White Ensign Models HMS Abercrombie 1944 – Royal Navy Big Gun Monitor

page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

1:350th scale
Reviewed by Les Venus

Kit Materials: Resin, Etched Brass, White Metal
Additional materials used:
Wire, Lenses (Little Cars), Brass rod, monofilament fishing line (2lbs), Cyano Glue, Accelerator, MDC Sanding Sponges, Wet n Dry, Clean rags, 3inch soft artists paint brush

Paints:
Halfords Grey Primer, Tamiya, Revell, Alclad2, WEM. Mr. Color, Rowney Oils, Hobby Color mat varnish, Tamiya thinners, Rowney low odour turpentine, Johnsons Kleer

Pastels/Pencils:
Faber-Castell artists Pastels, WH Smiths Pure Graphite Sticks

Our thanks to White Ensign Models (WEM) for supplying the review sample. Get this great kit here now at: www.whiteensignmodels.com

Introductions…

I think before building this kit its worth checking out my Here Now review of this splendid kit. Now those that read my stuff in your SMN will know that primarily I am a 1:32nd scale aircraft builder. Cockpits are the smallest things I deal with and in most cases competently. I drifted I thought only once into a 1:35th scale Italeri S-100 Schnellboot and then on to a range of 1:72nd scale submarines culminating in the huge GATO Class. I said then that 1:72nd scale was as far down the scale I would go and then the editor places in front of me the beautiful and irresistible Revell Fletcher Class Destroyer in 1:144th scale. This was I thought as much as I could handle but no in the post pops this fabulous HMS Abercrombie kit from White Ensign Models and in 1:350th scale and despite my internal “you cannot be serious” protestations asked Geoff if I could have a crack at it!! The worse bit? He said yes!

So here I am with a subject I know nothing about in a scale 10 times smaller than my standard and for the first time! I really must be totally barking but when you open the box to this kit I defy anyone to resist it!

Just as a recap the kit is predominantly resin. This is a soft, buttery colour with a slightly soapy feel. But it’s heavy, feels and looks like quality and when you even glance at some of the work it’s a compelling build. With the resin there is a lovely brass sheet with a number of highly detailed parts which at first sight looks very good. There are also a number of white metal parts which are soft and in my kit at least are bent and look much lesser quality than the rest of the kit. But more of this later.

On to the Build…