Between my refit of Gambier Bay, this Johnston build of yours plus the others you've got coming, we're getting a bit of a Leyte Gulf Anniversary theme going, here. Perhaps I should also start (at least) one of the other escorts - Roberts, IIRC - which I had planned for a long time, now. And/or refit my Musashi, as well.

Speaking of which, you do correctly note that, just prior to Johnston's and the others' exploits off
Samar, Kurita had been royally beaten-up by precisely USN superior weaponry - from the Fleet Carriers - in overwhelming numbers, and watched his mighty Musashi disappear before his eyes. So when, simultaneous with the gallant Last Charge of the Taffy-3 Escorts, Kurita once again saw an onrushing Blue Blanket of snarling Grummans, dotted with their white stars, plumeting out of the clouds at him, of course he could not but be reminded of the prior day's disaster. So, I don't know about the Taffy-3 Escorts (or even the entire Taffy-3 CounterAttack) "beating the sh** out of" Kurita - though I would certainly give them every bit of "Punching Well Above Their Weight" - off Samar, particularly Johnston's torpedoing of Kumano. In any case the Taffy-3 Escorts did, in concert with the equally fierce Baby-Flattop-Air Groups, pull off one of the most miraculous last-minute saves in all naval history.

Again, a great little build of the SkyWave kit - and again I'm just itching to supply you some better 40mms for next time. THANKS for this (yet another) great submission to ModelFleet, Don!

Cheers,

- Matty