The Ship Model Forum

I'm scratch-building in 1/600 HMS Barrosa (D68), a 1943 Battle class destroyer as converted to a fleet radar picket in the 1960s. These were the first ships to mount Seacat and the big Type 965 AKE-2 air search radar (the "double bedstead"). Barrosa served the longest, 1962-1968.

The hull is converted from Airfix's HMS Daring kit. Stock PE and resin fittings are by WEM and GMM. The RC/scratch-building forum here has an entry by me about designing and milling PE parts at home, for this model. These parts include the masts, platforms, upper decks, and much else. Other parts, including the funnel, are hand-crafted from Evergreen styrene.

I'm creating the model from photographs, several from veterans. A byproduct of this model may be the only accurate medium-scale drawing of this design. Official drawings seem to have disappeared from access.

To my eye these DDRs (to use a USN term) were the RN's best-looking destroyers ever. Further, I enjoy the challenge of this project.

If so, are we going to see some progress pictures, thats what were all here for. ARH

_________________
Simple but effective.

Here is HMS Barrosa with dry-fit big parts:



B gun deck is an early version, not the final version. The completed model will include lifelines and other details.

The big Type 965 radar antenna, not mounted in this image, will come from WEM's 1/700 stock PE. It actually scales to 1/600 within 1mm.

A discovery to me is that the ship was not symmetrical along her centerline.

While very slow going, modeling this destroyer is very enjoyable.

Mike your photo doesnt work m8

You're right. How do I correctly post a photo to this site? Anyway, go to the new URL to see the dry-fit model in progress.

I tried that and it didnt work said members only and wanted a username and password!

When typing a url it has to be accessible to the public!

So for example my server it would be http://www.widdo.net/laurence/ file name of the image.

Did a google search and it came up! Lovely Battle Class one of my faves!

Wonderful work, what WEM set is the Mast out of then the 1/600 Daring?

Also is the aft one out of it to?

I've also put the image on my server so it can be displayed here for you

Laurence, thank you for diligently finding and posting the photo and for your nice comments about this model.

I am further flattered that you think the masts came from WEM's professionals. In fact the masts are mine! I designed them myself and fabricated them with a do-it-yourself PE kit. The PE designs are based on photos (one of which I recall that I bought from you on an eBay auction) of the ships of this class. Nobody knows of any surviving blueprints for the modernized destroyers. Barrosa's foremast differed slightly from the others.

The radar antennas do come from WEM: PE624 for radar types 277Q and 293Q (and for some of the mast yardarms), and PE 701 (or whatever is the PN for 1/700 RN radars) for radar type 965. WEM's Type 965 antennas are out of scale in both those PE sets. The '1/700' PE kit antenna is actually 1/600, which fits this model.

Mike,

your model looks absolutely fantastic!!

Have you ever thought about making some of the PE parts available to others? I bet there are quite a few around who'd be interested in the squid, for example.

Jorit

_________________

The Squid would be lovelly to get indeed!! I could go on to build Tamiya E class to HMS Escapade as ASW escort for instance.

_________________
"Build few and build fast,
Each one better than the last"
John Fisher

To Mike Potter,

during digging for more KGV stuff this weekend I found this is my collection and thought of your model m8.
A small thank you of those goodies you sent me in the post

Cheers!

HMS Corunna at Rosyth for refit in August 1965

I have looked at your work in the scratch build section. Fine work. I have just bought a Frog Battle Class from Lozza. Now all I need is some PE and skill to turn her into something like! However, the basic kit is great, wish there were more of them about, or even Trumpeter started doing them in their variants. I have a photo of Barrossa when it wore the pennant I.68, though it is not dated. Possibly 1946-1947.

_________________
1-350 wishes:
RN Cruisers/Destroyers (WW2)
USN Cruisers/Destroyers (WW2 + post war)

Thanks for the good grade, Hugh. More photos of Barrosa are new today at the scratch-build forum.

You're no doubt aware that the 1/325 kit contains a 1942 Battle and that Barrosa was a 1943 Battle.
By my calculation, 1/350 PE and 1/350 after-market parts should be a close-enough fit for 1/325.

Are you converting the kit to the radar picket version?

_________________
If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, [atmospheric] CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm.
Dr James Hansen, NASA, 2008.

Hugh I spotted another one, but it is in the USA:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Novo-HMS-Trafalgar-Battle-Class-Destroyer-Model-1-325_W0QQitemZ280027445343QQihZ018QQcategoryZ2590QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I have no affilation with the seller I just spotted it while browsing and remembered you would like to have a sister for your FROG one

Surely the Battle kit each of you already possess is satisfactory and you don't need another from eBay this month. I know, your name isn't Shirley.

_________________
If humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, [atmospheric] CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm.
Dr James Hansen, NASA, 2008.

It is all in the mind, Michael.

I built in the Heller range - 4 Redoutable SSNLE, 2 Suffren DDG, 6 Daphne SS, 3 Tourville FFG, 2 Kersaint DDG, 3 Le Normand FF, 2 Le Corse FF, 4 Cdt. Riviere FF as examples of multiples within the Marine Nationale. I am hoping to complete DesRon 8 some time in Tamiya Fletchers. One built and in a display case, but wanting in PE additions, eversince I found out about such things.

Oh and thanks to Laurence re the extra battle class, but I am a novice for the ebay thing and have yet to work out the paypal thing..where angels fear to tread!

To put you more in the picture on this 'all in the mind', if you can picture a humble heller fan trogging over to Boulogne-sur-mer by train and ship and making a deal with a local shop (G. Martel, Ric et Rac, 46 Bde de Clocheville, Boulogne sur mer 62200) and coming back loaded and with a decent discount. This re-occurred when I tripped over to Lyons visiting my sister....model shops in UK were only interested in selling the BB's and BC's at that time!

_________________
1-350 wishes:
RN Cruisers/Destroyers (WW2)
USN Cruisers/Destroyers (WW2 + post war)

I finished a major rebuild of the old 1/325th Frog battle class, the only parts from the kit I used , were, hull, funnel, 4.5 turrets, squid , boats, and t tubes, the rest was either scrathed built, or PE,I found that a WEM pe lattice mast fitted perfertly.When I`ve mastered e mailing photos,I`ll submit some to this site.

Hello

May I under this forum add a question regarding material on the very good looking Battle class destroyers.

I am especially interested in the HMS Barossa (D68) as she was built by Mr Alex McFayden 25 years ago. I have seen the article in the June 1991 issue of Model Boats where a Mr Ray Bridgen included an article with McFaydens models of Barossa and Vanguard.

Does anyone have any material on the Barossa in the STAAG-gun & Squid-launcher version or knows good sources for such?

With best regards

Fredrik

Dear Fredrik,
It's always a pleasure to help out someone from Stockholm, a very beautiful city
Please may I have your email address.

Regards
Laurence

Hi,

I have a photo from my Uncle's collection of the above:


http://www.flickr.com/photos/frank_deweck/sets/72157601877801441/


Hope this can be of some use for you.

Cheers,

Hugh

_________________
1-350 wishes:
RN Cruisers/Destroyers (WW2)
USN Cruisers/Destroyers (WW2 + post war)