Royal Navy Type 42 Destroyer Photo-Etch
White Ensign Models - 1/700

By: Mike Dunn

A short while ago, I heard through the grapevine that White Ensign Models were working on a new PE fret, for a modern Royal Navy ship. On contacting Caroline, she confirmed this was for the Type 42, and gave me the better news - it had just become available. Needless to say, my order went in immediately, and was received a couple of days later.

So, what do you get for your tenner? Quite a bit, actually. The fret is one of the most populated I have seen, and is capable of fully detailing two Type 42 destroyers - yes, two. Not only that, but you can do the Batch One, the Batch Two or the Batch Three! This is the first time I've seen a fret able to handle any variant of a ship type, let alone provide you with enough for two!

  The fret itself is 3 1/8" by 5 3/4", and has no less than 40 separate sections, ranging from parts for all ships, eg the 965Q Radar Scanner assembly, to those for a particular Batch, eg the Engine Intake Grills. Everything you might need is included - replacement heli-rotors for the Lynx, a floodlight gantry for the hanger roof, derricks for the Gemini inflatables, doors, various radars and masts, railings, flight deck safety nets, ladders......you get the idea. To show exactly how sad I am, I counted all the parts - you get a whopping 143 pieces of photo-etch. Included in this figure are two 2 7/8" lengths of straight ladder, one 2 7/8" length of inclined ladder, two 2 7/8" lengths of anchor chain, two 2 7/8" lengths of 2-bar rails, four 4 7/8" lengths of foc's'le railings and eight 4 7/8 lengths of 3-bar railings. There is a change on the fret from the enlarged copy detailing the list of parts - the seaboat gantry for the Batch 3 vessels is empty. However, don't fret (excuse the pun!), as a separate bag has the missing part in it's own fret - it looks like WEM weren't totally happy with the original version, and had another one designed.

Moving to the instructions, I found another pleasant surprise. WEM have been constantly coming up with better instructions for their frets as time passes - I have some of their earliest frets with passable instructions that Caroline is happy to help out with, but these are far superior than any fret instruction I have as yet come across. They are on three sides of two A4 sheets, the first side being the enlarged fret diagram and list of parts mentioned above. All parts are numbered in the list, with a corresponding number tag on the diagram - no chance of mixing up what part is which. The reverse of this sheet has large diagrams and text detailing the assembly of nine areas - the Yardarms, the Masts, the Aerial Spreaders, the HF/DF Aerial, the Radar Mast DF Aerial, the 965Q Radar Scanner, the 1022 Radar Scanner, the Seaboat Gantry and finally details on the Forward Superstructure, showing the Loading Brackets, the Side Safety Nets, the Batch 2 Engine Intake Grills and the SCOT Platform Rails. The last sheet has the Batch 3 Engine Inatke Grills, the Foc's'le Guardrail Positioning, the Flightdeck Safety Netting and details on the Aft Superstructure, showing the Hanger Lighting Gantry and the Gemini Derricks. The remaining area on the instructions are some notes on specific parts, ie the heli rotors, the ladders (replacing the moulded ladders) and the doors (to fit on the moulded doors), together with general notes on the application of PE parts.

What more can I say? Enough parts to detail two models, coupled with comprehensive instructions? Wonderful! I can't recommend this fret enough for those modellers who have either of the Type 42 destroyer kits available. And if you don't have one - get one! This fret turns the kits into winners! White Ensign Models get a straight 10/10 from me for this fantastic example of PE fret detailing.

Links

White Ensign Models