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

[patmat2350]

The overseas shipping is the easy part... the cartons are all stacked on pallets and shrink-wrapped together, and loaded level into the container.
The dangerous part comes in local ground shipping, where cartons are tumbled, kicked, dropped, and drop kicked all the way to your door.

I worked at a company that built dealer-install AC systems for Nissans... that was a thing, all the imported cars came non-A/C, and dealers installed it as an option. Anyway, imagine everything in an AC system- compressor, condenser, evap, lines, hardware, all in one carton. We designed that carton and all the stuffing. And it didn't stop there- we tested the cartons. 30G shaker table, drop tests, tumbling, etc. And afterwards, everything had to be in good shape.

KY/Bancroft has it harder, as they're not dealing with robust hardware like AC compressors... but 3d printed plastics, photoetched railings, an usually no good places to solidly strap the model down.

[Alpha]

twodawgs I agree, she's gorgeous and you sound well equipped for a repaint and a bit of extra detailing. Please post photos of your progress! I'm curious, why did you choose to depict the USS Cushing? Measure 31 camo will look great! I can't wait to see it!


Thanks for the shipping photos, I'll pass those along to be shown to the UPS guys. Patman2350 is right, the factory/container/freight chain from Asia across the Pacific to Chicago is reliably tidy because everything remains packed tightly throughout the transit all the way to our warehouse. It's the "last mile" carriers once we ship it who tend to ignore our prominent insistence of "THIS SIDE UP" and "FRAGILE".

[patmat2350]

The stickers mean nothing and will not be honored by UPS, USPS, FedEx or anyone else for claims.
A carton strapped to a shipping pallet and sent truck freight has a chance. But I even had UPS deliver a palletized carton to a customer and set it on-end at his door.

Cartons MUST be packed in a way that can accept pretty hard hits on any surface, and allow the carton to be tumbled with no internal damage. "If you can't take the hits, stay out of the shipping department".

[twodawgs]

Alpha My first ship in the US Navy was USS CUSHING DD-985 the last Spruance class DD in US service and I was part of the Crew that brought her home for Decommissioning. Some ship names you find yourself looking for as they become special to you. Plus of the 5 ships I have served on She is the only one with a Fletcher in her lineage. And don't be too hard on UPS it was FEDEX....
The Yamamoto box was actually a bit more beaten up and she basically had Zero damage. Bent rails that were easily stood back up.
Advice for anyone though is DON'T pick the ships up out of the box by the two vertical foam pieces they are open at the bottom. Grab the hull. Almost dropped her myself doing that.
Edit Also with how well they actually were packed standing them on their end should be fine I would suggest bow up but still fine. The damage looked like the structures own mass took it off more than direct damage too it. Like a heavy jarring while it was on its side or some such.

[RCjetdude]

I got mine over the weekend while I was at Subfest in Cohutta, GA. We had a great event. Wished the Fletcher could have made it in time. I too had some minor damage of bent rails and parts that fell off and one gun barrel needed the heat gun treatment to straighten it out. I checked everything thoroughly but could not locate one small ladder. No biggie as I will 3D print a new one from ASA. None of the damage was a show stopper as already mentioned and it is a gorgeous boat. I am just a boat/sub nut having never served in the Navy so I plan a simple Greyhound scheme. Here are some right out of the box after a couple hours of TLC shots. I still need to add some ballast but hope to soon have some nice shots of her at the local lake. It would have been nice to have a diagram for where things went and how the rigging was supposed to go but I figured it out. Overall very pleased. I would ultimately like to add smoke, some lights, maybe automate a few turrets and add some weathering.

[RCjetdude]

She's ready for the lake.

[RCjetdude]

I moved the rudder pushrod one hole closer to center to give it a little more turning authority but got her to the lake this afternoon. She handles well and has what appears to be a higher than scale top end speed. Here is video of her maiden voyage.

[RCGuy83]

I moved the rudder pushrod one hole closer to center to give it a little more turning authority but got her to the lake this afternoon. She handles well and has what appears to be a higher than scale top end speed. Here is video of her maiden voyage.

Looking good! Were you able to sink the sub hunting for you?

[RCjetdude]

As I mentioned earlier, mine was missing a ladder. I copied the dimensions of other ladders present on the boat and designed a ladder in Fusion 360 then printed it with ASA. Viola! All better now.

[Peterboi]

Very Nice I'm impressed..thank you for sharing your upload on the Bancroft 1/72 scale Fletcher WW2 Destroyer -RTR

[RCjetdude]

I've gotten a little weathering done on it. My first time applying a pin wash. I have also applied some Modern Masters Metal Effects Oxidizing Iron paint, old rust powder pigment and some white pigment.

[pdansalvish]

For the Fletcher's captains I have a few questions. First, how many motors are installed in the Fletcher? Has any captain have an ESC issues? The reason I am asking is a number of PT captains are having ESC's burn up.

[RCjetdude]

For the Fletcher's captains I have a few questions. First, how many motors are installed in the Fletcher? Has any captain have an ESC issues? The reason I am asking is a number of PT captains are having ESC's burn up.

Two motors. Granted, I have a limited amount of run time on mine but no issues with the ESC so far.

[Peterboi]

For the Fletcher's captains I have a few questions. First, how many motors are installed in the Fletcher? Has any captain have an ESC issues? The reason I am asking is a number of PT captains are having ESC's burn up.

i guess buy the Fletcher class and see for youself..its all new too me..and im just getting into boats again..

[RCjetdude]

Ran mine again tonight. Still no issues other than wrapping a blade of grass around the port propeller. It needs smoke.

[pdansalvish]

RCjetdude,

Do you know what AMP rating is on the ESC. The PT boats have 3 motors running off one ESC. Wondering if this is not the problem.

[dai phan]

As I mentioned earlier, mine was missing a ladder. I copied the dimensions of other ladders present on the boat and designed a ladder in Fusion 360 then printed it with ASA. Viola! All better now.

Great job! What kind of software and hardware needed to do this? What is the set up cost? Thanks Dai

[RCjetdude]

Great job! What kind of software and hardware needed to do this? What is the set up cost? Thanks Dai

I am using an Ender 3 Pro with an upgraded control board and touch screen display, mirror glass instead of the magnetic build surface and a third party hot end with titanium heat break. My printer is in a heated enclosure (it's actually a kitchen corner wall cabinet). Using Simplify 3D for my slicer and learning Fusion 360 for CAD. I use Magigoo on the build plate to keep the ASA parts from warping on the bed. So far it has worked great! When cool they just pop right off. I have less than $700 in my whole setup including the one time licensing fee of $150 for S3D.

[Paulh]

Very nice! Wish you were my neighbor.

[dai phan]

This is on my list to buy! Dai