Scratch-building the fleet radar picket HMS Barrosa in 1/600

[Michael Potter]

Thanks for the comments and suggestions, especially about depth, something I never thought about. I shall try the
pencil method on another model to see how it works. About the lifelines, I know you are correct (and correct for the USN,
too) about black cables. Even .005-inch PE scales to 3 inches on the full ship. Black cables look too prominent on
another 1/600 model. Low-contrast gray subdues the scale. Anyway at this point it's too late to change.

Tony, ships in my queue include a 1/600 HMS Penelope as in the Falklands and a 1/700 USN DER. I've started a
1/700 WW2 Fletcher (USS Kidd) in part to experiment with techniques on a low priority model. Other models are in the
queue, including an unusual never-was of a double-ended Sea Slug cruiser that the RN designed about 1955.
It was possibly the world's first double-ended missile cruiser design.

Cheers,
Mike

[middle_watch]

I love the subject, I saw the Barossa and the Matapan alongside each other in Portsmouth in 1978, I remember thinking how they looked like real warships against the newer stuff, even though they were looking a bit sad by then.

Following your build with great interest.

[Michael Potter]

In the hobby realm there is good news ... what else are hobbies for?


She is close enough to complete to compete! This past Friday (28.vii) I entered her in the quarterly contest of the San Diego
chapter of the International Plastic Modelers Society. I am honoured that IPMS-SD voted her 1st place among ship models
and "best of show" among all models. So this British destroyer with a Spanish name has two American awards. This photo
shows her right after the contest, with her protective display case removed for photography.

By coincidence it was the 30th anniversary of IPMS-SD's quarterly contests and its 100th "best of show" award ... some
contests produced no award. Among the 100 "best of show" models this is the first ship to win in over 3 years; only the
second British modeling subject, the other being a Lotus race car 15 years ago; and only the 7th ship to win ever, most
"best of show" models being aircraft.

Some parts need realignment. I have assembled her mostly with white glue (PVA) to allow for realignment. A number
of detailed parts still need installation, such as life rafts, more electronics, and deck gear aft.

I owe thanks to many correspondents here and off-list for guidance, parts, and lessons that I have tried to use.
This is practically a team effort!

[Avery Boyer]

Great build there. Great Radar, gives you a sense of scale. Congrats on the awards. It's gotta be good to win "Best of Show".
Wish my models were that good.

[ARH]

WELL DONE ON YOUR AWARDS, they are well deserved for the effort put into the model, ARH

[Michael Potter]

With British 1p and 5p coins, and US 1� and 10� coins.

[Laurence Batchelor]

Thats Great News Mike, I'm glad I could be of service

It doesn't surprise that not many RN subjects win over there, but yours is truely special.

I hope you will continue to model RN warships in the future

[Michael Potter]

New this weekend! All custom:
six life rafts on stanchions (two more needed)
signal lamps on bridge wings
RF receiver antennas
ventilators
aft catwalks

[middle_watch]

Nice work! But is that a CRBDF for the Seacat? I believe that although it defies logic the CRBDF was removed and the far less effective manual director for GWS-20 fitted on all converted Battles. Be interested to hear if I am wrong.

[Michael Potter]

Good eye! GWS-20 was the small director for Seacat. Peter Hodges in Warship volume II (reprint of Warship 7) says
GWS-20 was aboard these RN ships:

• Leander-class frigate Naiad as built;
  AS type 12 Rothesay class (after modernization around 1970);AD type 61 frigates Salisbury and Lincoln;
  LPDs Fearless and Intrepid;
  [also the Ca-class destroyers after modernization but they were gone when Hodges wrote his article.]

Barrosa mounted a GWS-21 Seacat director, based on the close-range blind-fire director (CRBFD) with radar type 262.
According to Peter Hodges as above, RN ships with GWS-21 included:

• the Battle-class DDRs;
  GP type 81 Tribal-class;
  First 4 County-class DLGs.

I believe http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_Cat_missile is incorrect about GWS-21. Instead its caption for
GWS-21 describes GWS-22, as does its caption for GWS-22.

Which ships appear in your nice photo? The foreground ship is an ASW type 12 frigate, I think, with a GWS-20 director.
The enclosed cockpit above it is actually the MRS Mk3 director aboard the Leander-class frigate in the background.

This is GWS-21 with its canvas cover (the "pram hood"?) closed, aboard Barrosa:

[middle_watch]

Kewl! I believe the inboard ship is supposed to be the Corunna and clearly that is a manual control panel as for the GWS-20. Will have to dig deeper!

My 1978 Janes Fighting ships (a joining up present that irredemiably got me the nickname of "Anchor Face") lists GWS-20 on the Rothesay class also but the Battles are not listed.

Keep up the good work!

[Michael Potter]

I edited my response 2 messages up to add the Rothesay class to the GWS-20 population, and the Ca-class destroyers. Peter Hodges didn't cite the Ca class, probably because they were gone at the time he wrote.

The foreground ship in your photo doesn't match Corunna in To Sail No More, vol. 2, which
shows her from the port quarter en route to a breaker. The Seacat launcher on Corunna and
the other Battle-class DDRs sat on a wider deck than in the photo. A Squid magazine extended aft
of the Seacat launcher but this ship has nets.

That said, I don't know which ship she is, and will be interested in your research!

[middle_watch]

Agreed, not a Battle, too many things wrong, has to be the CA class. As a matter of interest I am also researching seacats on the Ark, although every reference says fitted "for but not with" there is an LP released at the time of the TV series "Sailor" set aboard the post war Ark Royal and it includes sound bytes as well as music. Very clearly in one section set in the Ops Room you hear the warfare officer order "Take with Birds" during an air raid excercise, that is code for Seacat. Taking things a bit far when you pretend you have weapons you do not!

If anyone knows I would also appreciate any info on a ship mounting a triple launcher which I saw many years ago in Portsmouth, looked British built, probably Vickers. (Not Tigercat, they are mounted side by side, this was in a triangle configuration)

[Michael Potter]

If anyone knows I would also appreciate any info on a ship mounting a triple launcher
which I saw many years ago in Portsmouth, looked British built, probably Vickers.

Iran's Saam-class and the ASW frigates of Brazil's Niteroi class fit the description.
Maybe other exported warships, too.

[Michael Potter]

Ready for rigging. I'll practice modeling a base of simulated water first on some other model.

[Michael Potter]

Signal halyards are in place on the foremast.

[Michael Potter]

Mahogany item alongside #3 deckhouse is a folded accommodation ladder.
White structure atop #2 deckhouse is a ventilation duct.

[Pieter]

Absolutely brilliant. May I suggest you take a long and serious look at the airfix Devonshire and/or Victorious?

[Neptune]

That is indeed quite a result you got there! Excellent!

Regards
Roel

[mike mccabe]

Mike
Excellent job on Barrosa, very good looking model you have there.

Mike