Author Topic: HMS Westminster  (Read 10956 times)

Offline 35th-scale

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HMS Westminster
« on: December 27, 2016, 11:08:39 PM »
Britain’s Type 23 Duke Class frigates were originally envisioned as pure anti-submarine vessels, to the extent of being planned with no other armament. The 1982 Falklands War quickly put paid to that idea, however, and the Type 23s would end up being commissioned from 1989-2001 and fitted with a main gun, Sea Wolf short range anti-air missiles, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles to accompany her torpedoes, decoys, et. al. These changes turned the frigates from specialized sub-hunters into versatile multi-role combatants that play a key role in the British fleet.

This is the Trumpeter kit HMS Westminster which I manages to pickup at SMW kit swap for an extremely reasonable £20. Then discovered in the box there was a replacement main gun from White Ensigns also.



The kit has a nice piece of PE, on the left, but I also got the bigger set from Atlantic Models.


Started with the hull and main superstructure pieces. All crisply molded and fit is excellent. So far just dry fitted the superstructure.



Offline Volkodav

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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #1 on: December 28, 2016, 06:03:47 PM »
Watching with interest as I have this kit, which I plan to complete as an RAN Type 23 ANZAC using Veteran Models USN bits.

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #2 on: December 30, 2016, 08:43:39 AM »
I like Veterans stuff but you'll also need a good PE set. The kit has no railings at all...,

I used the kit PE for the "nest" but Atlantic Models set for the yard-arms. The AM set is a little easier to work with....but not a lot 😳



This is going to be very slow going....but I trust will be worth it in the end

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #3 on: January 01, 2017, 05:47:07 PM »
wow !  That is an extremely interesting ship.
Watching on with interest

Offline Volkodav

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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #4 on: January 01, 2017, 08:34:46 PM »
The PE really makes a difference

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #5 on: January 02, 2017, 10:31:08 AM »
Wow that is some impressive PE!

I can only commend the patience that stuff takes. I call it photo-retch I hate dealing with it so much. My few attempts always end out looking like some kind of twisted Calder sculpture.

Awesome work!

Brian da Basher


Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #6 on: January 02, 2017, 07:53:53 PM »
Thanks Gents. I used be like that Brian but all it takes us practice and patience....

Primed the enclosed fan deck, added the nets and a missing hatch using the spares on the Atlantic PE set. But once it's closed up nothing will really be visible, but I'll know it's there.....😀Sometimes I wonder at the lengths we go to.


Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2017, 07:59:23 PM »
These are the only tools I used to do the PE. No fancy expensive hold and fold, just a tweezers with a straight edge and where the two arms sit flush for the length, not just at the tip, if you know what I mean.



And so I can see what I'm actually doing, with 2.5 magnification


Offline The Big Gimper

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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #8 on: January 03, 2017, 01:36:42 AM »
For me PE = Physical Exhaustion trying to glue the little buggers on.

Kudo's to those who can use PE.
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

User and abuser of Bothans...

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2017, 07:24:20 PM »
Back at it. 2nd mast:


Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #10 on: January 23, 2017, 01:14:39 AM »

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #11 on: January 23, 2017, 02:11:10 AM »
That's some mightily impressive PE work!

Every time I play with PE it ends out looking like brass origami done by someone with a seizure disorder.  :icon_crap:

Great stuff and thanks for the update!

Brian da Basher

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #12 on: January 23, 2017, 04:22:21 AM »
It's far from perfect Brian, but thanks



That's that mast done!

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #13 on: January 23, 2017, 04:02:59 PM »
Some very good work being done here, mate! :) :)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #14 on: January 30, 2017, 08:01:06 AM »
Thanks Wombat

After being adrift for a while I managed to get it primed. Kept the second mast off for ease of painting. Sorry I didn't think of that before doing the first too....



Next up paint and then mask the decks

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #15 on: February 12, 2017, 09:22:19 AM »
Masking, the one step in this hobby I really dislike


Offline Volkodav

  • Counts rivits with his abacus...
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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #16 on: February 12, 2017, 10:44:01 AM »
Looking good!

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #17 on: February 13, 2017, 05:20:07 PM »
Cheers Volkodav

Decks fully masked and the hull and superstructure painted. Need to build a jig now to hold her upside down to do the hull red and boot line while protecting that mast


Offline Volkodav

  • Counts rivits with his abacus...
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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #18 on: February 13, 2017, 05:56:38 PM »
Can't wait to see the finished product.

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #19 on: February 14, 2017, 05:32:38 PM »
Masking, the one step in this hobby I really dislike

I concur! :icon_crap:

Can't wait to see the finished product.

& agree wholeheartedly! :)
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #20 on: March 03, 2017, 04:12:13 AM »
I have been neglecting this for a few weeks as I flipped between projects. Was having difficulty with painting and needed to spend some time just cutting plastic and gluing, but that's for another thread. HMS Westminster is back on the bench now though

2nd coat about to go on....


Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #21 on: March 03, 2017, 03:30:37 PM »
Boot line applied. Almost afraid to take the tape off..... 😀



At least now I can start adding all the tiny bits

Offline 35th-scale

  • On first name terms with someone called Nathan...
  • I wonder what scale he builds in???
Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #22 on: March 04, 2017, 09:20:05 AM »
That didn't work out as planned 😟



I can see this getting set aside for a while

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #23 on: March 05, 2017, 05:49:29 PM »
Oh dear! :icon_crap:
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: HMS Westminster
« Reply #24 on: March 06, 2017, 10:33:47 AM »
That is either.. gaarrr ! dammit  or

Way cool for a ship that is heading back to dry dock for an A service.
If you tried to get that sort of effect for well worn paint, sure as eggs it would not come out that good

Still pretty sure you will do a smack up job of rescuing it.