by Jeffrey Pizarro
1/700 RPS Datu Kalantiaw PS-76 (Skywave)
Formerly the DE 170 USS Booth, the RPS Datu Kalantiaw was the flaghsip of the Philippine Navy in the 70s. Armed with surface and air search radars, with torpedoe tubes and AA guns, along with her main batteries, she was a potent vessel in the PN arsenal in her time.
She unfortunately sank on September 21 1981 due to waves brought about by Typhoon Clara in Calayan island, Cagayan Province, Northern Philippines with heavy loss of life, including the CO and the Naval District Task Force Commander. Only about 18 crewmen lived to tell the tale.
The model used GMM PE parts, spare Flagship models PE parts, odds and ends and straight hair collected from my staff that I used for the riggings. I modified ships letterings from another kit to come up with the ships name in the fantail, and did a light wash to accentuate the details of the guns and the torpedo tubes among others.
