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HMS Barham
by Mike McCabe

HMS Barham, 1:700 Waveline kit by Mike McCabe. 

The model shows HMS Barham in her final fit before her fateful sinking, or at least is my interpretation of how she looked as information is difficult to come by as to her actual appearance.  There is in particular debate as to deck camouflage, I have chosen to show her with semtex fitted amidships in the area of the 4" AA guns, with the remainder of the decks showing heavy wear to previously painted wooden decks.

I used the Waveline kit which is now a little hard to come by but still appears every now and then, this is a very well cast kit which includes a small photoetched fret for the crane and catapult and a few other items, most small parts are white metal but for parts in this material are on the whole very well done.  I did however replace a number of these with photoetched, resin or scratchbuilt parts as appropriate.  Much of the time on the build was in detailing the bridge structure as can be seen in the build photos.  I replaced the white metal gun barrels with turned brass items from Burkhardt Masch and these improve the appearance greatly.  All masts are replaced with brass rod and there is much detailing added to the basic kit.

This was a very long build for me, eight months in fact, partly due to the gaps in references but also from the fact that I seem to be getting slower! 

Barham is shown heavily weathered and worn, I was trying to achieve the impression of a ship very much at war, awaiting her sudden and tragic end.

Mike McCabe