HMS Daring 1940

Ratch · March 23, 2022

HMS Daring joined the Third Destroyer Flotilla in Scapa Flow on 10 February 1940 for escort duties. At 0354 hours (Berlin time), on 18 February 1940, while escorting Convoy HN12 from Bergen, Norway, to Methil. About 40 nautical miles east of the Pentland Firth, HMS Daring (Commander Sydney Alan Cooper, RN) was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-23 commanded by Otto Kretschmer.

She capsized and sank very quickly after having her stern blown off; 157 of the ship's company were lost. The five survivors were rescued by the submarine HMS Thistle, which had witnessed the attack.

My mother's uncle, Albert John Clarke, service number C/JX 137478 was either a Leading or Able Seaman and served on HMS Daring. He was one of those lost on 18/2/40, aged 19 years.

My research incorporated the AIRFIX magazine for modellers – December 1979 p175-182

The ‘D’ Class bridge was the same as Hotspur. The fore superstructure was rounded under ‘B’ gun deck, which overhung considerably more than the kit. Use the Codrington drawing (I’m using Norman Ough’s drawing). On each side of the Signal Deck a single 2pdr was carried (as Hotspur). The space between the funnels was given to a 3-inch AA gun on a circular platform (smaller than Codrington’s). Two Speed Destroyer Sweep T.S.D.S. minesweeping gear was not carried.

My box had tipped over and I had several missing parts:

part 5 cannot find on the instruction sheet

13 a spigot for a gun – I don’t need it

17 I cannot find on the instruction sheet

24 is the bow mast, I’ll have to substitute with plastic rod

31 half a funnel, I’ve got another complete one in my spares box

38 a davit I have one in spares

66 the rudder I have one left over from my water-lined build of HMS Dulverton.

I determined that 3mm requires adding to the length of the hull, but whereabouts I was uncertain.

Checking Norman Ough’s drawing the 3mm should be added forward of the capstans for the anchors. The eyelets for the anchor cables measure correctly so 3mm should be added forward of them making the bow pointier. I think this is beyond my skill set, though if I had another Hotspur, I may have attempted it, but as it is, I’ll wimp out and build it without the extension.

Ratch · March 27, 2022

I am using the Niko 1/700 kit as a guide to the alterations needed

I'm also converting a Tamiya E Class

I cut bandstands from scrap plastic card

Converting the Hotspur requires additional work

Ratch · March 27, 2022

Playing around, working out how to display the Airfix ship

Either on the kit supplied stands

or some blocks

I probably need to shorten them

Kenneth ONeill · March 28, 2022

If you're going for blocks, that's prototyping, and you can work out the length for them once you have a separation.

Sailorman · March 29, 2022

What do you mean by prototyping and separation?

Kenneth ONeill · March 30, 2022

Prototyping - Making a prototype, and initially concerning yourself with points that do matter, like how long and how far apart the finished beams should be.

Separation - The distance(s) between the beams.