1/350 USS SC692 110ft Subchaser (ISW)
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by Richard Sliwka |
This is Iron Shipwright's (ISW's) 1/350 scale USS SC1474 kit completed as the USS SC692, the subject of Edward P. Stafford's (wartime SC692's commander) "Subchaser". References were T. Garth Connely's "US 110" Subchaser in Action" and the kit-provided instructional drawing. (NOTE: This kit appears to be "out-of-production" as its not list in ISW's current catalog.)
The only kit part used was the single-piece hull with the bridge structure. Actually , there were only a couple of other platform pieces in the kit; and, these were redone using .015" sheet plastic. Most of the "build" was expended fabricating and adding details. Considerable time was spent building the "Mousetrap" hedgehogs with 8-individual projectiles. Also, the 12' wherry boat and storage rack took some time. The bridge top was detailed and white glue was used to represent the railing windbreak canvas. Footholds, parts of PE ladders, were added to the brass mast. L'Arsenal's single 40mm gun and Voyager's oval life rafts were used. 20mm guns were a combination of Voyager's late 20mm tripod base and Master Models' 20mm gun/carriage. Props were made from sheet plastic as the props were over scale and the wrong configuration. Halyards were UNI-Caenis line and support rigging was .004 nylon thread..
The model was painted overall Ocean Gray using Model Master acrylics. I couldn't verify that this was the absolute correct color as the only SC 692 photo was the SC692 in a "nest" of SCs; and, it was the lightest colored SC.
It took about 75 hours to complete this little model; but, was very
enjoyable.
