2015 - 02:47 PM UTC
1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Some more progress, the CIWS Phalanx of the 1980s. Also note all the little holes that have been filled on the superstructure roof, oy vey.

Before


After




Thanks for looking,
Bryan
Blespooky
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Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 03:49 AM UTC
1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Today's progress: the flag boxes. The MKI PE set adds most of the pieces missing from the kit but the blobs molded onto the deck had to go. Here is my interpretation including the PE (railings to be added later):



Compared to the molded detail (the slanted blobs on the superstructure roof)



Is anyone still interested in this?

Bryan
RedDuster
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Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 01:30 PM UTC
Hi Bryan,

Still interested mate, and have been following.

Great work on upgrading all the moulded on lumps that pass as deck detail, that will really lift the finished item.

keep posting.

Si
Aurora-7
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Posted: Thursday, January 15, 2015 - 10:39 PM UTC

Quoted Text



Is anyone still interested in this?




Yes!

As a matter of fact, if you're interested a company called 'Big Blue Boy' has a detail set if you want to dress up your CWIS mounts.

Blespooky
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Posted: Friday, January 16, 2015 - 11:51 AM UTC
Thanks Michael and Simon for checking in,

Michael I was aware of the voyager resin kit, but it is very similar to the bigblueboy offering. I considered it but they are incorrect for the version of the CIWS on the mid 80s FFGs. Here is a picture of the USS Ford (FFG-56) from 1986. The Phalanx system is very simple, it is without the FLIR optics or the cage around the barrel. I think the details in the add on kit are to aggressive.



Thanks for the information though,
Bryan

Blespooky
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Posted: Friday, January 16, 2015 - 06:29 PM UTC
1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Today's Update: I finished the last replacement detail for molded on stuff. This was the piping used for refueling while underway just forward of the stack. I wrapped some fine wire around stretched sprue, this was the only method that worked after numerous other attempts. I also cleared all the molded forms off the superstructure roof and placed all the built pieces on it just to see some progress. Looks pretty cool I think so far.

Note the pipes for refueling:


Overall progress thus far. Look at all the guide holes that had to be filled.


Thanks for looking in,
Bryan
Aurora-7
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Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 01:03 AM UTC
Looking good, Bryan. And you've obviously have done your period research for your vessel.

Please keep posting, it's coming along great.

And speaking of 'The Hunt for Red October', I saw a documentary on the inspiration of that novel - another Frigate!

The 'Century', a Soviet 'Krivak' class frigate was involved with a mutiny in 1975 where the ship's political officer took over the ship and tried to sail to Leningrad to broadcast out to the Russian people that the current state of the Soviet Union was flawed and failed in the original revolution's intent and a new revolution was needed.

Obviously, he failed in carrying his plan out to the end. He was captured withing 24 hours of the ship leaving it's home port for Leningrad.

Immediately after watching it I searched furiously around the net for Krivak class frigate kits and the only that was ever made is an out of production Pit-Road one as a 1/700 waterline kit.
Blespooky
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Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 02:10 AM UTC
I to have searched for a Krivak as it is the most similar to the Perry class from the other side of the curtain. To bad, the Trumpeter Sovremenny is sort of similar and is supposed to be a fun build.

I didn't know about the 1975 defection, but its is strangely parallel to the 1905 Battleship Potemkin incident. Neither attempt ended successfully I suppose.

"Its a warship"
"What? Here?"
"American... Probably PERRY CLASS, he's signalling"

Bryan

RedDuster
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Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 02:24 AM UTC
Nice work Bryan.

Attention to detail is excellent.

Si
Aurora-7
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Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 02:30 AM UTC
Need to correct the Ship's translated name in the 1975 incident.

I thought they said in the telecast the Soviet ship's name translated to 'century'.

The Russian name is 'Storozhevoy' which translates to sentry or guard.

One of the people interviewed was a soviet weapons expert and said he had received a call from an insurance salesman asking about the mutiny incident.

That insurance agent was Tom Clancy.

I'm still hoping with all the Soviet ships Trumpeter has been releasing, a Krivak may someday come.
JJ1973
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Posted: Saturday, January 17, 2015 - 05:55 PM UTC
Hi Bryan

very interested indeed!! Great work and I am following your progress! Very nice attention to detail, even though I would imagine several steps are very tedious - like filling all the little holes for the not used stanchions.

At times I am a little bit lazy commenter and I don't log on every time I'm looking through the respective updates - that does not mean I'm not following

Looking forward to your updates!!

Cheers,
Jan
Blespooky
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Posted: Sunday, January 18, 2015 - 02:45 AM UTC
Actually Jan, I think you hint at a good point. This is my first build and maybe I got a little wanting for attention. The truth is I am the same, I have been following your fantastic Repulse since the beginning without comment. Indeed I have seen so many of Simon's great and varied projects that I cant keep them straight along with Michael's news posts and Naval history lessons. I suppose it is the madness and impatience of an still new modeler.

I really appreciate having you guys aboard,
Bryan
Blespooky
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Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 - 03:37 AM UTC
1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Today's update: replaced the spyglass platforms(catchy name, I invented it myself) on the roof of the command bridge(is that the right name?).

Photo of the James's bridge roof from 1987, the platforms are on frames whereas the molded detail is solid. The photo also proves that the marine radar antenna and other features molded onto the roof in the kit were not present for the period.



Constructing the platforms using blue tack material for help,



Finished platforms, original molded detail and the little control panel things which will be installed on the railings which I will attach when I am not petrified from fear.



I think I may change my focus for a while, it might be time to pull out the hull, who knows what crazy things it is possible to add...

Thanks for checking in,
Bryan
s4usea
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Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 - 04:34 AM UTC
The platforms are for the optical alignment of the Mk92 fire control system. I can't remember the designation, but will ask. It's basically an updated version of the Mk52 optical system.

The binocs are by the signal flag lockers, and are visible in the pic you posted looking forward from astern...
JJ1973
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Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 - 10:41 AM UTC
Nice stuff again, Brian!

The bridge would be called 'pilot house' in the USN, at least in 2000. Don't think it has changed, though. The area you are working on is the O-3 level, named after numbering the decks, from the main deck (1) up to O-1, O-2 (wich is the level where you have been working on so far, with the 76mm and the stack etc) and O-3. Below main deck it counts down to 2, 3, 4, 5 with 5 being the lowest or 'hold'.

The binos used to be on the bridge wings (again in 2000), and antenna configuration as for e.g. navigation equipment was changing almost constantly (again 2000, may have been more steady in the earlier years).

Great work!

Jan
Blespooky
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Posted: Monday, January 19, 2015 - 04:07 PM UTC
1/350 FFG-57 Reuben James

Jan thanks, I will remember that detail about deck labeling.

Scott we may be talking about different things, the MK92 is the egg shaped thing on the mast atop the pilot house. The platforms I built are the two little ones just forward from it. I am attaching a magazine spread I found that shows the ships weapons and radar for the period. I think the illustration clearly shows the ships features (more clearly than a photo):



Thanks for the comments,
Bryan
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