by Mathias Carl
1/400 M1935 Minesweeper (Heller)
After I had searched approximately 2 1/2 years after the old Heller kit of the M24 minesweeper, my search was crowned by success and, finally, I could come along to the work.
Because the Heller kit is not at the height of the time, some rebuilding work was necessary.
The bridge was built up, with clear glazing of the front section, attach from PE parts, substitute the signal floodlights, rebuilding of the mast including FuMO. The front artillery-leading state was reworked likewise completely, as well as the anti-aircraft which was substituted with PE parts of Eduard, with barrels from Master. Also some wood was added for the bridge as well as compass daughters. The grid in the chimney originated from brass metal, the conduits in the back are made from wire.
Amidships the boat derrick was completely self made. There were also some details on the upper deck as several boxes, vents and hoses added. The PE-rail and cable reels are from WEM. Likewise something was complemented in mine searching equipment, like the Otter- devices and several buoys. The fixtures for the rafts were provided from wire, as well as both derricks. Likewise the passageway from starboard to port in the superstructures was cut out and rebuild with sheet.
Aft the missing platform was complemented for Flak-E-Mess-GerÄt and emergency steering gear, because this was completely absent. Also was put up a 2 cm Flak-Vierling by Eduard with Master-barrels and readiness ammunition for the 10.5cm gun was added. The hoist was originated as an own construction, because the kit part was not useable. Then with this opportunity its position was also corrected, because it´s wrong shown in the construction manual, and the role block on deck as well as the net in the aft of the deck were added. The mines and buoys are self made like the derricks for the Otter originated from 1/700 latticed mast parts and sheet. The figure, for the purpose of the better dimension comparison, comes from L'Arsenal.
Unfortunately, I had to substitute the provided sloop with another from my scrap yard, because the form of the original part did not fit at all. Then afterwards the sloops were covered with a tarpaulin, from cellulose cloth with white glue about a wire rack. The sloop which in port on height chimney hangs is likewise from the scrap yard, supplemental from a 1/700 kit, because it is absent in the Heller-kit completely.
The camouflage pattern orientates itself by various photo presentations found in the Marine-Arsenal Heft 47.
