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With the LCI nearly completed, it's time to turn attention to Starling Model's recent release of a Bangor class Minesweeper in 1/350. It'll be my first Starling model and I'm looking forwards to it with the excellent reputation for detail and precision. Nicely boxed... As provided it depicts HMS Rhyl well represented in this fine photo here I'll be building HMS Poole with it's very distinctive Camo scheme and a port side view, and to date these are the only photos I can find It's a later iteration than the kit representation with a scheme circa 1943 onwards well represented by this colour profile from "CB3098 may 1943" available from Sovereign Colourcoats and special thanks to Jamie Duff for permission to use the profile Elsewhere on the web the camo stripe has been intrepreted as B15, but I think the above as G10 is pretty compelling. It's always difficult to discern B55 in B&W pics but I'm happy the profile will have been followed so the supertstructure is going to be B55 unless someone directs me otherwise! HMS Seaham had a near identical scheme and there are clearer pics of the port side and layout. Build issues 1) The pennant number is 2 tone so that will necessitate the use of masks 2) HMS Poole has a significant "Conniing" tower, shared by many including Seaham, though Poole appears to have extensions sideways and backwards that have ?canvas spray dodgers around. 3) Early Bangor Class vessels do not appear to have carried Carley floats - Poole has at least 2 and probably 3, the first on the starboard side of the bridge and likely 2 at the aft superstructure that appear to b supported on built-out platforms. 4) Despite the later time, she is still carrying an aft 2 pounder 5) She appears to have 20 mm oerlikons in the bridge wings I have highlighted the areas of concern inthe following pic The hull comes as a single one piece moulding which is without flaw apart from possibly a misplaced porthole that is not "drilled" out. It's possible that it represents something different and there's a piece of tape to line up the lower row highlighting... There's a substantial moulding piece attached along the keel. First order of business was to remove this with clippers and a blade It really is beautifully moulded. Here's the rest of the kit which is complete and notably features 3D printed parts from Black Cat Models. The way to go. She'll be presented at anchor on a smallish base like so More soon Thanks for looking and feel free to add to any colour scheme debate Please Rob

Hello all you floaty types, I'm hoping you might lend me some of your vast knowledge as regards kit availability. I've recently had somewhat of a hankering to build a ship, a hankering somewhat strengthened by playing a lot of Atlantic Fleet on my PC. Whilst researching some of the ships available in the game I came across a local connection in that Blyth (the town in Northumberland I am unfortunately a resident of) was the site of a shipyard that produced several Castle, Flower, River, Bangor and Bay class ships during the Second World War. As well as completing the conversion of the first escort carrier from Hannover to HMS Audacity. Now, knowing very little about ships in general with no nautical family connects and with even less knowledge about model ships I'm wondering if any of you fine chaps or chapettes might be able to help me in my search for one of these classes of ships that I could make in to a suitable Blyth built version? Ideally I'm not looking for something massive (so the Revell Flower Class is out of the window) but I would still like something with a bit of presence (12" or so) as such I was thinking something in between 1/144 and 1/350 might work well for most of these ships apart from the Audacity. But scratchbuilding is out due to limited time and even more limited ability. So, fine people of the Maritime Modelling forum, is there anything out there? Cheers, Paul