by Jens Hansen
1/700 HMS Rodney In Mers-el-Kébir (Tamiya)
As I was reading "Destroyers" by Anthony Preston I came across a small but visually interesting Picture of HMS Rodney alongside the P class destroyer HMS Penn in Early 1943 in Mers-el-Kebir. So as I had just recently acquired the Tamiya Rodney and O/P class destroyer sets, I took it to myself to recreate the scene in the Picture but as I learned with two nearly 30 year-old kits, which would take alot of effort which I will come too and my second idea. The Escort Carrier and after researching the matter I found that HMS Battler (ex Altamaha AVG-6) was carrying Swordfish torpedo bombers squadron 840 during this period. So for this I decided to purchase the Tamiya USS Bogue and convert it to the British Battler. So I have 2 older kits which need extensive reworking and one newer kit which I have to change slightly I've got alot of work to do!
First some History...
Rodney was commissioned in 1927 and until the outbreak of the war she spent all of the time in the Home or the Atlantic Fleet, she underwent a refit in December 1939 and was later damaged in Norway and was consequently ordered home as an anti-invasion measure. Then again she started convoy work from England to Halifax, Nova Scotia. She then later took part in one of her most notable actions, which was in the hunt of the Bismarck, she and the HMS King George V along with the 2 cruisers Dorsetshire and the Norfolk and as they moved in for the final blow on the damaged Bismarck she scored several vital hits and reduced the Bismarck to a floating Wreck, she later retired due to engine problems. She then joined Force H in runs from Gibraltar to Malta and also covered the Operation Torch in May, 1942 on the North-west African coast then later also took part in the Sicily and Salerno landing and finally she helped in Operation Overlord by shelling Key targets on the Normandy coast between the 5th and the 6th, June, 1944 then after completetly outworn her engines and guns, she was placed on the Reserve list in December 1944 and then she was sadly scrapped in Inverkeithing in 1948.
HMS RODNEY CONSTRUCTION
So here we go I've got a 30 year old model which portrays her in 1927-29 and I have too update her to the late 1942- 1943 period.
So after inspection of the hull and comparing the measurements the dimensions seemed to fit. Also for this kit I have purchased the exquisite WEM PE set which covers both ships of the class.
(Just a note about the painting of the camouflage, I painted the parts separately and the hull was firstly painted)
Firstly I sanded of the molded on anchor chains and replaced them with PE part various notches on the deck were also removed and some replaced by PE Hatches.
Then I came to the 16 inch main armament, firstly I detailed the armored sides with plastic card and ladder stock, the triple guns were molded together so I separated them to require a more natural elevation.
Then I came to the superstructure, were I added PE watertight doors and inclined ladders and I also scratched some pipe-work.
Also the catapult is a real gem and assembles easily as does the crane.
Then I went on to construct the tower superstructure (also Known as Queen Anne's Mansion) I went on adding PE were needed and I also scratch-built the two outboard director platforms using paper and PE stock and then I added the PE supports. Then I added the two forward yard arms and the radar on the directors.
Then I created stanchions using stretched sprue, then on the conning tower I added a 20 mm platform, the to represent the Ship in it's 1942/43 fit I scratch built five 2 pdr Pom Pom's which built with card and PE.
The funnel possessed little problems except adding the funnel cap and grill and adding four PE supports for the searchlight platforms.
Then I started building the AA armament which compromised of 5 Pom pom's , 1 quad Pom Pom and around 21 20 mm Oerlikons all were constucted from the PE set except the quad Pom pom which was bought separately also in this time period I constructed the 6 inch guns which were built OOB.
Finally I constructed the mast which I had shortened to fit the time scale and I used the PE Yardarms and then I added the large radar lantern which was added last then I rigged the model using stretched glue and the railings are also WEM PE and I added around 75 figures from the GMM set.
So to conclude I think I have created a fairly good representation of my subject in this time lapse.
HMS PENN
A history....
Was constructed under the emergency war programme, She was commissioned in 1942 and firstly operated in on the Force H convoys to Malta and probably her most famous contribute was to assist the stricken tanker SS Ohio into Grand Harbour, Malta and she also sank the Submarine GA45 of Amorgos, Greece. Later in early 1945 she was transfered to the far- eastern fleet were she took part in the sinking of Japanese landing craft of Sumatra and she was later finally scrapped in October, 1950.
BUILDING THE PENN
After inspection the dimensions seemed to match with my sources and I continued by drilling the portholes in the hull and I used a sharp nail to create the welded-plate effect.
( For this kit I used the WEM PE set for the O/P class destroyers)
Then I came too the deck where first I removed the molded on anchor chains and the molded on, single 4 inch HA mount. The deck was painted in very very dark blue and this was weathered by pencils of various shades. Then the Forward superstructure was done were I added PE watertight doors and ladders also I detailed the Carly Floats I also used the forward PE supports. Then onto the bridge were I added the telegraphs and the wind shields as the radar for the director and the two 20 mm Oerlikons were changed for PE Parts.
(Note the model is painted in western Approaches Blue and 507 c )
The funnel construction was pretty simple I added the funnel cap and grill and the rear ladders then I added the WEM Quad Pom Pom, which was a real gem and was also easy to assemble and produce fantastic results. There was little here in this area to do except to add ladders and Watertight doors. I also added the torpedo loading crane and the davits for the motorboats. The torpedo tubes were improved by adding a blast shield and ladder stock. The rear emergency conning tower was added and I sanded of the molded side and I added hatches and ladders and the stern galley stove pipe. Then I come on to the armament the 4.7 inch guns where added the loading plates to the rear of the guns. Then I added the PE Mast which was really excellent and easy to build then I added around 25 crew members from the GMM set and then I added the railings were needed and finally the rigging.
In conclusion this model though it's inaccuracies, it was a real pleasure to build and I hope to build more of this class in the future.
HMS BATTLER
A history....
Was originally laid down in April, 1941 as hull 160 and given the name USS Altamaha AVG-6 then on the 31, October, 1942 she was transfered to the Royal Navy on the lend-lease program. She was re-named HMS Battler CVE-6 she spent the majority of the war on convoy and anti-submarine patrols in the North Atlantic. But she did operate in the Mediterranean for a brief period in early 1943 from February-September. She was later returned to the USN in February, 1946 and was sold for scrap in May, 1946 and was scrapped shortly after.
BUILDING THE BATTLER
This kit was originally the Tamiya USS Bogue which I modified to the British carrier, firstly I inspected the hull the dimensions were correct, I firstly detailed the forward deck were I added the PE anchor chains and two 2o mm Oerlikons. and I detailed the Flight deck supports and the carly floats with PE ladder stock and Stretched glue.
The sides of the hangar were detailed with piping and Ladder stock.
Then on the walkways there was little to improve except to add WEM 20 mm Oerlikons and to detail the Twin 40 mm Bofors also I detailed the floats and the directors. Then I added the rails on the lower platforms and the walkways and watertight doors which I added detail with various shades of pencil.
On the Hangar walls interior which I detailed with plastic card and PE.
Then we come to the Bridge structure which was detailed with PE from various WEM and GMM PE and I added a inclined ladder at the rear of the bridge.
The cage mast for the radar was a cut down mast from the O/P class PE set, the radar lantern platform is scratch-built and I added a large resin Lantern.
Then Finally I constructed three Swordfish Torpedo Bombers from the resin versions from WEM as was the struts and propellers.
Then I add any extra rigging and railings needed.
So to conclude this was defiantly the easiest model to build and it was a real pleasure.
THE DOCK
For the dock I used the WEM 6 inch resin dock which was painted in various shades of dark gray and rust and was heavily weathered.
I also added some smaller details like trucks and stocks.
Then finally I added around 100 figures around the model.
So in the conclusion this has been overall a fun and interesting project which took around 4 months to build.
Even though there have been some glitches it has taught me alot.
Also I would like to thank Mike McCabe for his help by supplying radar lanterns.
ITEMS USED
HMS Rodney Tamiya 1/700
O/P class destroyers Tamiya 1/700
USS Bogue Tamiya 1/700
Nelson/Rodney PE set WEM 1/700
O/P class destroyers PE set WEM 1/700
Naval Figures GMM 1/700 x2
RN AA PE set WEM 1/700
6'' Dockyard Resin WEM 1/700
Bedford Truck Resin WEM 1/700
SOURCES
British Battleships of WW2 Chatham publishing
Destroyers By Anthony Preston
The Battle of the Atlantic by Marven Williams
Internet.
