by Les Foran
1/220 HMS Beryl (Revell/Scratchbuilt)
My model is rather loosely based on its prototype, as I had only one photo to work from. Beryl was a privately owned vessel, built in 1899. It was leased by the RN from 1915 to 1919. This ship was creditied with the capture of U25 in 1919.
The only parts of the original kit were the hull halves and parts of the deckhouses. The hull was heavily modified with a pronounced counter-stern, relocated rudder and screw. Chain plates, forepeak, and portholes were scratchbuilt. Funnel was made from wood dowel, with brass steampipe. Decks were made from styrene. Masts were made from pointed wood dowels inserted into aluminum tubing. The two large deck guns were scratchbuilt from styrene and brass.
The lower hull and rudder are clad in thin copper foil strips. Boats and small hardware items are commercial lead castings. Deadeyes were wound from copper wire. Wooden pulley wheels are from model shipwright.
The model is painted in acrylics, using the Warner camoflague scheme.
