1/192 USS De Haven DD-727

Reviewed by Timothy Dike
The Sumner class was the follow up to the successful Fletcher class. They shared a similar hull, but added a second rudder for maneuverability. Instead of the single 5" mounts of the Fletcher class, the Sumner used three 5" twin mounts. There were 70 Sumners built during the war and they saw service all over. 

This new kit from Tehnoart of Latvia uses the same parts that go into their pre built museum quality models. CAD designed the kit features some really nice detailing in 1/192 scale. The kit is well engineered for good fit and is extremely well documented and includes virtually everything you need to build your own museum quality model. 
RESIN PARTS
HULL
 The hull on this kit began as two hull halves and a deck. They are preassembled for you and the result is a large but light weight hollow hull. The shape and proportions appear to be correct and the hull includes nice bilge keels and hull plating. Often overlooked details include condenser inlets and other hull openings.  Click images
to enlarge
SUPERSTRUCTURE AND FUNNELS
The main superstructure is a single casting with a hollowed out inside. Detail is abundant on the exterior with nice louver detailing on the cabinets and plenty of plumbing details. The superstructure snaps nicely onto the molded on deck lugs. There is some fine flash over the winch passageway but cleanup on this part will be very minimal. 
The bridge is well cast, also with a hollowed out interior. Plenty of surface detail includes the splinter shield bracing and exterior fittings. 
The pilot house is a single hollowed out casting with lightly flashed over port holes. The latter include rain gutters and are easily opened up. Doors are cast on as are the various electrical boxes and their conduit. 
The funnels are single castings with hollowed  out openings and nice grate detail on the intakes. Like many of the other parts; there are cast on location indention's for the other parts. This should help in getting the location correct.
40 mm gun tubs look nice with underside bracing and cast on ammo racks.
5" GUN MOUNTS
The detailing on the gun mounts is well executed. The gun captains hood is cast on as are the sighting hoods and shell extraction chutes on the rear. Separate turret stops are included as are base rings and blast bags. 
TORPEDO MOUNTS
Two quintuple torpedo mounts are included, one with blast sheild and the other open. The tubes are individually cast with lots of detail. The bases and blast sheild are well cast too. 
MARK 37 DIRECTOR
The Mk-37 director is cast with separate sighting tubes. Hatches, hand rails and electrical boxes are cast on. There are also mounting holes for the radar mount cast on. 
QUAD 40 MM MOUNT
Two quad 40 mm mounts are cast with everything except the barrel assembly and railings as single castings. They include nice yoke, shell chute and motor detailing.
 
24" SEARCHLIGHT AND TORPEDO DIRECTORS
The searchlight is a single part and has quite a bit of surface detailing. This part could stand some extra detailing, but there is included photo etch that will help. The two torpedo directors are well cast and you can even make out the gauges.
SMOKE GENERATORS AND DEPTH CHARGES
Smoke generators are well cast on their bases with all four tanks having the connecting plumbing cast on. The depth charges for the stern roller racks are nicely done and will look nice in the photo etch racks. 
DECK WINCH
The well cast winch includes nicely shaped pulleys and motor and gearbox detailing. Stowed fenders to protect the ship when moored are included. 
MAST AND DIRECTOR TUBS
The mast is cast on a brass rod for strength and includes cast on rungs. Mk-51 tubes and splinter sheild extensions are also included. 
WHALE BOAT AND RAFTS
The whale boat is nicely done with rudder cast on. The decks are planked and there is a motor cast on. The rafts have the stores and paddles cast in. I think the rafts would have looked better with photo etch inserts for the netting and separate stores, but these will do. 
HOSE REELS AND FLOATER NET BASKETS
The cable, wire and hose reels are cast instead of being supplied as photo etch. They are nicely done and have some advantages over PE. The side and deck mounted floater net baskets are very nice. They are cast with the floats already loaded, but the mesh came out really nice. I doubt that these would look better as photo etch. Four 40 mm ammo racks are also included as well as a bunch of fire hoses. 
AMMO BOXES
20 mm ammo boxes, 40 mm spare barrel boxes and pyro lockers are all well cast with hinges and latches. 
DECK FITTINGS
The hawse pipe lips are separately cast as are the chain pipe covers. A single capstan, and plenty of bits and chocks are also included. Escape hatches, and the fore and aft raised hatches are also cast separately. 
RUNNING GEAR AND RUDDERS
The kit includes correct propeller shafts and struts. Note, yes they are different lengths due to the placement of the offset location of the internal machinery. Hinges rudders and keel blocks to mount your ship, and a sonar dome are also included. 
BRASS PARTS
Many of the other fine parts are cast in brass for strength. The brass has a less porous surface finish and allows for more detail. 
40 MM TWIN MOUNTS
The twin 40 mm mounts include a diamond plate deck pattern and separate twin gun assemblies. These are nicely done and the barrel assemblies are also used on the quad mounts. 
20 MM TWIN MOUNTS
Twin 20 mm machine guns include really nice tripod mounts. The twin gun assembly is a single piece with nice detailing. 
20 MM SINGLE MOUNTS
The single 20 mm mounts are also well detailed. I think that in this scale it would have been nicer to have these as multi part assemblies.
DIRECTORS AND LOOKOUTS
The Mk-51 directors look nice as do the sky lookouts. There are also bow and stern bull noses and a compass.  The SG radar mount is one of the best I have seen. 
DAVITS, CRANES AND K-GUNS
Boat davits and torpedo cranes are nicely cast. There are also some really nice K-guns that have some exceptional detailing. Curiously no depth charges for them are included. 
PIPING AND FITTINGS
Funnel piping, and all the bells and whistles are included and I mean that quite literally. 
ANCHORS AND PROPELLERS
Anchors are cast with stock and blade all one piece. The left and right hand propellers are well done with what looks like the correct, yet hard to achieve shape.
5" GUN BARRELS
Machined brass gun barrels are included for the gun mounts. These are nicely done and a nice touch to an already nice kit. 
PHOTO ETCH FRETS
The photo etch includes three nicely etched frets with all kinds of detail. The frets are relief etches and the first one includes the wooden planking detail for the bridge. There are deck inserts for the main superstructure that have mounting holes perfectly placed. 
20 mm gun shields, girderwork for the platforms, and splash shields are among the parts on the second fret. 
This fret contains the depth charge racks, hand wheels, ladders, and various platforms and mast parts. Unlike smaller scale kits, the hand rails are made up of individual stantions and use the supplied rigging material for the lines. 
WIRE CHAIN AND MISC.
Chain, wire and string are included to add that extra detail 2 mm rods are included to make the propeller shafts. Clear tubing is provided to supply the mast lights. Screws are supplied to fasten some of the major components. 
DECALS
Three decal sheets are included. One for the simulated walkway anti slip matting. 

The second sheet includes the hull numbers, draft markings, and ship names for Walke and De Haven. 

Lastly is a 48 star paper flag. 
INSTRUCTIONS
The instructions are the most extensive I have ever seen in a kit. They include several pages of plan and elevation views showing where the parts go. In addition there is a CD-Rom packed with images and PDF booklets describing the parts and showing a complete step by step assembly guide to build this kit. I have included sample images from the CD as well as scan of the printed pages. You can view the step by step guide here. There are rigging diagrams, painting guides, drilling templates, and finished views of the two kits. These instructions don't just tell you where the parts go, they tell you how to apply them. Very well done!
BUILDUP PHOTOS
Finished photos of the USS De Haven DD-727 and USS Walke  DD-723.
Conclusions:
This is an amazing first resin kit from Tehnoart Models. It is well engineered and designed to be built into an accurate representation of the Sumner Class. The casting is well done and the majority of parts fit together like an injection molded kit. Not only that, but items that are typically not include such as rigging and chain are much appreciated. This is the most complete kit I have seen on the market to date. It literally only needs paint and glue to complete. 

You can get yours for 229 Euros on Tehnoart Models website or $319.95 at Freetime Hobbies.