1:250 Scale Paper Model: Flower Class Corvette "Agassiz"

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Masts fitted:

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This one’s pretty tricky I must admit. Not the same designer as the previous two I built. I think it was originally a website download and print model that’s been productionised (the model doesn’t quite match the published images). Some bits, such as the main gun shell holders and mast ladders are missing completely. I ordered a set of standard ladders and fitted them last night:





And did a bit of scratchbuilding on the stern cranes:



Fitted to their deck pillars (not much room for the crew to operate them!):

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I’ve scratch-built the missing shell holders (at least I think that’s what they are):



And attached them to the footprints printed on the gun platform:



Than made some shells from short bits of plastic wire sanded to a point and painted dark brass:



Some of the very few bits that aren’t paper, but never mind.

Also made the steam pipes either side of the funnel ladder from bits of card and a modified ladder section for the valve:



Finally tonight, made the life raft straps from brown painted paper:



Tomorrow I’ll start on the final paper assemblies: 30 or so spare depth charges that fit on the deck along the superstructure.

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Piginapoke said:

Stunning work!

Thanks! A few errors, but getting there now.

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Made a start on the depth charges - 30 in all, a right pain. I opted to punch the ends out and paint the edges rather than cut out 60 individual circles:

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29 done plus one spare, just need the thrower stalks attaching, and fitting to the deck:

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All fitted at last! Used a spare one to fit on the raised rack at the stern (I think they are depth charge racks!):







Now, dividers at the ready, it’s time for rigging...

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dudleybloke said:

You ever thought about making a watch?

Kind of!

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=13...

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LarJammer said:

Thats insane. Are the ends of the depth charges really only 1.6mm across??

Yep 1.6 mm.

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Made a start on rigging the rear deck Davits. I made the blocks from 0.8mm punched paper, painted brown. The lines are stretched sprue:



Not totally accurate, but at least they give the impression of the real thing at 1:250 Scale.

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Turn7 said:

Mindblowing attention to detail, you must have the patience of a saint....

Thanks, but as usual at this stage of a build, I’ve had enough and just want it finished! Can’t cut too many corners now though.

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El stovey said:

Looks fantastic. Really amazing detail.

Ta very much.

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Finished the lifeboat Davit rigging yesterday:

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So on to the main rigging. Realistic choice is stretched sprue, or elastic thread. Sprue is easier to cut and attach, but can sag when spanning long distances, and breaks as soon as you catch it accidentally.

Elastic thread can be stretched to overcome the sagging issue, but can easily bend the thin card masts/yards/spreaders. This can then in turn un-tension previously completed lines. Which is crap.

So on this one I opted to rig the forward lines of the front mast, and the rearward lines of the rear mast with sprue (all measured with dividers). Then I’ve used elastic thread under very slight tension for the lines/antennae between the two. This has put everything under tension, and looking ship shape:







It’s easy to fix one end of the elastic, cut it slightly short, and then stretch it with tweezers held in a stand until the glue sets at the other end. Remove the stand and it pulls itself taught.

I’ll fit the remaining few lines using sprue tomorrow.

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Riley Blue said:

I've followed this build avidly as my Dad served on a similar ship (HMS Kittiwake) during WW2.

Your skill and attention to detail take my breath way but one thing is bewildering me: how do the davits work? Wouldn't the boat have to be slung outboard?

Thanks! I assume the Davits are turned, one at a time to move the lifeboat outboard before lowering. Presumably, the lifeboat itself would be swung diaganally between them.

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Riley Blue said:

dr_gn said:

Riley Blue said:

I've followed this build avidly as my Dad served on a similar ship (HMS Kittiwake) during WW2.

Your skill and attention to detail take my breath way but one thing is bewildering me: how do the davits work? Wouldn't the boat have to be slung outboard?

Thanks! I assume the Davits are turned, one at a time to move the lifeboat outboard before lowering. Presumably, the lifeboat itself would be swung diaganally between them.

I think that must be the case, a slow process in times of urgency. I imagine boats were slung outboard during action stations for quick release. Dad is no longer around to ask but I have a photo of him taking delivery of dinner from the ship's boat back on its davits - a large cod they'd depth charged.

Would be nice to see the photo - can you scan it?

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silverfoxcc said:

Dr-gn

Ever thought of fishing line for the rigging?


Comes in various colours and thicknesses

I've got some fishing line, but never got on with it - it's not as rigid as sprue, and not as stretchy as elastic. It's probably easier in this case to deal with two types of line where you know one's rigid (to brace masts in one direction), and the other stretchy (to tension them in opposition to the sprue. I'm probably over-complicating it, but it appears to have worked so far.

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Riley Blue said:

dr_gn said:

Riley Blue said:

dr_gn said:

Riley Blue said:

I've followed this build avidly as my Dad served on a similar ship (HMS Kittiwake) during WW2.

Your skill and attention to detail take my breath way but one thing is bewildering me: how do the davits work? Wouldn't the boat have to be slung outboard?

Thanks! I assume the Davits are turned, one at a time to move the lifeboat outboard before lowering. Presumably, the lifeboat itself would be swung diaganally between them.

I think that must be the case, a slow process in times of urgency. I imagine boats were slung outboard during action stations for quick release. Dad is no longer around to ask but I have a photo of him taking delivery of dinner from the ship's boat back on its davits - a large cod they'd depth charged.

Would be nice to see the photo - can you scan it?

An extract from his memoirs:

To relieve the monotony on quieter runs we often discharged some of our older amatol filled depth charges which were past their sell-by date as these tended to ‘sweat’ and become dangerous.
We carried out a triple exercise: firstly for the Asdic operators, trained to detect submarines or underwater contacts. They would often detect a shoal of cod. There was very little commercial fishing in these hostile waters (the North Sea, escorting convoys from Harwich to Flamborough Head)) and many of the fishermen were naval reservists engaged on other ships. Often the trawlers themselves would be used for mine sweeping duties. However on a positive ‘cod contact’ from our Asdic team we would exercise my torpedo branch with their depth charge throwers and rails, who would dispose of the old charges. I would keep my fingers crossed that the settings were correct and I didn’t blow off the stern or damage the rudder The final part of this triple exercise was to launch the duty lifeboat crew, thus checking all the davits and quick release gear. The end result - fresh fish for all messes and ward rooms and as usual with our chummy flotilla, some for anyone back at base.

That's awesome, thanks!

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Here is where I am now, the five parallel lines between the masts are elastic, the rest sprue:

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So the rigging continues, with a little help from my silent, one-armed friend: