The Ship Model Forum

With the increase in interest of modelling WW1 ships, here is an out of box review for the second class of the WW1 destroyer types from HP Models in 1/700 H.M.S. Sardonyx 1919.


HMS Seafire 1918 Admiralty S Class

There is lots of information available on the S Class destroyers of which HMS Sardonyx is a member. These were ordered to a modified R design with learning’s incorporated from the war for better sea keeping, quick build times and night torpedo warfare. 55 S Class were built to a Standard Admiralty design with additional specials from Thornycroft (5) and Yarrow (7).

On the Web:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S-class_destroyer_%281916%29
http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/old_r+s_class.htm
http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/tfs/index.php/%22S%22_Class_Destroyer_%281918%29

Reference texts:
1. British Destroyers From Earliest Days by Norman Freeman is the best reference with a good drawing of HMS Scimatar by A. D. Baker III
2. British Destroyers by Edgar J. March gives many clear photos and copies of numerous Admiralty Sketch Design drawings. The Profile, Upper & Forcastle Decks drawing of HMS Mandate is very good
3. The British Destroyer by TD Manning

HMS Sardonyx was laid down 25th March 1918 and launched on 27th May 1919 as the first RN ship to carry the name. Build was completed on 12th July 1919 and she served with the Fleet until later was placed in Reserve. In 1939 was taken out of Reserve and p was adopted by the civil community of Coulsdon and Pursey, Surrey. She served in WW2 winning two battle honors; Atlantic 1940 - 42 and Arctic 1942. Her moto is: 'Clean cuts clean'. HMS Sardonyx was placed on the Disposal List after the end of hostilities in Europe and sold for demolition by TW Ward at Inverkeithing. The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in September 1945.

HP Models Offerings

Destroyer Admiralty-S-Class Trojan -1918-
WW I-WL-GB-028

Destroyer Admiralty-S-Class Sardonix -1919-
WW I-WL-GB-029

Destroyer Admiralty-S-Class Steadfast -1919-
WW I-WL-GB-030

Destroyer Admiralty-S-Class Tilbury -1918-
WW I-WL-GB-031

Destroyer Admiralty-S-Class Strenous -1919-
WW I-WL-GB-032

Note: The kits are NOT identical. HMS Trojan has the forward 18” torpedoes and 4 depth charges on the stern. HMS Sardonyx has the forward torpedoes removed and a depth charge rack on the stern.

HMS Sardonyx
The model comes boxed with bubble wrap around each plastic bag. The hull is in one and a second bag contains all of the parts. There is a paper sheet of flags and a 3 page set of instruction drawings.



When comparing to AD Bakers’ HMS Scimitar drawing both the hull shape and the deck houses are correct.


Kit Contents


Hull View


Hull Profile View

The Measurements
These are taken from the kit and from the drawing using a 0.150 mm Digital Caliper.



So from the references and the drawing of HMS Scimitar the hull is 0.3% long and the beam is spot on, call it perfect for a 1/700 kit. The W/L to deck measurements indicates the hull is too thick but placing in ‘water’ will correct this. The funnel height should also be reduced, the profile drawing provided will allow for this.

The parts come on a single wafer and it should be straight forward to clean them up. There are extra parts, just in case... and there is an instruction drawing that shows how many you will need of each part type.


Parts View From Platforms End


Parts View From Deck Houses End

The wafer has deck houses, platforms, life rafts, life boats, funnels and small parts. There are extra torpedo tubes and a 4” gun to allow for errors. There are instructions on the diameters and lengths required to make up the masts with brass wire (not provided).

The instructions are very basic drawings, one to make the masts, one of the parts and one for positioning. There is a drawing with plan and profile views although it is simple it is correct for the individual ship. AD Bakers’ drawing of HMS Scimitar is clear and useful and should be easy to get. March’s book is hard to come by but if you do it has a 4 page fold out drawing of HMS Trojan. The front page has the General Arrangement as Fitted including plan and profile views along with plan views of the platforms. The back page Has a plan view of the lower deck and 8 superbly detailed cross sections. All you need to build a Admiralty S Class from scratch.



There is the standard paper flag set for RN vessels provided.

There is no photo etch provided but likely your scrap box will have what little will be required. If you can get it WEM PE 791 1/700 Royal Navy V & W Class Destroyers has all sorts of useful items.

For colour indications photos are good references This is from "British Warships 1914-1919" by FJ Dittmar & JJ Colledge: May 6, 1915 Destroyers were to be painted dead black. On June 4, 1915 Destroyers to remain dead black but masts to become a very light grey. On July 7, 1916 all torpedo craft hitherto black to be painted grey. Hull 1 part black to 20 parts white (by weight), upper works to use mixture 1 part black to 23 parts white.

The HP Models S Class Destroyer kit is one of their more recent kits. It remains the only option for 1/700 scale. With some add on parts you will get a very good S Class destroyer.

Cheers,
George

George

Thanks for your review. The old S Class are one of my favourites and I have long had plans to either scratch build one in 1/350 using the plans in Edgar Marches book or confer a WEM Mary Rose. The plans however are still in my head.

Terry