Hi all,
My WEM Kingfisher class sloop is still waiting her final completion since I have start building her at the beginning of 2009. I decide to build her as HMS Shearwater in her colorful Western Approaches scheme. When I start my research I found out, that the kit represent the Kingfisher class sloop in her pre war fit, so there is something to rework to build her in her 1942 war fit.
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The main difference is the larger aft superstructure with two 20mm Oerlikons and a modified bridge, with bridge wings and a searchlight platform and a gun shield for the 4” QF gun. Next to this main modifications I have added some extra details like vents, position lights, lockers, etc.! I have used brass rod, plastic card and rod as well as some extra PE parts from L’Arsenal, GMMM and from my spare box.
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I have used some photos of mid and late war Kingfisher class sloops to build the aft superstructure as exact as possible. The dimensions are only guess work, but in my opinion it looks well. Some 1.5 to 2.5mm plastic cards were used to build the basic structure and 0.5mm thick card for the deck with its AA gun platforms. The same plastic card was used for the bridge modifications. Instead if plastic card, paper was used to build the gun shield. The paper was covered with super glue to get a firm part with smooth surface.
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Even though there is something to modify WEMs little sloop is a really nice kit of these more or less unknown type of coastal escort. The Kingfisher class sloops were build in three groups between 1934 and 1939. Next to Shearwater are Kingfisher, Mallard, Puffin, Kittiwake, Sheldrake, Widgeon, Guillemot and Pintail. Because of their size and their inefficient steam turbines (less range) the ships mostly served in coastal waters. One of the workhorses, HMS Puffin help to sunk U-16 in 1939 and a midget submarine in 1945, HMS Pintail was lost in 1941. HMS Shearwater was commanded from March to October 1943 by Nicholas John Turney Monsarrat, RNVR, the author of “The Cruel Sea”
The nearly finished model dozed for nearly a year in my modeling yard. After I have finished HMS Glowworm in April I decide to finish Shearwater at first, because it is an interesting subject and the most finished model in my stash. So I have started to paint her in a three tone WA camouflage scheme. As usual I have used WEM Colorcoats for the basic painting and Vallejo acrylics for decks and details.
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Now the main paint job is done by airbrush and brush painting, also a display is in progress. I hope to finish her as soon as possible, so stay tuned.