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HMS Renown


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Having got one 1/700 ship under my belt so far this year (HMS King George V build), I thought I'd have a bash at another. I picked up Trumpeter's kit of HMS Renown c. 1942. It's a really nice kit and it light years ahead of the waterline kits of the 1970s (which are still very good, by the way). HMS Renown was one of two Renown class battlecruisers constructed during the first world war, the other being HMS Repulse. Following the sinking of HMS Hood and then Repulse, Renown was the last battlecruiser in Royal Navy service. She was broken up after WWII. To my eye, she's possibly the most attractive of all the Royal Navy's capital ships of that time.

Here is the box, with rather lovely artwork:

Renown1.jpg

No sprue shots as I only decided to do this as a WIP on the spur of the moment. I've already fixed the decks to the hull:

Renown2.jpg

The kit allows you to choose between waterline or full hull. Mine will be waterline.

Renown3.jpg

Work is well underway on the sub-assemblies such as the bridge, hanger and other bits. The ship will be finished in quite a complex camo pattern (see box art) so it won't all be glued together until a lot of the painting is done. The guns are moulded without blast bags, which is a shame and, given that they are an option in Trumpeter's Hood kit, a bit of a mystery. I fear a session with the Miliput is on the horizon.

Renown4.jpg

Here's where I am at the moment. None of these bits are glued in place yet. I'm now waiting for etch and paint to arrive from White Ensign Models. I should have enough work to keep me busy in the meantime though.

Renown5.jpg

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A little progress whilst watching Ghana play Serbia this afternoon. I've replaced part of the mast with brass rod as it's stronger and stiffer than plastic. Does anyone know what the thing that looks like a giant coffee pot is? I'm guessing it's not a giant coffee pot...

Renown6.jpg

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Ahh, you wait 'till I get to the etch railings :frantic: this build thread might go very quiet then!

Edited by Paul A H
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Added some White Ensign Models etch ladders here and there this afternoon. These are from their pre-1950 Royal Navy set. I have to say I find the WEM etch much easier to use than Eduard - perhaps different metal? Either way it doesn't seem to get quite so mangled whilst cutting it from the fret.

Renown7.jpg

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A little progress whilst watching Ghana play Serbia this afternoon. I've replaced part of the mast with brass rod as it's stronger and stiffer than plastic. Does anyone know what the thing that looks like a giant coffee pot is? I'm guessing it's not a giant coffee pot...

Renown6.jpg

I think it's the rear navigation platform. Possibly used in emergencies if the bridge stearing position is taken out. Phil will probably have the diffintive answer.

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good job ,so far Paul.What a pity the 350th resin kit of the Renown is on hold,she was a great looking ship.

That "coffee pot" thing could an emergency sheering position or an Air-defence position,I`ll look it up later,you`ve got me curious now !

Paul,you may like to look at this link:

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewt...=59&t=55088

cheers ,Phil

PS,After looking at my two plans of the Renown ,I think it was a pom-pom director,and the thing stuck out of the back of it ,was the chimney for the Admirals galley.

Edited by Phil Reeder
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Aha, thanks chaps. Just realised I've glued it on back-to-front though. It will have to be fixed, but at least I know what it is now! A little bit of progress today. I've cast some blast bags for the guns using a gun from the Trumpeter HMS Hood kit and some miliput to make a mould. Once the mould was set I added a little bit of washing up liquid to it for lubrication and then pushed some more miliput in so it took on the shape of the mould. Very crude, but it did the job well enough. Glad there are only 6 guns to do though!

Renown8.jpg

Hope my paint arrives from WEM soon, I want to crack on and get that deck painted. I also need to get some wood and make the seascape before I get too far with the paintwork.

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Right then. The paint arrived during the week, minus a few colours that were out of stock. Luckily I've managed to identify Humbrol equivalents for the missing shades, so I've been slapping on the paint during the past few days. As the camo pattern is quite complex, identifying which bits can be painted when is an interesting exercise in problem solving. It seems to be going well so far though. It should start to look the business once the camo is on the hull sides.

Renown9.jpg

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I'd be surprised if Trumpeter don't release a 1/350 version for you at some point, Phil. In the meantime I'm hoping for a 1/700 Queen Elizabeth class...

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I'd be surprised if Trumpeter don't release a 1/350 version for you at some point, Phil. In the meantime I'm hoping for a 1/700 Queen Elizabeth class...

I wish!!!We were supposed to have a 350 th Renown in Resin ,but that has fallen by the wayside :raincloud: (For the time being anyway), so come on Trumpy!! cheers ,Phil

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Mask and spray, mask and spray, mask and spray... I've done the camo on the port side of the hull now. I'm really happy with how this has turned out, even if I say so myself. The White Ensign Models paint has mixed and sprayed well and dries to a lovely smooth matt finish. On the the starboard side next!

Renown10.jpg

Edited by Paul A H
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Thanks chaps. Phil, I used my usual Halfords cellulose thinner to thin the paint for spraying. It curdles at first but with a little stirring it mixes well and dries very quickly, which suits my style of modelling. Starboard side is done, moving onto the forecastle deck and shelter deck now.

P.S. Nice photo Phil, thanks!

Edited by Paul A H
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Thanks chaps. Phil, I used my usual Halfords cellulose thinner to thin the paint for spraying. It curdles at first but with a little stirring it mixes well and dries very quickly, which suits my style of modelling. Starboard side is done, moving onto the forecastle deck and shelter deck now.

P.S. Nice photo Phil, thanks!

Halfords Cellulose!I never thought of that,I may give it a try.You see ,after many tries,I cannot get used to WEM paints.and usually mix my own from Acrylics.

Thanks Paul

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Mask and spray, mask and spray, mask and spray... I've done the camo on the port side of the hull now. I'm really happy with how this has turned out, even if I say so myself. The White Ensign Models paint has mixed and sprayed well and dries to a lovely smooth matt finish. On the the starboard side next!

Renown10.jpg

Nice job all round. An intricate camouflage beautifully reproduced, a nice finish and convincing colours from WEM. Will be following with interest.

Nick

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