The Ship Model Forum

Looking at getting in to WW1 1/700 kits, and particularly interested in destroyers - has anyone built any of the HP Models offerings and comment on them? I'm particularly interested in the HMS Mary Rose as the WEM 1/700 kit isn't available - how do they compare? I'm looking at finishing the model as she was on convoy duty when sunk in late 1917.

Also, what modifications does the Tamiya 1/700 HMAS Vampire kit need to portray a V Class Destroyer in 1917/18?

Apart from the above two manufacturers i'm not aware of any WW1 Royal Navy destroyer kits in 1/700, so would be interested in information on others

I'd also like to see some of these models assembled...

About Mary Rose:
the 2x1pdr pom pom around the bridge were probably removed.
Between the torpedo tubes there probably was a 1x2pdr pom pom on a small platform instead of a searchlight.
The problem for this ship is that the hull number is unknown...

M are nice but I prefer the K class (someone, please find me a good side & top view!!! )

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Hi,

From "British Warships 1914-1919" by FJ Dittmar & JJ Colledge HMS Mary Rose had two pennant numbers: H.C4 when commissioned, changed January 1917 to G.29.

Cheers,
George

Thanks all - would she not also have depth charges (and maybe depth charge throwers) too at that time?

The drawings (A & A Plans 1971) by John Roberts of Mary Rose as fitted 1916/1917 show two 2-pdrs mounted one on each side of the bridge, a 24-inch searchlight on the platform between the torpedo tubes, and a single depth charge at the stern on the port side immediately abaft the aftermost fairlead.

Hope this helps.

Maurice

Hi,

British Destroyers by Edgar March makes no reference to M Class and depth charges.
British Destroyers From Earliest Days by Friedman comments on Page 131 that M Class in April 1918 the standard depth charge battery was four chutes, two throwers and eight charges.
Fighting the Great War at Sea by Friedman has this photo on page 304 and the comment, " M Class destroyers could not have accommodated throwers except by sacrificing either their after guns or some torpedo tubes and thus substantially reducing their ability to deal with surface threats ". So the photo shows 6 depth charges and paravanes. My thought is that this is more likely what HMS Mary Rose had considering her service at the time of her loss.



Cheers,
George

Very intresting picture above, thanks!

Don't you think the antiskid areas around the guns and strip along the torp tubes and funnels look more like some kind coconut matting than corticene?
Just like here (Tribal class Zubian C.1918):



Going down...

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Hi.

Burt calls out coir mat as anti-skid on the 'Large Light Cruisers' and Friedman also references coir mat (coconut matting) for the S Class destroyers. It seams as though coir matting was in common usage after 1917 in the RN for anti-slip walkways. From Man O' War 2 V and W Class Destroyers by Raven and Roberts comes this photo of HMS Vega recovering a Camel in 1918. Have a look under the roundel, a coir matting walkway.

Cheers,
George

Thanks all - where is the photo of HMS Mary Rose sinking from? Do you know which ship it was taken from? Thanks

Found Mary Rose here:
http://www.warshipsww2.eu/lode.php?lang ... trida=2200

Pic was most probably taken by the germans (SMS Brummer or SMS Bremse).

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Calling all British Destroyer fans - does anyone know a source for plans "Acorn Class" destroyers, 1910 (20 ships).

I have tried all the usual plan suppliers but no-one seems to carry these.

I work 1/100 to 1/200 scale but drawings of any scale would be useful as I can scale to suit.

Bill of N.Z.

Joe,

There is top and side view in "British Destroyers" by Edgar March.
I started building one using a plan of the Acheron published in French magazine "MARINES & Forces Navales n°95" (Feb-Mar2005).
Same magazine n°94 had an article about the Acorn Class.

Here's my 1/700 HMS Redpole in progress:

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Thanks for the information for the "Acorn" class destroyers. I have got my local Library scouring the country for 2 books that might be helpful, although it doesn't look too hopeful to get some plans. Joe-N.Z.

Hi Joe,

The top and side view in "British Destroyers" by Edgar March is a Sketch drawing. These were sent out by the Admiralty so that builders could quote the scope of work. Attached is the drawing. Note that in the upper left corner of the stern drawing it states that the forecastle was lengthened 6 feet.





As you can see, these are very preliminary drawings.

March did provide a very good set of drawings for the I Class HMS Ferret complete with General arrangement and Section drawings. PM me if you are interested.

Cheers,
George

HMS Fury and cruiser Liverpool trying to tow mined Audacious

HMS Redpole

Very nice looking ships

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Thanks George and Moomoon - I am getting somewhere at last - maybe! I have March's book on order from our local Library so that may turn up something. Why I am pushing this particular ship to model, is because I have been asked to make a model for a presentation to a retiring director of an organisation, where the name "Acorn" has some significance. There are no other ships that I can find that carry the word "Acorn", except for an old time sailing vessel. In the usual way I would put this in the "too hard basket" and make a ship that is well documented, plans etc.
If I can't get the March book through the library, I might ask for a copy of H.M.S. Ferret and adapt from there. Just hold at present.
I have a very good plan set of H.M.S. Swift, which I made a couple of years ago, which is very similar, so with combining all this information, I could manage.
Joe-N.Z.

Joe, Georges is right, the plan in March's book is just a sketch drawing that doesn't look much like the real thing.
There is a better one in Norman Friedman "BRITISH DESTROYERS From Earliest Days to the Second World War".

The plan of Acheron class in Marines Magasine is HMS Ferret


There are pics a detailed 3D model on "Dreadnought Project" website (Acheron).

I also have an Acheron in progress: HMS Hydra

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