Combrig Models
1/700 USS Smith (DD-17)


 
Reviewed September 2023
by Martin J Quinn
HISTORY
Per Wikipedia, The Smith-class destroyers were the first ocean-going torpedo-boat destroyers in the United States Navy, and the first to be driven by steam turbines instead of the reciprocating engines fitted in the sixteen earlier and much smaller torpedo-boat destroyers ordered under the Act of 4 May 1898. Flusser and Reid are sometimes considered to be Flusser-class ships. Also, since Flusser was completed first, some period documentation refers to the entire class as Flussers.  The first three of the class were ordered under the Act of 29 June 1906 "to have the highest practical speed, and to cost, exclusive of armament, not to exceed seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars each". The remaining pair were ordered under the Act of 7 March 1907 "to have the highest practical speed, and to cost, exclusive of armament, not to exceed eight hundred thousand dollars each".  All of the ships served as convoy escorts in World War I, and several attacked U-boats. The latter four vessels were all sold in November 1919 following the end of World War I; Smith survived another two years as a bombing target until scrapped.

As for Smith herself, "USS Smith (DD–17) was the lead ship of Smith-class destroyers in the United States Navy. She was the first ship named for Lieutenant Joseph B. Smith. Entering service in 1909, the destroyer was placed in reserve in 1912. She was reactivated for World War I and, following the war, was used as a test ship for aerial bombing. In 1921, the vessel was sold for scrapping."

The Combrig Smith DD-17

Smith DD-17 is packaged in a thin, white cardboard box, with a photo of the ship on the box top.  Inside the box is the hull ,and one bag containing five runners with the almost 50 resin parts.  Underneath all this is the instructions and photo-etch fret. These are all secured inside the box with enough foam to stuff a small sofa.

THE HULL 
The hull is waterline.   According to the measurements I found for Smith DD-17, the hull scales out pretty much perfectly in both length and beam.   As is typical of a Combrig kit, the hull is very well cast with lots of good detail.  There are hatches, skylights, W/T doors, chocks, bollards, bases for the TT mounts and skylights. There is also a wee bit of over pour on the bottom on the hull. 

RESIN PARTS
There are five resin runners in the kit. This is where you will find the funnels, guns, torpedo tubes, boats, rafts and other small parts.   These smaller parts are all excellent - the casting is terrific.  The rafts look especially well done. 

I would have like to have seen the compass platform use PE to replicate the canvas covered railings, in lieu of solid resin. My other, repeated, complaint is that the runner are all co-mingled into one bag.  I'd like to see these separated into at least two bags to protect the parts from possible breakage. 

PHOTOETCH
There is a fairly robust photo-etch set included.  This includes platforms, davits, rails, inclined ladders, lattice supports for the searchlight tower, a ships wheel, prop guards, anchors, cranes, plus gun shields and sights.  The PE seems to be generic for multiple kits, so there should parts left over for the spares box. 

There aren't any masts included with the kit.  As per usual Combrig practice, there are drawings showing dimensions of the masts and yards, for you to make your own. 

INSTRUCTIONS
The instructions consist of four pages on two double-sided pieces of paper.  They include a plan and profile view on page 1, a parts manifest, and exploded view diagrams for parts placement.

There are no color callouts provided.  Photos seem to show she was painted overall black during WW1, with a large "17", in white, on the box.  Unfortunately, no decals are included. 

CONCLUSIONS  
This is another sharp little kit from Combrig.  Casting is up to Combrig's usual crisp standards.  While there are no masts, it does come with instructions on how to make your own, along with an extensive photo-etch set.  There are a decent number of parts, but it probably won't take long for an experienced builder to complete.  Kudos to Combrig's for the continued improvement with instructions and packaging, though I'd still like to see them break out the smaller parts, as much as possible, into separate bags, to avoid any potential breakage. 

Recommend, mostly for more experienced modelers, due to the small parts and photo-etch. 

This is Combrig’s 1/700 USS Smith DD-17, kit number 70667.  The kit lists for around $55.00 USD, and is currently (late August 2023) available from FreeTime Hobbies for around $46.00 

This is an in-box review.  While the model seems to compare favorably to photos and drawings found in Friedman's "U.S. Destroyers", and online, your mileage may vary, once you commence construction. Thanks to Combrig Models for the review sample.