HDML 1321 saw many years of service. During those years many men have trained and served on board the vessel. She has touched the lives of many since. Today Roger Pearson shares his passion for model building and endeavours to recreate the ML 1321 in her wartime configuration.
My 1/144th scale HDML 1321 model
By Roger Pearson
This particular model is scratch-built from card parts for the most part, converted from a card model kit (originally produced by Coastal Forces in Paper of Germany) of what I call a ‘normal’ 72’ HDML.This model is only about 80% complete. I still need to work out particular aspects of some features such as where various fittings etc. were located. My model is based on information gleaned from National Archives and the very limited number of WW2 photo’s.
I wish to portray her at the time of Operation Copper in April 1945. There are however quite a number of post war photo’s showing her almost unique design. There was only one other HDML also built in Hobart which had an almost identical ‘look’ about it.
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| Early in the build process |
The above images are very early on in the build process. The 20mm RU (ready use lockers containing spare drum magazines) and gun pedestal towards the stern are resin castings, as are the cowl vents.
Below shows my model painted initially with a grey primer, at this stage the model is approximately 40% complete.
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| Model of ML 1321 with undercoat |
With a little colour the model really starts to look like 1321 during the war. I believe this is pretty close to the colour that 1321 was painted in 1945.
Below is an early mock-up with some of the guns in place temporarily. Future models will be more accurate and of a much higher quality.
I recently received general arrangement drawings showing a slightly different shape to the chart house and I’m positive as I progress through doing a card model test mock-up in 1/72nd scale I will find other small differences. I plan on producing models in two different scales, perhaps even a third.
- 1/144th scale (about 170mm/6.5” long) will be produced as a resin hull, fittings and some crew figures with quite a bit of the rest in brass. Any flat surface or box-like shape can be produced in brass.
- 1/72nd scale (about 340mm/13” long), again with a resin (or similar) hull etc but this time the deck and structures I hope to have produced in laser-cut timber to replicate the planking.
- There is a possibility of having some small token models produced via the 3D method in 1/350 scale. These would be about 2.75” long, quite small but I think would be quite nice.
To give an idea what a wee 350 scale model would look like, below is a 1/350 scale MGB model, only about 70mm/2.5” long. You can see how nice it looks. That of course is yours truly about five or so years ago with the wee ‘little ship’ resting on my hand.
"Roger's Little Ships"
Modelling Allied Light Coastal Forces and Riverine craft.Bendigo, Australia.
How Roger became interested in HDML 1321
"My interest in navy small ships started quite some years ago when I noticed and purchased the above model of MGB 75. I started doing research on this particular boat which then lead to finding out about the numerous other types, MGB's, MTB's patrol type craft etc and the rest they say is history.
HDML 1321, well that came about by reading the very good book 'The Guns of Muschu' possibly 6-7 years ago. From there I was fortunate to make contact with the sole surviving Z Special Unit commando and three of 1321's crew. After establishing phone contact with these very special gents indeed, I decided I wished to meet ex-commando Mick Dennis who ironically lived in Maroubra, the very same suburb as I did when growing up during my school years. My wife Deb and I made the trip to Sydney in November 2011 to have 'lunch with Mick' which turned out to be a most memorable event with all four veterans (one veteran from 1321 wasn't able to attend the lunch but we did visit him at home close by) plus other family members of those lost in attendance, nineteen of us in total. Deb and I wrote an article about this wonderful trip and is available to anyone who wants it."
Read Lunch with Mick
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