1/600 HMS Javelin (Airfix)
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by David Flynn |
1/600 HMS Javelin (Airfix)
In the past few months I built the HMS Javelin in 1/600 scale from an Airfix HMS Cossack, and parts from two Airfix HMS Hotspurs (at the same time as converting a Bandai Mikuma to 1/600 scale and building a 1/87 rescue truck).First, I decided it was not worth the effort to shorten the hull 0.4 inches to match the prototype. I shortened the aft deck house and used four 4-tube torpedo mounts from 2 Hotspur kits to make two 5-tube mounts. The Hotspur has more accurate torpedo mounts and DCT (gun director). It also has more details: boat davits, depth charges, 0.5-inch AA guns, etc. The masts, and staffs are made from .025 and .015 Evergreen styrene rods. I could have used .020 instead of .025, but was afraid it would not be stiff enough.
I reshaped the bow to give it less of a rake. The boats are from my parts boxes because the ones with the kit are smaller than they should be. I am not happy with the stack. I built it by using two forward stacks from two Cossacks. First, I made it too wide (fore and aft), and it looked like an Italian DD. Then, I cut the middle out and ended up making it a little too narrow. Also the white stripe is a little too wide. It is white paint over a white decal, and I don't want mess with it. The white decal was a little translucent so I painted over it.
At the last minute, after all the details were finished, I decided to reshape bottom of the hull. The Airfix hull is just too deep. It was bothering me all during construction, but was going to leave it alone. I cut off the bottom and glued a piece of .040 sheet plastic on. My version is not as accurate as it should be, but I like it more than the Airfix shape.
Two hours after I finished painting it, a family member knocked it into the kitchen sink. Fortunately, I had to rebuild only the mast. It is painted as the prototype was upon completion in 1939: dark gray for the Home Fleet. As best as I can tell the Javelin did not have a pennant number on the sides. Perhaps the photo I saw was taken prior to her commissioning.
This class of DDs has been a favorite of mine from when I was a kid in the 1960s and 70s. Despite its shortcomings, I am happy with the result, and had a good time building it. I included a photo comparison with a Tribal class I built 20 years ago. Incidentally, the Tribal is not an Airfix. If you look closely you can see different tooling. I think the manufacturer's name was PZW from Poland.
