DDG-67 USS Cole
Hello fellow iModelers!
Looking at David’s masterpiece model of a CV-6 Enterprise, and since there’s not much ship models posted, I’ve decided to showcase my only (apart from several submarines) ship model so far.
Arleigh Burke class guided missile destroyers entered service in 1991. Equipped with impressive sensor suite, the heart of it being Aegis Combat System and the SPY-1D radar system, these destroyers are truly a multi-task ships. They are effective in Anti-aircraft, Anti-submarine, Anti-surface warfare as well as strategic land strike role using the array of Tomahawk cruise missiles. Since 2005, they are the only destroyers in US Navy – there are more than 60 in service and around 40 still waiting to be build.
USS Cole was commissioned as 17th Arleigh Burke destroyer on March 11th, 1996. On October 12th, 2000, while anchored at the port of Aden, Yemen, a group of Al-Qaeda suicide bombers sailed a small boat to the port hull and detonated explosive charges creating a hole 12m wide, killing 17 crew members and injuring 39. The ship was later transferred to the United States aboard a Norwegian heavy cargo ship MV Blue Marlin for repairs and resumed operational duty in April 2002.
It’s a CyberHobby 1:700 scale kit with FlyHawk photoetched set and chain.
12 additional images. Click to enlarge.
david leigh-smith said on April 27, 2018
Brilliantly realised, Sebastijan. Great detail and fantastically realistic water, especially those reef shadows.
Sebastijan Videc said on April 28, 2018
Thank you David for the inspiration and yeah – it was my first proper ship model, first time working with this tiny PE parts and first time rigging the mast – and all that in 1:700! 🙂 For the base, I looked at Google maps to get the feel for the colour of the sea in the port.
Craig Abrahamson said on April 27, 2018
First time I’ve seen this one modeled….nice work, my friend.
Sebastijan Videc said on April 28, 2018
Thank you, Craig! I’ve seen several Coles built but not one as it appeared after the bomb damage.
david leigh-smith said on April 27, 2018
I just noticed this is in 1/700 scale – which makes it even more impressive.
Anthony Conway said on April 27, 2018
Nice work Sebastijan. I struggle with 1/350 let alone 1/700
Sebastijan Videc said on April 28, 2018
Thank you, Anthony! Well it was a struggle, but it was worth it. And now I’m about on another 1:700 modelling journey, even smaller than Cole was 🙂
David Humphreys said on April 27, 2018
Great model. I particularly like the way you’ve modelled the reefs
Sebastijan Videc said on April 28, 2018
Thank you, David!
paul teixeira said on April 28, 2018
Fantastic ship model and nice memorial piece for the US Navy and vets of the Cole! Great Job!!!
Sebastijan Videc said on April 28, 2018
Thanks, a lot, Paul! I like building memorial builds; it gives so much life to the model. I won’t ever forget when I built a model of 4th prototype of Sukhoi SSJ-100 airliner which crashed in Malaysia – I got several thank you messages for commemorating that event. Irony is, that I saw that aircraft in person just a few months before its fatal crash.
Same goes with Cole – 17 sailors died while doing their job – it’s the least that I can do to keep the memory alive.
Michel Verschuere said on April 28, 2018
Very nice concept build! The water effect is up to Korean standards I find! 😉
Sebastijan Videc said on April 28, 2018
Thank you, Michel. Korean standards?
david leigh-smith said on April 28, 2018
Hi Sebastijan – look up Won hui-lee for a start. There’s several South East Asian members of iModeler who make ships like you would not believe. Michel is paying you a huge compliment.
Greg Kittinger said on April 28, 2018
very nice and clean build – and as others have said, love the water and shadow effects.
Sebastijan Videc said on April 28, 2018
Thank you, Greg!
Dirk Derks said on May 3, 2018
Hello sebastijan,
Very impressive diorama. My compliments.
Dirk.
Sebastijan Videc said on May 4, 2018
Thanks a lot, Dirk!
Jeff Bailey said on May 9, 2018
Wonderful build, Sebastijan. The water, as is the model, is great!
Sebastijan Videc said on May 9, 2018
Thank you, Jeff! Much appreciated!