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HMAS Waterhen
by Brett Morrow

1/350 HMAS Waterhen (Armada Scale Models)

Here are some pics of a recent project,the kit is a 1/350 scale V/W class destroyer of H.M.A.S. Waterhen. It is an Armada Scale Models kit,well and truly out of production. It took quite a few months to finish, with a large amount of scratchbuilding involved, unfortunately my pics can`t do the kit justice.

I`ve tried to get some detail in the boats, on the whaler you can see the oar rawlins, on the launch you can see the prop and a rope coil and anchor in the boat, a long handled gaffe for pulling ropes in on the launching spar is on the railing, looking back at the scratchbuilt torpedo tubes shows the tube doors with their wingnuts and hinges.

Hopefully the bridge shots show the ships bell, wheel and engine room telegraph, the canvas shroud on the railing was made from silver foil from a cigerette pack,it has just the right texture as canvas, the bow shot shows the GMM anchors and some rodent shields on the anchor chain. As I had previously mentioned,the main guns are completely scratchbuilt except for the splintershields, there are over 40 pieces to each 4" mark 5 gun,on the stern perspective some of this detail may be seen.

Answering a couple of questions:

This kit is out of production and as scarce as hen`s teeth,but can still be sourced through the message board,it was the only V/W on the market in this scale. Because all V/W class,including the Aussie ships,had sutle differences,accurate research is a must.The Waterhen is displayed with armament fit and camo as she was in mid 1941 prior to `The Old Chook`s` sinking. The rigging and antenna cabling is made from stretched sprue,and researched,as close as practical,from the book Man O War Vol 2 V/W class.

All the bridgework,Vickers platform & HA 3" gun platform was fabricated from overhead projector transparency sheet. The QF 4" Mark 5 guns,HA 3"gun,torpedo tubes depth charge throwers and many other parts were all scratchbuilt,the 4" guns consist of 40 individual parts each,the barrels are made from 21 & 23 gauge hypodermic needle. I used a lot of WEM PE including extra fine railing,inclined ladders,Quad Vickers gun,depth charge racks,valve wheels,boat &depth charge davits,the anchors are from the GMM anchor fret,the chain is 40 link HO scale. The decals are from a spare La Arsenal sheet I had from the Floreal frigate kit.

My research material came from

     1) Man O War Vol 2, V and W class (Alan Raven & John Roberts)
     2) Australian War Memorial
     3) Destroyers,their Battles & Badges (Vic Cassells)
     4) The Vickers Museum Photo Archives,and
     5) I was very fortunate to speak to 2 former crewmembers,Max Peechy & Ted Clifford,who were the Quad barreled Vickers Gunner & Observer at the time of her sinking.

Brett Morrow
Australia.