At last! A River Class frigate - I've been after one of these for yonks!
Sadly, the Skytrex model is not in my preferred scale of 1:700; however, this model is well worth the wait. Like most Skytrex kits this one comes with a huge amount of detail cast onto the hull and super structure leaving the modeller only a few details like armaments, boat davits, masts, crucifix-girder frames and sponsons to attach. There are no instructions…not that any are needed but Skytrex do inform me that they will be including an exploded diagram showing the location of all parts very soon.
At 1:350 scale it is possible to represent the hull plating which immediately improves the look of a model ship. Most items appear to be well in scale but like all Skytrex kits absolutely begging to be detailed with etch brass. On my scale ruler the hull measures out as 303' (loa) x 35' beam which is less than a couple of scale feet out on either plane. The model builds into a pretty accurate 1942, (eight DC thrower version) River Class frigate and could quite easily represent Spey, Jed, Waverney, Tay, Wear and many others fitted with mine sweeping gear.
What will attract many modellers is that here is a ship which looks 'busy' and lots of great detail as well - I especially like the 25' motor cutter. It's beautifully detailed. However, the model is not without its faults: the stern on River Class frigates sloped abruptly inwards towards the water line. The model's stern is altogether too rounded in profile. Similarly, the funnel is too tall by 2-3mm and looks too slim. I suspect this would not appear so obvious if the master builder had added the funnel steam pipes - a strange omission on a 1:350 scale model. Still the minesweeping gear and depth charge throwers more than make up for it.
However, there is another quite substantial error - the model comes with two V&W Class 4" guns! River Class frigates had two 4" Mark XIX guns on Mark XXIII mounts, quite distinctive and 'upright' in appearance. Anything other than this looks completely wrong. All is not lost though if you are prepared to do a bit of 'bashing'. Inspection of the V&W guns shows that they can be converted to give at least an appearance of the Mark XXIII mounts. Carefully remove the barrel, gun breech and pedestal and turn the gun shield in an upright position. Carefully file the two triangular front panels from the front corners of the gun shield and replace the barrel and breech in new positions and you can just get away with it! There you have it - a beautiful model spoilt by a few irritating niggles. Still, if you prepared to replace the erroneous detail you'll have a superb model of a River Class frigate.

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