TON Class Mine Hunter HMS BRERETON and Minesweeper HMS WOTTON - 1/350 scale Atlantic Models kit

[Paul E]

Now I have finished practicing my skills with the Dodo Models Armidale resin kit it is time to turn my attention to my next project. I was given (at my request) the Atlantic Models HMS UPTON kit at 1:350 scale as my Christmas present. This was influenced by the kit review on this fine forum back in November 2015:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234992178-hms-upton-ton-class-minesweeper-1350/

This is my first Atlantic models kit and I am very impressed with its quality.

I have always had a liking for the TON class ships and I have fond memories spending a weekend on HMS BRERETON sailing to Douglas on the Isle of Man from Liverpool when I was a Sea Cadet. HMS BRERETON was at the time assigned to Mersey Division RNR and not surprisingly I am going to model BRERETON as she was in 1985.

I shall get the controversial bit over and done with now so that it does not detract from a very crisp and detailed kit. The name on the kit box of HMS UPTON is deceiving, for those who know the history of the TON class, the ships underwent a number of conversions over their long lives with some ships becoming Mine Hunters and others remaining as Mine Sweepers. HMS UPTON was a Mine Sweeper retaining the original bridge superstructure. The Model in the kit is a Mine Hunter with the modified bridge superstructure and mast; In fact the kit mouldings match the Jecobin Drawings for HMS NURTON.

To be fair, HMS UPTON was the lead ship of the class and by the time of their retirement no two ships in the class were identical. However anyone wanting to build HMS UPTON from this kit would need to do some serious conversion work as the bridge superstructure and mast are entirely different let alone the inclusion of the Influence Sweep drum on the sweep deck. That said with 119 ships in the class, a 30 year plus life and service in 9 Navies there is plenty of scope to build a unique model for those daring to build something different.

 

This is not my first attempt at building a TON having scratch built HMS BRERETON in 1:144 nearly 30 years ago (and is now a bit of a wreck):

I also have a part built Deans Marine kit at 1:100 scale which I am intending to finish (eventually) as HMS Iveston.:

As a consequence I have a reasonable source of research material to help me with this build. I have 1:96 Scale drawings for HMS NURTON by Jecobin:

1:48 Scale drawings for HMS IVESTON from MAP Publications:

And I have an ancient copy of Model Boats magazine with drawings by Eric Dyke for HMS WOOTON.

Having said all that I am not anticipating that I will have need to refer the scale drawings as the detail provided in the kit is very good. There are some minor changes that I will need to make to the kit and I will address those as I advance through the build.

First up pictures of the box and contents:

I have also bought some extras to enhance my build, some 1:350 Scale Non slip deck PE by Fly Hawk and Brass Barrels for the 40mm Bofors.

One of the things I like about this kit is that there is an option to produce a full hull or waterline model without the need for surgery and I will be presenting my model HMS BRERETON in her element in a similar manner to my other models.

That’s it for the introduction hopefully I will be posting pictures of progress soon.

I hope you all enjoy.

Edited October 13, 2016 by Paul E
Title Change

[foxy]

Look foreword to taking a seat on this one.

Like the class too.

foxy

[Guest]

I will not hijack your build with my build, I,m halfway through,very nice build so far,apart from I wished I had built the main mast before painting,but that's what the hobby is about ,added more detail around the bridge and funnel .My plan is to move on to Leander or Zulu next.Found this photo,it might help.Enjoy the build.

[Paul E]

Thank you Chris for the picture of HMS Nurton, I'm glad to hear that you are building a Ton too. As I have only just started out any insight from your experience so far will be helpful so please feel free to "hijack" when you think there is a need.

[beefy66]

Whoo Hoo I was wondering when I was going to see some one show me how to do this

I have this kit and the Leeds Castle kit but I have never worked with resin and white metals before so now will be keeping a close eye and taking notes here

Beefy

[Paul Bradley]

Cool! My dad served on Shavington for a couple of years in the early 80s.

[Nick C]

Looking forward to following this one!!

[Francis Macnaughton]

Hi Paul,

Good to see another RN subject getting your attention.

I was given (at my request) the Atlantic Models HMS UPTON kit at 1:350 scale as my Christmas present.

Did you also get a copy of the latest Guinness World Records for Christmas too?!

[Rob 1]

I'll watch this with interest.

The first real warship I saw and went aboard as a kid was HMS Bickington, and have had a soft spot for this class ever since.

[Guest]

Thank you Chris for the picture of HMS Nurton, I'm glad to hear that you are building a Ton too. As I have only just started out any insight from your experience so far will be helpful so please feel free to "hijack" when you think there is a need.

Hi Paul

I think it would be better,if I start my own thread.If ok with you

[AntPhillips]

Great to see this one, I haven't got round to getting one yet although I have bought most of Pete's creations so far.

I will get one, but I'd like to attempt to backdate it to represent HMS Laleston, purely because I was born and brought up just a couple of miles down the road from the village of Laleston:

ShipSpotting.com

© Chris Howell

[Paul E]

Hi Paul,

Good to see another RN subject getting your attention.

Did you also get a copy of the latest Guinness World Records for Christmas too?!

Francis,

In answer to your question; No. I had forgotten about that, thank for reminding me I shall be on the look out.

Going slightly off topic this is the reason why Francis asked the question:

Apparently the record still stands.

Normal service will resume shortly.

[Paul E]

Hi Paul

I think it would be better,if I start my own thread.If ok with you

Chris,

Feel free to start your own thread. It is probably a good idea as I have already started going off down the super detailing route despite telling myself I wouldn't do it.

[Paul E]

Thank you for all the support, it is much appreciated.

Back on topic and starting on the hull; first up is cleaning the moulding flash out of the freeing ports on the sweep deck bulwarks;

And drilling out the Anchor Hawse Pipes on the bow;

I have also started with some of the embellishments I am going to add to this model; I have applied the Fly Hawk 1:350 Scale Non slip deck PE to the foc’t’sle for under the Anchor winch and forward of the gun.

Unfortunately the 1:350 Scale PE didn’t look right so I ordered 1:700 scale Non-Slip Deck and fitted that instead.

The Jecobin plans show the non-slip deck is also fitted aft of the sweep winch. So I added some PE there too:

I have also made the fair leads that sit in the newly opened up ports on the hull:

and in position:

I also found a PE hatch cover for the sweep deck

and an inclined ladder fitted forward.

Plenty more to do but it is a start in the right direction.

Enjoy!

[moaning dolphin]

Nice work so far, have to agree with the non skid. the original set up looked way overscale, it would be more of a trip hazard than non skid! Looking forward to more progress!

Francis,

In answer to your question; No. I had forgotten about that, thank for reminding me I shall be on the look out.

Going slightly off topic this is the reason why Francis asked the question:

Apparently the record still stands.

Normal service will resume shortly.

That's all well and good showing the certificate, but this is a modeling website so there should be a pic of the model as well!

Bob

[Guest]

Like the non-slip deck,never thought of that.have already ordered the 1/700 deck.

[beefy66]

Great stuff Paul would you mind telling me what you used to make the fair leads what size plastic rod and such just to explain to a Numbty like me

Thanks

Beefy

[Paul E]

Beefy,

I have accumulated a large selection of plastic rod and strip over the years, so I am not sure what actual sizes I have used but the selection of packages that are on my workbench as shown in the photo should give you a guide.

[foxy]

Nice work so far Paul.

That evergreen is really good stuff.

All come's in handy.

foxy

[Paul E]

Like the non-slip deck,never thought of that.have already ordered the 1/700 deck.

This came about because I didn't like the step between the planked deck and the painted deck and it was "gagging" to be filled. I am pleased with how the "1/700" scale non slip deck came out.

Nice work so far Paul.

That evergreen is really good stuff.

All come's in handy.

foxy

Thank you Foxy, I have stacks of Evergreen, Slaters and Plastistruct in a big box, it is invaluable for scratch building.

[Paul E]

Thanks for all the support.

Work continues on the sweep deck.

First up tidying up the sweep winch moulding and the sweep winch PE housing structure:

and then fitting the PE to the winch itself:

Also I have removed the tall locker moulding that sits between the sweep winch and the midships superstructure suit the configuration of HMS Brereton.

I need to tidy up now before starting work on adjusting the midships superstructure.

Enjoy!

[Ex-FAAWAFU]

Great stuff! I have just ordered one of these, to be built as Stubbington, since I have discovered that a friend of mine (my first boss, in fact) was Guns of Stubbington in Matla in about 1852! That was enough of an excuse...

[Paul E]

Thank you for the feedback. I am aware that some of you are following my build with the intention of using it to inform on your own projects. Because of this I have been conducting some research into the subject. Firstly I need to make a correction to my first post when I said that HMS Upton was the first ship in the class, she was not, it was HMS Coniston. Reiterating my first post; the kit depicts a Mine Hunter conversion and with minor changes to the out of the box model can make the following ships:

Two ships with the same bridge structure were transferred in to the Argentine Armada:

For those who are prepared to take a saw to the bridge moulding and scalpel to the mast PE it is relatively simple to convert the model to the second type of mine hunters consisting of:

The Ton Class ships transferred to the Royal Australian Navy adopted the same style bridge structure as HMS Bronington but remained as minesweepers and retained the Magnetic Influence Sweep Winch:

For this conversion you will need to cut vertically behind the bridge door positions and horizontally across the deck. A new “chart house” superstructure will then need to be fabricated from plastic card and then added to the back of the now shortened bridge. Change to the Mast PE consists of shortening the stays that support the mast.

The remaining ships in the class are minesweepers and have completely different bridge structures from the kit. These can be divided into two types ones with the modified Tripod Mast :

Including the following ships transferred to the South African Navy:

and those with the original Lattice Mast :

HMS Upton and HMS Stubbington amongst others fall into the latter category.

I recommend a good place to start if you are looking for further information on a particular ship is the Ton Class Association website www.tca2000.co.uk.

I hope this helps.

Edited May 17, 2016 by Paul E

[Guest]

There are tooooo many, thanks for the information

[Paul E]

Back to my build of HMS Brereton:

I am continuing on with detailing on the aft part of the model, first up cleaning up and detailing the funnel superstructure;

And working on manufacturing the covered area aft of the midships funnel superstructure out of plastic card:

and finally a picture of the major parts dry fitted together:

Progress continues, surely but slowly.

Edited May 18, 2016 by Paul E