HMS Montrose, Type 23 Frigate, 1:350 Trumpeter

[Shar2]

HMS Montrose Type 23 Frigate

Trumpeter 1:350

The current HMS Montrose is the eighth of the sixteen ship Type 23 or 'Duke' class of frigates, of the Royal Navy, named after the Duke of Montrose. She was laid down in November 1989 by Yarrow Shipbuilders on the Clyde, and was launched on 31 July 1992 by Lady Rifkind (when, as Mrs Edith Rifkind, her husband Sir Malcolm Rifkind was Secretary of State for Defence). She commissioned into service in June 1994.
HMS Montrose is part of the Devonport Flotilla, based in Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth.

Deployments in the 1990s include her first trip to the South Atlantic, as Falkland Islands Guard ship, which ended in October 1996. Her first visit to the City of Dundee was in Easter 1997. Several NATO deployments followed, and in early 2002, Montrose returned to the Falklands on the now-renamed Atlantic Patrol Task (South) deployment, during which divers from Montrose replaced the White Ensign on Antelope, which was sunk during the Falklands War. On her return from this deployment, she conducted her first refit period (RP1), which was completed in early January 2004.

Montrose deployed in 2006 to the Persian Gulf on Operation Telic in the first half of 2006. After returning to the UK for personnel changes and maintenance, from 8 January to 27 July 2007, Montrose then deployed for seven months to the Mediterranean Sea as the UK contribution to the Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2). As part of this group, she participated in NATO’s Operation Active Endeavour (OAE), countering terrorist activity in the Mediterranean and preventing smuggling and other illegal activity. After Summer Leave, the ship headed to Scotland to take part in Exercise Neptune Warrior, during which time she was visited by Prince Michael of Kent, Honorary Rear Admiral of the Royal Naval Reserve, on 24 September 2007.

Following Operational Sea Training, Montrose deployed again to the Middle East on 12 March 2008 to join Combined Task Force (CTF) 150, operating in the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea. Activity in this deployment included Exercise KhunjarHaad, a multi-national exercise held in the Gulf of Oman, and (working with Chatham, Edinburgh and RFA Argus the seizure of over 23 tonnes of drugs including cocaine, hashish, amphetamines and opiates. She returned home on 3 October 2008, and after operating in UK waters, commenced a £15,000,000 upkeep package at Rosyth in early 2009.

This second refit package (RP2) included a number of major capability upgrades for the ship, including the first fitting of the Royal Navy’s newest command system, DNA(2), and the replacement of the two old manually-operated 30mm guns with two 30mm DS30M Mark 2 Guns. Having rejoined the ship on 20 July 2009, the Ship's Company conducted post-refits trials until January 2010, and Montrose was formally accepted back into the Fleet on 11 February 2010.

After operational sea training Montrose deployed to Arabian Sea in summer 2010 to conduct anti-piracy operations, highlights of which included the November 2010 destruction of a Somalian pirate ship by the ships Lynx helicopter while on patrol off the coast of Somalia and the disruption of several pirate attacks on merchant ships.

In October 2011, Montrose deployed again to the South Atlantic, during which she was due to visit Callao, Peru in March 2012, but the Peruvian government cancelled the visit, according to the Foreign Minister, as a gesture of solidarity with Argentina over the Falklands. After visits to New Orleans and Bermuda in March and April 2012, Montrose returned to the UK in May 2012. In July 2012, the ship acted as the escort vessel for HM the Queen during her Diamond Jubilee visit to Cowes.

The Model
The kit comes packaged in a very sturdy box with an artists representation of the Montrose at mid pace at sea on the top. Inside there are eleven sprues and two hull pieces of light grey styrene, one sprue of clear styrene, one sheet of etched brass and a small decal sheet. Each sprue is protected in their own poly bag. All the parts are very well moulded, with no sign of flash and only a few moulding pips. Detail appears to be very crisp throughout and quite a lot of use of slide moulding technology has been used on the kit, particularly on the superstructure parts.

This is the second Type 23 frigate Trumpeter has released. The first, HMS Kent being released this time last year with quiet acclaim from maritime modellers. It would have been expected that the Montrose release would have been for a later period in the ships career, but it appears that this is not so. The only difference between this and the Kent are the decals, which is a rather cynical way of maximising profits in this reviewers opinion. So, the modeller gets the old Mk 8 MOD 0 turret and manned 30mm mounts, instead of the Kryten style Mk 8 MOD 1 and DSM30 Mk2 mounts even though these are shown on the box art. Having looked through the instructions it appears the Siren decoy canisters are also missing from the platforms either side of the forward bridge structure.

The build begins with the fitting of the two part sonar dome and bow anchor, along with the keel strakes and stabiliser fins amidships. Moving aft, the two single piece propeller shafts, with A frames moulded together are attached to their relative positions, then fitted with the scimitar bladed propellers. The two rudders are then attached to the hull, as is the transom with separate variable depth sonar hawse pipe/guide. Turning the hull over the deck piece with indented quarterdeck is fitted. The quarterdeck is then detailed with the forward bulkhead whilst three individual supports are fitted to the starboard side and a single piece fitted to the port side, whilst a capstan is fitted centrally. Up forward, the two piece port anchor is fitted to its hawse pipe. Completing the deck/hull is carried out by the fitting of the rear flightdeck/quarterdeck head and the optional ensign staff. On the foredeck the bow hawse pipe, jack staff, breakwater and anchor capstans are fitted. Around the deck edge twelve cleats and bollards are attached, whilst amidships two winches are fitted.

Next up is the construction of the complicated foremast. This is extensively made up of etched brass details added to the main styrene parts. Take your time with the etched parts, as they are a little bit fiddly and mistakes will be very noticeable. With the foremast done there are several sub-assemblies to be built up, such as the platforms for the bridge structure, SCOT domes, bridge roof, harpoon launchers, and the two Type 996 radar mountings. The upper bridge structure is then built up out of the single piece superstructure, bridge roof, rear SCOT wings, SCOT domes, and several lockers on both sides. The lower bridge structure is made up of the deck, two sides, front and rear. Onto the deck the SRBOC launchers are fitted as are the four aldis lamps, a pair of liferings and the two platforms per side. The upper structure is then fitted to the lower and the foremast fitted to rear of the upper section. The completed assembly is then put to one side and the build moves onto the centre section.

The centre superstructure is made up of a single piece lower section with all but the starboard side moulded together. The missing side is then fitted and an extra section of decking is added on top. On the underside the wing supports are added, whilst topsides the boat cranes, RIBs, 30mm cannon mountings and several miscellaneous parts are added. The forepart of the structure is then fitted into position. The funnel is then built up with the main section fitted with the two sides. On top the six exhausts are fitted and a radome added to the front of the structure. The completed funnel is then attached to and completing the centre superstructure.

The last main section of superstructure is the hanger. This is again a slide moulded part which just needs the starboard side added to complete the main part. Internal bulkhead detail is then added, as is the hanger door. For this to be posed open it needs to be cut down to size before fitting. On the outside there are four platforms to be fitted, two per side. The main mast is built up, again using quite a bit of etched brass and fitted to the hanger roof along with the aft 996 radar mounting and roof wind deflectors.

With all main superstructure sections fitted to the main deck it’s on with the final bits to be added, these include the vertical launch silo structure for the Sea Wolf missiles. This is fitted forward of the bridge, and forward of the VLS is the 4.5” Mk8 MOD 0 gun turret, consisting of the outer shell, gun mount and gun. The Lynx helicopter is produced in Trumpeters usual fashion of clear styrene and is made up of the main fuselage with moulded nose wheel, main wheels and their sponsons, two torpedoes, the separate tail with tail rotor and wing, also separate. The modeller has the option of having the helicopter in folded or extended pose, but there aren’t any stabilisers included for the folded rotors.

Being a full hull model only there is a strong modular stand with a separate nameplate for the model to be displayed on.

Etch
The etched brass sheet is really quite thin and nasty. The review example was already creased, even though it was in a protective sleeve with cardboard backing. The parts included are only for the yardarms, radar mounting railings, harpoon launcher mountings and a few aerials and platforms. There are no railings or flight deck edge netting that really is needed to complete the model.

Decals
The small decal sheet has most of the markings required for the ship, namely the pennant numbers, flight deck markings, depth markings, funnel crowns, ships crest for the front of the bridge, ships nameplates for either side just beneath the quarterdeck, Union and Ensign flags and finally the flotilla markings for the funnel. The decals are well produced; they are in good register with thin backing film and good opacity.

Conclusion
This a very nice looking kit, and apart from the etched parts, it looks like it should go together with minimal fuss. It is a shame that Trumpeter didn’t include the later turret and 30mm cannon particularly as the ship is shown in this MOD state on the box art, which is really a bit misleading to the casual purchaser. Fortunately the likes of White Ensign Models have released their full etched set for these kits which will also add the important railings and deck edge netting. They have also released a Mk8 MOD 1 Kryten turret and the siren decoy launchers which really shouldn’t have been missed by Trumpeter as they are actually quite prominent. So, not perfect, but certainly a good basis to build upon. Recommended.

Review sample courtesy of

[Panzer Vor!!!]

Good review Shar in my opion the best looking ships in the fleet in a long time (after the tribals). Perhaps i should not thinking and start buying !!!

[Shar2]

You know you want it matey. Lifes too short, go and buy it.

[AntPhillips]

Good review, it will be interesting to see if Trumpeter include the Merlin helo and Kryten turret options in the forthcoming Westminster and Monmouth kits. I like the sharpness of some of the parts in the Trumpy kits compared to similar parts in the Airfix Illustrious and Daring kits.

[warreni]

Good review. Thanks for the information re the lack of updated features. I bought the two ships in a package deal and have got the PE set from WEM to see how much detail it adds to a nice kit. The recently added photo walk-around is awesome as well.

Are the newer gun mount etc available in resin?

Cheers

Warren

[Shar2]

Hi Warren

Yes, WEM have released the Kryten turret.

[warreni]

That was a quick reply!!

I am off to WEM to order one.

[Shar2]

We aim to please.