USS England Trumpeter, 1/350 kit

[Daniel C]

This work in progress will be of the Trumpeter 1/350 scale Destryor Escort USS England, DE-635.
England was made famous by sinking 6 Japanese submarines in about 12 days during WWII, so I will build this kit as England in her Measure 21 "Navy blue used in 1943.
I am using photo etch by Tom's Modelworks, and resin guns and directors from L'Arsenal. Paints are from ModelMaster acryl "marine colors". I will do her as waterline and mount her in the beautiful Pacific, possibly with the "Emily" flying boat from the Hasagawa Yukikaze kit.
I will post pictures as I make progress on this ship, I hope you enjoy!!

[Daniel C]

This is the photo etch and some of the parts sprues from the kit.



.....The instruction sheet, Tom's photo etch, and some of the L'Arsenal resin.....



A closer view of the build so far, the various sub-assemblies are dry fit in this photo and the first coat of camo paint applied. Hard to tell any difference between 5N and 20B paint! The measure 21 camoflauge was effective againt air attack and was used early war, then gave way to different dazzle patterns (effective more against submarine and surface attack) and reappeared once again when the kamakazies started to attack.

[Daniel C]

okay here is some progress made on the England, I am using this photo of her superstructure to modify the kit part.... well, partly, I don't know if I have the "skill" to do all of the superduper details! But I will try the ones I can.


In the photo, there is a solid splinter shield, EXCEPT for where the searchlight was it has a 2 bar rail in the half circle platform. I have cut away the solid splinter shield and added the 2 bar rail. I am now looking at the shape on the side of the bridge it is different than on the kit part. Also added were some PE vertical ladders and a PE lift raft storage frame.

[Daniel C]

Todays fun wil be trying to assemble these PE 20mm guns and mounts. They are from Voyager and include a turned brass conical base/mount. very nice..... IF I can get them folded!!

I will post a photo of the kit part, the kit part with Tom's modelworks PE added, and one of these Voyager PE guns completed.

[Daniel C]

Ok, I got the Voyager PE 20mm mount folded (it is the brass gun) and next to it is the Trumpeter gun modified with Tom's PE.

Both guns appear to be overscale...... OR maybe the ship molding is underscale!! But the voyager guns won't fit the tubs on Trumpeters England (they are ok on Tamiyas 1/350 Fletcher DD) and the Trumpeter w/Toms PE just barely fit. Hmmmmmm, so even though to me the voyager guns look awesome, I will have to use the modified kit 20mm's.

[Daniel C]

Oops, after looking at the actual picture I posted of England (even though I have looked at it many times) I noticed I had not cut off enough of the splinter shield......... so, I modified the part again!! Amazing what the eye doesn't see.

Bridge area with more shielding removed......

After the correction is made and more 2 bar railing added (see the difference?).

Superstructure again dry fitted, and some other work started on the upper 3" gun mount.

More to follow ;D

[Gabriel]

Hey Dan is looking good, I get blind with those guns, so small and really detail...

Hey I found a new Japanese tank book... excellent...you know where...(keep the secret.. )

See you tomorrow

[Daniel C]

Here is the L'Arsenal 3" 50cal. gun completed, poor directions from L'Arsenal made this harder than it should have been, just three parts but 3 days of head scratching! Also in the background are the L'Arsenal 1.1" Quad mount and the Mk. 51 gun director in its tub.


The 1.1" gun is nice and the Mk 51 much better than the kit parts, the only problem with the 1.1 mounts is one barrel was slightly warped.
Now that I have figured out how I will build the 3" guns, I will finish the other 2 needed for the England, build one more Mk 51 and complete the other 9 20mm guns needed.
I will also start with the funnel detailing, I hope to post pictures soon.

[thundergrunt]

I have never been a ship or armor guy, but dan i like it good work, i may just have to get a ship sometime.

[Daniel C]

Thank you ThunderGrunt, I have just started doing ships again (last couple of years) since my teenage days.
Okay for all of you just waiting for a USS England update, here it is!! well, I have been waiting.

I have started looking at the few photos I have of England and looking for things I might be able to improve on in the kit. Here is my begining effort on the midship superstrucure, I have been adding photo etch to the funnel area. soon it will be ready to install to the main deck.

[Daniel C]

I have also looked at the kit Binoculars that were mounted near the bridge and decided to try and scratch build better ones (kind of a first for me, this scratch building stuff) I think they will look a little better than the kit parts..... especially since my eyes are getting old!!

these are the kit parts, I have painted the base, but will cut off and replace the Bino part on top.


and dry fitted to the bridge wings are my scratch built replacements..... they are ok, but not perfect...


I have cemented the forward superstructure in place this afternoon and will work a bit more on that area tonight. I hope to have more progress pictures in a day or two.

Enjoy!! or not hehehehehehe

[Gabriel]

Hey Dan

Excellent work ! I saw the model live.. and the detail is great, (I prefer German ships, but this one is ok...LOL.. )

You think you can teach us a class how to glue rails on 1/700 ships ? yes please...

Gabe..

[Daniel C]

Thanks Gabe..... of course I can show installing the railings, as long as you can stand the occasional "sailors" language!!

Here is a picture of the England I hve been working on the mast and funnel plus some smaller details (lift rafts, 20mm guns, and binoculars, etc....)
the forward deckhouse is glued down, but the after section is still just dryfitted, I want to make sure I don't forget anything before I glue it in place!!

[Daniel C]

There has been a little progress on the England, the detailing on the funnel is done except for a trip to the model railroad shop to look for a train horn to use for a ships horn. Ladders have been added from the bridge down to the deckhouse and from the deckhouse to the main deck and life rafts added to the bridge side.


work has started on the ocean base, a coat of Tamiya medium blue has been added as a base coat to a clear case made for 1/18th scale cars. Next more colors will be added with artist oils and then the liquitex medium gloss gel with be applied for the water.


Next up.... rigging the flag bags and adding railing to the deckhouse.

[Gabriel]

Woooooow...

Great job Dan....!!!

Hey I like the boat, is that resin? It looks so real and the back fin also, keep posting...