1/700 Castle Class Frigate - 1943

[pete wenman]

Having decided to come back to Naval modelling after a long time away I've got the desire to build a range of Atlantic escorts and destroyers, so have added some IBG plastic kits to the stash along with a couple of resin kits. However for some reason I've forged ahead with building a Castle Class frigate/corvette from scratch with only the poorest of reference - go figure eh.



Pleased with progress as I decipher the plans and get to understand the layout of the superstructure, but am concerned I'm unlikely to see this one completed unless I can work out how to create a PE fret from scratch given the lattice mast that is required. Still all good practice.

Plan is to use Starling Models resin details for the fiddly bits where I can and scratch the rest.

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[pete wenman]

David hi

Any help would be greatly appreciated - I'll drop you a DM - thank you.

My plans I am working from - created from a couple of different images from the web. All errors are mine



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[pete wenman]

Great info David - thanks again

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[Pieter]

Beautiful work so far. For lattice masts, see if you can find some of the old WEM 1/600 generic PE sets as they contain a number of different lattice structures. I found them really useful when building my 1/700 modernized Victorious.

[pete wenman]

Beautiful work so far. For lattice masts, see if you can find some of the old WEM 1/600 generic PE sets as they contain a number of different lattice structures. I found them really useful when building my 1/700 modernized Victorious.

Good call Pieter - so far the Nimitz PE from GMM is the closest match I can find from that which I have to hand. I have not measured anything yet, so we will see.

In the meantime a little more progress.





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[Fliger747]

Just finished reading a Douglas Reeman novel about one of these, a fictional HMS Terrapin.

Glad to see what it looks like in 3D!

[pete wenman]

Just finished reading a Douglas Reeman novel about one of these, a fictional HMS Terrapin.

Glad to see what it looks like in 3D!

Damn - I haven't read any Douglas Reeman for over a decade. Must get them back out the attic and revisit. Stories were always good, but I used to love the cover art.

Hope I can get the shape and details correct for you.

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[pete wenman]

starting to refine and add details.





The mast lattice is from the GMM Nimitz class PE fret, and is not the one I will use on the completed model, but is acting as my practice and test bed.

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[pete wenman]

Dodgy underlights photo, but I do love it when the first paint goes down. Starboard side painted, I'll do the Port side tomorrow.



My plan is to then polish and varnish the hull, and then mask so I can complete construction and superstructure painting. Need to get an order into Starling for some of the fiddly bits.


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[pete wenman]

A smidgen of boot topping has been added to the hull which I've set aside to fully dry. Not wanting to touch the hull for a while I've started to give thought to building the lattice mast.



The main part is a cut down version of a mast designed for the Nimitz class carrier, but which is otherwise a near identical match. That this mast matches is a god send, as I was otherwise going to have to work out how to create my own PE



Lattice mast construction went really well. The PE piece trimmed up very easily and went together well. 271 radar lantern from Starling Models added, with other details from scrap plastic and PE. Pleased with the result although I may replace the DF antenna mast with thinner brass tube as the current looks a little heavy.

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[pete wenman]

More paint going down slowly as I try and work out the optimal build sequence.



Parts dry fitted, and entering the "ugly" stage.

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[Timmy C]

Looks great and it's amazing how close the Nimitz mast is!

[pete wenman]

Looks great and it's amazing how close the Nimitz mast is!

Cheers, yes its very convenient that the Nimitz PE is a good match. More so as there are a couple more very similar options on the fret, for different ships within the class, and this means I have a couple of spares. I see a Loch class in the pipeline if I can find decent ref.

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[pete wenman]

and after a long hiatus I am able to get back to this, with good progress made.

Base and seascape.



some fiddly bits being sorted





some thoughts on crew uniforms ( 1/700 and I'm worrying about this)



and a dry fit of the main components ahead of them being fixed in place.



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[pete wenman]

the "To Do" list is now down to seven items (plus whatever more I think of) and so we are close to the finish line.



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[pete wenman]

and down to just three things left on the "To Do" list - matt coat, rigging, and complete and glue down the main mast.



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[pete wenman]

and she is done

Very pleased with this, as I don't think I've ever finished a 1/700 build before.

















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[Pieter]

Very nice corvette.