HMS Zulu by king derelict - Trumpeter - 1/700 - PLASTIC

[king derelict]

This is the start of another Tribal destroyer build. HMS Zulu this time.

Trumpeter again so I think I know my way through some of inaccuracies and maybe correct some.

The kit is identical to Huron except for one small sprue which provides the searchlight platform aft. Less secondary weapons which seems correct. 
I haven’t found many photos of Zulu apart from a few of her in the Atlantic in 1941. She was sunk off Tobruk in 1942 later refits don’t apply.

The first problem is deciding what to use for the color scheme. Trumpeter calls for a Royal blue hull and blue decks which is unusual and in my books I only see that sort of scheme later in the war, 1944 - 1945.

The IWM photo seems to show a multi colored hull but it’s hard to see the details further aft and deciding the colors is difficult. 

So I think I’ll browse my books and try to find something similar (or interesting) that’s correct for the period.

sadly as seen in the photo I’ll be building another tripod mast and the PE lattice mast will languish.

 for looking in.

alan

[king derelict]

The research of the camouflage continues without finding any scheme that looks like the IWM photo. I did stumble across this rather interesting reference which looks broadly helpful (except in this case)

https://shipbucket.com/references/Painters Guide to World War Two Naval Camouflage.pdf

Notionally, HMS Zulu in this photo is wearing too dark a scheme for the Atlantic. The digging continues, meanwhile all applicable parts got a dose of Vallejo black acrylic primer.

 

Thanks for looking in and the likes.

 

Alan

 

[AJohnson]

Thats a good reference you shared Alan, it is difficult looking at b&w photos to have guess at what the actual colours were. 

[king derelict]

4 hours ago, AJohnson said:

Thats a good reference you shared Alan, it is difficult looking at b&w photos to have guess at what the actual colours were. 

I thought there was quite a lot of good information there. I played about with contrast and exposure on the IWM photo and I can see the pattern better now but of course no nearer the colours 

is the white really a separate colour or deterioration of the paint? I read that Atlantic storms could strip the paint away. However the WA schemes all use light colours. It’s all rather confusing.

alan

[Old Collingwood]

I have not been able to find mutch about her paint scheme  but I did find thIS bit of history on her including a b nd w pic you can click on at the top  - hope it helps mate.

 

OC.

 

https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-34Tribal-HMS_Zulu.htm

[king derelict]

18 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

I have not been able to find mutch about her paint scheme  but I did find thIS bit of history on her including a b nd w pic you can click on at the top  - hope it helps mate.

 

OC.

 

https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-34Tribal-HMS_Zulu.htm

Thank you very much OC, I don’t have that photo so it’s very useful.

alan

[king derelict]

I spent too much of the day in various rabbit holes trying to get a bit more definitive about Zulus camouflage. Generally I failed. The reference IWM photo was taken in the North Atlantic and so she would likely be wearing Western Approaches or Home Fleet colours. I wandered off comparing WA blues and greens with the admiralty greys in terms of reflectivity and couldn’t really resolve it to my satisfaction. The darker shades on the hull seem to count against WA colours so I have evolved the following plan based on the IWM photo. The hull will be 507C light grey and 507A dark grey in the best approximation of the pattern shown. A black horizontal band will around / above the waterline. The superstructure will be white except for the aft structure and Y gun which will be 507C. I think it’s plausible but if anyone feels that this is foolish please let me know.

With the plan in hand I put the 507C coat on the hull and aft structure.

Thanks for looking in, the likes and helpful comments.

alan

[king derelict]

I worked on scaling the camouflage scheme from the photo, using the mast as a comparison for scale. That suggests the black stripe or boot top is below the waterline of the model which simplifies things. I stared too long at the light patches on the hull and decided that they may be where the camouflage had worn off to show the earlier colours which could be white or more likely light grey. I want to try to emulate this so I decided that the best way was to use chipping fluid. I sprayed a coat of Clear to protect the 507C grey (I don’t want to risk going down to the black primer) and will then apply the chipping fluid and the Tamiya light grey, reapply the 507C, mask and then spray the dark 507A. And then try the chipping. At least that’s the plan. I might have some photo worthy progress by then.

Thanks for looking in, the likes and comments.

Alan

[king derelict]

I found time during the weekend to spray a coat of Tamiya light grey followed by the chipping fluid and then the AK 507C. Today I masked for the 507A dark grey and sprayed it on. The AK paints gave me trouble last time with horrendous bleeds under the masks. This time it all went well. I really burnished the masks down and I kept the paint coats light. I also used the AK thinner instead of water. Maybe that helped the paint dry faster, along with the 90F in the garage this afternoon.

Working with the chipping solution was a bit of a mixed bag, some areas went nicely, revealing the light grey as I wanted. In other places not so good, I seemed to get through to the primer without seeing the light grey. Part of the problem is the small size of the hull and wanting the chipping in specific areas. I’ll try a bit more tomorrow working on the aft section but I think it captures the look of the hull in the photo of the real ship.

Thanks for looking in, the likes and comments.

alan

[king derelict]

I removed a bit more of the light grey to show the paint beneath. I think I’ve got the concept but possibly not the fine details. The weathering will help it later.

 main decks were installed and the remaining decks got a coat of dark grey and the lockers and other details picked out in white or light grey. I find Tamiya paint difficult to brush paint especially white so I switched to the Vallejo paint I use on the miniatures.

Its time to start putting bits together.

Thanks for looking in and for the likes.

alan

[king derelict]

Making some progress with the details. The IWM photos have been sufficient to identify the locations of the Carley rafts. Different to the kit configuration and requiring me to dip into the spares box again. Hopefully I will have enough extras for Eskimo because I suspect that will come up short as well.

The main guns are the same and the quad Bofors is also present. Two quad 50 calibers complete the weapons. A bit more PE this time with an aft searchlight platform to make up.

A few more details to add and then the first weathering before boats and railings are added.

Thanks for looking in, the likes and comments.

alan

 

 

 

[king derelict]

Most of the details have been added and a black oil wash to bring out the details and subdue the very white areas.

 Carley rafts were painted and added. I need to fabricate a brass tripod foremast, add railings and boats.

I had some reservations about the motor boats provided by the kit, trying to work out what the square part of the cabin roof was.

Today it dawned on me, they are life belts, German life belts! Rather oversized too. I need three boats, the whaler at right is fine, I’ll try sanding the life belts off the Trumpeter boats and I dug up a couple of candidates from my Flyhawk spares. 
Time to get the HMS Eskimo box off the shelf.

Thanks for looking in and for the likes and comments.

alan

[Landlubber Mike]

You're moving really quickly on this one Alan - really nicely done!  I like the colors you are using, and the camo scheme is really sweet.

[Old Collingwood]

Really Impressive Alan - a very fine piece of work mate.

 

OC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[king derelict]

On 8/4/2025 at 7:15 PM, Landlubber Mike said:

You're moving really quickly on this one Alan - really nicely done!  I like the colors you are using, and the camo scheme is really sweet.

Thank you very much Mike. The camouflage scheme is pretty close to the photos and I think more likely than Trumpeters paint guide. I think the kit is stuffed with inaccuracies but the PE and a bit of reading around solves quite a lot and I don’t let the rest get in the way of enjoying the build 

alan

[king derelict]

19 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Really Impressive Alan - a very fine piece of work mate.

 

OC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you very much OC. After Huron I sort of know my way around the kit and the PE now so it’s coming together.

alan

[king derelict]

I added the forecastle railings, always a bit of a milestone for me.

I selected the three boats I want to use and started painting them 

The major project for the day was making up a brass tripod foremast. As usual the soldering challenged me but it’s not too bad and I have dressed it up with the PE supports and the radar. Compared to the kit mast I think it’s an improvement. A bit of paint will help too.

Thanks for looking in, the likes and the comments 

alan

[Landlubber Mike]

1 hour ago, king derelict said:

Thank you very much Mike. The camouflage scheme is pretty close to the photos and I think more likely than Trumpeters paint guide. I think the kit is stuffed with inaccuracies but the PE and a bit of reading around solves quite a lot and I don’t let the rest get in the way of enjoying the build 

alan

Yes, I think the knock on Trumpeter kits generally is accuracy - not only on parts but on colors.  I haven't built a Trumpeter kit, but seems like they build into nice models.  Regardless, I like where you are going with this kit!

[king derelict]

On 8/5/2025 at 9:32 PM, Landlubber Mike said:

Yes, I think the knock on Trumpeter kits generally is accuracy - not only on parts but on colors.  I haven't built a Trumpeter kit, but seems like they build into nice models.  Regardless, I like where you are going with this kit!

Thanks Mike. I started off assuming the kit manufacturers were de facto the experts on the subject but I’ve revised my thinking. Especially when a series of a type are produced like these three Tribal destroyers. The Eskimo and Zulu kits are identical just different box art. The Zulu hull and other components are actually marked “HMS Eskimo “

alan

[king derelict]

The tripod foremast was painted and installed. It’s a bit nerve wracking threading it down between the superstructure and funnel. I may try to fit Eskimos mast a bit earlier in the sequence.

All the railings are added now and a few fiddle bits like the two part PE anchors. 

A few areas of paint touch up and weathering to finish off. I’m happy the paint scheme is suitably different from Huron and Eskimo will be different again.

Thanks for looking in, the likes and comments.

alan

[AJohnson]

Looking very good Alan, that PE mast is more than a “bit” of an improvement!  

[Landlubber Mike]

Great stuff Alan!  Destroyers seem like smaller easier ships to build, but they are jam packed full of stuff on the decks.  Makes it tricky to paint.  I usually try to build as much as I can before painting, but here as you are doing you have to paint a lot of stuff off the model and then carefully assemble it.  It's a bit of a nerve-racking process given how delicate the items are in 1/700.  You're doing an amazing job!

[mikegr]

13 hours ago, Landlubber Mike said:

Great stuff Alan!  Destroyers seem like smaller easier ships to build, but they are jam packed full of stuff on the decks.  Makes it tricky to paint.  I usually try to build as much as I can before painting, but here as you are doing you have to paint a lot of stuff off the model and then carefully assemble it.  It's a bit of a nerve-racking process given how delicate the items are in 1/700.  You're doing an amazing job!

I believe German and British destroyers are easier to built. IJN destroyers are more demanding as well as bigger vessels because of their continuous modifications

[Old Collingwood]

Looking Really Good Alan.

 

OC.

[king derelict]

On 8/8/2025 at 2:40 AM, AJohnson said:

Looking very good Alan, that PE mast is more than a “bit” of an improvement!  

Thank you very much Andrew, my soldering has room for improvement but they are gradually getting better. I was hoping to get to use one of the PE lattice masts but they seem to be later war refits.

alan

[king derelict]

On 8/8/2025 at 10:42 AM, Landlubber Mike said:

Great stuff Alan!  Destroyers seem like smaller easier ships to build, but they are jam packed full of stuff on the decks.  Makes it tricky to paint.  I usually try to build as much as I can before painting, but here as you are doing you have to paint a lot of stuff off the model and then carefully assemble it.  It's a bit of a nerve-racking process given how delicate the items are in 1/700.  You're doing an amazing job!

Thank you very much Mike. I seem to have accumulated several destroyers, Flyhawk HMS Kelly and Lance, also a J class. IBG Hunt and H, I class ships. Thankfully they don’t take up a lot of display space.

Alan

[king derelict]

19 hours ago, mikegr said:

I believe German and British destroyers are easier to built. IJN destroyers are more demanding as well as bigger vessels because of their continuous modifications

I haven’t tried any IJN ships so far but have a couple in the pile. I might have to get brave

Alan

[king derelict]

3 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Looking Really Good Alan.

 

OC.

Thank you very much OC. I forgot I hadn’t added the ships boats so that got done today. Weathering tomorrow I hope.

alan

[Landlubber Mike]

27 minutes ago, king derelict said:

Thank you very much Andrew, my soldering has room for improvement but they are gradually getting better. I was hoping to get to use one of the PE lattice masts but they seem to be later war refits.

alan

For 1/700, do you need to solder?  I’ve always just used CA, sometimes with accelerant for a quicker bind.  For things like planes I’ve at times used two part epoxy.

 

i have a 1/72 Corvette class with very heavy PE from GLS.  They recommend soldering given the weight of the PE.  With the parts so thin in 1/700, I’m really impressed with the results you’ve obtained.