¹⁄350

Building The HMS Mary Rose, 1916

The PE awning frame was installed--in view of the inclement weather I decided to deploy the awning for my bridge complement! I made the awning using white glue to span the frame, when set this was painted in the usual fashion.

I chose to depict the ship engaging the enemy with her 4”guns, in view of the seas running the crew are unable to operate the stern gun safely. The usual maximum rate of fire was 13 rounds per minute using this type of gun, judging by the shell cases rolling around the deck they have been at it for some time!



The searchlights were mounted on pedestals-they were operated via remote control rods. These rods were supplied as PE items, I felt they were too flat and fashioned replacements in copper wire.

The model was essentially complete and ready for rigging-ergo ready for flatcoating with matt varnish...Catastrophe struck… I have flatcoated my last 60 or so models using Humbrol Matt varnish from an aerosol can-always with a satisfactory and guaranteed result. Not this time...the varnish had the audacity to blister some, but not all of the Corticene paint...and dried white in places….



It took some courage to spray the entire ship again using a different can!!-luckily it did not materially affect the sharpness of the model on the whole.

The ship was then rigged using black stretched sprue for standing rigging and tan stretched sprue for the signal halyards. I indicated the quartering beam sea and wind direction with the flags –straining at their hoists….

The spume coming off the wave tops, curling bow wave and flying water-spray was simulated using torn paper and very very fine white fluff (from Tumble-drier filter after white towel wash…!)

All in all a most satisfactory model to build; and unique in 1/350 as a representative of the sleek and dashing destroyers, whose incessant work in the war at sea in World War One was often overshadowed in accounts of history by the big guns of the Grand Fleet ….

References

British Destroyers, 1892-1953, Edgar March, J Roberts
1/192 plan of Mary Rose –Sambrook Marine
British Destroyers of WW 1, R A Burt

Special thanks go to Laurence Batchelor and Robin Bursell for tireless scanning and answering of endless queries!!