Flower Power - Revell's Flower Class Corvette in 1/144

Anything that floats.
Post Reply
User avatar
Rob Matthews
Moderator
Posts: 1202
Joined: 20 Jul 2014, 00:06
Location: Wiltshire UK
Contact:

Flower Power - Revell's Flower Class Corvette in 1/144

Post by Rob Matthews »

Armour has rather got in the way in recent years with precious little time for boats so Armour is dropped for the foreseeable future to try to redress the balance.

I'll justify this to myself by arguing that I'm trying to increase the broad appeal of the site. IMO if it doesn't the site is going to wither and die.

So it's an off with the perennial favourite - The Flower Class Corvette, well known to modellers through the Matchbox/Revell 1/72 offering available this past 40 yrs.
And if you need persuading as to it's appeal - check out Vlad's wonderful work...

http://www.plasticarmour.com/phpBB3/vie ... f=31&t=889

The size of the 1/72 has put many off so Revell have come to our rescue with an altogether more bijou offering in 1/144.
Reviews are generally good

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/inde ... ette-1144/

http://www.scalemodellingnow.com/hnmari ... s-corvette

The hull shape and superstructure are basically sound with Revell having skimped on the detail in fittings and weapons.
Aftermarket accessories are eagerly awaited and if the popularity of the 1/72 is anything to go by should arrive in profusion given time.

The Flower Corvettes found wartime fame as N Atlantic convoy escorts - originally derived from a Whaling ship design they were a cheap pragmatic solution to quick availability of vessels needed to combat the U-boat packs. They appeared in many different colour schemes, a bonus to us modellers and the aim is to build several with differing and contrasting schemes.

My first choice is going to be HMS Crocus that achieved fame after ramming U-boat 333. She was configured as an RN Corvette, (Canadian designs differed somewhat) and interestingly had different camo schemes either side of her hull

Image

Image

We'll cover the colour scheme in due course.

References comprise those currently available

Image

Image

Mark Hawkins on Shapeways is doing some very interesting pieces in 1/144 that will be highly necessary including a Quad Vickers gun set that is essential for HMS Clematis. Check his site out :D

https://www.shapeways.com/designer/hawkins751511

So it's an off...

Image

Instructions are new for Revell in being in full colour

Image

Image

Revell have chosen to model HMCS Snowberry possibly the archetypal corvette and one that was photographed extensively.
There were multiple differences between vessels after refitting.

For those of you (Thats' you Vlad !) with an interest, Crocus had a number of peculiarities that I'll list

1) Raised "Solid" 4" gun bandstand surround
2) Sloped 4" gun (along with most RN corvettes but not Royal Canadian Navy)
3) Superstructure supports done as 4 girder boxes not 3 as per Snowberry
4) Round "later" lattice Radar 270 lanternsurround
5) No Carley raft platform amidships
6) Carley raft "curved" rails f'ward of aft splash plate
7) Asymmetric colour schemes

Thankfully she had "low" depth charge rails as per Snowberry

The stand is robust and supports the hull securely

Image

Image

Image

Hull fit was good thought the separate transom not quite so and needs a bit of filler

Image

Image

Both decks fitted snugly without too much misery

Image

Image

The aft superstructure also sits nicely

Image

The roof needs a little filling as we wont be using the Carley platforms amidships

Image

Image

Dry fitting teases...

Image

Image

Smell the sea air, listen to those gulls ;)

Thanks for looking

Rob
Modelling the mundane

Completed Campaigns:
ImageImageImageImageImage

User avatar
Philipp Gross
Site Admin/Founder
Posts: 5122
Joined: 19 Jul 2014, 23:40
Location: Frankfurt
Contact:

Re: Flower Power - Revell's Flower Class Corvette in 1/144

Post by Philipp Gross »

Well, I don't know much about WW2 warships, but this is going to be good :D

Philipp
Completed Campaigns:
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

User avatar
Steve Hutchinson
Senior Site Contributor.....
Senior Site Contributor.....
Posts: 2263
Joined: 20 Jul 2014, 08:27
Location: Bradford West Yorkshire, UK

Re: Flower Power - Revell's Flower Class Corvette in 1/144

Post by Steve Hutchinson »

Very well done Rob ;)

Variety is the the spice of life, looking forward to this one developing

Even at 1:144 its a biggie at 43 cm :shock:

Hopefully Vlad will dust off his floaty thing too 8-)

lets have some more ;)

Steve H
""I need to be creative, to feel ALIVE!""

Completed Campaigns:
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

Adam Durrant
Senior Site Contributor.....
Senior Site Contributor.....
Posts: 1791
Joined: 22 Apr 2016, 05:41
Location: Auckland, NZ

Re: Flower Power - Revell's Flower Class Corvette in 1/144

Post by Adam Durrant »

Looks like a nice kit, nice crisp moulding by the looks of the photos.

Will follow this with interest.

Adam
I'm a serial kit starter....
Completed Campaigns:
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

User avatar
Vincent Power
Senior Site Contributor.....
Senior Site Contributor.....
Posts: 2634
Joined: 31 Jul 2014, 23:49
Location: Melbourne Australia

Re: Flower Power - Revell's Flower Class Corvette in 1/144

Post by Vincent Power »

With that last build pic Rob, I'm seeing a rusted out hulk, laying forlornly on the beach.........or perhaps not ;)
Seriously though it's looking good. How big is the kit by the way?

Cheers,
Vincent
Completed Campaigns:
ImageImageImageImageImageImageImageImage

User avatar
Shawn Ramsey
Senior Site Contributor.....
Senior Site Contributor.....
Posts: 1987
Joined: 20 Jul 2014, 00:26

Re: Flower Power - Revell's Flower Class Corvette in 1/144

Post by Shawn Ramsey »

I'm patently waiting for an update. :D :D

Revell had a table at the IPMS nationals. They had this kit on display. Not built but all the sprues. This thing is huge for a 1/144 scale model and the box is so full. I tried to buy one but they would not sell it.

Shawn
Completed Campaigns:
ImageImage

Post Reply