1/700 USS England DE-635

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday All, I guess I'm a beggar for punishment. I've decided to squeeze in another build, a Sky Wave/Pit Road model of the destroyer escort USS England DE-635 in 1/700 scale. The kit in the box (you get two 🙂) is of a generic USS Buckley class destroyer escort, with two camo schemes on the back of the box, neither being that which appears on the front. Below is the traditional photo of box art, parts and instructions.

     I've decided to do USS England, for a number of reasons. She was named after a sailor Ensign John C. England (1920 - 1941) who was killed in action on board USS Oklahoma during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Her camo scheme was very simple (complex camo schemes look good but can extend the duration of the build) but the main reason being what she accomplished. In May 1944 she sank six Japanese submarines over a period of twelve days, an achievement that has never been surpassed.

     The ship was a destroyer escort (as opposed to fleet destroyer), commissioned in December 1943, was of 1400 tons standard displacement and was 306 feet long, or 93 metres. She had a top speed of 23 knots and a range of 3700 nm at 15 knots. She was armed with three 3-inch/50 cal guns, one quad 1.1-inch AA gun, eight (the kit has ten) single 20mm Oerlikons, one triple set of torpedo tubes, one hedgehog A/S launcher, eight A/S K-guns and two depth charge racks. I found the fitting of the 1.1-inch surprising, as I thought by this stage of the war that particular gun had been discredited as an effective AA weapon. I would have expected a twin Bofors 40mm there instead. Maybe due to her role it was thought that air attack was less likely than for the fleet destroyers and was therefore fitted with surplus weapons. The 20mm Oerlikon outfit was quite generous however.

     As yet I haven't commenced construction, I've been trying out paint schemes. I hope to start tomorrow. So that's it for now. 

Regards to all, and stay safe in these times, Jeff.

[rob85]

Great info on the subject, sounds a good choice! Your cracking through these builds.

 

Rob

[bianfuxia]

Awesome choice! My lost-without-a-trace Rudderow DEs send their good wishes!

[dnl42]

Looking forward to this! 

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday All, since my initial post on this build I've done a bit of research into this ship, and the man it was named after. Ensign John C. England was assigned to the radio room of the battleship USS Oklahoma a few months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. When the battleship began to capsize Ensign England made it topside and could have escaped, but he remembered the men still inside the radio room. So he went back in. Three times he came out, leading a man to safety. He went back in a fourth time, and didn't make it out. He was 21 years old.

     The destroyer escort USS England (DE-635) was launched by his mother.

 

     This build is my first Pit Road kit and my second (in recent years) surface ship in 1/700 scale. The other was a Trumpeter kit of the destroyer USS The Sullivans, also done for this GB. Like the Trumpeter kit this one seems to have more detail molded into the pieces than I am used to, and although I have just started it it seems to fit together nicely also. But like the Trumpeter kit I am having trouble with the small size. I keep dropping bits. There is one major difference however. My main criticism of the Trumpeter kit was that the locating pins on parts were usually only half the diameter of the holes they were supposed to fit into. This kit doesn't have any locating pins or holes at all. The fittings such as guns, searchlights etc have a flat base and glue onto a flat surface. I don't think I like that idea. As I like to paint as I build (enamels smeared on with the hairy stick) it is going to be a problem keeping paint off surfaces to be glued. Some of these are only 1mm across, making masking too difficult. I'll add my own locating pins where I can. Then I can simply paint the decks and and afterwards drill holes where the pins on the parts have to go. I've already done this with the 20mm Oerlikons.

     Anyway, on to some actual construction. This kit is waterline only, and comes with a flat base. I'll be painting the edge of that flat black - instant boot topping. The sides of the ship will be dark blue and the decks mid grey. Maybe not completely authentic but I don't like painting a model ship all one colour. I at least like the sides and the decks to be a bit different from each other as I think it makes the model look better. The base plate needed a little trimming to match the hull. It would be easier to glue them together first but it would make the painting of the boot topping more difficult. So I bolted them together, then sanded the base plate to match the hull. The bolt holes will later be hidden by the superstructure. Once the sanding was done the parts were separated again for painting. I've also started assembling the superstructures.

     The inner pair of holes are for the bolts to hold the hull and base plate together during sanding and gluing. The outer pair of holes are for screws that will hold the model to a block of wood during the build. I did this on my build of The Sullivans and it worked out quite well - I didn't have to handle the actual model much. The white bits of styrene are to thicken the base plate, for the screw threads to bite into. Obviously they screw upwards from underneath. You can see what I was saying about the absence of locating holes in the decks for small parts (guns etc). I decided it would be easier to paint the bridge area before assembly.

     And below is the model with the superstructures dry-fitted. The anchors are glued on but only just visible in this photo. Again, no holes or pins.

     Other than a bit of work on the 20mm Oerlikon pedestals this is as far as I've gone. I hope to start parting tomorrow evening.

So, thanks for looking in. Regards to all, and stay safe, Jeff.

Edited May 1, 2020 by ArnoldAmbrose

[Ray S]

This is a good start Jeff. That was a very poignant story about the naming of the ship, and a salutary reminder of courage and selflessness.

 

All the best,

 

Ray

[PeterB]

Hi Jeff,

Should be good. The Skywaves/Pit Road kits do seem to be more detailed than some of the original Waterline series, as are their accesories. As to paint do what you like - I know what you mean about having it all blue, though technically the Measure 21 scheme calls for Navy Blue 5N vertical surfaces and Deck Blue 20D so there was a bit of a contrast. Grey will be fine though. Snyder and Short say that the 1945 variation of measure 21 kept the deck blue but had the vertical surfaces in Navy Gray 5N but that would be well after the epic submarine sinkings.

 

Cheers

 

Pete

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Thanks guys, I had planned on blue sides and mid-grey decks but as I haven't started yet (other than the bridge deck, which will be darker) I can still change to the 1945 variation. 

She has another claim to fame also. On the 9th May 1945 she was hit by a kamikaze off Okinawa, which she survived, but with quite a few casualties. After temporary repairs the ship made it home under her own power. She was never repaired however.

     I've just realized that the date of the kamikaze hit would make this build eligible for the "End of Journey" GB starting in a week. But I have another planned for that.

I'll have another re-think on the colours, thanks for the info.

Regards, Jeff.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday All, here's another update on USS England. I've glued the hull to the base plate, and screwed the model to the block of wood (a temporary measure). I've also assembled the bridge level and started the painting.

 

     As I said in my previous post I had a rethink on the colour scheme, and decided to go with blues rather than blue and grey. The blue on the sides is Humbrol 96 and on the decks is Humbrol 104. Probably not completely authentic but I had these in stock. The piece to the extreme right is upside down, and shows some Evergreen styrene strips I've included to assist with the gluing. The eight white squares on the deck towards the stern are where the depth charge throwers (K guns) will go, and the two long strips at the stern show where the DC rails will go. I masked these before painting the deck to allow the glue to act on bare styrene. I'll try to add pins also.

     In the background in one of my latest greatest inventions - clamps for paint tin lids. Due to the way I paint as I build I quite often have to paint very small pieces. The tin lid can be off for a while and hence the paint on the tin rim starts to harden. This sometimes prevents the tins from resealing and hence the paint inside goes off. (With some tins I've thrown away more than I've used.)These clamps force the lid back down, and keep it down. It does a better job than just putting a weight on the tin. They're simply made from an off-cut of rectangular steel tubing I had in my junk pile, with a 10mm thread in the top for the set-screw (bolt). It just happened to be an ideal size for Humbrol tins. I place a steel washer or flat steel strip on top of the tin before screwing it down. It seems to work.

     Anyway, that's pretty much as far as I've gone with this so it's goodnight to all. Regards and stay safe, Jeff.

[Ray S]

This is looking very good Jeff, and that is a great idea for the paint lids! The American ships look to have a good palette of colour options, one I have not explored before.

 

All the best,

 

Ray

[rob85]

Some fine work going into this one, the blues will look really good I think, very nice scheme.

 

Rob

[Andwil]

Brilliant gadget for the paint tin lids.  Do you have a similarly ingenious device for opening them again?

 

AW

[ArnoldAmbrose]

3 hours ago, Andwil said:

Do you have a similarly ingenious device for opening them again?

Marvelous things, crowbars. 😁 Actually a small flat screwdriver does that OK.

 

Gidday Guys, thank you for your responses. I hope to have more done soon. Regards and stay safe, Jeff.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday All, here's my next installment of the USS England build. Not much to show as I'm finding it hard to stay awake in the evenings just now. 

     Anyway I've attached the shelterdecks, the weather screens amidships and the lower bridge. On 'B' gundeck (fwd shelterdeck) there are two gun pits for 20mm Oerlikons, between B gun and the lower bridge. I don't think these were originally part of the ship but were added at a later date. The port side pit appears to have been removed by the kamikaze that hit her in May 1945. Behind these two gun pits and one level higher are two more Oerlikons. There are no marks on the kit parts as to the exact locations of these mountings so I've had to take an educated guess. I think I've come close. I've drilled holes where I think they have to go. Below is a photo of where I'm up to.

     You can just make out where I've drilled the holes for the 20mm Oerlikons. Also just visible is the hedgehog A/S weapon. It is on the foc'sle deck behind 'A' gun position and under the overhang forward of 'B' gun position.

     That's it for now. Stay safe, and regards to all, Jeff.

Edited May 17, 2020 by ArnoldAmbrose

[bianfuxia]

Another one that escaped my notice until just now. Looking really good. The hedgehog is burrowed away there for sure. I wonder if they worried it would blow that overhang thing right off when they fired it! 

 

Seeing this build really makes me sad I accidentally threw my Rudderow kits out with the recycling...grrr. These would have looked awesome together in the gallery along with all our other ships. You & I should go into the shipbuilder industry.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday All, here's another minor update on USS England. I've fitted the depth charges, both the rails and the K-guns (throwers). The DC rails I quite like but not so much the K-guns. There are eight of them, four a side, with each having a rack of reloads alongside. Each thrower and reload rack come as a single piece and they are rather crude. Here is a photo of them.

     The rails are a little out of focus but they look OK I think. The thrower/reload sets each are glued straight to a square on the deck, and I found they could slide a little until the glue started to work. The rails were the same but in their case I drilled then glued a 0.5mm rod as a locating pin into each rail and into the deck, and this helped mount them to the fantail (extreme rear of the quarter-deck). I don't think I like this idea of not having locating pins and holes between parts.

      I've attached the upper bridge but it's not worth a photo just yet. I've also been painting and working on small parts for the build, soon to be fitted.

That's it for now, time for my beauty sleep (which doesn't seem to work). Stay safe, and regards to all, Jeff.

[bianfuxia]

I reckon they look good - you have to remember nothing in 1/700 really stands up to the full-on intensity of a magnified photo. I like how you've managed to paint each individual cannister, that helps (not to self for next time...).

 

 

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday All, the bridge is now done on USS England. Behind it (a little blurred) is the funnel, and further aft is the set of triple torpedo tubes (very blurred). 

     The paint job needs touching up still. I don't like Pit Road's method of attaching small parts, such as the mk-51 directors on the upper bridge wings and the searchlight below them. They have a flat base that simply glues the deck at the appropriate place, no locating pins or holes. Same with the raft seen here, although with the raft I drilled and fitted my own locating pin. 

     The detail is quite good however, to me anyway, better than what I am used to. Notice the latches on the doors, and the non-slip deck tread.

I'm planning to fit the ship's whaler and the 20mm Oerlikons next.

     Thank you for your interest. Stay safe, and regards to all, Jeff.

[bianfuxia]

The deck tread is really cool. I guess, realistically, it's out of scale. But seen close up like that it's a nice contextual feature, I think. Looking good!

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday All, I think I've now completed the midships area of USS England.

     As you can see, I've recently fitted the boat davits and whaler, four 20mm Oerlikons (one hidden behind the stack/funnel), torpedo handling crane, and the quad 1.1-inch 'Chicago piano'. To all of these I added locating pins and it made fitting the parts a lot easier. Earlier I also did the same to the hawser reel you can see. As usual, close-up photos are not kind to me, my rough workmanship is plain for all to see.

     Those white rectangles either side of the torpedo tubes are to indicate the position of larger gun tubs for twin Bofor 40mm. This kit has a number of extra parts, to allow the building of other versions of the ship. Besides the three 3-inch guns and the quad 1.1-inch I'll be using the kit has two single 5-inch turrets and three twin Bofor 40mm mountings. So I think it would be possible to convert this kit into a vessel similar to Bianfuxia's awol USS Rudderow. It would take a bit of work doing the alterations but I think it would be doable.

     Well, that's it for tonight. Stay safe and regards to all, Jeff.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday All, USS England now has her forward guns shipped. The 20mm Oerlikons on the upper level gave me a bit of bother. I think they're over scale and definitely too chunky, particularly at the rear. To leave enough space for them to clear the bridge structure I drilled the mounting holes too close to the balustrading, so then they wouldn't fit. I tried to trim the base to remedy this and while doing the last one it made like a tuning fork and went 'ping', disappearing into the ether. It's still out there somewhere in the twilight zone (or the carpet monster). Fortunately I had two spares, as the kit caters for those ships with ten of these mountings, while this vessel appears to have shipped only eight. Actually I have twelve spares because if I do the other kit in the future I think I'll make my own 20s.

     I decided to make my own bases for the 3-inch guns. Those supplied look good but I think are too large, particularly towards the rear, they wouldn't be able to rotate without fouling the ready-use ammo boxes at the rear of the gun tubs. Mine are much simpler but are more accurate in size I think, after researching the net. The detail on the guns themselves is very good, better than anything I could do. Below is a photo of them all. I've included a 3-inch gun with the supplied base to show what I mean.

      Next will be the mast, plus the jack staff and ensign staff, then she'll be done I think. I might even make the deadline.

So, stay safe and regards to all, Jeff.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

Gidday All, here's another update on USS England. I've added the mast and radar, plus the ensign staff and jack staff - the flag poles at the sharp end and blunt end of the ship. I made my own from stretched sprue as the kit parts were a bit heavy duty. I wish I did the same with the 20mm Oerlikons. So now I'm calling this build completed, and with a whole week before the deadline.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present USS England DE-635

Thank you all for your comments and interest during the build. I'll post a few more photos in the gallery.

 

Stay safe and regards to all, Jeff.

[bianfuxia]

Looks great, well done!

[dnl42]

Well done!

 

Glad you were able to make it.