Official Discussion Thread: Bancroft 1/72 scale Fletcher WW2 Destroyer -RTR

[Alpha]

Egghead Welcome to Hobby Squawk! The ballast goes in the forward compartment, and the battery goes in the rear compartment. We'll post clearer photos of this when the goods arrive.

As far as "setup", it's almost non-existent. The radio is already bound to the pre-installed receiver.

1) Remove boat from box and pop in the turrets, etc
2) Add and secure ballast (I add a velcro strap)
3) Charge the included battery then secure it in the hull with included velcro strap
4) Insert AA batteries into the radio, then turn it on
5) Plug in the battery
6) Turn on the power switch in the hull and put the superstructure cover back on the deck
7) Put the boat in the water and go!

The left stick is throttle up/down, and the right stick is rudder left/right.

It's a good idea to plug in a Low Voltage Alarm into the battery's balance port, to remind you when to come back to shore if you're having too much fun and lose track of time.

[Egghead]

When the Ship is in stock get James to do a live stream on You Tube on where to place the ballest and setting it up to put it into water.

[RCGuy83]

DD-450 USS O'Bannon was decommissioned and sold for scrap in 1970. DD-987 USS O'Bannon is a Spruance -class destroyer launched in 1978 and decommissioned in 2005. It carried a whole host of missiles and 2X helicopters.

In searching information about the WW2 USS O'Bannon I found this really good read written by a sailor that served on her throughout the war. It's a really interesting read and keeps you on the edge of your seat at times with the stories from the many battles she was involved in. Check it out:

http://www.angelfire.com/ak5/combat/PersonalStory.htm

[patmat2350]

In 1:72, this model will show lots of detail, and can serve as the base for additional superdetailing. There are some excellent references out there, but here's another for inspiration: One of Gary Koh's (who recently passed) 1:48 models from Fine Art Models in Michigan. I saw this model of the first Fletcher (yes actually), the round bridge USS Nicholas, freshly uncrated from its specialist builders in Europe... about 7 feet long!
.

[Elbee]

Beeg, just noticed that your arrow is pointed to the left and not to the right where I thought I saw a liner. Well DUH. I should see an optometrist. LB

[patmat2350]

quitcherbitchen Which vessel had the missiles? I'm looking through all my notes and references and can't find a Fletcher in the '80s with missiles... I agree it would be a cool mod and would love to design one for 3DP, I just need references if anyone has some to share.

Maybe a later series. GYATT was a Gearing class converted to carry missiles:

[Beeg]

Beeg, Great call on an Easter Egg. If so, I'm thinkin' RMS Titanic/Britannica. Hmmm. Best, LB

Here's another photo Alpha slid in another thread..... Aegis missle cruiser appeared in a couple as well... They talked about a number of different models. Curious what the current full lineup already is not counting the requests for new ones.

[Elbee]

An Easter Egg? Whats the one indicated with 4 stacks?

Beeg, Great call on an Easter Egg. If so, I'm thinkin' RMS Titanic/Britannica. Hmmm. Best, LB

[Beeg]

Beeg,
That looks to be either the SMS Scharnhorst or Gneisenau!

Thanks, was looking all over for photo references..

[Davy101]

Beeg,
That looks to be either the SMS Scharnhorst or Gneisenau!

[Beeg]

An Easter Egg? Whats the one indicated with 4 stacks?

[Spinny Testaverde]

USS Fletcher GIF Test!

[quitcherbitchen]

Correction: My fault . Not the O' Bannon, Steinaker a Gearing Class that was docked across from us. Looks similar. Not a Fletcher. I had to go back into my archives of the DG group from my files.

[Alpha]

In the 80s she had missiles on the aft gun platforms. It would be a cool mod.

quitcherbitchen Which vessel had the missiles? I'm looking through all my notes and references and can't find a Fletcher in the '80s with missiles... I agree it would be a cool mod and would love to design one for 3DP, I just need references if anyone has some to share.

[quitcherbitchen]

In the 80s she had missiles on the aft gun platforms. It would be a cool mod.

[Alpha]

Wow, you too, quitcherbitchen ?!? This proves that there are always more degrees of connection between people than we'd might think.

Thank you for your naval service!

[quitcherbitchen]

I can't wait to finally have a working model of my family's namesake ship: U.S.S. O'Bannon DD-450! The ship received the Presidential Unit Citation and 17 battle stars for World War II service, and 3 battle stars for Korean War Service. For you history buffs here's a detailed review of her service record:

https://www.history.navy.mil/researc...dd-450-ii.html

I too would make the O' Bannon. In 1980 I served on the USS Bagley. The O'Bannon was moored across from us in San Diego on pier 19. I did a Sea and Anchor detail for the O' Bannon on the dock during her shoving off for a deployment and whoever was at the helm messed up and crushed the dock I was standing on. Scare the H out me. The prop guard was bent like a pretzel as they left. I heard that they insisted they didn't need a tug to go. Guess they did.

[fastphil]

Fletcher Class battleships in the Pacific went up against the biggest Japanese warships made, with no chance of survival, and changed the course of the war, I believe it was Capt Johnson who with all his guns blown off the deck, charged right into the Japanese armada to slow them down, and made the difference....

A much due correction, it was Cmdr Evans on the USS Johnson, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf that US Sailors showed above and beyond bravery...

[zpilot]

Ok not sure how to get there!

[Alpha]

Alpha, how about a Vietnam era PBR, I served on one way back when in the Mekong Delta.

Thank you for your service, like your father! Please post this request in the "Warships Request" thread so we can all keep track and garner additional interest. I would love to do a larger high scale PBR someday!