Airfix HMS Hotspur with brass knobs on- awaiting the tide off KUTA

[Mjwomack]

I've always been rather slow; when I started learning to swim it was 25 yards to get a certificate, by the time I'd got that far the goal posts (mixed metaphor alert) had moved out to 25 metres, which was a huge leap for a wee lad. By way of reward, my dad brought me the Airfix Hostpur.

So, it's nostalgia time to revisit that kit. Given how much they go for on a certain website I feel that a tenner made this a bargain.

However to make it more exciting, Im adding in the Atlantic Models P/E set with more detail than I can shake a stick at, let alone see. Talking of seeing lets have some piccies

The boxes

 

Yes, I know the Atlantic models 'box isn't too exciting, but see what you get...

 

 

The P/E renders a lot of the Airfix parts redundant. That though will have to be balance with just how much of it I can handle. for sure It'll be the most P/E I've ever used in one model.

 

Onto the instructions...

 

There are literally pages of Peter's instructions and notes for the P/E so any mistakes will be all my own work.

 

In the chat, I've mentioned the prospect of a container ship, needless to say some sprue fondling has taken place, but it's a whole different scale of operation! Here's the Columbo Express hull and P/E alongside Hotspur's hull

 

And that's at 1/700 as opposed to Hotspur's 1/600; somehow I think we're all know it's going to happen, but one P/E set at a time eh?

Edited March 19, 2023 by Mjwomack
At anchor!

[Bertie McBoatface]

5 hours ago, Mjwomack said:

when I started learning to swim it was 25 yards to get a certificate, by the time I'd got that far the goal posts (mixed metaphor alert) had moved out to 25 metres, which was a huge leap for a wee lad. By way of reward, my dad brought me the Airfix Hostpur.

 

I didn't think metric had been invented when kits came in boxes like that one!

 

I don't have the eyeballs for a project like this one. Best of luck matey!

[Mjwomack]

2 hours ago, Bertie McBoatface said:

I didn't think metric had been invented when kits came in boxes like that one!

 

I don't have the eyeballs for a project like this one. Best of luck matey!

Because it came in a box, I'd always assumed it was a series 2 kit. I guess that as a Series 1 there was a time when it came in a polythene bag.

It remains to be seen if I have the eyeballs for it either. All support and encouragement gratefully received.

 

As a minimum I want to get the railings on and change the gun 'turrets'- that would bring out the limited protection that was afforded, more of a weather break than anything it seems to me.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

5 hours ago, Mjwomack said:

change the gun 'turrets'

Gidday, actually they'd be called gun mounts, not turrets, which I think you realize by the way you printed 'turrets' 🙂. The shields were to protect the gun crews against splinters and the weather I think. A turret would be enclosed and the ammunition feed(s) would be part of the rotating structure down to the magazines, which is not the case here. Good luck with the model. Regards, Jeff.

[Mjwomack]

18 hours ago, ArnoldAmbrose said:

Gidday, actually they'd be called gun mounts, not turrets, which I think you realize by the way you printed 'turrets' 🙂. The shields were to protect the gun crews against splinters and the weather I think. A turret would be enclosed and the ammunition feed(s) would be part of the rotating structure down to the magazines, which is not the case here. Good luck with the model. Regards, Jeff.

It was indeed! Because I couldn't remember the correct term.

 

I'm meant to follow a very strict sleep management routine including reading a junk novel I'm bed to stop me thinking. Alas last night I read the instruction sheets for the EB on this and was far too excited to sleep! Someone's going to reassure that that's quite normal I hope!

 

Anyhow, Jeff I'm going to be calling on your expertise a lot, eg

Flare launchers for B & X turrets- I can see them but doubt I can handle them, but apparently not fitting to all ships all the time- here's hoping

Then there's more choices of mast than I can cope with - Early/ Late or HF/DF Array

And what even is a...

TSDS Gantry?

 

So many bits and choices... I"l be sure to read a dull book tonight!

[TonyOD]

It's not just me that is being driven to chronic insomnia by this GB then.

 

And it hasn't even started yet...

[ArnoldAmbrose]

7 hours ago, Mjwomack said:

TSDS Gantry?

Gidday, I didn't know what it was so I looked it up. It stands for Two Speed Destroyer Sweep  -  mine sweeping, and it appears that those two 'cranes' right at the stern of the model is it.

The flare launchers were often fitted to the sides of the 4-inch gun shield on corvettes and such so I'm assuming it was the same for those destroyers converted for convoy escort work. HMS Hotspur was one of these. I have a photo of her after such a conversion with 'Y' gun removed. The TSDS equipment was removed then too but I didn't realize this when I did my model. I don't know yet if she carried the flare launching frames on her fwd gun shields (they don't appear visible on 'X' gun in my photo) but if she did they'd be lightweight structures, too insubstantial for me to scratch build. PE might be another matter however.       HTH.    Regards, Jeff.

[Mjwomack]

4 hours ago, ArnoldAmbrose said:

, too insubstantial for me to scratch build. PE might be another matter however.

not with my chunky fingers! At some point reality will bite and ambition will be tempered by practicality. Until then I dream on about superior modelling skills in a parallel universe

[Mjwomack]

Bathtime!

 

 

Poor little mite looks completely just the containers to go on Columbo Express. Normally I don't approve of big things pushing in front of little ones, but I've been pondering my options.

 

The etch on the container ship is basically straight runs of railings with the occasional 90^o turn, which is a lot easier than the complex folding for Hotspur's etch. Which is ironic because I'd intend to warm up with the etch on Hotspur first. Now though I'll be prioritising Columbo Express.

 

Note only prioritising so really they'll both be cranking it up to full speed ahead with a visit to the rattle can shed tomorrow and out with the primer. Left it too late this evening and even 25 miles in land it's blowing a proper hoodie for venturing out there.

 

Now, the first of what will be many questions for the experts (that's all of you, way over Seaman Staines here). I've got to print some registration for the Queens Flight Viking (Albatross around my neck), so figure I could redo the pennant number for Hotspur while I was about it (HO1), is there an easy font match please?

 

The problems are that the 'O' is compressed compared to the 'H' and the '1' does't have the tick at the top.

 

TIA

[PeterB]

4 hours ago, Mjwomack said:

 

 

The problems are that the 'O' is compressed compared to the 'H' and the '1' does't have the tick at the top.

 

TIA

Something like Arial and use a capital letter "I" instead of a "1"? This is Arial Black in Bold  H0I with the number "0", not the letter "O".

 

Pete

Edited January 8, 2023 by PeterB

[Bertie McBoatface]

I'm now following. It's the only way to keep track in this leviathan of a GB

[Mjwomack]

13 minutes ago, Bertie McBoatface said:

I'm now following. It's the only way to keep track in this leviathan of a GB

It absolutely is. Some would say it's a whale of a time! 

[Bertie McBoatface]

21 minutes ago, Mjwomack said:

It absolutely is. Some would say it's a whale of a time! 

 

@TonyOD worked (and is working) very hard on this. It wasn't just a fluke.

[Mjwomack]

18 hours ago, PeterB said:

Something like Arial and use a capital letter "I" instead of a "1"? This is Arial Black in Bold  H0I with the number "0", not the letter "O".

 

Pete

Excellent suggestion, after a few attempts I've got this close

 

I think it's close enough, but I'll give it a until I'm ready the to decal the Vickers Viking (can't come soon enough for me tbh) and if I'm happy go with it. Not sure why I alway put the font details on a sheet, when they're all on the screen in the word processor when I open it up, but there it is.

[Bertie McBoatface]

You're a bit late with your Ho! Ho! Ho!  It's January already. 

[Mjwomack]

2 hours ago, Bertie McBoatface said:

You're a bit late with your Ho! Ho! Ho!  It's January already. 

See, true to form, I'm slow at everything! 

[Mjwomack]

What's that Hotspur? You want to hot foot it because we're keeping @ArnoldAmbrose waiting? Fear not little Hero class destroyer there is some theoretical progress

 

 

The practical progress is that the hull (whoops nearly typed fuselage) is joined up, though I think a run of filler will be going in. Lots of effort pouring over the instructions and cross-referencing the Airfix with the Atlantic Models etch. Along with trying to assess what is a realistic, but stimulating, level to aim for. Certainly things are on hold until I get some better tweezers.

 

And now the questions!

What is a good Humbrol/ Revell or even Railmatch colour for the decks?

The rear set of torpedo tubes can be replaced with a pretty meaty looking gun in the etch set. Assuming I can fold it correctly is that a correct mod to Hotspur?

 

Now trawling (bonus nautical pun) the county library catalogue for reference books, but this is 8th AF country really

[Col.]

Hull equals fuselage. Right, got it, so what's the wings called?

[Bertie McBoatface]

1 minute ago, Col. said:

Hull equals fuselage. Right, got it, so what's the wings called?

 

They are the bits of the bridge that stick out sideways. Like wing mirrors actually and for the same reason - visibility.

[ArnoldAmbrose]

4 hours ago, Mjwomack said:

we're keeping @ArnoldAmbrose waiting?

Quite right, get a move on! 😁 But seriously, I'm sure she'll be worth waiting for, particularly with the brass knobs on - the PE. 🙂       Regards, Jeff.

[Mjwomack]

10 hours ago, Col. said:

Hull equals fuselage. Right, got it, so what's the wings called?

Flying Bridge anyone?

[Col.]

13 hours ago, Bertie McBoatface said:

They are the bits of the bridge that stick out sideways. Like wing mirrors actually and for the same reason - visibility.

Right, so, bridge equals wings. Cool. At this rate I'll start to understand all the ship talk  

[Mjwomack]

 

All but finished!  Certainly the young me would have it done and dusted by now, but along the way I'd not have noticed that the propellor shafts are actually keyed for each side (I didn't realise Airfix were so sophisticated so long ago) and likewise for the force and aft funnels.

 

Today was actually very momentous because I got to buy the tweezers to replace the ones that I'd inherited from my dad; after 25 years I had to accept that the pincers were no longer pinching. means though that I've now got the wear-with-all to handle the P/E now.

[Bertie McBoatface]

20 minutes ago, Mjwomack said:

tweezers

 

I bought new tweezers to replace my forty year old pair that had become blunted and round at the tips. Guess which ones I always reach for first (except when the needle sharp ones are essential)

[Mjwomack]

Let's fold some metal!

This, as I'm sure you all know is the 4" gun and platform that can replace the aft set of torpedo tubes...

 

 

I'd like to do that because (a) it's the first P/E I've done with half an eye on this build (I figured that if it went wrong I'd stick with the tubes). and (b) I think the Airfix tubes, bless them and they are of an age, look pretty crude. Of course, I may just apply Rule 1 and go with it, but I am trying to be vaguely accurate and White Ensign Models imply that it was in this configuration for a while

https://www.whiteensignmodels.com/p/WEM+HMS+Hotspur+1941+HMS+Hurricane+1942+Print+P+031/5112/#.Y8LjCy-l0dU 

Seems I'd have to add camouflage and funnel bands!

 

Any thoughts from the massif? Yes I am looking straight at you @ArnoldAmbrose!

 

Not really with a picture but funnels coming along and elevations restraints fitted under the gun platforms, so pottering along (probably not a naval term)