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

[beefy66]

Lots of nice details going into this build as well Paul 

 

Beefy

[Paul E]

Thanks Beefy, The detail is needed for the scratch built parts it really does make a difference.  

[Paul E]

Another update of progress made this last week and back to the Mast which I started earlier on. Warning this post is quite picture heavy!

There are quite a number of components that make up the mast. When I designed the PE I realised that the mast was quite a complex structure but could be achieved by breaking it down into key sub-structures. The first and central part is the lattice structure itself which folds from a flat to a cuboid shape.

All of the other components attach to this lattice structure. So the first two components are a small platform that sits on the aft side of the mast and platform that sits on the top of the structure:

I then added the top platform railing, which I regretted later.

and then the radar pedestal was added:

The remaining components are the Mast head lights and their blinds:

and the pole mast:

which I realised when I tried to fit it, needed to be fitted prior to the railings. Not wanting to pull the mast structure apart I opted to scratch build the pole mast which was not too difficult as it is essential a piece of wire with an aerial on top. the V shaped parts attached to the platform part were bent to position to connect to the pole mast.

Finally I have fitted the access ladder and the radar antenna from the kit PE.

That is the mast completed and ready for painting. I am really pleased with how this came out despite the minor hiccup with the build order. This is the first attempt at designing a "complex" PE structure and it has turned out much better than I expected. I might try designing Photo Etch again.

That's it for now. I hope you enjoy.

[davepb]

This is a superb partner to the first build. Now why don't we all ask Paul, very nicely, if we can buy sets? Then it would make it a commercial proposition. I have to say I have a vested interest - I WANT ONE OF EACH!!!!!

[Paul E]

To expand on Dave’s comment, I designed the Photo-Etch for these two ships because I wanted to try it for myself and I paid to get my design manufactured professionally. The thing is that once a mask is made up I can get repeat orders but there is a catch. There is a minimum order amount and I don’t want to end up holding lots of sheets of TON class PE that I would never use. At the end of the day I am hobbyist and I make models for the fun of it. That said I am open to getting a repeat order on proviso that there is enough interest.  

Enough of the serious stuff and back to the model, I returned my attention to the hull again and added the petrol fuel can stowage:

I have also built the Influence Sweep winch but IT issues are preventing me from displaying the pictures. I will try and overcome this problem and get pictures to you as soon as I can.

Thanks for looking.    

[Paul E]

Unfortunately my attempt at uploading pictures failed, so I am struggling to give a photographic update of progress. I will try and get an update soon.

Edited December 8, 2016 by Paul E
Failed to attach pictures.

[davepb]

Paul, what you have achieved so far is superb. Looking forward to seeing the next stages, and I hope they encourage people to fork out for your etch sets!!

[Paul E]

Thanks Dave.

[Paul E]

I have finally managed to post pictures of progress after some faffing around.

So I have built the Influence Sweep winch that is the main feature of the Minesweepers, again the main parts of which come from my PE set:

The drum of the winch was made from plastic rod and I carefully wrapped 28SWG copper wire around the drum for the cable.

 

 And a picture of how the drum looks when placed on the hull. I had to totally grind down the feature from the original moulding where the winch now sits, I originally thought it would not be necessary but it turned out that the winch sat too high and so drastic action was called for.  

 Other progress has been around fitting the Transom and the ladders:

 

 I am now at the point of painting.

Thanks for looking.

[Nick C]

Fantastic work Paul, inspirational!! 

[Paul E]

16 hours ago, Nick Charnock said:

Fantastic work Paul, inspirational!! 

Thanks Nick. But I am not so sure about being inspirational.

[Ex-FAAWAFU]

Oh, I am; it will certainly inspire my Stubbington build!

[Paul E]

A quick update of progress.

 

I have started painting which has had quite a big impact:

 

and here is an image of Wotton alongside my model of Brereton for comparison.

 

still plenty to do.

 

Thanks for looking and Merry Christmas

Edited December 24, 2016 by Paul E
missing picture

[beefy66]

Nice to see the comparison of the two ships together  

 

Beefy

[Ex-FAAWAFU]

Please tell me it's an optical illusion that Wooton's funnel is further aft than Brereton's?

[Paul E]

Yes it is an optical illusion. The midships deckhouse is unchanged from the kit. 

[Paul E]

A quick update of progress over Christmas and the New Year.

 

I have started on the wooden davits that are fitted port and starboard on the minesweepers:

 

and I have amounted the model on it's display base.

 

Lots of work still to do though.

 

Happy New Year and thanks for looking.

 

 

[Murdo]

Just found this. What absolute beauties they are! Some superb skills there Paul.

 

I'm rather jealous.

[Paul E]

On 05/01/2017 at 11:18 PM, Murdo said:

Just found this. What absolute beauties they are! Some superb skills there Paul.

 

I'm rather jealous.

Thank you Murdo.

[Murdo]

How did you make the sea base? 

[Paul E]

I have slowly but surely making progress, I have painted and fitted the derricks which now need rigging

 

 

And I have made the liferaft supports which are the last pieces of my PE fret:

 

 

 

 

I am now at the stage of integrating all the pieces together and rigging. I hoping it will not be too long before I finish.

 

An update to follow shortly.

 

Thanks for looking.

[Paul E]

13 minutes ago, Murdo said:

How did you make the sea base? 

 

Basically the sea is textured art paper on to which I glued the hull, the technique I used for making the wake is described on page 5 in my HMS Somerset build log, where I used cling film and texture paste to make the wake.

 

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234979406-hms-somerset-f82/&page=5

 

I hope this helps.

Paul

[Paul E]

A quick up date of this weekend’s work. I have rigged the derricks and like my model of HMS Brereton I have used  Alliance Modelwork 1/350 scale pulleys and rigging for the guy ropes and Uschi line for the standing rigging.

 

I have added the boats and I have started on fitting the railings:

 

Finally I have glued on the forward superstructure and added the access ladder which derived from my PE:

 

I needed to do this so that I can fit the final stays for derricks.

I still have to rig the mast, fit the forward railings and the whip antennae and add one or two little extras but at least the end is nigh.

Thanks for looking.

[Paul E]

I have come to the end at last, rigging the foremast with Uschi line.

 

And fitting the forward railings. One of impacts of the conversion is that the photo-etch railing provided with the kit needs to be adjusted to accommodate the new forward superstructure. This means that a “plug” needs to inserted as shown in the picture this came from the generic 1/350 railing set that I have in my stash.

 

I also scratch build some of the items of minesweeping equipment that are located on the forward deck aft of the bridge superstructure as these are quite prominent although they don’t look much in the picture.

And finally the finished article;

I hope you like it.

As a post script I know that the hull number and name board is not correct for HMS Wotton and there is a reason for that.

The kit is marketed as HMS Upton with a picture Upton on the box cover but the contents don't match. The kit contains the bits for a minehunter, HMS Nurton to be exact which ties in with the Jecobin Plans and it’s an excellent kit.

My build of HMS Brereton was straight forward and the kit suited what I wanted but I also wanted to build HMS Upton because that is the name of the village I grew up in, but I could hardly describe my build as “HMS Upton a conversion of the Atlantic Models HMS Upton” so I settled on HMS Wotton as I could reference the Model Boats magazine article.

I only wish the name on the box reflected the contents, I know I am being pedantic, and as an experienced and capable modeller it didn’t affect me. But not everyone is like me! I also think Peter is missing a trick; there is scope to produce two separate kits from the core parts. This would be more attractive from a modeller’s point of view and from a business sense would increase the likelihood of an individual making multiple purchases of the same core product.

So to summarise my builds I want to say that this is the first time I have built an Atlantic Models kit and I am pleased with the quality and detail of it. Despite the fact that I chose to enhance the model and my misgiving about the name and box art it should not detract from what is an excellent kit. I also think it a suitable for someone trying out a resin/mix media kit for the first time. I highly recommend it and I definitely will be buying another Atlantic models kit in the future.

Finally some (not very good) pictures of the two Tons together, I will when I get around to it take better pictures and post them in Ready for Inspection in due course. Enjoy:

[davepb]

I think it is you that should be thanked. It has been a pleasure following these two builds - very impressive work that should inspire others to go "outside the box".

Now all we need is a clamour of peoples wanting to order copies of your PE sets!!!