#730 Electra And Express To the Rescue
HMS Electra (H27) and HMS Express (H61) race to protect HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse as a wave of G3M Nell torpedo bombers press their attack on 10 December 1941. No electronics in this one.
Notes
10 December 1941: Force Z is attacked in the South China Sea, sinking the Battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse.
At around 11:40, 17 Nell torpedo bombers (two squadrons from the Genzan Air Group) approached the two capital ships. Eight concentrated on Repulse, while nine attacked Prince of Wales, sending eight torpedoes speeding towards the flagship (one plane aborted its run on Prince of Wales and peeled off and attacked Repulse).[44] One Nell was shot down and three more were damaged by the Prince of Wales anti-aircraft fire during this attack.
The destroyers Electra and Vampire moved in to rescue survivors of Repulse, while Express rescued those from the Prince of Wales.
This scene depicts the destroyers HMS Electra (H27) and HMS Express (H61) racing to protect the capital ships as a wave of G3M Nell torpedo bombers press their attack.
NB: this continues my annual memorial-in-models of the fated expedition that once and for all proved the vulnerability of ships to air attack. I’ve previously built HMS Prince of Wales and HMAS Vampire and have HMS Repulse queued up for next year, completing the British task force for the 83rd anniversary.
Paint Scheme
| Feature | Color | Recommended | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| guns | Gun Metal | X-10 | H18, 70.863 Gunmetal Grey |
| Chrome Silver | X-11 | ||
| lower hull, funnel top, mast | Flat Black | XF-1 | |
| funnel band | Flat White | XF-2 | |
| hull | Light Sea Grey | XF-25 | H61 |
| boats | Flat Earth | XF-52 | |
| main deck | Neutral Grey | XF-53 | H83 |
| anchor chain | Metallic Grey | XF-56 |
Photo-etch Customization
While the Tamiya kit is a reasonably well detailed, I think it needs some PE to bring it to life.
I’m using a photo-etch set from White Ensign Models (PE 766, 1:700) that caters for all ships in the E & F Destroyer Class.
The main benefit came from the railings. I left many parts unused because they were not well scaled or not a greta improvement over the kits parts.
Here are my notes on how the PE was applied:
| PE | Name | Used |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Standard 3-bar Railings | √ |
| 2 | 2-bar Platform Railings | |
| 3 | Close stanchion Railings | |
| 4 | Splinter Matting | |
| 5 | 291 Radar Antenna | add to G32 |
| 6 | .5” Vickers Quad Gun Mounting | replace G26 - only used base. Rest too big and not a great reproduction |
| 7 | Searchlight Lens Cross | add to G13 - not used, too big for the part |
| 8 | Bridge Awning | n/a |
| 9 | Forward Blast Shield Supports | √ add to G21 |
| 10 | Bridge Windshield | add to G22 |
| 11 | Aft Blast Shield Supports | √ add to G9 |
| 12 | 27’ Whaler Oars | |
| 13 | 27’ Whaler thwarts | |
| 14 | 27’ Whaler rudders | |
| 15 | 30’ Gig Thwarts | |
| 16 | 30’ Gig Oars | |
| 17 | 30’ Gig Rudder | |
| 18 | 16’ Dinghy Oars | |
| 19 | 16’ Dinghy Thwarts | |
| 20 | 16’ Dinghy Rudder | |
| 21 | Boat Davits | replace G1 - not used; not a great improvement over kit part |
| 22 | 27’ Whaler Securing Straps | |
| 23 | 30’ Gig Securing Straps | |
| 24 | Short Mainmast | HMS Express H61 instead of G10 |
| 25 | Short Mainmast Yardarm | HMS Express H61 instead of G10 |
| 26 | Vertical Ladder Stock | |
| 27 | Inclined Ladders | |
| 28 | HF/DF Antenna Array | |
| 29 | 4.7” Gun Shields | replace F9 - not used; not a great improvement over kit part |
| 30 | Anchors | replace G2 - not used; not a great improvement over kit part |
| 31 | .5” Gun Platform Supports | add to G18 |
| 32 | Forward Funnel Cap Grille | not used - kit part is fine |
| 33 | Aft Funnel Cap Grille | not used - kit part is fine |
| 34 | Bridge Front DF Antenna | add to G22? |
| 35 | Anchor Chain | |
| 36 | Rocket Flare Launch Rails | add to F9? |
| 37 | Depth Charge Davits | add near G9 |
| 38 | Depth Charge Rail Frame | |
| 39 | Depth Charge Rail Plate | |
| 40 | TSDS Stern Gantry | |
| 41 | Stern GantryPlatform | |
| 42 | Wire Antenna Spreader | HMS Express H61 instead of G10 |
| 43 | Accommodation Ladder Rail 1 | n/a |
| 44 | Accommodation Ladder Rail 2 | n/a |
| 45 | Accommodation Ladder Steps | n/a |
| 46 | Mainmast Tripod Poles | add to G10 (HMS Electra H27) |
| 47 | Mainmast Yardarm | add to G10 (HMS Electra H27) |
| 48 | Aft Funnel Sirens | √ add to G7/8 |
| 49 | Aft Funnel Siren Platform | √ add to G7/8 |
| 50 | Foremast Lower Yardarm | add to G32 |
| 51 | Foremast Upper Yardarm | add to G32 |
| 52 | Froward Carley Rafty Racks | add to G24 |
| 53 | Aft Carley Rafty Racks |
Nell
| Feature | Color | Paint Used |
|---|---|---|
| lower fuselage | Sky Blue | H74 |
| upper camo A | Wood Brown | H37 |
| upper camo B | IJA Green | H60 |
Build Log
Final Gallery
