USS Coates DE-685

[NTIB]

My 1/96 scale scratch built model of USS Coates DE-685. A Rudderow class destroyer escort that I served aboard, 1965-'67, and again '69-'70. I'd like to share photos of the construction over the years building this model.

 

[NTIB]

Progress on the hull, deck, shaft struts

 

[NTIB]

USS Coates DE-685 building progress. Underwater jewelry in place. The screws to me are a part of history. They were made for me by CDR. John Woodward USN at the Longbeach Naval Shipyard. He was in charge of the Propeller Shop, and made lost wax castings, using a scrap piece of manganese bronze. The bronze came from a propeller off a WWll Fletcher class destroyer being scrapped. I do not know which one it was but the history, oceans, possible battles, where these propellers may have been,,,,,

 

[ERSRich]

Outstanding!

 

[NTIB]

Outstanding!

Thank you

 

[Roger Pellett]

Very nice! How did you make the hull? Do you have a docking plan for those drydock blocks? Don’t want o break her back!

Roger

 

[NTIB]

Very nice! How did you make the hull? Do you have a docking plan for those drydock blocks? Don’t want o break her back!

Roger

Thank you, I made a plank on frame hull from ship's plans. At the same time a friend was starting to do the same for a business. Making a plug then a one piece fiberglass hull from that. The decking I made from 1/8" styrene and sealed it with Dupont Corvette body filler that would not shrink. The Keel blocks were made from Cherry wood and arranged by the ships docking plan. I used 3 machine screws through the base mating with machine nuts secured in the hull. This makes a secure mount and can be removed if required.

 

[Bryian]

That’s superb work. Well done so far.

 

[NTIB]

That’s superb work. Well done so far.

Thank you

 

[Peter Schaap]

Wow, looks incredibly sharp!
That must have been a lot of polishing work!

 

[NTIB]

Wow, looks incredibly sharp!
That must have been a lot of polishing work!

Thank you, the screw is bronze, I turned the brass cones in lathe. I was suprised that I was able to polish the two metals to the same finish.

 

[NTIB]

USS Coates DE-685 building progress. Forward superstructure, doing much of my own photoetching such as these hatches. A combination of styrene & aluminum sheet for this structure.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Very nice!

 

[NTIB]

Very nice!

Thank you

 

[NTIB]

USS Coates DE-685 progress, basic aft structure, test fiit to deck, some deck fitting added

 

[richie incident]

The construction rate is impressive, given this good quality.
I wonder how similar the Rudderow class is in detail to the Buckley class and the John C. Butler class?

 

[NTIB]

The construction rate is impressive, given this good quality.
I wonder how similar the Rudderow class is in detail to the Buckley class and the John C. Butler class?

The construction rate was years with many breaks in between. The Rudderow class uses the same hull as the Buckley & JC Butler class. The structures above deck are very different on Buckley, and only similar to Butler. My circa is early to mid 60's

 

[NTIB]

Building the 5" loading machine, 40mm quad & twin bofors, test fitting

 

[NTIB]

USS Coates building progress. Test fitting gun and director tubs, DC racks and directors fitting out the anchor gear

 

[Jimsky]

Your parts fabrication is truly impressive — outstanding work!