Reviewed by Martin J Quinn
March 2026

According to the website Military History: "While the defects were not prohibitive and the Mark 33 remained in production until fairly late in World War II, the Bureau started the development of an improved director in 1936, only 2 years after the first installation of a Mark 33. The objective of weight reduction was not met, since the resulting director system actually weighed about 8000 pounds more than the equipment it was slated to replace, but the Gun Director Mark 37 that emerged from the program possessed virtues that more than compensated for its extra weight. Though the gun orders it provided were the same as those of the Mark 33, it supplied them with greater reliability and gave generally improved performance with 5-inch gun batteries, whether they were used for surface or antiaircraft use. Moreover, the stable element and computer, instead of being contained in the director housing were installed below deck where they were less vulnerable to attack and less of a jeopardy to a ship's stability. The design provided for the ultimate addition of radar, which later permitted blind firing with the director. In fact, the Mark 37 system was almost continually improved. By the end of 1945 the equipment had run through 92 modifications—almost twice the total number of directors of that type which were in the fleet on December 7, 1941. Procurement ultimately totaled 841 units, representing an investment of well over $148,000,000. Destroyers, cruisers, battleships, carriers, and many auxiliaries used the directors, with individual installations varying from one aboard destroyers to four on each battleship." 

These Mk37 directors had the improved Mark 12 with Mark 22 Height Finder (aka "Orange Peel Radar"), which was introduced as a replacement of the earlier Mk4 radar in 1944. 

There is nice detail to be found on these directors - ladders, hatches, the supports for the Mk12 radar mount, and finally, the radar itself.  The latter is finely printed, with a see through screen.  On the other side of the coin, there are some print lines visible on the backside of the director.  Hopefully these will disappear under a coat of paint.

This is Gold Medal Models 1/350 USN Mk37 MOD 11 Fire Control Director with Mk12/22 Radar, set GM3D350052. These will be available directly from Squadron Hobbies - who I'd like to thank for this review sample.  Keep an eye on their website of availability and pricing.  Recommended!