1/350 HMS Kent County Class Cruiser 1941

[robgizlu]

20 hours ago, Kris B said:

Nice progress and lots of useful informations you provide.

Thanks, appreciate that Kris

 

So let's recap.

1) the Trumpeter HMS Kent kit has a decked foc'sle which is incorrect

 

 

2) the Trumpeter HMS Cornwall kit has a more correct anti-skid metal plate foc'sle

 

 

A  rather obtuse way to get the right deck for Kent is to buy Cornwall and if you have a glut of aftermarket PE then it seems logical to use it all up and build both.

 

So it's time to get cracking with the Cornwall kit that will be built as HMS Berwick circa 1940 during the Norway campaign.

And once again many thanks to Mike from World War 2 Cruisers site for permission to use a profile.  It's a really great site and very inspiring.  Check it out if you have any interest in Wartime Cruisers

 

 

I don't think there'll be much debate about the colours here, Raven concurs entirely in his Volume 1 Camouflage volume and this dazzle type pattern was prevalent in 1939/40.  There will be a wood veneer deck.

 

Berwick will be built as a waterline full hull embedded in styrofoam with (hopefully) a Flodgerg sea.  She'll be moored with her accomodation ladder down etc.

So - the little matter of the anti-slip foc'sle, which Berwick had and so far as I'm aware by 1939 all of the County Class Cruisers had metal foc'sle deck plates.

 

You'll need SL32F31 – Antiskid Plate – Diamond from https://www.scalelinkfretcetera.co.uk/product/sl32f31/.  This diamond shape anti-skid is the closest I can find to the original.  You trace around the foc'sle after filing everything off first 

 

 

But before you do - be sure to measure up and fashion the anchor furniture etc in plasticard.

 

I took 2 gos to get the shape and the Hawse pipe inserts cut out properly

 

 

All very Star Trek Federation.

Cutting with a "Huron" etch scissors is the most effective way to cut the metal and for the hawse pipe openings don't bother trying to file them as the sad offering on the left testifies.  Instead just drill 3 holes of approx 1.5mm diam in a line for each and THEN file.

The hawse pipe lips were a potential problem but the easiest way once again is to drill 3 holes in a line through some 0.3 mm Plastruct strips and then file as neat an oblong as you can then cutting very carefully around so you are left with a narrow perimeter.  Believe me - the more you do the better they get 

 

 

 

 

 

Not perfect but it will pass muster.  Glue the deck down (perfect fit on both models BTW) and then Superglue the etch foc'sle down.  Final filing makes it flush with the hull sides

 

 

and if your measuring is accurate the holes should sit over the hawse pipes.

 

 

and then it's a matter of using those pieces you fashioned ages back to begin to restore the deck fittings

 

 

If anyone is building Kent and wants to do this, there's a metal template here already fashioned, should you wish it.

 

Jamie posted recently in reply to Guy suggesting whittling a pencil down to "draw" around a full hull so as to produce a "waterline" template that you can then use to cut out your styrofoam.  Why do something the easy way when you can make it really hard 

 

I opted to use some calipers and sequentially measure the beam at measured intervals to produce this.....

 

 

We shall see  

Thanks for looking 

Rob

[JohnWS]

Nice work on the hawse pipe openings, Rob.   They look great!

 

John

[longshanks]

"To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before..."

 

Go for it you've been teasing us for long enough ......  😉

 

 

Stay safe

 

Kev

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

Rob why don't you/I/somebody/we get a careful scan or tracing of your template and have some etched corrections made for HMS Kent?

[beefy66]

6 hours ago, robgizlu said:

All very Star Trek Federation.

 

1 hour ago, longshanks said:

"To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before..."

Just remember Rob you said it so be prepared for the Klingon onslaught 

 

OK could not find a Klingon emoji    Baktak

 

Checker plate looking good though

 

Stay Safe

beefy

[Terry1954]

8 hours ago, robgizlu said:

Cutting with a "Huron" etch scissors is the most effective way to cut the metal

I checked these out and found two types (of Huron), one having a longer more pointed nose than the other. Do you know the difference? Reading the description the shorter nose implies not for wire cutting, and the longer nose version states wire gauges that can be cut.

 

The re-cap was helpful as I'd forgotten there are two out there in gizlu land!

 

Terry

[Courageous]

Nice work on the foc'sle Rob.

 

Stuart

[beefy66]

2 hours ago, Terry1954 said:

Do you know the difference?

Terry you just keep putting the ammunition in there don't you 

 

Rob finds it hard to tell the difference between a ship and a boat never mind snips 

 

OK someone else can have a go now I need to lie down

 

Stay Safe

beefy

[robgizlu]

19 minutes ago, beefy66 said:

Terry you just keep putting the ammunition in there don't you 

 

Rob finds it hard to tell the difference between a ship and a boat never mind snips 

 

OK someone else can have a go now I need to lie down

 

Stay Safe

beefy

I'm not as bright as I look.........

 

Terry - I'll get back to you as to which they are when I'm back home.  Should have posted - I hate it when people aren't explicit about how and what they use.

Rob

[Terry1954]

20 minutes ago, beefy66 said:

Rob finds it hard to tell the difference between a ship and a boat never mind snips

Okay, maybe I should have just asked for him to show us a picture of his snips?

 

Er ....... is that sort of thing allowed here?

 

Terry

[robgizlu]

11 hours ago, Terry1954 said:

Okay, maybe I should have just asked for him to show us a picture of his snips?

Terry

 A little close to the bone considering my secondary profession 

 

Terry - my apologies - I of course meant Xuron - no idea where Huron came from 

 

I believe that they are the Xuron 9180 ....

 

 

I bought them to cut etch parts from frets but rarely use them preferring a No 11 Swann Morton blade.

 

17 hours ago, Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies said:

Rob why don't you/I/somebody/we get a careful scan or tracing of your template and have some etched corrections made for HMS Kent?

Jamie - the remaining piece is an accurate fit (excepting the Hawse holes).  It's yours if you can make use of it.  

 

And tonight's work completes the Foc'sle

 

 

Thanks for looking - I underestand Beefy will be appearing in stand-up coming soon to a venue near you 

Rob

[JohnWS]

1 hour ago, robgizlu said:

And tonight's work completes the Foc'sle

Awesome work. Rob! 

 

1 hour ago, robgizlu said:

I understand Beefy will be appearing in stand-up coming soon to a venue near you 

Luckily, our borders are still closed.  

 

John

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday, I think that foc'sle looks really good. Regards, Jeff

[Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies]

6 hours ago, robgizlu said:

the remaining piece is an accurate fit (excepting the Hawse holes).  It's yours if you can make use of it.

 

I'll happily have a crack at it Rob. If I can get it perfect in card then it'll work as a photo etching.

 

I'll need to buy a Kent kit of course. Woohoo.

[beefy66]

7 hours ago, robgizlu said:

I underestand Beefy will be appearing in stand-up coming soon to a venue near you 

 

5 hours ago, JohnWS said:

Luckily, our borders are still closed.

Well only if the venue is outside and the borders are closed mainly to keep people in  😁

 

Stay Safe

 

beefy

[longshanks]

8 hours ago, robgizlu said:

A little close to the bone considering my secondary profession '

 

Don't tell them your sideline Rob you wont be allowed to play on here anymore......

Especially when you tell them that's how you fund your modelling

 

Stay safe

 

Kev

[Terry1954]

9 hours ago, robgizlu said:

I believe that they are the Xuron 9180 ....

 

Thanks Rob. They look purposeful. Have ordered some this morning!

 

9 hours ago, robgizlu said:

 

That foc'sle looks so neat!

 

Terry

[Seahawk]

On 7/1/2020 at 10:41 PM, Chewbacca said:

But then a few years ago I was asked to repair a 1/96 shipbuilder's model of the Leander class frigate HMS DANAE and was shocked to find that the vast majority of it was made from wood.

The beautiful 1/96 models in the window of the recruiting centre I passed every day to and from school almost persuaded me to join the navy.

[Courageous]

On 7/9/2020 at 12:43 AM, robgizlu said:

Xuron 9180

Now look what you've started...just purchased my set.

 

Stuart

[robgizlu]

On 7/9/2020 at 9:12 PM, Courageous said:

Now look what you've started...just purchased my set.

 

Stuart

You won't be disapointed Stuart 

 

The Styrofoam comes from 4D Model Making Materials.

 

 

 

They seem to be majoring in this dark grey foam which is firmer than the yellow I sued for Anchusa.

 

I bought a 50mm bade and holder which I heated with my kitchen blow torch to cut the styrofoam straight - wah hoo!!  Ce marche!!

It's easily filed with an ordinary DIY file.  I part whittled the "middle" out and then "filed" edges and floor which works 

 

 

The template worked as well as I could have hoped leaving farily minimal gaps.  Berwick will be at anchor mimicking this shot (though in earlier Camo colours)

 

 

@longshanks has given me a tutorial on how large ships tie up to mooring buoys 

 

She'll be in calm water so I have to be careful with the join between foam and hull.

 

 

 

Berwick had the hanger similar to Cornwall and was pretty similar to Cornwall all round.  One notable difference ws that the 4" guuns were moved aft so I had to fill the Cornwall positions.

 

 

Not so obvios but now filled with Mr Surfacer 500.  All portholes are drilled out and the "wrong" doors shaved off to accept Micromaster offerings where they can be seen and WEM where they aren't so obvious - the etch just isn't as effective as the Resin.  I've already burned through one set of "WW1" doors and am awaitiing what has now become my monthly order from Micromaster.  Into 5th week of waiting.

 

 

And a comparatively short time gets you to this...

 

 

It'll be nice to see the contrast between the 2 models and paint schemes.

Thanks for looking

Rob

[longshanks]

 That's going to look good.....

 

Got me thinking 

 

Stay safe and keep 🏄‍♂️

 

Kev

[michaele]

Rob:

 

How about this pic of HMS Berwick as inspiration for your diorama? Keep us in awe and stay safe!

 

Mike E.

 

Edited July 13, 2020 by michaele

[Courageous]

Looks very promising.

7 minutes ago, longshanks said:

Got me thinking

Always a dangerous thing.

 

Stuart

[robgizlu]

7 minutes ago, michaele said:

Rob:

 

How about this pic of HMS Berwick as inspiration for your diorama? Keep us in awe and stay safe!

 

Mike E.

 

Thanks Mike - I was initally tempted to do Berwick in her Mountbatten pink scheme, then saw her with full old style masts in the 2- tone grey that won me over.  

However - the boom will be out with accomodation ladder down as here, with a 50ft Micromaster Steam Pinnace alongside (or at least that's the plan).  As for keeping anyone in awe.......

Rob

[JohnWS]

Nice work on the foam, Rob.

 

21 minutes ago, longshanks said:

... Got me thinking ...

I can see the smoke from here. 🙂

 

John