Hi Kurt,
I replied to your original post in the "Hood One More Time Thread", but said response was moved here (as it should have). Unfortunately, the original question wasn't moved as well, so the response didn't make much sense here (it was before the question). So, I'm going to repost the response right here:
StartFirst, let me say for the record that the Trumpeter kit is the best kit yet produced of Hood. Its not perfect, but its still the best to date. I for one am grateful to them for producing it...and for being consulted during the design phase. We had a chance to review their original plans and we pointed out A LOT of potential errors and made a few suggestions.
Unfortunately, we didn't catch everything, but it wasn't through a lack of trying. Simply put, we reviewed the design via printouts- plan and profile views of the ship (a bit "fuzzy" too, so some features weren't overly clear, but most were). The main problem was simply that the views were limited...its sometimes difficult to judge a feature when you can only see a plan or profile drawing. So, some things that looked correct in the drawings may not be correct when seen in 3 dimensions.
For their part, Trumpeter did actually listen and made changes to everything they were told about. They even incorporated some "firsts" (such as the correct shaped rear/centreline 4" gun splintershield and correct shaped Motorboat Workshop behind the second funnel). Sadly, there were some other discoveries that came in too late to be incorporated into the model. I'll list these out here (along with the most glaring problems I have noticed).
I have not yet built my kit. I've looked it over but am awaiting some free time in which to start it. So, people who have built the kit probably are the best ones to consult for various fit and finish problems. For my part, here are the biggest problems to contend with (and the new discoveries):
Hull- The plating is indeed over scale, but this is understandable considering the situation. Most people don't need to be bothered with it, but those who insist upon perfection can thin it out or replace it.
Degaussing Cable- Not correct in shape. Remove it and replace it with photoetch. The real cable was somewhat sloppy in the bow area (due to it being displaced by the clump cathead and hawsepipes).
Hawsepipes - They are not open. At this scale, they should be. So, these need to be drilled out. The problem is, it may be difficult for some modellers to get the correct interior shape/get the tops to line up with the bottoms.
Main gun turrets- They come with ridges that runs beneath the roof bolts. This makes the roof plates look recessed. They also lack the large viewports in the face. Very difficult to fix these errors- replace them with aftermarket turrets if you want it to be right. May as well use brass barrels while you're at it.
AAA guns/boats- They need detailing. Use photoetch, etc.
"B" Turret UP- This is a new one, just noticed by EJ Foeth (of course!) and confirmed by me. If you look at the UP atop B turret from above, you will see that it sits atop a circular platform with two additional squarish platforms...one to port, one to starboard. Around the circular platform is a splinter shield. To date, all drawings and models show a shield of uniform height. In reality, the shield had higher segments directly to port and starboard. You can see a photo of this on the Hood website at
http://hmshood.com/hoodtoday/models/tip ... yfixes.jpg and
http://hmshood.com/hoodtoday/models/tip ... fixes2.jpg Conning Tower- The viewport slits vary in height. The ones created by adding part A30 to the Conning Tower Platform is the row that is too high. It needs to be slimmed down somehow...the slits should all be the same height. Also, be sure to fill in the seams!
Admiral's Bridge (A18)- Remove the two "knobs". These were gone by 1941.
Add Signalmen's Shelters- New discovery by EJ Foeth and myself and confirmed with John Roberts. These weren't shown in his book as they couldn't really be seen in plan/profile views of the ship. We are basing this on long distance photos and information that said work was done. There is no great detailed up close imagery of these known at this time.
These are narrow structures located between the HACS MkIII* and sides of bridge. See Page 14 of the intstruction booklet. The HACS Mk III* are the two items made from E18, E19 and E21. See where they tell you to add the HACS Mk III* and a large centre section of the bridge (the Conning Tower Platform)? You need to add the shelters between the HACS and the lower sides of the Conning Tower Platform. The shelters were about the smae width as the "tube" that the HACS sat on. The shelters will go from the deck to just beneath the actual HACS (leave room for the HACS to rotate. There will be a small door in the shelter's rear very close to the HACS "tubes". You can see the location in the photo I mentioned earlier (with the "B" turret UP splinter shield)
Radar Hood- Remove small box from the left rear of part D34. EJ Foeth has correctly deduced (and John Roberts has told me he thinks EJ is correct) that there was no box. It was actually an optical illusion. The overall dimensions of the hood were the same as always. So, remove it and add a section of raised roof above the left rear corner.
Cut down tubes (E32)- Too tall, wrong shape. At least cut off the straight portion at the bottom. Cover tops.
After Superstructure- Put canvas over the square windows around the lower rear of the structure. There is also a slight problem on the port side where the structure is indented (D11). There is a sharp edge at the top of the indent...this should be angled inward actually.
Various ladders in wrong locations, hatches where there should be lockers, etc. - There are a number of instances. I'l leave this to others to point out (I'm too tired right now...had a long week!). For my part, here are some glaring examples- the Disinfector House has an extra ladder and the Motorboat Workshop has an extra door. Remove the ladder and door from part B26. There are other instances as well. I'll leave it to others to point these out (I'm too tired to do it right now, LOL!). As for hatches, the pom pom bandstand (B46) appears to have hatches where it should have lockers. Come to think of it, the base of the bandstand (B31 and B32) appears to be the wrong shape. I need to look into this...
Motorboat Workshop- The square windows atop B28 are just that-windows. Stop plating them over with photoetch grilles! I've noticed this trend...
Replace "X" turret platforms (C11 and C12) - EJ Foeth correctly determined the correct shape using various photos from our archives. He is 100% correct. These were not flat angular platforms in 1941. They were actually two identically sized frameworks (when viewed from above, they were made up of square segments with X cross beams in the centre of each square). Each "platform" consisted of three such squares. The only reason one appears smaller than the other is because of the changing shape of the turret beneath them. This causes a bit of an optical illusion.
"My book says this"- Some of you will, no doubt, pull out your Anatomy of the Ship, Classic Warships books, plans, etc. and disagree with some things I say. Go right ahead, but be advised that some of the things mentioned here are changes to what was previously known...they arent in any books/plans or models. Please remember that some of the old sources are excellent (especially the Anatomy of the Ship book...John is a true master of his craft and is just about the most down to earth and a heck of a truly nice gentleman as well!), but that at the time they were created, they didn't have a lot of information on various structures. This is why some features aren't covered in detail. Also, there was a bit of deduction based on limited phototgraphy involved in some areas (such as the "box" on the radar hood, X turret platforms, etc.
Since then, many new photos have been uncovered (as have colour film,, plus the wreck has been filmed, etc.), so, we have more information. That is all. Had this information been available when the plans were drawn/books were written, it would have been incorporated. They did the hard work and the rest of us have the luxury of being able to build upon it with new photos, etc. So, by pointing out errors, I am by no means slamming the earlier books, plans, etc. On the contrary, we would be nowhere without them.
Anyway, we'll eventually write an article about these details for the Hood website. Not only is the Trumpeter kit affected by these things, but so is the 1/700 Tamiya.
Lastly- please forgive my poor grammar and any spelling errors...its been a long week and I am completely knackered.
EndFrank
http://hmshood.com