All Iron Shipwrights 1/350 Scale Model Kits come with a full resin hull, pieces, instructions, and photoetch parts for ultimate historical accuracy.
USS Johnston DD821
FRAM I Gearing conversion — 1968
Kit #4-133 • 1/350 scale
Complete kit: resin, metal and photoetch parts
Kit by Brian Ice
Overview
Highly detailed 1/350 scale conversion kit of USS Johnston (DD-821) as a FRAM I Gearing-class destroyer (1968). This complete kit is designed for accuracy and ease of assembly for experienced modelers seeking a museum-quality result.
What's Included
- Full resin hull
- Resin cast components and detail parts
- Metal detail parts
- Photoetched brass parts for fine-scale detailing
- Decals for all ships in the class (included)
- Complete written instructions
Features & Benefits
- Accurate FRAM I conversion detailing for the 1968 configuration
- High-quality resin and photoetch for sharp, historically accurate parts
- Comprehensive instructions to guide assembly
- Excellent customer support with free replacement parts — no questions asked
NOTICE: Model kit does not come with a display stand.
If product photos show a completed model, please note your kit will arrive brand new and unassembled.
Related / Notes
Also references USS Myles C. Fox DD829.
Brief history
USS Johnston (DD-821) was a Gearing‑class U.S. Navy destroyer commissioned in the immediate post‑World War II period and served through the Cold War. As a Gearing she was built for multi‑role destroyer tasks (surface action, escort, and antisubmarine duties).
In a FRAM I refit (the Fleet Rehabilitation and Modernization program) she received major ASW and electronic upgrades typical of the late 1950s–1960s: modern sonar/sonobuoy systems, an ASROC launcher and DASH unmanned helicopter capability, improved radar and electronics, and internal habitability/engineering overhauls. After FRAM she operated mainly in ASW/escort, fleet screening, and patrol roles — including routine deployments with the Atlantic/6th Fleet and Vietnam/Cold War-era operations in the late 1960s.
Model dimensions (1/350 scale)
Gearing-class overall length ≈ 390.5 ft (4,686 in). At 1/350 scale this equals approximately 13.4 inches (4,686 in ÷ 350 ≈ 13.39 in, rounded to 13.4 in).
Recommended Books
None listed.




