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The encounter of HMS Glowworm and heavy cruiser Admirał Hipper

On 8 April 1940 the German heavy cruiser Admirał Hipper encountered the British destroyer HMS Glowworm. Despite being hopelessly outgunned, the British ship accepted the fight and fired torpedoes at the German cruiser from behind a smokescreen.

When the torpedoes missed the target, British commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Gerard B. Roope madę a desperate decision to ram the opponent. Glowworm's bow madę a hole in Admirał Hipper's starboard at the level of the torpedo tubę. After the attack, the British destroyer sank. Only 31 out of 145 of her crew survived and were taken aboard Admirał Hipper.

Lieutenant Commander Gerard B. Roope was not among them. He died at his post when the ship sank.

On 10 July 1945, HMS Glowworm's commanding officer, Lieutenant Commander Gerard B. Roope was posthumously awarded the greatest medal of the Commonwealth of England, the Victoria Cross.

General notes

Due to its size, complexity of construction, and intensity of labour, the model is intended for experienced modeller. During the model construction, please refer to the assembly drawings. The purpose of this description is to outline the construction stages and explain morę difficult points. Some model parts need to be reinforced with cardboard (of approx 0.25mm thickness) and card (0.5mm and 1 mm thickness) — follow the parts marking. To obtain bonds of various hardness, use a rangę of adhesives, such as rubber cement, nitrocellulose or cyanoacrylate adhesives (e.g. Super Glue). Two-component epoxy glues can also be used. The edges of some parts have to be painted - choose from water colours, oil or acrylic model paints. Make all template-based parts from metal wires of different diameter.

The model can be built entirely from the parts provided on the parts sheets, however some parts can be replaced by laser-cut frames, photo etched elements, aluminium gun barrels, etc.

Parts designation symbols are explained on the main drawing sheet. The golden rule “dry fitting before gluing” is applicable here.

Work description

Start the construction from making the hull frame (Fig.5). It consists of frames from W1a, b to W27a, b and hull frame side members P1 -P15. It is advisable to assemble the hull frame on the assembly table, and make its upper works first. Leave the hull frame on the assembly table until the glue has dried. The hull frame parts can be reinforced before gluing or in order to obtain stiffer bonds, use two-component epoxy glue. Take the hull frame off the assembly table and now make its underwater part. In order to avoid the fore deck getting misshapen, support the hull frame in two areas of artillery turrets only. Precision is reąuired during inserting the longitudinal reinforcing parts P12, P13, P14. Any misplacement of these parts may result in the hull frame getting twisted. Correctly glued parts will prevent the ship’s bottom elements from getting concave. When the entire hull frame has completely dried, file off the edges of frames and hull frame side members, giving them profile fitting that of the hull curvature, which will make covering the hull easier and give the covering parts a right shape. This is particularly important for the bow and stern. The hull frame is now ready to be supplied with deck parts 35, 36, 37, 38. Now cover the frame with the covering side plates. The hull side parts should overlap the bottom plating parts. The downside of this solution is a rough “step" of the cardboard thickness seen at waterline level. This can be avoided by making additional flaps from a piece of thin cardboard and gluing them to the waterline frame side members P8, 9, and 10. Then coverthe hulk frame with ship’s sides, and bottom plating parts. Their length has to be precisely adjusted by cutting off the areas marked with lines, which at standard way of making the model will go underthe ship's side. This method makes the model look better, but is morę difficult, labour-consuming and requires a great care to avoid making mistakes. Now, cover the hull frame below the waterline. Use flaps to glue the ship’s side plates. At designing the model, the flaps thickness was taken into consideration. It is advisable to begin covering the hull frame from one of the central elements and then proceed toward the bow and stern. The other method to start covering the hull from the first or the last covering element, however it very easy to make a mistake this way. The main assembly drawing shows the location of ship’s side plates. Gluing the bottom plates, make surę that bow part 1 is precisely shaped. When this is done, glue the shipssides28, 28a, 29, 29a, 30, 30a, 31,31a. Before part 30L is glued, cut out a hole in the stern part and glue it to the unprinted side of part 30d. Precisely form the ship's side in the bow and stern sections. Then glue formed parts 28d, 28b, reinforced parts 28c to the marked places, and part 30a on the stern. Glue the rubber fender stripes 32 and topping them with part 33. Form all parts 34a, b, cofthe bowchute (Fig. 7) and into the holes at the edge of the bow deck. Bilge keels 25 glue to the hull sides in the marked spots (refer to the main assembly drawing).

The propeller shafts and rudder are madę from parts 26 - 26k and 27 -27c, as shown in Fig. 9. In order to secure all completed parts in later construction stages, glue the model stand 41 and put the model there. Assemble the side platforms 39 - 39b (Fig. 5), but wait with attaching them to the ship until the finał stage.

Assemble the breakwater 40,40a (Fig. 3, 5) and fasten it to the deck. At this point start assembling the 1 st level of the superstructure, which is divided into the bow and stern sections. The superstructure frames consist of parts W44a - W44f, W45a - W45f, W46a - W46f (Fig. 45). To frames glue the superstructure decks - parts 42, 42a, 43, 43a, sidewalls 44, 44a, 45, 45a, 45b, 46, 46a. Sticking out deck edges cover with stripes 42b-1 - 42b-11 (Figs. 52, 71). Parts 48 glued together insert between the fragments of superstructure sidewalls. Glue part 49 (Fig. 52) to the sidewalls 45a. Glue parts 50, 51,52, 53, 54, 55, 56, (Figs. 52, 71) to the sidewalls 46, 46a, and then glue part 57 to the sidewall 44a. Glue parts 58, 59, 60 to the sidewall 45 and 45. Glue the fans 61 to the deck on the midship in the indicated spot (Fig. 27). Between the sticking out fragments of the deck of the 1 st level of the superstructure and the deck insert the supporting pieces 62 - light ones in the bow section, dark ones in the stern part. Now assemble the barbettes of the main artillery turrets - parts 63,63a, 63b under the turret A, parts64,64a, 64b underthe turret B, parts 65,65a, 65bunder the turret C, and parts 66, 66a, 66b under the turret D (Fig. 74). The motorboats racks on the midship are assembled from parts 67, 67a, 67b, 67c, 67d (on the starboard) and parts 68, 68a, 68b (at the port side) — Fig. 52.

Assemble the 2nd level of the superstructure-the bow section, below the command platform. Its frame consists parts W69a, b, c, d, e (Fig. 45). Glue to the frame the deck - parts 69, 69a, sidewalls 69b, c, d, of the parts of railing and the beam knees facing the inside id the ship -parts 69e, 69f, h, i. In the places indicated on the sidewall 69c glue the fans 70. At this stage, begin the 3rd level of the superstructure - the bridge. From parts W71a, b, c, d, e (Fig. 45) assemble the frame, onto which glue the deck - parts 71,71 a, 71 c. Then to its bottom glue the beam knees 71 b, 71 d, sidewalls 72, the platform brackets 71 e, 71 f, 71 g, 71 h (Fig. 54) and the lifebelts 71 i. In the marked spots add all necessary details - parts 73, 74, 75, 76, 80, 81. The beam knees 77 glue on the front sidewall in the order following the camouflage pattern, and then add parts 77a from the inside. The railings 78, 78b, 78a (inside) are glued to the edge of the superstructure deck. The ship’s side lights 79 attach in the indicated places (Fig. 52). To the marked spots glue the platforms of the fire control stations 82, W82. Assemble the side rangefinders stands from parts 83, 83a - 83e, and glue them to the underside of the superstructure deck 71. Glue part 84 to the edge of the command platform railing (Fig. 71). In the marked places on the deck of the 1 st level of the superstructure, glue the boxes 85, 86. Assemble the containers 87 and 87a (Fig. 39) and glue them to the deck of the 1 st level of the superstructure in the indicated places. The hydroplanes hangar - parts 88a - 88g, 89, 108 are assembled according to the assembly drawing 65. Glue them in the places indicated on the 1 st level of the superstructure.

Assemble the frame of the funnel from parts W90a - W90g (Fig. 45) and cover the frame with parts 90 and 90a (Fig. 71). Next add all remaining parts: the platform - parts 91,91 a; fans-90, 92a, 93, 93a, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 99a (Figs. 52, 71). Assemble the frame of the room - parts W100a - W100e (Fig. 45) and cover it with the sidewall 100. Glue the ready piece in the marked place.

From parts W102a - W102e assemble the frame of the stern superstructure of the 2nd level. Mount the frame with the superstructure deck - parts 101, 101a, to which then glue beam knees 101 b, c (underside). Cover it with the sidewalls - parts 102, 102a, 102b (inside) - Figs. 52, 71. Around the 20mm gun stations glue the railings with beam knees - 103, 103a, 103b, and then attach the boxes 104,105,106, and 107 in the indicated places.

Assemble the mounts from parts 109,109a, 109b, 109c (Fig. 58) and insert them between the decks of the 1 st and 2nd levels of the superstructure (Fig. 52).

Assemble the catapult base (Fig. 67) from parts W110a, W110b, 110, 110a, 11 Ob, 110c. Supply itwith parts 110eand 110f, and then glue the whole piece onto the 2nd superstructure deck. Attach parts 112, 113, and 114 to the sidewall 111 c. The frame of the room at the mount of the stern mast is assembled from parts W115a, W115b and W115c (Fig. 45). Once the frame is ready, glue the deck 115,115a and cover it with sidewalls 115b, 115d, and 115c. 115f from the inside. Glue the bracket 115e and the beam knees 115 underside. To the indicated spots glue parts 115j and 115k. Glue parts 117, 118, and 119 in the indicated spots on the sidewall 115b.

Boxes 120, 121, 122 glue in the places indicated on the stern superstructure (on part 101)-Fig. 52.

Assemble the pontoons from parts 123, 123a (Fig. 52) and attach them to the stern superstructure sidewalls.

Assemble the stern rangefinder mount from parts 124,125,126,127, the stern rangefinder 128, and the stern mast 129 (Fig. 59). When they are ready, glue them in the indicated places.

Refer to the assembly drawings for the details 130 (Fig. 47), 131 (Fig .38), 132 (Fig. 46). When they are ready, glue them in the indicated spots now, or leave until the last stage of the model construction.

Refer to Fig. 67 on how to assemble the catapult 134,135, and glue it on the spot indicated on the midship.

From parts 136a - 136e make the motorboats racks at the stern and glue them on the edges of the midship superstructures (Figs. 52,71). Attach the companionways 137 as shown in Fig. 52.

Assemble thefunnel from parts 138,139,141,142,143 (Figs. 63, 64) and platform - parts 140, 144,145,146, 147,148,149,150 (Fig. 69). Glue the parts together and attach the piece on the indicated spot (Figs. 52,71).

Refer to Fig. 31 on how to assemble the fire control stations 151 and place them according to their numeration (following the shape of the camouflage pattern).

Assemble the base of the conning tower, parts 152,152a - 152h, 153, 153a, 153b, 154,154a (Figs. 52, 71). Attach the reels 155 (Fig. 73) to part 153.

Now assemble the conning tower, parts 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161,162,163,164, 165, 170, as shown in Figs. 40, 41,42, 43, 44, 52, 71.

Assemble the rangefinder mount, parts 171 - 171 f (Fig. 52), and searchlight mounting pole, parts 172 - 172f, 173,174 - 174b (Figs. 40, 52), and glue them to the conning tower.

Assemble the base of the bow rangefinder from parts 175a, 175b, 175c, W175,176,177,178 (Fig. 59a)and glue the piece on the upper deck (Figs. 52,71).

Assemble the bow rangefinder with radar 179-179r, 182, 182a, 183, 184- 184b, 185, (Fig. 51) and glue the whole piece to the previously assembled base (Figs. 52,71).

From parts 186 - 186j assemble the side rangefinders (Fig. 30) and the central rangefinder from parts 187 - 187h (Fig. 29). Putthe ready elements on the platform 171 and bases83 (Figs. 52,71).

Assemble the front mast from parts 188- 188g (Fig. 70) and glue it to the conning tower (Figs. 52,71).

Now assemble the armoured conning station from parts 189 - 189d, 190,190a, 191a, 191b, 192-192f, 193- 193b, 194-194b (Figs. 52,55, 56, and 71).

The station 195 - 195i is assembled as shown in Fig. 72. When the piece is ready, glue it on the bridge (Figs. 52,71).

Assemble the detail 196 - 196h according to Fig. 46 and glue on part 195.

Put together pieces 197 - 197e (Fig. 57) and 198 - 198n (Fig. 38), but glue the two elements on the indicated spots in the finał stage of the ship’s construction.

From parts 199- 199f assemble the observer's post on the bridge (Fig. 52) and glue them to the indicated spot.

Assemble the rowing boats davits from parts 200 -200p, 201 a -201 c, as shown in Fig. 68, and locate them on the deck in the indicated spots.

Now make the stern mast with its platforms - parts 202 - 202g, 203 -203d, 204 - 204b, 205 - 205d, 206, 206a (Figs. 81,87). Once the mast is ready, insert it into the holes in the superstructures decks.

According to Fig. 57 assemble parts 207 - 207d and glue them on the indicated places. In order to assemble the searchlights 208 - 208ar, refer to Fig. 28. Glue them to the indicated spots on the platforms. Assemble the accommodation ladders 209 - 209e (Fig. 8). Leave attaching the elements to the hull sides for later, in the finał stage.

Smali booms are assembled from parts 21 Oa - 21 Oc (Fig. 6) and then glued to the ship’s side in the spot indicated in the main assembly drawing.

Assemble the sweeps from parts 211 - 211j (Fig. 32). Glue all ready elements on the front sidewall of the superstructure.

Arado 196A hydroplane is built from parts 212 - 212aj (Fig. 79). Assemble one aircraft and put it on the catapult. Optionally, assemble another hydroplane with folded wings and place it in a hangar built on your own. While assembling the hydroplane make surę to give the wing centre section right position, profile the fuselage-wing section and adjust appropriate geometry of the floats.

Assemble the cranes from parts213-213aaal (Fig. 80) and glue them in the indicated places.

Refer to Fig. 37 to assemble the torpedo tubes from parts 214-214aj and fasten them to the deck in the indicated places (glue the camouflaged tubes to the starboard at the stern).

Fig. 78 shows how to assemble 2x37mm guns, parts 215 - 215ag. When they are ready, glue them in the places indicated on the decks -the dark grey guns on the bow and stern superstructures (at the front, by the starboard). Refer to Fig. 76 how to assemble 1x20mm guns, parts 216-216m. When they are ready, glue them in the indicated places - the dark grey guns on the stern superstructure, at the front, by the starboard.

Assemble the 20mm Flak30 guns from parts 217 - 217z, as shown in Fig. 77. Now place the guns atop the towers B and C.

Assemble the AA 105mm guns from parts 218-218q as shown in Fig. 75 and glue them in the indicated places according to their numeration.

Now assemble the main artillery turrets 219, 220, 221,222 as shown in Fig. 74. Put the complete parts on the barbettes according to the main assembly drawing.

Next, assemble motorboats and rowing boats, parts 223, 224, 225, 226,227 (Figs. 82, 83, 84, 85, 86) and arrange the boats according to the main assembly drawing.

Finally assemble the following smaller details of the deck equipment:

-    depth charges launcher 228 (Figs. 15,27);

-    bow capstan 229 (Figs. 1,5);

-    bow and stern anchors 230 - Figs. 5,9;

-    reels 231,232,233 - Figs. 48,49, 50, 52,71;

-part 234-Figs. 2,5;

-part235-Fig.27;

-part 236-Fig. 27;

-part 237-Figs. 23,27;

-part 238-Fig. 27;

-part239-Fig.27;

-    part 240 - Figs. 22,27;

-part 242-Figs. 36,71;

-part 243-Figs. 26,27;

-part 244-Fig. 27;

-part 245-Figs. 26,27;

-part 246-Figs. 10,27;

-part 247-Figs. 33,27;

-part 248-Fig. 27;

-part 249-Fig. 27;

-    part 250 - Figs. 24,27;

-    part251 - Figs. 16,27;

-part 252-Figs. 20,27;

-part 253-Figs. 17,27;

-part 254-Figs. 21,27;

-part 255-Figs. 18,27;

-    part 256- Figs. 35,27;

-part257-Figs.25,27;

-part 258-Figs. 19,27;

-    part 259 - Figs. 36,52,71;

-    parts 260,261,262 - Figs. 11,12,13,14;

-    part 263 - Fig. 4, main assembly drawing.

Use the template to make part 264, but make the anchor chain on your own.

Finally make all rigging, and put ensigns and flags in appropriate places.