Revell of Germany’s (RoG) 1/144 Fletcher Class destroyer is an impressive model both in size and detail. Out of the box, it builds into a nice replica, perfect for RC operations or static display. However a ship of this size, even with its detail, is an opportunity for super detailing. As soon as it was announced, James Corley of Nautilus models began his move to provide a detail set to take it to the next level. I know first hand that his research was extensive and thorough. Modelers who have been waiting for this set will not be disappointed. This offering by Nautilus is an extensive set. It includes two sheets of photo-etch, anchor chain, a CD archive of photographs and instructions. You will need all of the documentary assistance in placing the photo-etch since both sheets are absolutely crammed with details, I have never seen PE sheets so dense with detail. The largest sheet measures 11.5 x 8 inches and is .010 thick. The small sheet is 11.5 x 4 inches and is .005 thick. The thicker sheet has the heavier structural components while the thinner sheet has the finer details. So here is what is included:

• Main deck life line stanchions – finer in detail they replace the kit stanchions and have etched eyelets.
• Inclined and vertical ladders. The vertical ladders include mounting brackets.
• Watertight doors and hatches, both open and closed including frames, bridge doors and hand wheels
• Details for the 5 inch gun enclosures including the mount captain’s optical sight.
• 5 inch loading machine detail
• Gun sights, shields and hand wheels for the 20mm guns
• 40mm gun mount details including railings
• Stern depth charge racks (multi-part assemblies)
• Depth charge K-gun storage racks
• Depth charge details
• Details for the motor whaleboats
• Block and tackle for the davits
• The Mk.12 radar array and mounting for the Mk.37 director including the later side lobe radar dish. This is a kit in itself.
• Director barbette vision slits
• Finely etched radar antennas including: SA, SC, SG, SC-4
• Mast details including: upper and lower fighting lights, SG radar platform, a details yardarm, TBS platform, mast head platform, aerial outriggers
• Communication and ECM antennas including: TBT, TBS, fan
• Deckhouse catwalks
• Vents and vent covers
• Funnel handrails and foot rails
• Stokes litters
• Liferings with smoke floats
• Floater net baskets
• Liferaft mounts and liferaft details
• Spare handwheels
• Smoke generator details
• Signal light louvers
• Signal platforms
• Towing hawser reel and line reels
• Rigging eyebolts and turnbuckles
• Cleats for davits and j-bar davits
• Refueling hose brackets
• Anchor hawse pipe covers
• Firefighting applicators (long poles with spray holes at the end use for firefighting and cooling)
• Snaking, tied onto the lower lifeline to keep sailors from washing overboard.

  There are some mini-projects in this detail set that significantly enhance the level of detail provided, requiring care to get right:

• The first is the radar for the Mk.37 director. This is the most detailed model of this radar assembly that I have seen. Nautilus provides not only the dipoles for the front face of the main radar but also the waveguides for the side lobe radar. There is some folding involved and the reflector face will need to be rolled into a parabolic shape.  What is really a nice touch are the replacement hatches for the director housing which allow you to pose the hatches open – a first.
• The second is the build up of the searchlight platform. While the railing needs bending and the floater net baskets rolling, most of the assembly involves interlocking support framework. The lightening holes are etched in and with the etched open grating, the result will be a very detailed to scale assembly
• The stern depth charge racks are a complex build up with a lot of small parts for the operating assembly. You may want to add some fine wire for the actuating cables. The details for the ends of the depth charges will just enhance this detailed assembly.
• Aside from the base and the barrel, Nautilus provides all of the rest of the details to for the 20mm guns including accurate shields and cradles.
• Detailed SC and SC-4 radar arrays
• Mast platforms for the communication antennas. There is a lot folding required here.
• The optical sights for mount captain’s position of the 5in gun enclosure will require a steady hand and good optics, but it is nice eye-popping detail.
• Other details that I like in this set in the frame detail for the watertight doors and hatches, allowing them to be more accurately posed open.

There are a couple of details that while provided in photo-etch are better replicated by other means. The firefighting wands (more accurately called applicators) are best made from brass wire; the nozzle end being the hardest to replicate. I would also not use the PE liferings, preferring solder bent into a ring and flattened to make an ovoid cross section. The smoke canister can be made from styrene rod. The coxswains railing would look better in stainless wire.  Still I credit Nautilus for providing these details. The documentation that comes with this set makes it that much better. The instructions are well drawn, well labeled, and clear – what more can you ask for? The fact that they come with a 1/144 scale profile of the starboard of the ships is a bonus. But what really is impressive is the CD. The amount of detail packed onto this disk is astounding! While you may want more images of the specific ship you intend to build, the high quality photos provided will help with almost every detail you could imagine. The CD includes:

• Images of the PE frets
• The instruction file
• Scan of the Revell instruction sheet
• Archival pictures from every ship in the class!?
• A detailed walk around of USS KIDD DD-661.

To have a CD of this quality included is great customer service.

I have reviewed a lot of PE set and this has to rank as one of the very best I have seen. The details provided are well thought out and match the prototypes. It is pretty much one stop shopping. The documentation provided is a modeler’s dream. If you plan to build Revell’s FLETCHER than you absolutely need this set.

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