HMS Cowslip returns from another tough North Atlantic run. The heavy weathering is deliberate, as these small escort vessels really took a hammering and that's what I've tried to portray. It wasn't unusual for the real vessels to lose sections of rail, parts of superstructure; or in one case the whole 4" gun due to heavy seas. I don't claim that the model is 100% accurate, as all the photos I could find of Cowslip were spread over 4 years and three refits!























Please forgive the background in the photos - the only place I could photograph a ship this size was in the garden!
This was an OOB build - the only things that weren't in the box were paint, glue, tools, a bit of tissue for the boat covers and 4" blast bag and the stiff paper for the 4" surround!

Dave,

Very nice looking ship!!

Also check you PM's.

Take care

Nice one Dave like the wheathering a lot more pic,s please thanks for sharing your great work

Hey Dave, the build came out well. I especially like the waterline weathering--it will help me when I set to work on the Periwinkle for the Divine Waterline campaign this autumn.

--Karl

Thanks guys. When I can find a single-colour backdrop that's large enough I'll get some better photos - at nearly a yard long this baby is larger than the paper roll I usually use and all our bedsheets are too light in colour!

Karl - the waterline weathering is based on what I saw as a Sea Cadet PO instructor onboard HMS Bristol. The hull gets really foul with shells and weed so I added it to the model.

Nice work, looks like a old work horse - try some clean sheets - they should be big enough, but try to awoid white as they will make the colours too harsh.

Cheers/Jan

Beautiful work Dave!

Dave, to be totally truthful,
everytime I see one of these built up,
it makes me want to pick up the kit.
But I would never be able to find a place to
display it afterwards.

You did an outstanding job on it.

Great job...as mentioned, looks like it "did its job and duty", and coming home used, dirty but in one piece! nice job.... thanks for sharing, cheers

Thanks again for the compliments

The kit has often been criticised for oversized and crude detail, but at that size you build and the viewer looks for an overall appearance. If you get the chance, build it and worry about where to display it afterwards!

My philosophy, exactly. I like to call such projects "furniture scale".

As for backdrops, go to a fabric store and purchase suitably colored material off the rollers or a bolt that is not wound too tightly--you'll get plenty of solid color with no fold seams or creases for a modest cost and you can use it again and again.

--Karl