Revell US Navy Fletcher Class Destroyer 1:144

Manufacturer: Revell

Scale: 1:144

Kit: 05091 – US Navy Fletcher-Class Destroyer

Price: £60.00 (from Hannants)

Parts: 500

Scheme Choices: 2 (one grey and one camouflaged)

Materials: Injection Moulded Plastic

Dimensions: 800mm (approx)

Availability: Good

Value for Money: Excellent

Our thanks to Revell Germany for the review sample: www.revell.de

Overview

A word of advice to start, never just mention anything in front of Geoff Coughlin!

I said quite innocently, those that know me will know this to be true…………, that I liked the look of Revell’s Fletcher-Class Destroyer, particularly after seeing Ian Ruscoe’s (another of Coughlin’s over worked slaves) version built from the box. See I told you, innocent!

So I’m ‘invited to Geoff’s for a coffee’ and presented at the door I tell you with this huge box and said “you wanted this”……….Well I ask you is that fair? And I didn’t get my coffee either……he’s getting worse you know! I’m going to have to find a lawyer…..or at least a bigger workshop, a bigger car and more glue!   Now he is bound to slip a denial in here or his evil side kick Mat Barron will (I’ll do it for him, I’m sure I remember Les saying he HAD to have it, and if he didn’t Geoff and myself would be in trouble… That includes the BigEd set and propellers!! ’Evil’ Mat), but hey you know who to believe don’t you!!!

Anyway I get home and having knocked over a number of vases and photographs carrying this huge box through the conservatory on the way to the den………..”It was raining dear I had to come this way” was the pathetic excuse I had to give to my wife! I open the box and behold I also find the Eduard Big Ed set and the G-Factor brass props…………The GC stitch up was complete!  

With effectively three things to review I thought you would find it easier if I combined all three in the one review. It’s slightly different to the normal Here Now approach but for ease of reference I think it works. I guess I better get on with the review then or GCs henchmen will be around……..but at least you know readers what we have to go through to get you the hot news exclusively for Scalemodellingnow.com!
Check out this awesome YouTube Video

Accuracy:

My referencing thus far has been via You Tube and the Interweb and from what I can see this looks like an accurate representation of a Fletcher-Class destroyer. There are some good books on this particular subject but I haven’t seen them yet but who knows GC may surprise me again………(Hint-Hint!)  This said, I am not a fanatic rivet counter, preferring instead to see a model that looks like the subject and respects it. I think that the Fletcher meets this requirement and I firmly believe that it looks the part and respects the original so for me well done again Revell.

This is however a 1:144 scale kit and the detail needs to be good at this largish scale and again it does as I will describe later in this review.

Packaging:

The box as I said is huge, over a metre long and 25mm wide so be prepared to clear a large work area to build this baby! The box is lid and tray type (well done Revell) and is adorned with a wonderfully evocative impression of a Fletcher under attack by unknown twin engine aircraft with a US Carrier Battle Group in the background……..all very Midway! The sides give some brief descriptions of what you get and some helpful shots of a made up model plus details of the Revell paints needed to complete the model.

Instructions:

Inside the box is full but all you see is a stiff cardboard inlay into which are set the two full hull sides which are 80mm long. Plus the instructions and a small skein of black cotton a good decal sheet and some coloured paper signal and national flags.

The instructions are typically Revell being in booklet format but very good. I particularly like the sprue map which is often very useful clear diagrams but once again poor painting guides, giving as it does a letter reference to a Revell paint number……Revell you’re better than this and I really think it’s not too much to ask to give a more accurate painting guide, particularly as some require mixes 80% + 5% = 15%….you know the sort of the..grrrrr!   This said overall the instructions are good, easy to follow, mostly in a logical order and with the Revell kits I’ve built before generally work well. Building it will tell all but for now so far so good.

Detail:

Detail looks to be ok but in truth probably a little heavy if it were to be multiplied up 144 times. Under a coat of paint it should look ok, I think, and this is all I ask. Sprue gates are ok being not too chunky, but again, as with most kits, it’s going to be a hunt the part as they are all over the place which is why a Sprue map is good. The one area I’m not too sure about are the decks. I think on the real ships they were wood and on the kit are largely devoid of detail. But perhaps I’m wrong and Revell are right? I’m sure Ian Ruscoe knows? I am pleased to say that ejector pin marks are largely hidden and rivets are subtle and in all the right places.  I particularly like the main armaments which will only require the guns drilled out if building from the box. The torpedo tubes and depth charges are good too.

Aerials and masts and rails are all over scale but I have a solution for this later. This said it’s what they are for the scale. I’d like to see Revell give brass more of a go as they have in their USS Wasp it makes such a huge difference.

The Props are very good and will paint well, or you could use the G-Factor Brass replacements.

Manufacturer:          G-Factor

Item 1:144^th Scale Fletcher Class Props

Material:                         Brass

Price:                                £9.51 (from Hannants)

VFM: Good

Our thanks to Hannants for supplying the review samples – get this set here: www.hannants.co.uk

These solid brass props are direct replacements for the kit parts. Indeed I think they are moulded from the kit parts. I can see the attraction of using solid brass items as its saves painting and they have a nice solid feel about them. But in truth a coat of Alclad and some subtle weathering on the plastic parts gives a better scale effect. But you pays your money and takes your choice!

Manufacturer: Eduard

Item: 1:144 Scale Big-Ed Set Fletcher-Class destroyer

Material: Etched Brass

Cost: £60.00 (From Hannants)

VFM Excellent

Our thanks to Hannants for supplying the review samples – get this set here: www.hannants.co.uk

This set comprises three Eduard brass detail sets that are for the Weapons, Hull and rails/masts. In a word they are incredible. Some of the parts are minute and it will remain to be seen whether I can or will use every part. The rails are a must have as are the masts and some of the additions to the superstructure.

The instructions are clear but the one thing I’d like is for Eduard to have their instruction in same order as the kit so it’s easier ten not to miss a part off; as I did with an earlier GATO model. This is a small gripe but a change would make such a difference.

The Fletcher will look incredible with all the brass on it and I am really looking forwards to the build which will start soon and feature uniquely on your Scalemodlellingnow.com.

Summary:

The Revell kit is really first class and calls out to be built. Its accurate is crammed with detail and is of a good size that will make it not to complex. It’s full of good quality parts mostly to scale and represents great value for money. Added to this is the Brass Prop set which can be useful but is not essential unlike the Eduard set which if you want a truly scale accurate model is for me essential.

I guess that combining the model and detail sets makes for a £130.00 project which is a lot of money. It will however keep you occupied a long time and with patience and care will I am sure turn out a superb model. I can’t wait to get started so let me go and finish off my GATO because this is next up so watch this space and I will see you soon

Les