Tamiya 78012 - 1:350 US Navy Destroyer DD445 Fletcher

Plastic model kit of the US Navy destroyer USS Fletcher (DD-445) in 1:350 scale

Tamiya 78012 is a self-assembly model of USS Fletcher — lead ship of the most numerous destroyer class in US Navy history. The kit comes from 1996 tooling and depicts the early, 1942 version of the ship, recognisable by her rounded bridge, later replaced on subsequent vessels by a square-fronted structure.

The model is full hull, with the hull and deck moulded as single large parts, which makes the build quick and free of awkward seams. Once assembled, the gun barrels, gun turrets, torpedo tubes and radar antenna remain movable, so the ship can be posed as you wish. The finished model is displayed on the included simple stand with a name plate.

What is in the box:

• Plastic sprues — one-piece hull and one-piece deck together with superstructure, armament and fitting parts
• Movable after assembly: gun barrels, gun turrets, torpedo tubes and radar antenna
• Decal sheet with markings for the first four Fletcher-class destroyers, flags and a name decal for the stand
• Simple display stand with name plate
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:350
• Catalogue number: 78012
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 327 mm, beam: approx. 35 mm
• Model type: full hull
• Tooling: 1996; depicted version: early, 1942 (rounded bridge)
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: the kit does not include cement, paints or modelling tools. The model requires assembly.

Assembly:

This is one of the more approachable 1:350 warship kits. The one-piece hull and one-piece deck remove the most laborious stages of the build, and the part fit typical of Tamiya makes the model a good choice as a first warship in this scale. Only the small armament and fitting parts call for care — precision tweezers help here.

The instructions give the Measure 12 Modified camouflage of 1942 — the irregular grey-toned pattern on the hull sides characteristic of the early Pacific war. The underwater hull is painted red and the decks in a darker shade. A matt varnish as a final coat and a wash to bring out the detail are recommended. Modellers who want to raise the level of detail may find photo-etched sets for this model (railings, ladders) an interesting addition; these are available separately.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in several sizes
• Modelling paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Panel wash to bring out the detail
• Decal setting solution

About the ship — USS Fletcher (DD-445):

USS Fletcher was the lead ship of the class that came to symbolise the American destroyer of the Second World War. Unlike earlier, treaty-limited designs, this time the naval architects had a free hand: the result was a flush-decked ship with good seakeeping, heavy gun and torpedo armament and room to grow in anti-aircraft weapons and radar. Five 127 mm dual-purpose guns and ten 533 mm torpedo tubes made the Fletcher a dangerous opponent for surface ships, aircraft and submarines alike.

Fletcher was commissioned on 30 June 1942 and went almost straight to the Pacific, where she fought in the Guadalcanal campaign, including the night surface actions that decided its outcome. She later screened carrier task forces, supported landings and fought through the Philippines campaign. For her wartime service she earned fifteen battle stars, placing her among the most decorated American destroyers of the war.

The model depicts the ship in her early 1942 configuration, still with the rounded bridge and the armament she carried before later refits. After the war Fletcher was reclassified as an escort destroyer with the designation DDE-445 and served for many more years before being scrapped in 1972.

Original ship specifications (USS Fletcher DD-445):

• Type: Fletcher-class destroyer
• Standard displacement: approx. 2,050 tons; full load: approx. 2,500 tons
• Dimensions: 114.8 x 12.1 m
• Gun armament: 5 x 127 mm dual-purpose guns, 40 mm and 20 mm anti-aircraft guns
• Torpedo armament: 10 x 533 mm torpedo tubes (two quintuple mounts)
• Anti-submarine armament: depth charges and projectors
• Propulsion: 2 shafts, approx. 60,000 shp
• Speed: approx. 35 knots
• Crew: approx. 330
• Service: commissioned 30 June 1942, 15 battle stars (Guadalcanal, the Philippines), reclassified DDE-445, scrapped in 1972

About the manufacturer — Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. It began in the timber trade, moved on to wooden models in the late 1940s and released its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960. The brand is known for precise moulds and excellent part fit, which makes its kits a popular choice for beginners and experienced modellers alike. Tamiya's naval range covers 1:350 and 1:700 scales, from destroyers to battleships and carriers. Its assembly instructions are clear and consistently illustrated, which matters a great deal on warship kits with many small details. The company also produces a full line of modelling supplies: paints, cements, tools and brushes. Today Tamiya is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.