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HMS Calcutta - C Class Cruiser, Trumpeter 1/350


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This is going to be a bit of a rolling start, but at last, the long promised Trumpeter HMS Calcutta has finally reached UK shores.

This Carlisle Class Cruiser was one of 8 in it's class and was built in 1918.  Unlike it's predescessors, it was distinguished by distinctly raised foc'sle.

In 1938 along with it's sister ship  Cairo, it was converted to an anti-aircraft asset.  The Previous 6-inch guns and torpedoes were replaced with 8 4-inch guns and a single quad 2pdr forward.

Calcutta began the war with the Home fleet  doing escort duties in the Channel, assisted at Dunkirk and in August 1940 relocated to the Med where she remained until she was sunk by 2 Ju-88 bombers sinking losing nearly a third of her complement in June 1941.

 

Wartime pictures of her are very scarce and are of poor quality.

I'm aware of 3 with access to only 2.  The first shows her tied up at Alexandria harbour acting as anti-aicraft protection

 

38 CALCUTTA

 

The second shows her starboard side on 

 

Scan0040

 

and the third resides in Norman Friedman's most recent book on British cruisers showing another view from Starboard side on.

 

The colour scheme has been discussed elsewhere and I believe that Dick @dickrd feels the liekly colours are 507C/507A and Black.  The so-called "Alexandria" schemes seem to have often used black and were often distinctive in their own right.  Alan Raven highlights several potential schemes including those for Cairo and Carlisle that could be modelled from this kit iteration in his "Warship Perspectives Camouflage Vols 1 and 2.

 

The deck is problematic in that it could have been plain wood or as Jamie has written elsewhere...

"The first piece of writing I am aware of instructing that wooden decks be painted dark was Home Fleet Temporary Memorandum 288, dated 20th August 1940. The third paragraph instructed that decks of all ships cruiser and above were to have their decks painted dark, and it then suggested a diluted Japan Black lacquer for the purpose"

Calcutta would have left UK waters bound for the Med before this directive and it's unclear whether she would have had darkened decks by June 1941.  If anyone has any thoughts - grateful for advice and guidance as ever. 

 

This excellent pic of sister ship Cairo appears to show a mix of wunpainted wood and darker decks arouns the boats and amidships

 

4676a7f9170d3beb11f35d3f35fd1745

 

There is certainly a wood deck froom Wood Hunter winging it's way from China, :hmmm:

 

References are the usual Ravens and Friedmans together with this profile Morskie

 

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So onto the kit 

 

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Instructions are conventional Trumpeter line drawn

 

Scan0039

 

Scan0038

 

A colour poster is provided showing her in pre-war sngle colour 507C

 

The hull is very nicely moulded and comes very well protected 

 

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The characeristic bow sheer is well captured

 

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She is comparatively small

 

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Sprues are conventional but the first set back is that there are no deck railings...

 

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Currently there are no promised after-market eetch sets so this may be problematic.  Perhaps Eduard will do one??

 

The deck dry-fits very snugly

 

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The usual Micromaster and Black Cat Model accessories have been duly collected

 

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Construction starting soon.

The plan is for a waterline model with an attempt to replicate the sea state seen above in the Cairo pic

Thanks for looking

Please feel free to offer any observations on colour schemes or other

Stay Safe

Rob

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35 minutes ago, JohnWS said:

Looking forward to another interesting build, Rob.

 

John

As John has said interesting and will follow taking notes on this one  :book:

 

Rob as for deck railings have you thought of using some of Peter Halls generic rails and ladders.  :hmmm:

 

spacer.png

 

Stay Safe

beefy

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8 minutes ago, longshanks said:

Another voyage of discovery....................

 

:hmmm:AVRE :whistle:

 

Just asking :rofl2:

 

Kev

Yes and what about the bloke's on horse back the submarine and don't forget Griffon to name but a few  :poke:

 

and I thought I was bad for starting a new kit  :cwl:

 

beefy

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52 minutes ago, beefy66 said:

Yes and what about the bloke's on horse back the submarine and don't forget Griffon to name but a few  :poke:

 

and I thought I was bad for starting a new kit  :cwl:

 

beefy

 

Beefy - Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery ;)

Blokes on horses - Completed

Submarine - forgotten about - who builds submariines nowadays:shrug:

Griffin - speeding towards the finish - furiously scrubbing wood paint off as I go :fool:

AVRE - waiting for paint and it's just a glorified tractor anyways :giggle:

And it's international (rugby) season.  :cheers:

 

Yeah you're right.............guilty as charged :shutup:

Rob

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7 minutes ago, robgizlu said:

Beefy - Immitation is the sincerest form of flattery ;)

Blokes on horses - Completed

Submarine - forgotten about - who builds submariines nowadays:shrug:

Griffin - speeding towards the finish - furiously scrubbing wood paint off as I go :fool:

AVRE - waiting for paint and it's just a glorified tractor anyways :giggle:

And it's international (rugby) season.  :cheers:

 

Yeah you're right.............guilty as charged :shutup:

Rob

See what I mean so many people building stuff at the minute I need to get my finger out as the bishop said to the actress.  :facepalm:

 

Will have to check up on the horses and see if they are being looked after correctly

 

as for submarines what about @Courageous yes you have a point  :shrug:

 

 Scubbing wood in the navy usually means you are on defaulters (you Got caught Red handed and pants down or is that something else  :yikes:)

 

tractors should be in the civil section  👩‍🌾

 

as for rugby good shout  :cheers: something to look forward to at the weekend.

 

Stay safe

beefy

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Love the look of that sheer bow, looking forward to the build.

 

35 minutes ago, beefy66 said:

as for submarines what about @Courageous

Fair cop, I have been rather remiss with the sub builds but once I finish the gaggle of AFV's that are awaiting painting/completion, I'll be turning nautical for the year.

 

Stuart

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Going to enjoy watching this build!

 

Those 4" guns look fantastic, what do Trumpeters efforts look like? I know they won't compare, just curious to see them.

 

Geoff 

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No problem Geoff

 

2021 02 06_1287

 

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Niceky shaped but lacking the surfac detail and refinement of the Micromaster items.

I took delivery of a Black Cat Models haul yeterday :elephant:

 

The range finder is also pictured above and apparently is appropriate for the Tribal Class.  Even John Lambert in his book says he had difficulty finding information about them.  The Griffin G class Atlantic models mould is next and unfortunately they are a little too dissimilar to use for the G Class

 

I feel the moulding on BCM items is improving (it might just be me)

 

here's the haul in part

 

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A really useful set is on e containg voice pipes, smoke floats, buckets and just "stuff"  Yeah baby!!

 

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I hope Ben does some Brit figures soon

Rob

 

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Very nice haul Rob some very fine details 

 

out of interest what was the delivery time from ordering just wondering if the postal system has ironed out some of the new year delays. :hmmm:

 

Stay Safe 

beefy 

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Rob,

You'll have more 3D than plastic soon! At this rate modellers will be buying styrene after market bits.

I remember you commenting on some 3D splinter mats in your Kent build.

Could you give me a measure of one I want to try scratching 'em.

Pics look around 6' x 3' so I'm thinking 5 x 2.5mm(ish) in '350

Ta ever so

Tom

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1 hour ago, Modelholic said:

Rob,

You'll have more 3D than plastic soon! At this rate modellers will be buying styrene after market bits.

I remember you commenting on some 3D splinter mats in your Kent build.

Could you give me a measure of one I want to try scratching 'em.

Pics look around 6' x 3' so I'm thinking 5 x 2.5mm(ish) in '350

Ta ever so

Tom

 

Youre not so far wrong Tom.  I feel the Trumpeter models offer good hulls and superstructures but really lose out on detail such as boats and weapons

The splinter mats measure 4.3 x 2mm wich on scale conversion equates to 4.94 x 2.3 ft, so you were pretty close.

 

27 minutes ago, longshanks said:

The big boy and his toys, go on you've earned it :nodding:

plus it keeps us entertained...

 

Kev

 

I saved all my pocket money Dad !!!

Plus I plan for 2 builds ahead.

Plus, as my good mate Rup says, "Shrouds don't have pockets"

Plus, at the moment there's nothing else to spend money on:shrug:

Plus, I like to keep you entertained  :dinosaur:

 

Ok , after me......"for he's a joll....................

:winkgrin:

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2 hours ago, robgizlu said:

I hope Ben does some Brit figures soon

Rob

 

 

I hope so too. I asked Ben for "North Atlantic fashion style gentlemans": coats, storm-hats, sweaters, heavy boots. It would be great, but who knows...

Ad. bridge equipment - I think best quality had North Star. It's a pity it is out of production and so difficult to get. Those compasses and pelloruses were realy stunning and rows of connected together voice-pipes which were very comfy for installing along walls.

And of course I wait for progress of Clacutta. I am sure it will be splendid build.

PS. Did you bought Flower? I plan to do it but "next mont home-buget settlement" 😉  I am looking for my "holy grail - model ship" which means model I'll do without any mods/impovements. But is it possible at all? 😉  :whistle:

Regards,

Michal.

 

Edited by socjo1
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Hi Michal

No Flower yet- the Big Boys wouldn't allow it!

As to a "Holy Grail - model ship", in some respects the Black Cat whole models such as the Flower look close as does the HMAS Bathurst class corvette, thoug i wonder how popular that will be (I'd never heard of ti previously)

Bring on the figures!!!

Rob

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On 2/6/2021 at 2:25 PM, beefy66 said:

Very nice haul Rob some very fine details 

 

out of interest what was the delivery time from ordering just wondering if the postal system has ironed out some of the new year delays. :hmmm:

 

Stay Safe 

beefy 

 

Hi Beefy - apologies - I overlooked this.

7 days.

 

1 hour ago, thekz said:

Gidday, Rob!

I wish you a successful building;)

Do you have a desire to make a conversion from Calcutta to Cairo?

 

Hi - The "Tiger" colour scheme on Cairo is attractive.  I did consider - besides the presence of a foremast and splinter shields on fore and aft guns - I can't see any other notable differences.

On balance, it's going to be Calcutta.  And then Colombo when that iteration arrives.

Rob

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I'm just pottering along with my 'C' class.

I've quite a few projects requiring primer: Tribal class, Z class, Edinburgh class and some other stuff (good old Halfords acrylic), but, alas it's too cold in the garage and a definite no-no indoors. So I've time to tart up the funnel interiors, (a definite need!) just some cross bracing from plastic strip and fiddling and fixing splinter mats and trying to find the instructions for the Tribal.

Might try the leccy heater in the garage later. We'll see.

Tom

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2 hours ago, robgizlu said:

 

Hi Beefy - apologies - I overlooked this.

7 days.

 

 

Hi - The "Tiger" colour scheme on Cairo is attractive.  I did consider - besides the presence of a foremast and splinter shields on fore and aft guns - I can't see any other notable differences.

On balance, it's going to be Calcutta.  And then Colombo when that iteration arrives.

Rob

I would be attracted to the heroic service of Cairo. e.g. fight 15.06.42 against Italian cruisers

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On 2/5/2021 at 7:19 PM, robgizlu said:

Submarine - forgotten about - who builds submariines nowadays

 

Well I built one last year! Does that mean I'm behind the fashion trend......?

 

 

On 2/5/2021 at 8:17 PM, Courageous said:

Fair cop, I have been rather remiss with the sub builds

 

Come on Stuart, get your finger out! (takes careful cover for incoming)

 

Great subject Rob, and I'm sure as @longshanks has already noted, this will be a voyage of discovery.

 

Looking forward to this one.

 

Terry

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1 hour ago, Terry1954 said:

 

Well I built one last year! Does that mean I'm behind the fashion trend......?

 

 

 

Come on Stuart, get your finger out! (takes careful cover for incoming)

 

Great subject Rob, and I'm sure as @longshanks has already noted, this will be a voyage of discovery.

 

Looking forward to this one.

 

Terry

 

Sorry Terry - just Joshing :winkgrin:  This what comes of verbal joustiing with the Big Boys

Thanks for looking in.

Rob

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On 2/6/2021 at 2:11 PM, robgizlu said:

Niceky shaped but lacking the surfac detail and refinement of the Micromaster items.

Thanks for that Rob. Is it me or do the Trumpeter parts look like upscale 1/700 parts?

 

If I every get round to a 1/350 build I think Black Cats going to get a fortune off me....

 

Geoff 

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On 2/6/2021 at 4:51 PM, socjo1 said:

 

Ad. bridge equipment - I think best quality had North Star. It's a pity it is out of production and so difficult to get. Those compasses and pelloruses were realy stunning and rows of connected together voice-pipes which were very comfy for installing along walls.

 


Michal, North Star had been showing ‘out of stock’ for at least a year on the Bridge Equipment set (which I agree is excellent), but a couple of weeks ago they must have done another run, because some showed up (& I promptly snaffled two of them; now all I need is patience with the mail system...!).  
 

Don’t know whether any available now, but worth a look.

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