Jump to content

HMS Tabard 1/350 scale Resin KIt


Recommended Posts

One of the things I picked up at SMW Telford was a new resin kit of the Royal Navy submarine HMS Tabard - (thanks Chris for the heads-up)

 

This Group III T-Class sub is made by Starling Models and is an excellent kit of an iconic British WWII sub.

 

The resin parts come in a stout cardboard box - filled with polystyrene 'worms'  to protect the contents....

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_01.jpg

 

The 8-page instruction booklet is well printed with eay to follow steps....

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_02.jpg

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_03.jpg

 

Note the two types of gun emplacement.

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_04.jpg

 

Colour painting guide.

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_05.jpg

 

Superbly cast one-piece hull - with some 'flash' - but no air holes or bubbles - excellent casting :worthy:

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_06.jpg

 

The rest of the resin parts.

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_07.jpg

 

Gun barrels from Mastermodel, etched brass fret and decal sheet.

 

This is a quality kit of an important British submarine - and if it proves as popular as it should, we hopefully can expect more from Starling Models.

 

I can't wait to get started.

 

Ken

 

 

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 hours ago, Flankerman said:

Stuart, the Mastermodel gun barrels are in the kit

Thanks Ken, just found among the discarded flow pack!

10 hours ago, Terry1954 said:

May yet go for this one as it looked so good.

Get it Terry, you know you want to. Besides, the more they sell, the more chance of getting other subs...Mike at Starling told me that.

9 hours ago, grahamwalker said:

PRICE?

IIRC I paid £45 at SMW, cheaper than I thought it was going to be.

 

Stuart

Edited by Courageous
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Can anyone help with the 'PB10' colour scheme?? (thanks for the PM Stuart).

 

It is described as 'Royal Blue' - but was that all over??

 

Was the decking and lower hull black???

 

Should I just paint it Royal Blue all over - on the grounds that no-one knows for sure??

 

Any input appreciated.

 

Ken

 

PS - Just found out that Hataka do a PB10 'RN Deep Blue'

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Firstly, care has to be taken with the use of PB10 as it didn't exist before October 1944 (as per PM).

Second. I asked Jamie of Sovereign the same question about deck colour and this is his view:

 

I'm afraid I don't know enough about it to form a wider opinion, but from those which I have seen, the decks are the same as the vertical surfaces above water on the "blue" ones, but not on disruptive camouflage ones:

On_Board_the_Submarine_Depot_Ship_HMS_Fo

HTH

 

Stuart

 

 

Edited by Courageous
  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have made a start......

 

I cleaned up some casting 'flash' and washed the parts in warm soapy water and made a start on adding the decking parts.

 

I had thought that the etched brass decking would simply be stuck down onto a flat deck to provide detail - but it is much better than that!

 

The etched parts are actually grilles that fit over recesses moulded into the deck - just like the real thing!

 

So before adding them I painted the recesses Panzer Grey - on the grounds that it would be easier than trying to paint inside the recesses AFTER the grilles were in place.

 

Not like me to be thinking ahead...............

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_08.jpg

 

In the above photo, the front torpedo hatches, an open weave forward grille and a closer weave rear grilles have been added - with more still to add.

 

This really is a quality kit - I am very impressed :worthy:  :thumbsup:

 

More later

 

Ken

 

 

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’ll watch this build closely. HM Submarine Tabard stopped in Kingston, Jamaica on her way back to England for payoff in the 1960’s. I was able to go aboard, and had a chance to look through the periscope on that occasion. IIRC, she had an Oberon style conning tower at that point.

 

TW

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Decking complete.......

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_09.jpg

 

It really is quite delicate - but perfectly etched..........

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_10.jpg

 

There is a slight mistake on the instruction shet - where the part numbers don't agree with the numbers on the etch....

 

For example part 8 on the instruction sheet is actually 10 on the etched fret, instruction sheet part 10 is etched as part 9 and part 9 on the instruction sheet is on the fret - but not numbered !

 

Minor errors and easily identifiable.

 

Fascinating story TW - must be great memories.

 

Can you remember what colour she was when you went aboard??

 

Ken

  • Like 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Ken,

At the time I visited Tabard, she was black overall.  I think a former commander of Tabard lived in Jamaica, and was one of my dad’s friends. That’s how we ended up going aboard. My recollection was that we entered the boat through the forward torpedo hatch, and the deck in the control room was tan linoleum. I remember seeing one of the battery access hatches right in the middle of the companionway.

 

regards,

Tony Whittingham. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A little more progress.........

 

The kit supplies the propeller housings - and very delicate castings they are!........

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_11.jpg

 

The modeller has to supply the prop shafts - either from plastic or brass rod - BUT the instructions quote their length as 5mm -

instead of the correct 11mm (according to my measuring)........

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_12.jpg

 

The deck guns - QF 4in and 20mm Oerlikon - are each made up from a resin breech and a mounting pedestal -

with a turned metal barrel provided by Master-Model of Poland.

 

The parts are tiny - almost at the limit of my eyesight and dexterity - but they make up into stunning models in their own right.....

the 4in even has a hole at the sharp end !!

 

350_HMS%20Tabard_13.jpg

 

For reference - the 4in (left)  is just 15mm long  :analintruder:

 

The instructions continue to have silly errors with the numbering of parts - there is no mention of the 4in's mounting pedestal (part 7) and the

20mm resin parts are 8 & 9 - not 7 as quoted on the instruction diagram.

 

These minor quibbles aside, this really is a stunning kit - you just need a degree in Micro Surgery to do it justice!!

 

Although..... if I can do it, anyone can.

 

Ken

  • Like 9
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It certainly does look like amazing detail Ken. I was shown one of these in detail at Telford when I was chatting to someone on the Submarine Warfare SIG. It did look very good indeed. I'll no doubt end up getting one for Christmas!

 

Terry

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
  • 4 months later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...