The Dumas kit of the USS Crockett offers a world of opportunity for detailing.  One reason for this is because of the size of the model, being 1/39th scale.  Any 1/35th plastic model kit can offer detail parts for the ship.  Many modelers have spare parts in part boxes that can be used also.

Before I start on the long journey to explain how I detailed my ship, I want to explain a few things.  The construction of the "basic" ship, from opening the box to it's first voyage took only two months.   But, with detailing, it can take years to complete.  I started this kit in May 1999, and now it's October 2001 and I'm still not done.  The golden rule is take your time and enjoy what you are doing.

This Dumas kit is a fine model built "straight" from the box.  The USS Crockett model is a "stand off" scale, or sometimes called "sport" scale model.  This gives you limited detail and an impression of the modeled items on the ship.  This ship built from the box with the fittings kit, will provide most modelers with adequate detail for their tastes.   All of my model ships pull two duties, one being the obvious of sailing in the local lake.   But the most important is that they spend the rest of their time on display.  Simply put, I look at my ships more than I run them, so I want them to look the best I can make them.

The first thing you need to do is READ through the complete instructions included in the kit.  You need to be familiar with the assembly sequence.  After that, familiarize yourself with all of the parts in the kit.  Look at the plywood parts, the small fittings and most of all... the blue printed plans.  The plans give you a great starting point for your detailing.   Think of all the items you want to add or change on your ship.  Think of the items you don't like, and how you can do them better.  Your local hobby shop will provide you an endless supply of potential items to use.  Zero in on the HO train section.

Before I began,  I wish to thank the following people for their help with this part of the web site:

Rick Caceres MCPO USN (RET)
Mike Plot
Art and Doug at Dumas
Dave Donaldson
Barry Stinson
Paul Bennett
Robert K. Peters
Mike Engeman

Some of the people listed served aboard the USS Crockett or the USS TACOMA. Thank you, your knowledge and help is greatly appreciated.

When detailing your model, you have allot of digression as to where you want to put things.  This is because simply these ships were a little "pirate" Navy and standardization was not strictly enforced at this time.  What you see on one ship in the class would many times differ from other ships in the class.  By using this information to your advantage as a modeler, you are not locked into any standardized setup as seen in modern warships of today.

When I built this ship, I wanted to add as much detail as I could to the Crockett.  I made a list of items I wanted:

Even with two plastic kits and ordered replacement fittings, I still didn't have all the parts I needed.  I found some parts in the model train item catalogs at my hobby shop.  For items I couldn't find I had to make.  When I needed more than one of the same part, I then casted them using Ace Resin products.