Fletcher Cushing DD-797 Destroyer

Enjoy building this model. It looks like Tamiya used the same mold for the ship's main deck for both this ship and the Fletcher as I had to remove the shielding for the 20mm guns on both port and starboard sides due to the changes made for the later ships. Parts seemed to fit well together, just a bit tricky with the smaller parts such as search lights, etc due their size and my big fingers. Using this ship to be part of a planned diorama with a destroyer tender (using a Japanese sub-tender) and 3 or 4 US destroyers tied up alongside in a harbor setting. Have ordered the USS Livermore and Benson to use with the Cushing. I also had to purchase a small drill bit set as some holes need to be drilled before attaching some of the AA guns.

This is a typical great quality Tamiya waterline series destroyer. Small, and almost identical to the Cushing. No option for full hull, in case you want that.

At first I was worried about the size of the ship but it has VERY good details for 1:700. I brush painted it like I do all my models (I can’t afford an airbrush😂) and it turned out well. It is well worth the price. I would recommend it to anyone who is starting a 1:700 ship collection. It is my 3’d ship of this scale. (Uss New York LPD 21 and uss Greenville.) It is about 6 inches long.