Tamiya Models Fletcher Class Destroyer

As a mediocher modeler who doesn't typically venture into naval subjects, I decided to take the plunge with Tamiya's Fletcher Class Destroyer for a change of pace. The Tamiya name comes with high expectations, and I'm pleased to say this kit not only met but exceeded them, delivering a truly premium building experience. The Build: A Masterclass in Engineering True to form, this is a typical Tamiya kit in all the best ways. The quality of the plastic is outstanding—the molding is crisp, the details are sharp, and there was virtually no flash to clean up. The engineering is where this kit truly shines. Assembly was a pleasure, with major components like the hull and superstructure going together flawlessly. The fit is so precise that I encountered no major plastic problems, meaning less time spent filling, sanding, and correcting, and more time enjoying the build. For anyone who has wrestled with a poorly engineered kit, the stress-free construction of this model is a breath of fresh air. The Challenge: A Test of Patience and Precision While the core assembly is straightforward, this is not a kit I would recommend for a true beginner. The challenge lies in the small, delicate parts. The deck is crowded with intricate details, from anti-aircraft guns and depth charge racks to railings and radar equipment. These tiny components can be difficult to handle and require a steady hand, a good set of tweezers, and a bit of patience. However, for a regular model builder, this is a rewarding challenge, not a frustrating roadblock. The exceptional fit of these small parts means that as long as you can handle them, they will go where they are supposed to without a fight. The Verdict: You Get What You Pay For Let's address the elephant in the room: the price. Tamiya kits are consistently at the higher end of the market, and the Fletcher is no exception. This is often the biggest downside for many modelers. However, unlike some brands where you feel you're just paying for the name on the box, with Tamiya, you are paying for tangible quality. The investment translates directly into a better building experience—less frustration, superior detail, and an impeccable fit that saves you hours of remedial work. In conclusion, if the price is within your budget, the Tamiya Fletcher Class Destroyer is worth every penny. It's a fantastic project for an intermediate or experienced builder looking for a highly detailed and enjoyable build. It challenged me just enough to be engaging without ever becoming frustrating. If you appreciate top-tier engineering and want a museum-quality ship for your shelf, this kit is an outstanding choice that will not disappoint. Pros: Exceptional Tamiya engineering and plastic quality. Flawless fit and easy assembly of major components. Crisp, high-fidelity detail throughout the model. A rewarding and enjoyable build experience. Cons: High price point compared to other brands. The large number of tiny, delicate parts makes it unsuitable for beginners. I am by no means an expert modeller, but Tamiya helps by making it a bit easier.

So far so good, great quality ship. It is a small model, but this destroyer was much smaller than other ships. It is an accurate 1/350 scale model. There are 4 part sheets, the hull with screws, as well as some decals for the ship and stand. The hull is one piece, and the deck pops in perfectly. The deck comes with a part sheet, so you have to pop it out or cut the tabs. I'd recommend a file and an razor to smooth it out so it fits perfectly into the hull. So you know, there are a few different paints that Tamiya recommends to get. They are: XF-1 Flat black, XF-9 Hull Red, XF-17 Sea Blue, XF-24 Dark Grey, and XF-53 Neutral Grey. I got those from the diagram included in the kit. The instructions are short but written well and easy to understand. The kit I received was produced in 1996. Overall this is a great low price model ship for someone to have in their collection. Take your time and do it right. Because it is small, it's tempting to race through building it, but the finished product will be beautiful!

Tamiya is one of the premier model manufacturers in the world. Everything fits with ease. I’ve been building models for a long time and this was my first destroyer! I began by research, and there are a lot of books on these terrific destroyers of ww2. Most can be found on amazon! I decided to try pe with this kit. There are three different manufacturers, I ended up using Tom’s. Along with a brass barrel set. These greatly improved the ships overall look! . The model is okay without the pe and very suitable for a reasonably experienced modeler. If you choose to go with pe get your magnifying equipment out!!! I built most of the subassembly separately leaving them off till the major hull and super structure was glued on and painted, depending on the paint scheme, you will want to do the same! Tamiya supplies decals for three different ships and this one is the very first of the fletcher class. Later mods included many more anti aircraft guns. And some pretty wild paint schemes. Along with a different super structure and gun mounts, radar and torpedo mounts! Overall a great and fun kit! If you want the later version Trumpeter offers one!

This is my second copy of this model, and this time I was prepared to do it justice. This isn't a complicated piece, by any means, and the directions are only a two-sided paper, but the painting really makes the difference. I had only one complaint, and that is the product was shipped in a sloppy way...in an envelope. As such, the box was in deplorable condition, but none of the pieces were missing or damaged. Even though the scale on this ship is pretty big, the model itself is tiny in comparison to something like the Iowa or Yamato battleships. Placement of some pieces will require tweezers and a steady hand. The result is really eye-catching. To bring it to life, plan on rigging a few lines of thread for the comm lines. She's a nice companion piece to the Missouri and the Arizona...both available in the same scale. Both excellent kits

Box seal broken, and box crushed. The box is part of the product, and therefore the delivered product was not new. The interior parts are apparently ok. Tamiya well known for its great products. Amazon and its vendors poor. Recommend buying from dedicated hobby suppliers. Won’t punish Tamiya for Amazon’s and its vendors’ unsatisfactory performance. Buyer beware.

The Box it was in came in a little bit crushed but everything inside is still in good condition.

After years of building 1/48 airplanes, I decided to try a ship model. I chose this Fletcher class destroyer because it was 1/350 scale. As I have gotten older (79) it is more difficult to deal with really small pieces. At 1/350 they were not too small. I thought this ship model was a good place to start. One suggestion is that you paint all the superstructures before attaching those pieces to the hull. Also tape and paint the hull and deck before adding any objects to the deck. As always, this Tamiya model was well made and all the pieces fit together nicely.

I got this Tamiya model ship kit for $27. That is a great value for classic model Fletcher destroyer kit. I received the kit a week after I ordered it, which is quick for this product. I am happy with the purchase.