GrahamB Posted October 23, 2021 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Hi again, another Atlantic escort finished, this time the successful (6 U-boats destroyed/.shared) HMS Duckworth, a Captain Class frigate ((=Buckley Class DE). Apparently, my father (HMS Belfast in Korea) knew someone from her who had been transferred to Belfast. I used the extensive F-Star upgrade set along with the WEM Captain Class etched set as well, where required. The latter's DC storage racks were too short and I added an extra 1/3 by using scrap etched "sprue". Painting was with Sovereign enamels and I went for the G45/B20 scheme - but I might have erred here - could have been white/B55 though. Some G45 was supplemented here and there for economy with my own Schminke ink mix. The 3rd Escort Group emblem on the funnel was made from cut-up pieces of signal flag. It was a very complex build - the structure could be that of a cruiser in places! Cheers, GrahamB HMS Duckworth starboard by Graham Bird, on Flickr HMS Duckworth starboard quarter by Graham Bird, on Flickr HMS Duckworth starboard bow by Graham Bird, on Flickr HMS Duckworth port by Graham Bird, on Flickr HMS Duckworth port quarter by Graham Bird, on Flickr HMS Duckworth port bow by Graham Bird, on Flickr HMS Duckworth starboard bow 2 by Graham Bird, on Flickr HMS Duckworth starboard midship by Graham Bird, on Flickr HMS Duckworth starboard aft by Graham Bird, on Flickr 45 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Allen Posted October 23, 2021 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Graham You have done a beautiful job. Really captures the essence of a hard worked escort. Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Head in the clouds. Posted October 23, 2021 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Nicely done and some good pics that show the detail work you have put in. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adm Lord De Univers Posted October 23, 2021 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Poor girl, she could do with a slap of paint here and there, but seriously good build. I'm very partial to these (my grandfather was on the Louis) and lo and behold I shall be using these pics as both a reference to her build and as picture of a target of perfection to strive for. David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinChipmunkfan Posted October 23, 2021 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Very realistic and very impressive modelling. Looks like museum quality to me, well done sir!! Colin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mick b Posted October 23, 2021 Share Posted October 23, 2021 (edited) Excellent work Graham and an inspiration for me to carry on with my effort building Ekins. I’m using the WEM and Gold Medal Models PE sets as I bought them some time ago but wasn’t aware of the F-Star offering? Mike Edited October 23, 2021 by mick b 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted October 23, 2021 Share Posted October 23, 2021 Fine looking vessel, really nicely finished and detailed I like the fenders. The life buoys really set it off - are they etch ? Congratulations Rob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamB Posted October 23, 2021 Author Share Posted October 23, 2021 Hi guys, sorry about any delay in replying with my thanks for the kind remarks - a 12-hour time difference here in NZ. The model's appearance is based on a well-known photo of Duckworth but I may have been a little over-enthusiastic with the weathering. The F-star set was very complex and fiddly, and included replacement for many of the vertical faces of the superstructure and it took quite an effort to blend these in with the decks etc. It also had what seemed hundreds of the small brackets for holding the DC spigots - I assumed these were empty (partly or completely removed??) because of use of replacement with spigot-less DC throwers. Kept a few on for interest. The life-rings are pre-painted etched versions - a bit of a cheat. The boat fenders are simple plastic rod rounded at both ends. I added a few 20mm ammunition lockers near the four midships positions. Cheers, GrahamB Building Flyhawk 1/700 HMS Invincible 1914, AJM 1/350 HMS Queen of Thanet, Arsenal 1/350 Hunt Type-3 (probably as HMS Catterick) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArnoldAmbrose Posted October 24, 2021 Share Posted October 24, 2021 Gidday Graham, she's beautifully done, and I don't think the weathering is overdone. What scale is this please? I apologize if you've stated the scale already and I missed it. Regards, Jeff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
socjo1 Posted October 24, 2021 Share Posted October 24, 2021 Another your beauty and inspiring ship. Especially for me - I have Buckley clas with F-Star in my stash (and plans!) too. I have a question. I see bluish central camouflage section is quite transparent and streaked, not a "solid" colour. Is this effect your interpretation or is it visible on archive photos? PS. Main guns are not Trumpy nor Five Star, I pressume 😉 Best regards, Michał. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted October 24, 2021 Share Posted October 24, 2021 Oh thats a beauty. Well done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamB Posted October 25, 2021 Author Share Posted October 25, 2021 (edited) Kia oa Ambrose - the scale is 1/350. Socjo 1 - The hull panel is "more or less" like the photograph of HMS Duckworth but is clearly not an exact copy (my painting skills are not up to that!). Perhaps more darker streaking is required, especially aft of the blue panel. Other ships with this camouflage, such as HMS Byron, HMS Cotton, HMS Curzon, and HMS Deane, are similarly heavily weathered with light and dark streaks. If I was to do another - can't we have a 1/350 Evarts DE for conversion please? - I might do the other late camouflage of full (but sloping) dark hull and pale upper-works. Said in various places to be an Admiralty pattern but it looks no different from the USN version to me. Check out the book by Bruce Franklyn for a complete record of the Buckley/Captain vessels. I can't remember about the 3" guns but think they were aftermarket items. Cheers, GrahamB Edited October 25, 2021 by GrahamB textual changes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 Congratulations on a beautiful model, excellent weathering very realistic, well done 👏. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Derbyshire Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 Greetings Sir. Splendid job "Bravo Zulu". Belucky Cheers Brian. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick C Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 Cracking job Graham, she looks spot on. cheers Nick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beefy66 Posted October 25, 2021 Share Posted October 25, 2021 Very nice build and display base cracking job. 👍 Stay Safe beefy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goji308 Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 Job well done Graham. Keep up the excellent work. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
593jones Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 Outstanding build and paint job, shows how hard these escorts worked. My father-in-law served on a Captain class frigate, HMS Hargood, and had some hair raising stories of service in the Atlantic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MRMRL Posted October 26, 2021 Share Posted October 26, 2021 That's a really nice job Graham. Can I ask, how do you do the heavy rust effect you have around the ship number? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamB Posted October 26, 2021 Author Share Posted October 26, 2021 Hi MRMRL, it was just some rust/red primer paint (can't remember which) dabbed on. It is loosely based on the photo of Duckworth seen from the starboard bow. Perhaps the USN experts here would know what primer colour was used on the DE builds (a gray of some sort?). Cheers, GrahamB 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stephen Allen Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Hi Graham. There is an instruction for USN contract paint finishing on the web at History.navy.mil, dated June 1943. According to this the Primer coat for new construction exteriors above the waterline should be Formula 84-D, dark zinc chromate. This is a dark green according to the included table, and is meant to maintain a dark appearance if there is any peeling of the top coat. By ‘45 Duckworth would have been through at least one repainting from the delivery scheme, so dark patches might be anything underlying including a very rusty or stained previous camouflage, not necessarily the primer coat. cheers Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamB Posted October 28, 2021 Author Share Posted October 28, 2021 Hi Steve, thanks for digging out this esoteric information. Could be useful for any future builds of US-made ships (Colony Class etc). Cheers, Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julien Posted October 28, 2021 Share Posted October 28, 2021 Nice job on the weathered look. They never believed on giving those guys on the guns much weather protection did they! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancona Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 That's really beautiful, the fading and tonal variation on the paintwork is exceptional, a very attractive model, you must be very proud it !! Cheers David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theskits62 Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 Thats a beauty ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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