1/192 HMS Lance (Scratchbuilt)
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by Dennis Vella |
1/192 HMS Lance (Scratchbuilt)
Hello fellow modellers, it is nice to be back on this website after a 2 years break. My model is of HMS LANCE as she appeared in 1941. This particular ship appeals to me on 2 counts. In its short career the ship escorted convoys to and from the island until she hit a mine a few miles outside Malta's Grand Harbour. HMS Lance was one of the similar L and M classes, but because of the unavailability of the 4.7" barrels she and 3 sisters ships were armed with 4" guns. On paper when compared with their 4.7" gunned counterparts, they seemed undergunned but in reality they proved to be the best anti-aircraft and anti-submarine warships of any navy involved in WW2. In its short career the ship escorted convoys to and from the island of Malta until she hit a mine a few miles outside Malta's Grand Harbour.
The 1/192 scale model is based on a John Roberts scale plan in the A&A collection together with additional research obtained from the internet and a few overseas contacts. A problem I faced was a lack of photographs but this was somewhat offset by checking various reference books.
The material used in this build have by now become standardised to all models in my collection. Balsa or other available soft wood was used for the hull and superstructure. Small pieces like railings, gun barrels, poles and bollards are formed on a lathe from brass rods. Since the hull was built on a wooden central main spar with frames protruding on either side, I used both superglue and white glue to bond the two together. A few drops of SG to hold the pieces while the WG hardens. Side plating was also built in this manner. The colours are from both the WEM and Humbrol ranges. The model took 214 hours to complete.
I now hope to finish a model of a sister ship armed with those magnificent
4.7" gun houses and then see how the two ships compare when they are eventually
exhibited side by side as part of my collection.
