My scale 1/350 modeling yard

[Christian Bruer]

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

[Quincy]

A very informative and busy build Christian!!




Bob Pink.

[MartinJQuinn]

I really enjoy reading your posts and seeing your progress pictures. Nice work on a handsome little ship.

[Anthony P]

Hi Christian!

Another fascinating subject choice! Wonderful detail work -as usual - and conversion. I cannot wait to see the Painter's work once again...

Best wishes,
Anthony

[Christian Bruer]

Hi again,

thank you very much for your interest and your very kind comments. Ther is only less progress during the last weekend. So far, most of the brush painting is done. It lacks only some small details like position lights etc.
I deliberate about some details for the quay. Mmhhh, maybe something like a street lantern, some bollards along the quay, lets see.....

[Christian Bruer]

Hi all,

today there's only a small update. I have build a street lantern and add some bollards along the quay. Mmhh, the lantern could be 10 - 15% smaller, but it was tricky enough to build the lantern.

Comments are welcome

[EJFoeth]

Very nice! A one-post-tell-all build

[M�LDERS]

Sharp work, Christian!
Whoooooo....razor sharp!
Great modeling!

Best

Alex

[GTDEATH13]

Makes me want to build one... Very impressive

[Christian Bruer]

Hi all,

There was less time for modeling during the last month, so there is only small progress to show. But at first let me say �thank you for your kind comments�

Because I have no solution for the pennant no. at the moment (the no. should be grey, but I have only white and black decals) I start painting and detailing the display and the quay.

The street lantern.

The quay painted with base colors.

The finished quay with lifesavers, ropes, ladders, street lantern and a phone box.

The finished base, the ship is only in place to check the effect of the wake.

I named them Statler and Waldorf;-) Some more figures will follow.

[Anthony P]

Fantastic work Christian, but be careful or you'll be investing in Marklin next...

BTW, you are not the only Muppets fan around!

Best regards from Suda Bay, Crete

Anthony

[Guido]

Don't forget to bring her along next week!
Guido

[Lazarus]

Great looking quay there Christian and a fantastic looking ship!

[roy allen]

Hi Christian
Really like the way you show of your progress on this, the quay idea works well to
I have this kit part built, but sadly i got distracted onto another project and have not done any work on her for about 10months, maybe i'll re-start her early next year.

Roy

[Christian Bruer]

Hi all,

thanks to all for your kind comments!

@Anthony, Marklin, good joke! Only when they make a scale 1/350 model railroad
@Guido, yep I will take here with me, CU there
@Lazarus, Roy, nice to see you here

Roy, I left my 75% finished Shearwater also untouched for nearly 10 month. May you found some time to finish yours. Which one of the class do you build? Would be nice to see another one at Telford this year

[johndon]

Superb work Christian

John

[roy allen]

I'm afraid theres no chance of me doing it for this years Telford, Christian.
Mine is the same as yours at the moment as i have already applied the white but i could pick another camo pattern we will have to see.
I don't get much time to model, so things kinda get left behind. Hopefully this will change in a year or two.


Roy

[Christian Bruer]

Hi all,

@Roy, unless I can see your HMS Shearwater in Telford, I hope to meet you there!

There are less harbor accessories in scale 1/350 on the market. Well to get some, there is only one way - make your own ones!
To add a small friend to my HMS Shearwater and some following models I start building a supply barge. When I start shaping the hull (made of some layers of plastic sheet 0.3 � 1.0mm thick), I thought to make some different hull shapes of these master pattern. I ask a close friend to cast some parts from the master for further processing in different shapes.

The first one is the supply barge, a sailing cutter will follow someday.
From above to below: current appearance, cast and master

Ok, this is what the barge looks so far. I add a small platform at the bow and bulwarks and stringers along the hull. To give you an impression of the dimension I placed a ruler and a L�Arsenal sailor on the photo. The helmstand aft is only basic so far. The hold is open, but I will make a separate cover.

It was really fun to work on this small model, I hope you like it!

[Frank Spahr]

Cool beans, and as usual impressively sharp and cleanly executed - I stand in awe like anytime you display your builds, Christian!

Looking forward to seeing her in the flesh

Doc

[Sr. Gopher]

Nice work Christian!