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HMS Grey Goose SGB-9. 1:350


Shar2

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Steam Gun Boat HMS Grey Goose

Atlantic  Models 1/350

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HMS GREY GOOSE was built in 1942 and was one of a series of seven Denny type steam gunboats, planned as miniature destroyers, their steel hulls with steam turbines were intended to give superior type of all weather motor torpedo and gunboats, however their vulnerability to small calibre gunfire (all those steam pipes!) and their poor acceleration proved embarrassing, the intended programme for more vessels was cut back, only the seven GREY boats were built of a planned 60 boats, they did however prove very useful as high speed stripped down blockade runners going to Sweden to bring back loads of ball-bearings.


At one time commanded by Sir Peter Scot (painter & naturalist) GREY GOOSE achieved her greatest fame when after the war she was converted by Vospers to an experimental gas-turbine powered vessel. S HM SGB-9 was built by J Samuel White & Co at Cowes, Isle of Wight. She was laid down on 23rd January 1941 and was launched on 14th February 1942. She was commissioned on 4th July that year. On completion, she was 145 ft 8 in long, 20 ft wide across the beam and displaced 220 tons at full load. She is still extant and moored at Hoo Marina in Kent, having been tastefully converted to a house boat.

 

The Model

Originally announced several years ago by White Ensign Models it never saw the light of day as the company ceased trading. Fortunately Peter Hall of Atlantic Models kept the project alive and now has finally been released. The kit arrives in a small cardboard box filled with polystyrene peanuts, and comes complete with, and rather unusually for a narrow seas model, a two piece hull, a small resin block and a small etched brass fret. The main hull, which is just under 5 inches, (120mm) long, and is a superbly moulded item, There is a bit of flash on the lower hull section and some resin nibs on the mating surface. But these won’t be a problem as I’m sure most builds will be as a waterline, so the lower hull can be put to one side. The rest of the hull and "superstructure" is beautifully moulded, with no sign of pinholes or other defects.

 

Another small bag contains the rest of the resin items, namely the funnel, 6pdr mountings, torpedo tubes, dinghy, 20mm Oerlikon mountings, 3” mounting, 20mm gun platform, life rafts and cowl vents. The rest of the parts come on a smallish etched brass fret.

 

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Construction begins the choice of whether to build the model full hull or waterline. If full hull the the lower hull section should be glued to the upper hull and the seam filled and sanded as required. The lower hull comes with the propeller shafts, A frames and rudders moulded integrally, all you need to do is add the pair of PE propellers. The 3” gun mounting is assembled by fitting the PE gun shield and support arms to the resin mounting, this is followed by the 20mm Oerlikon and depending on the option the modeller chooses, two of these need to be assembled from 3 parts of PE and a resin pintle. Whilst we’re on sub-assemblies, the two PE 0.5” turret platforms are folded to shape, as is the Holman projector and fore mast assembly which is made up from the brass rod lower mast, PE upper mast section and PE radar aerials. The two platforms are then glue in position, followed by the resin funnel, metal cowl vents, two torpedo tubes, PE ships wheel in the bridge, and the main mast spreader fitted at the stern. The modeller can then fit either the Holman projector on 20mm Oerlikon to the bandstand glued to the amidships superstructure. The 3” assembly is also glued into place, as are the ships railings, dinghy, dinghy davit, and life rafts. Behind the breakwater, one of the 6pdr mountings is fitted, while the bow chaser 6pdr can be replaced with the second Oerlikon depending on what mod state the modeller wishes to build. The two PE twin 0.5” Vickers machine guns are then folded to shape and fitted to their respective turrets either side of the bridge, followed by the foremast assembly which is fitted aft of the bridge, which is fitted with a windscreen. As is usual, the colour call outs are for Colourcoats paints, available from Sovereign Hobbies.

 

Conclusion

Well, it’s been an awfully long time coming, but the wait is certainly worth it, as this is a cracking little kit, and while the construction isn’t actually difficult, the rolling and bending of some of the PE parts could be a little awkward for those not used to working with etched brass. As with the other narrow seas models, this will make for a very nice vignette or as part of a bigger diorama, but will be just as home in full hull in a display cabinet.

 

 

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Review sample courtesy of Peter Hall of spacer.png

 

 

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