The Ship Model Forum

And here are the corrected barbettes, with twelve reinforment plates.
As you see, the replaced deck around B turret from Evergreen is quite nice. The butt ends of the deck planks I scribed in similar fashion like the rest of the kit, not to fall out of tune of course.
On the Y barbette I replaced all the triangles to make them similar with those of the forward turrets.

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"I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing, and the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising, their guns on fire as we sail into hell"
Roger Whittaker +9/13/2023

Well that confirms it, two doors are correct. Nevertheless I find Shapeways detail overdone in some aspects, prefer to add the details scratch and with PE. Thank you for bringing up the issue with the bases, this kit will need some additional work, more than what I expected.

Marco

I fully agree with you, Marco. The Trumpy kit is better than expected, looking at their previous kits, but lacks in a lot of places. I also agree with Tracy White, it seems Trumpeter fully relies on Profile Morskie, but that reference is not always very accurate, making too many assumptions without checking with solid references like photos.

_________________
"I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing, and the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising, their guns on fire as we sail into hell"
Roger Whittaker +9/13/2023

An interesting image, not Exeter, but HMS York.
A Dido in background, likely to be Bonaventure.

York was one of the chosen few to receive some of the very limited supply of MK I oerlikons early 41.
Her qtr deck octagonal gun bin, note the barbette ribs on Y turret.

From the previous mentioned series, incorrectly and ridiculously identified as Perth.

Thank you for this picture, Brett!

_________________
"I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing, and the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising, their guns on fire as we sail into hell"
Roger Whittaker +9/13/2023

Brent, re the images you posted above on March 27. Is the top image of Exeter(?), and if so would you be kind enough to post the complete image please. I don't think I have seen that one before.

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“We are off to look for trouble. I expect we shall find it.” Capt. Tennant, HMS Repulse. 8 December 1941
“A review of the situation at about 1100 was not encouraging.” Capt. Gordon, HMS Exeter. 1 March 1942

The full size image can be found here,
https://www.history.navy.mil/content/hi ... 60805.html

Thanks VERY much for the link Brett, MUCH appreciated!

It's been a long time since I have been to the NHHC site and great to see some of those photos up there in such high res (and some interesting PDF's to boot). Rubbing my hands with glee.

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“We are off to look for trouble. I expect we shall find it.” Capt. Tennant, HMS Repulse. 8 December 1941
“A review of the situation at about 1100 was not encouraging.” Capt. Gordon, HMS Exeter. 1 March 1942

Just to give a head up that a Chinese Company is making a lovely set of 8 inch gun Brass Barrels for the HMS Exeter and York
( and have an attachment pin for the Gun Barrels - like Pontos uses that will save a lot of work )
sold on USA Ebay by CY Models - ref 1/350 203mm Brass Gun Barrel for Trumpeter 05350 HMS Exeter CYG029 6pcs/set

and also a WOODEN DECK .1/350 Wooden Deck for Trumpeter 05350 HMS Exeter Heavy Cruiser Model CY350055

Sadly the deck is useless in case of depicting her in the 1939 frametime
Wish that a good vendor like Flyhawk,Pontos makes a special set for an early war Exeter and solve this problem.

So far Maarten's solution for fixing the B Turret's deck is brilliant, he is doing one of a hell job, quite an artist .

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No Whine Policy
1.- Modify it
2.- Ignore it
3.- Don't build it

I heard that Eduard are releasing an etch set in 1/350 scale this month - how comprehensive I don't know
Ref ED53239

Pity that they also missed the inaccuracies from Profile Morskie like the twelve supports per barbette...

_________________
"I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing, and the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising, their guns on fire as we sail into hell"
Roger Whittaker +9/13/2023

Was there ever a general consensus on if the "EX" on the tops of the turrets were black or red?

I'm afraid not yet! The red version seems to have emerged from Profile Morskie, but I have no idea on what evidence this was based. As far as I'm concerned David Hogues version in black looks more credible although less colourful to me.

And to add to the confusion: here we have a picture with the "EX" only on the rear turret, and in white apparently!

_________________
"I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing, and the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising, their guns on fire as we sail into hell"
Roger Whittaker +9/13/2023

Maarteen, interesting photo of Exeter with the white "EX." Can't make out if the aircraft is a Fairey IIIF or a Hawker Osprey but, either way, prewar.

Speaking of aircraft: Exeter had York's Walrus at River Plate, but was it camouflaged or silver?

I believe the embarked Walruses were still in silver paint by that time, and all photo's I've seen of Walrusses on HMS Exeter support that. There was simply not the opportunity to exchange them for camouflaged examples. It's just a peculiarity like the bronze eagle still being on the stern of DKM Graf Spee at that time, although the order had been given to remove all these peacetime markings.
The aircraft on the previous picture seem to be Seafoxes to me, as Ospreys had a longer engine compartment.

_________________
"I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing, and the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising, their guns on fire as we sail into hell"
Roger Whittaker +9/13/2023

Maarten's aerial photo is one held by the RAF Museum - for which gettyimages seems to be able to charge at least £150! Copy online at https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/ne ... /159136974. gettyimages' caption says it was taken in 1933, well before the Seafox first flew. The caption says the aircraft are Ospreys, which she did carry in 1933. The Seafox's nose was rectangular in side view - the nearest aircraft has a pointed nose like an Osprey.

Late 39 to approx. mid 40 silver.
Perhaps there is a site listing the movements of RAF naval co-operation aircraft similar to `ADF Serials?
The aircraft were regularly rotated depending on other operational requirements, damage sustained or maintenance due.
Oddly enough silver examples of Walrus appear to still have been in service late 41, perhaps because they were behind the times in the East Indies and China stations.
The portside image of Exeter which I believe is early 42 in Colombo shows she has an embarked silver, but she also embarked rotated aircraft late 41 which were in camouflage.

I have had that question about the HMS Exeter´s Walruses for a long time, I will go for the silver paint at River Plate, can´t confirm, nor deny, and I like the looks!

Marco

Speaking about the Walruses: I started to look more closely into the catapults they must sit on. To my disappointment Trumpeter didn't quite succeed in making something that could pass. The contraption really should look something like this:
or this:

ref https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1931/1931%20-%200186.PDF

Further reference on the catapults on HMS Exeter to be found here:
https://www.seawings.co.uk/images/Catapult%20References/Catapult%20Articles%20pdf%20file/Catapult%20onboard%20HMS%20Exeter%20-%20%20FLIGHT%20mag%20article%2017th%20June%20%201932.pdf

Trumpy's cats do not seem quite right, but they are the correct length of 47 ft, the early version. I will think whether I will start modifying these, or scratch built new ones myself.

Wouldn't it be time for a correct PE or 3D printed version of the MacTaggart Scott catapults in 1/350 and 1/700 scale? Both the long and the short versions please! Someone from the PE/3D producers listening to this? I have more documentation gathered!

_________________
"I've heard there's a wicked war a-blazing, and the taste of war I know so very well
Even now I see the foreign flag a-raising, their guns on fire as we sail into hell"
Roger Whittaker +9/13/2023