So the clue is in the title. What if the Daring class Destroyers were modernised in the 1960's?

What I am planning on doing is based on this Shipbucket drawing



I am using the 1961 Airfix kit which means it's slightly younger than me 

I have ordered a Starling Models HMS Devonshire upgrade set to provide a lot of the necessary parts that will be replaced. I also have some etched brass from Atlantic Models for a few other items and there will be some scratch-building as well.
The idea being that I have about eleven months to finish this so I can take it to Telford, well there's nothing like a target to aim for, if it's realistic or not we shall see 

Gondor

Nice one.

The other "popular" Daring upgrade is Tartar, as per the French T47 destroyers.

Realistic is overrated. Go for it no matter what!

Because the back end is based on the Leander fit I was thinking of using the rear two-thirds of a Leander deck on top of the rear of the Daring.



But as I am going to be scratch-building most of the superstructure I may as well scratch the Limbo well, just as I am doing in my Leander builds. I shall use one of my as-yet unbuilt Leanders as a guide for the scratch building. One question I will have to think about now rather than later is the viewing windows for the VDS which are in the room in the Port Rear of the ship, with one window to aft and another looking back up towards the winch for the VDS. The question is do I do the same for this build or move the windows to Starboard?

Gondor

Liking this a lot! 

Even though I only started this thread over the weekend, I have a small update.



This picture shows the modifications I have made so far. The waste part was sawn off to allow room for the Limbo to be fitted, a moulding depression for shrinkage needs to be attended to, no rush for that to happen yet. A hole in the rear of the deck has been plugged with an offcut, a little filler is required there too. The forward superstructure that is under the bridge and the B turret has had it's various lumps and bumps removed and filed flat.

The hope is to replicate the areas I have scratched build so far for Dido in the picture below



Who knows, this build might even prompt me to finish Dido 

Gondor

Quote from: Gondor on November 18, 2024, 01:29:07 PMWho knows, this build might even prompt me to finish Dido 

Stranger things happen at sea... and yes, I saw that one coming and decided to run with it anyway. 

That'll be a fine project, looking forward to the result.

 

Having caught up on posts from the previous week it's time to turn to my current build.

I started by cutting back the curved area between the two deck levels



The idea is that the slight step will give the end of the extended rear deck something to glue onto, at least at one end. My current thought is to use thin plastic card on the vertical inside of the lip that the existing deck sits on to help get the angle of the new extended upper hull correct. This may need revision as I try it, but I believe the basic idea is sound, even if what happens is different in detail.

I have cut a couple of strips of plastic card, 0.020" I think, for the extended hull and a wider strip for the deck.



The length was way too long, the removed sections will be used for internal walls around the Limbo and Well decks and sections of superstructure.

Talking of which, I have filled in the sink mark where the Limbo is to go and the remains of the hole what was in the deck where the VDS well is.



Now I wait until the filler is dry so I can sand that back and start working on the extended hull sides.

I am thinking of drilling out the holes the anchor chains go through, that would also mean replacing the molded-in chain with etch chain from the Atlantic Models set.

Gondor

I am trying to make progress at the weekends due to life, in general, making it difficult to get much modelling done on weekdays.

So, what did I do today?



I made and fitted some 0.010 plastic card strips to act as backing for the hull extension. To make sure that I can still fit and remove the supplied deck, I filed a couple of recesses where the strips were so that it could fit around them.



I had also marked the centre line to help with positioning of items later.

Yesterday I also managed to shoot some primer over the Starling Models HMS Devonshire upgrade set.







It's a pity that this is not a Wasp, perhaps I can use it when I update HMS Tiger?

Lastly for today, here is an overall shot of the deck fitted with the backing strips in place.



I am thinking of working on the holes for the bow anchor chain during the week, that's something that I can do a little be here or there as time allows me. Perhaps I can look out some plastic tube or maybe even use some brass tube instead.

Gondor

Great stuff ! Love ships like this. Keep it up !

And I can't believe how good that little Wessex is ! I'm off to Starling Models to look about. Cheers.

I managed to get some work done on the Daring today. Holes were drilled out for the anchors, they need more work as I am going to line them with some brass tube. After that I glued the rear hull side extensions into place followed by the kit's deck being fitted in place.



There are a few gaps and I think the top may need trimming a little but that's ok, I can live with that.

I also started work on the forward superstructure.



As you can see, it's a bit rough and ready but that's not a problem as most of the remaining part will be clad in plastic card.

Anyway, progress is progress.

Gondor

I managed to get the brass tube fitted into the main forward anchor holes.



The ends were trimmed back, here is the weapon of choice, complete with the offcuts









They look better after I ran a drill through them. I still need to finish them off, but you get the idea. Is there supposed to be an anchor point right at the prow of the ship, and would that have been kept after a refit in the early 60's?

Gondor

I little more work on the Daring.

First I have marked an area that needs to be reduced in height as the top of the area is the same height as the forward section of deck which is difficult to cut around when adding the extended deck, far simpler to add one simple section than to faf around cutting out sections.



So it was time to be a bit of an animal and get out the electric mayhem that I call my electric modelling drill and milling bit!



And just like that, a section of new deck sit's flush with the old deck.

Gondor

It can be rather surprising what you find when you're doing research on a subject.

I have been reading this book which was recommended by a friend



It turns out that the Type VI turret was designed in the early to mid 40's :blink2:

Colour me surprised!

Gondor