HMS Zulu 1942 & HMS Eskimo 1944 by RGL - FINISHED - Trumpeter - 1/350 - PLASTIC

[RGL]

Next build is the HMS Zulu. A tribal class destroyer that has a generic PE set from White Ensign Models. It’s going to be a very aftermarket kit with 3D printing from Micromaster in NZ 

[Canute]

Nice! The Tribals were a neat design.

[Egilman]

A very capable destroyer, and good looking ships as well....

[RGL]

So when this comes out I’ll be able to bling her up 

[BANYAN]

Another great choice of subject matter Greg; look forward to this one.  Can I ask why 'Zulu' and not one of the Aussie ships?  There must be a wealth of info available for the Aussie ones?

 

cheers

 

Pat

[RGL]

I think it’s just a KISS thing. 

[Landlubber Mike]

Wow, are those all resin parts in the upgrade set?  Looks fantastic!

[lmagna]

28 minutes ago, Landlubber Mike said:

Wow, are those all resin parts in the upgrade set?

3D printed, not resin cast. Micro Masters produces some phenomenal stuff. At least in my limited opinion.

https://micromaster.co.nz/

Edited March 6, 2021 by lmagna

[Landlubber Mike]

Wow those are amazing!  That detail is insane!  Those will set you back a bit of coin for sure.

[RGL]

Yep. There is a heap of types of these builds online all saying the bow is out. I disagree after studying the existing photos of her, but the hawser holes are in the wrong place. The kit is a hodge podge of “as built’ and 1942. 

[Egilman]

17 minutes ago, RGL said:

Yep. There is a heap of types of these builds online all saying the bow is out. I disagree after studying the existing photos of her, but the hawser holes are in the wrong place. The kit is a hodge podge of “as built’ and 1942. 

Yep, pretty typical of all these ships where there is a plethora of conflicting information, they had to make some choices and they seldom get it completely right..... But they try....

At least we have the basic ship in hopefully the correct configuration for some of it life.... Some manufacturers/designers can't even get the basic hull shape correct....

[cog]

On 3/6/2021 at 5:02 AM, RGL said:

Yep. There is a heap of types of these builds online all saying the bow is out. I disagree after studying the existing photos of her, but the hawser holes are in the wrong place. The kit is a hodge podge of “as built’ and 1942. 

Looking at the Tribal Class (1935 and 1936 Programmes) chapter in British Destroyers by E.J. March, You are not so far off. The bow is curved slightly less, than Trumper's model, but not as much as some tend to define it. Actually, the Trumper kit is actually quite close to the photographs as you stated. The hawseholes are further for'ard and closer to the deck.

 

Zulu was build by A. Stephens, and was the most expensive from all Tribal class destroyers built: GBP 351,135 the others were between GBP 337,000 and GBP 344,000

 

Interesting  detailup set. Let me know when it is available. Still have a third kit in my stash ...

[BANYAN]

I can't state with definitive evidence, but the basic hull form of the Tribals look very similar to the later 'Daring' class, to which plan the Aussie Navy's Vampire, Vendetta and Voyager were constructed.  It might be relatively safe to look at the plans of those ships (readily available) to establish the shape of a bow curve?

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Ian_Grant]

I have a lot of fond memories as a child of playing hide and seek with my brother on HMCS Haida, the last surviving Tribal destroyer which was then (late sixties) moored as a museum ship on the Toronto waterfront. They also had a Lancaster on a pedestal nearby; we used to pester mom and dad to take us down there and bring sandwiches for a picnic. Haven't seen Haida for years, since she was moved to Hamilton harbour for some reason.

[RGL]

So apparently Micromaster  also going to do new funnels. I’m thinking I’m going to have to scratch build the entire focsle but I need references for that area. 

[cog]

I'll get some photographs from the drawings in the book mentioned before, and send them to you if that's of any help(?)

[RGL]

Sure. The whole steam winch is a tad confusing 

 

[BANYAN]

Again Greg, the Daring Class had a steam winch also; probably of the same type.  I have photos of Vampire's capstan if that helps.  Any of the 3D printed steam capstans of that period would work I think.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[cog]

7 minutes ago, BANYAN said:

Again Greg, the Daring Class had a steam winch also; probably of the same type.  I have photos of Vampire's capstan if that helps.  Any of the 3D printed steam capstans of that period would work I think.

 

cheers

 

Pat

I would like to see that. I think most ships from the same type from that period would have similar capstans. Although V&W are quite a bit smaller than the Tribal class ships. Development would mainly be in speed and armament which makes differences in these parts unlikely.

[dickrd]

Although of the Canadian Tribals, these on-line plans may be of some help to you: tribal.pdf (hnsa.org) 

 

But for chapter and verse on RN Tribal plans this is excellent: Pen and Sword Books: Destroyer Cossack - Hardback (pen-and-sword.co.uk)

 

 

Edited March 27, 2021 by dickrd

[cog]

Thanks for the Pen & Sword Books link, Dick. Can't get a proper file from the pdf, 6 very wide pages without content ...

 

OC ... any relationship with this writer: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Captain-Class-Frigates-in-the-Second-World-War-Paperback/p/17798 ?

Edited March 27, 2021 by cog

[dickrd]

Carl,

 

Maybe you will have better luck going in via the parent page: BOOKLETS OF GENERAL PLANS ONLINE | Historic Naval Ships Association (hnsa.org)

 

[Old Collingwood]

1 hour ago, cog said:

Thanks for the Pen & Sword Books link, Dick. Can't get a proper file from the pdf, 6 very wide pages without content ...

 

OC ... any relationship with this writer: https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk/The-Captain-Class-Frigates-in-the-Second-World-War-Paperback/p/17798 ?

Could have been mate  - but mine is made up  after Collingwood from Trafalgar  just for our forum.

 

OC.

[BANYAN]

Just to be clear guys, it is not the V&W class but the Daring class I am talking of.  These were the follow-on type to the Tribal and had a very similar hull form.  This is a picy of the steam capstan arrangement on Vampire .  The capstan stayed much the same even after the major upgrades in the late 60's; but, if you can find a picture of the pre-modernisation it might show a more-correct version..

 

Some of the surrounding structure, such as the cable ramps,  drip/oil dam etc may be much diufferent but the steam winch is probably much the same - these were steam driven with the steam pressure dials ev ident in the central (black) box.

 

 

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited March 27, 2021 by BANYAN

[RGL]

That’s the same as the Canadian museum ship’s capstan. I think I’ll just wipe the thing smooth and use some checker plate and scratch it. 

[cog]

Not much choice but to scratch it mate. Not seen anything like it in 3D printed, and PE ... fat chance you'll find something like it

[BANYAN]

Greg, if it helps, I had a 3D print of 'Vampire' done at 1:350 through Shapeways.  You can get the front deck assembly as a separate piece and you could cut away the unwanted bits?

 

cheers

 

Pat

[RGL]

Time to start on the Zulu hull, apparently the bow is wrong so bash time. @cog did a really nice photo on his bow modification on his conversion of a Tribal. The stern needs work too. The hawser hole is really out of line so I’ll fix that and I’ve flattened the focsle so I intend to scratch a fair bit on that. 

[Old Collingwood]

I see you are correcting the bow slope  - seams to be quite a common fault in most  plastic kits of the Tribal class, looks like the only correct  kits are the resin ones  but the expense of those.

 

OC.

[RGL]

So I’ve lifted the bow, drilled new hawser holes, drilled out the portholes. I’ll need to replace ringols from spares where I’ve sanded them off. Serious it’s a pain to have to do this but can’t be helped.