Revell (ex-Matchbox) 1/72 Flower Class Corvette

[Stew Dapple]

My friends, colleagues and evil overlords at Sovereign Hobbies have pointed out to me that in order to achieve my core competencies and qualify as a fully-accredited member of the Associated Federation of Henchpersons, Goons, Thugs and Minions, I was going to have to build a ship.

 

Believing, as I do, that building a model in anything other than 1/72 scale is a perversion of the grossest nature and an affront to all that I hold dear left me somewhat limited in my options if I was to successfully complete this task.

 

Still, I cast my mind back to 1979 when I was still a mere slip of a lad and Matchbox was not only still a going concern, but perhaps at the peak of its powers; the year that they released the 1/72 Flower Class Corvette kit. It was a remarkable offering, for the subject, the physical size of the model and the number of parts – and far too expensive for me; it became for me one of those semi-mythical uber-kits that you promise yourself: “One day...”

 

I managed to get the Revell 2000 re-box of the kit for a pretty reasonable price on ebay so that day seems to have come:

 

 

It's a big box - Jack is a full-grown male West Highland Terrier and is shown for scale:

 

 

There are a lot of parts too:

 

 

 

 

 

Sadly this edition of the kit does not include the transfers for HMS Bluebell although the specific parts for her are still included on the sprues. I'll probably go with HMCS Snowberry rather than the other option - the USS Saucy - even though the decals for the former are a bit rubbish and the latter has a great name.

 

I'll be building it OOB as far as possible; I appreciate there are innacurracies in the kit but it is still an impressive model particularly if, like me, you are not au fait with the real thing. Also I am very lazy, but mainly this: I like building kits and I'd like to build it just as I would have done at the tender age of 14, just for the pleasure of building it. Unless I feel like changing something (the crew figures for example), in which case I will  

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

 

 

[CedB]

Crikey Stew, what a lot of parts!

One of my first thoughts was "I hope your sprue cutters are up to it" but that's just a current fixation of mine at the moment. My second thought was "I hope there isn't any flash". 

Of course my very first thought was "A ship? Oooer..."

Jack's expression is classic - "You're using me for scale? Where are you going to put this thing when it's finished?"

I did zoom in on the figures and, for some reason, I now have 'In the Navy' by The Village People bouncing around my head. Thanks for that...

 

Good luck with the competency exam - I'm in!  

[Stew Dapple]

Thanks Ced, I think my sprue-cutters will be up to snuff, they're Xuron's. The kit parts look to be in good nick, I suppose it was a big investment at the time and the moulds have been well looked-after, as far as a cursory inspection indicates. Some of the parts look a bit simplified but should be hidden to a degree by the sheer bulk of the thing

 

10 minutes ago, CedB said:

I now have 'In the Navy' by The Village People bouncing around my head

 

I accept no responsibility for your brain's choice of earworm

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

[TonyTiger66]

I'm in too !

 

I was a year younger; it certainly was one of those semi-mythical kits.

 

It's huge! I like the idea of building it exactly as you would have done at the time. The Revell boxing even seems to still be in three colours of plastic, like the old Matchbox ones.

 

Great stuff  

TonyT

[Beard]

I'll be following Stew, if I may, as my interest in ships is somewhat more than passing and I've always fancied the kit of the Flower class corvette.

A friend of mine made one of these and put RC gear in it. On it's maiden voyage, it sank, after being rammed by another friend's U-boat. Our friend claimed it wasn't deliberate... I suspect otherwise.

 

Edited May 27, 2017 by Beard
to correct spelling.

[Grey Beema]

I'm in too.  

 

I love the film "The Cruel Sea" so also fancy a crack at one of these sometime but alas where do you put it once you're done? So whilst I'm pondering the second storey to my cave which I'll pay for using my lotto winnings (need to remember to do the lotto first) I'll pull up a chair near the front if I may..

[Kris B]

Can't wait for the first photos of progress. 

[JimHead23]

Hi Stew

 

Really nice choice and I am glad you are trying to build 'out of the box' as the amount of aftermarket for the kit is mind boggling and so expensive. I haven't seen one built up to a high standard without aftermarket for a while so yours will be a benchmark.

However, I know you are aware of Gunthwaite Miniatures and some of these would add so much to the build I am sure you would agree? Having seen your pilot figure painting skills I am sure that a few of these strategically placed around the decks would take the eye off any simplification in the build.

Watching with interest as always.

 

Regards

Jim

[Stew Dapple]

Thanks very much gents

 

On 5/27/2017 at 6:19 AM, TonyTiger66 said:

I like the idea of building it exactly as you would have done at the time. The Revell boxing even seems to still be in three colours of plastic, like the old Matchbox ones

 

Not exactly as I would have done, I hope, Tony, or it will be finished Monday afternoon and it will appear to have been done in a bit of a rush... and I can't guarantee I won't replace anything; I'll see how it looks as it is going - the crew have not impressed me and I have read that the guns are less than impressive. The kit is indeed moulded in three different colours of plastic, I'm not sure why but I suppose if you were of a mind to you could leave it unpainted

 

On 5/27/2017 at 7:15 AM, Beard said:

A friend of mine made one of these and put RC gear in it. On it's maiden voyage, it sank, after being rammed by another friend's U-boat.

 

That is tragic - he should have kitted it out with some little radio-controlled depth charges  - I trust he managed to recover it?

 

On 5/27/2017 at 7:34 AM, Grey Beema said:

...but alas where do you put it once you're done?

 

And there, as they say, is the rub. I've no idea to be honest. I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it

 

On 5/27/2017 at 7:40 AM, Kris B said:

Can't wait for the first photos of progress. 

 

Thanks Chris, I think this will be a fairly long build but I've got a long weekend so hopefully will get something done

 

On 5/27/2017 at 7:42 AM, JimHead23 said:

...the amount of aftermarket for the kit is mind boggling and so expensive....

 

However, I know you are aware of Gunthwaite Miniatures and some of these would add so much to the build I am sure you would agree?

 

You're right on both counts Jim (nice to hear from you again by the way ) I see the combined Great Little Ships etched and resin sets are on sale at about £300; Jamie (of Sovereign Hobbies) pointed out to me that if you spent (for example) £250 on the Trumpeter 1/200 scale HMS Hood you are unlikely to build more than one so you would want to make it the best you could and by that reckoning spending an extra £250 on the Pontos detail set is not a bad investment nor, given the time you would spend doing it, a particularly expensive one. It's a point of view I hadn't considered before. I very much doubt I will build more than one of these Corvettes, so I do want to make it as good as I can, but I imagine it will take me long enough without the additional time required to correct mistakes in the kit and replace and enhance the various parts that the aftermarket sets would do - and that's without taking the extra money into account. Now comes my massive U-turn... that said, you are absolutely right about the Gunthwaite figures and I did indeed score several sets of these at the Scottish Nationals Model Show in April. They are very nicely proportioned, naturally posed and look like they will paint up very nicely. @Clogged did a really nice model here with some Gunthwaite figures replacing the kit crew, they improved the look of it a lot; I don't like the Matchbox figures much but having some figures on the ship will give a sense of scale. TL:DR = thanks Jim  

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

[Beard]

13 minutes ago, Stew Dapple said:

That is tragic - he should have kitted it out with some little radio-controlled depth charges  - I trust he managed to recover it?

 

He did although it never sailed again and now lives in a display case in his kitchen.

 

On an related matter, he and I have plans (albeit drunken plans) of making a 1/72 escort carrier. Actually, he'd be doing the making, I'd just be supervising and offering moral support.

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

58 minutes ago, Beard said:

 

He did although it never sailed again and now lives in a display case in his kitchen.

 

On an related matter, he and I have plans (albeit drunken plans) of making a 1/72 escort carrier. Actually, he'd be doing the making, I'd just be supervising and offering moral support.

 

That would be impressive! We have a customer who built USS Gambier Bay in 1/96 and it's a beast - below the Dauntless on here:

 

https://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk/pages/gallery

[Beard]

3 minutes ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

That would be impressive! We have a customer who built USS Gambier Bay in 1/96 and it's a beast

 

It would but it'll never happen, at least not before he's made me a semi-solid (Fender) Jaguar clone.

[Jockster]

Always fancied this one, I was eleven when it came out but too big for the mancave these days so I've settled for the 1/144 version sitting right in front of me!

So I'm in!

[robgizlu]

9 hours ago, Stew Dapple said:

My friends, colleagues and evil overlords at Sovereign Hobbies have pointed out to me that in order to achieve my core competencies and qualify as a fully-accredited member of the Associated Federation of Henchpersons, Goons, Thugs and Minions, I was going to have to build a ship.

 

Believing, as I do, that building a model in anything other than 1/72 scale is a perversion of the grossest nature and an affront to all that I hold dear left me somewhat limited in my options if I was to successfully complete this task.

Sadly this edition of the kit does not include the transfers for HMS Bluebell although the specific parts for her are still included on the sprues. I'll probably go with HMCS Snowberry rather than the other option - the USS Saucy - even though the decals for the former are a bit rubbish and the latter has a great name.

 

I'll be building it OOB as far as possible; I appreciate there are innacurracies in the kit but it is still an impressive model particularly if, like me, you are not au fait with the real thing. Also I am very lazy, but mainly this: I like building kits and I'd like to build it just as I would have done at the tender age of 14, just for the pleasure of building it. Unless I feel like changing something (the crew figures for example), in which case I will  

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

 

 

 

Stew - Fab project - absolutely agree about the 1/72 scale building!!

 

If you want to go for Bluebell - I probably have decals (I'll check). She wore 2 schemes - an early "Wstern Approaches" scheme and later a 3 tone late war scheme when she was lost on arctic duties.

Looking forward to seeing this unfold.  Mine sits awaiting - know what you mean about the GLS bits.

Yabba dabba doo!

Rob

[Stew Dapple]

8 hours ago, Beard said:

...not before he's made me a semi-solid (Fender) Jaguar clone.

 

Like a Jag version of the Telecaster Thinline? Simon I didn't think you could go up any further in my estimation but I see your taste in aircraft is only surpassed by your taste in guitars (even if it is a 'what-if') 

 

Thanks Jockster and you are very welcome

 

3 hours ago, robgizlu said:

If you want to go for Bluebell - I probably have decals (I'll check)

 

Thanks Rob - please do check and if you have them send me a PM, I'll happily pay, or trade anything up to and including my soul  

 

These are my Gunthwaite figures:

 

 

GM72-002, 005, 006, 013, 014, 025 and 026 - the eagle-eyed will notice that I have two of GM72-005 as the first set I bought contained a duplicate of one of the figures rather than three different ones; it's not a big deal as they are all in casual relaxed poses and as long as I don't stand them next to each other I doubt anyone will twig . All the figures are really nicely done and are in work clothes rather than full dress gear or cold weather kit - there are some very nicely painted ones on the Gunthwaite site here.

 

I started on the kit itself, firstly joining the fore and aft hull side sections - this required some filler:

 

 

Not as bad as it looks there, when it was cleaned up:

 

 

I hope, due to the sort of patchwork effect of the moulded panel, that the join won't be too noticeable once it is painted...

 

Then I joined the halves - this was done in the face of a degree of recalcitrance from the parts too, so I glued and pegged it in sections:

 

 

I wish I hadn't used the forceps; they closed the gap really well, but took little divots out of the keel which I will have to patch later.

 

Finally I installed the bracing struts, I presume these are to provide support for the decks rather than structural reinforcement as they are thin and quite bendy - the added weight on top is just to make sure both ends stick securely:

 

 

... and that's where I got up to, I don't think I'll do any more today because... well, beer. You know.

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

 

 

[Jb65rams]

A great start.

 

This kit has been on my must build list / loft for a number of years, ever since seeing a built one in Whitby museum when on a family holiday. 

 

 

[Rob 1]

2 hours ago, Jb65rams said:

A great start.

 

This kit has been on my must build list / loft for a number of years, ever since seeing a built one in Whitby museum when on a family holiday. 

 

 

 

They certainly make an impressive looking finished model in this scale. There's one in the little Horsforth Museum, as there's a local connection to HMS Aubretia, which assisted in attacking a U-boat resulting in the capture of an intact Enigma machine.

[CedB]

Flippin' 'eck Stew, are those normal sized pegs? Big 'un, innit?

Lots of sailors too, can't wait to see your painted versions.

Beer, well deserved mate  

[Beard]

14 hours ago, Stew Dapple said:

 

Like a Jag version of the Telecaster Thinline?

 

That's exactly what it will be, when it's done, and you've reminded me that I don't have a thinline Tele.

 

14 hours ago, Stew Dapple said:

I didn't think you could go up any further in my estimation but I see your taste in aircraft is only surpassed by your taste in guitars (even if it is a 'what-if') 

 

I'd withhold how high to hold me in your estimation, if I were you, until you've heard me play.

[robgizlu]

Hi Stew

PM me your address - I have "Hawk Graphics WWII RN  Round Hull nos" 1/96 scale but they fit the size of the decals supplied by Revell for Snowberry. There are 4 sheets - 2 spare coming to you.

I've spent a lot of time researching corvettes - shout if there's anything you think I can help with.

Many feel that the hull plates are over -moulded and "sit" too high.   Others have sanded down the hull - I'm certainly planning too when I eventually get round to mine.

It's worth checking out Shapeways for Corvette bits.  GLS aren't the only option.

Check out Nial Orr's site Niall's Model Parts and Mark Hawkins site 3D Boats for relevant bits.  If you really want something - Mark will possibly print it up if you can supply scale pans or drawings.

Forgive if I'm teaching to suck eggs, but in terms of reference you can spend an awful lot on Corvette books (I have), but in reality The Shipcraft Flower Class Corvettes is good for 95% of what you'll need.  It's currently on sale on Amazon for £186.07 

BUT....................all is not lost - It's due to be republished in a new edition from end of May

Pen & Sword books

 

Rob

[beefy66]

Looks like a good start Stew will be keeping an eye on this build good luck  

 

beefy

[Stew Dapple]

Thank you gents

 

On 5/27/2017 at 6:26 PM, Jb65rams said:

This kit has been on my must build list / loft for a number of years

 

Thanks JB, it's been on my wish list for some time as well - about 35 years in fact... not sure what took me so long

 

On 5/27/2017 at 9:25 PM, CedB said:

Flippin' 'eck Stew, are those normal sized pegs? Big 'un, innit?

 

Hi Ced - no, actually they are slightly smaller than usual pegs, the green ones are full size, the blue/yellow/red ones are smaller. That said, it is a big kit - the hull is a little short of a yard long. It's actually a bit longer than my work-table; luckily most of the ship is build as sub-assemblies and added on later.

 

On 5/28/2017 at 8:47 AM, Beard said:

I'd withhold how high to hold me in your estimation, if I were you, until you've heard me play.

 

Simon, it is fairly unlikely we shall ever hear each other play, so in the absence of evidence to the contrary we might as well be Hendrix

 

On 5/28/2017 at 2:31 PM, robgizlu said:

Hi Stew

PM me your address - I have "Hawk Graphics WWII RN  Round Hull nos" 1/96 scale but they fit the size of the decals supplied by Revell for Snowberry. There are 4 sheets - 2 spare coming to you.

I've spent a lot of time researching corvettes - shout if there's anything you think I can help with.

Many feel that the hull plates are over -moulded and "sit" too high.   Others have sanded down the hull - I'm certainly planning too when I eventually get round to mine.

It's worth checking out Shapeways for Corvette bits.  GLS aren't the only option.

Check out Nial Orr's site Niall's Model Parts and Mark Hawkins site 3D Boats for relevant bits.  If you really want something - Mark will possibly print it up if you can supply scale pans or drawings.

Forgive if I'm teaching to suck eggs, but in terms of reference you can spend an awful lot on Corvette books (I have), but in reality The Shipcraft Flower Class Corvettes is good for 95% of what you'll need.  It's currently on sale on Amazon for £186.07 

BUT....................all is not lost - It's due to be republished in a new edition from end of May

Pen & Sword books

 

Rob

 

Rob  - thanks for that, it looks like I might be getting some replacement guns after all... I do agree your comments as well regarding the hull plating, it is a very strange effect which makes it look as if the ship was built from sheets of armour plate about a foot thick  However I have to accept some of the limitations of the kit and hope that once painted and weathered it will be less noticeable.

 

15 hours ago, beefy66 said:

 

Looks like a good start Stew will be keeping an eye on this build good luck

 

 

Thanks Beefy

 

I didn't get as much done as I'd hoped over the weekend but I did get the hull strakes fitted - eventually. They were quite springy and reluctant to settle; additionally I may have got the part numbers or the sides wrong, as they did not fit on the wedge-shaped parts at all well and I was left with a gap in the middle between the two parts that I had to plug with a bit of plastic card - again, I hope this won't be too obvious when the painting has been done.

 

 

As the model does not have to be sea-worthy I thought I would add the porthole glass with Micro Kristal Klear after painting the camouflage on the hull - thanks to Rob's generosity I should be getting transfers with which I can copy the HMS Bluebell scheme of the original Matchbox kit. I managed to find the Matchbox instructions online here and have printed them off so I can build it as intended.

 

Later I hope to assemble and fit the rudder, then I can get some primer on...

 

Cheers,

 

Stew

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

The Bluebell scheme is interesting if only because I can only find one likely candidate of CAFO 679 schemes for small ships that approximates the tones suggested on the Matchbox instructions, namely being MS2, MS4 and MS4A.

[Beard]

2 hours ago, Stew Dapple said:

Simon, it is fairly unlikely we shall ever hear each other play, so in the absence of evidence to the contrary we might as well be Hendrix

 

Unless you should stumble across one of my recordings, which is highly unlikely (I hope).

[Bangor Lad]

Going to be watching this with interest.