Model USS Fletcher

Why the Destroyer?

Some years ago, I built a model USS Iowa using plans from Wood Magazine. Back during WWII, the Iowa served not only as the largest class of battleships ever built by the United States, but also as a transport for President FDR to meet Churchill and Stalin at the Tehran Conference. The Iowa was escorted by non other than a USS Fletcher class destroyer, the Willie Dee. There's a fun story I recommend reading detailing how the Willie Dee almost accidentally killed FDR aboard the Iowa, but the point is that I was inspired to create an escort for my model of the USS Iowa by designing and building my very own model USS Fletcher!

The Build

CAD Model

Using blueprints of the USS Fletcher that I found online, I was able to create my own simplified model off the boat using onshape.

The CAD model helped me visualize the parts, and it also allowed me to easily create printable plans I could then use for cutting out on wood!

Shaping and Assembly

With my plans created and printed, actually making the boat was a pretty straightforward process of cutting, sanding, drilling, gluing, and applying clear finish.

Here, I'm drilling holes for bolts that'll allow the turrets to swivel freely

Ready for three solid coats of lacquer!

Final Product

I'm super happy with how this came out! Sitting next to its big brother, the Iowa that I made some time ago, it fits in perfectly with the style and the swiveling turrets. Now I'm excited to think about what I'll design next! Maybe a cruiser or maybe one of the aircraft carriers. It'll be fun to expand the fleet!

Fun facts:

All turrets, including the torpedo tubes, are rotatable
About 1.5' long and 2" wide
- The real USS Fletcher is 376' long, making this model about 1:250 scale
The USS Fletcher was the single most produced destroyer class in the world
An entire USS Fletcher destroyer weighs the same, about 2,250 tons, as a single main turret on the USS Iowa battleship

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