This thread has been abandoned for too long!
I have started work on the Loose Canon HMT Stormking and...well...at least it's a good subject...
So far, I have completely stripped the aft deck, cut up most of the forward superstructure and plan on replacing all of the small parts. The casting quality is bad, but I think it is just my particular kit since most Loose Canon kits seem to have nice or at least fair casting. My hull was literally split in half by a massive bubble. I could have ordered a replacement, I am sure, but figured what the heck, it's such a small kit, why not just repair it. At the moment it's held together with some superglue and a lot of putty. I found that the forward bridge deck is largely incorrect, both in layout and placement, and so I have chopped it up and am rebuilding it. The funnel is good, but I will drill it out and replace the piping. The vents (not sure of the correct term-vents like the kind found on old ocean liners) are useable, but the gun, davits, masts, boats, anchors, etc. all will be replaced. The aft deck has a bizarre raised structure running the length of it that does not appear in any of the photos I have seen of these tugs, although I have yet to find one of Stormking specifically. I plan on building HMT Assurance, so that doesn't matter too much. I cut off everything on the aft deck. The hull has overdone rub rail detail that has all come off and will be replaced with strip styrene. I will raid the spare parts bin for ladders, rails, 20mm, anchors, etc.
Now, on to the questions.
The gun, which I am assuming is a 3", is alright, but would really rather be replaced. Does anyone make an aftermarket version of this gun?
As I already mentioned, I plan on replacing the ships boats. Does anyone know what the approximate size of these boats were and whether they were carried by other ships in the RN?
Finally, does anyone know where to find good, high quality photos of these ships? I have some low quality ones, but they don't provide much detail. Thanks in advance!
