Hello everyone, I'm Jhanpo, and my hobby is ship modeling. It's been a while since my last submission to Toy People News, and this time I'm bringing you my 2024 project: the Republic of China Navy's Taiyuan warship.
The Taiyuan, designated DE-27, was originally a U.S. Navy destroyer escort from World War II. After the war, it was transferred to the Republic of China, where it served in various roles, including Strait patrols and escorting supply convoys, before being decommissioned in May 1997. It's truly significant to build a model of this venerable veteran ship.
For the hull, I used Trumpeter's DE-635 kit. However, the rest of the superstructure had to be scratch-built using plastic sheets. With only a few reference photos available, many parts of the build required extensive research and guesswork due to insufficient data.
I estimated and slowly refined the basic architectural structure while constantly referencing photos.
Thanks to Mr. Chen Chih-pang, an expert on ROC military ships, for providing invaluable information. After discussions, I revised the position and height of the bridge, and the adjustments made a significant improvement!
After several days of review, the bridge structure was finally finalized, allowing me to move on to adding the intricate details.
Here's the detailing work on the starboard side of the superstructure. Reference materials for the mid-to-aft sections of both sides were scarce, so I tried to add as much detail as possible by referencing pre-modification photos.
Constructing the mast.
Building the funnel section.
Constructing the two 5-inch guns.
I spent several days slowly working on the ship's equipment and armament.
After a long build, I finally saw the prototype taking shape – it was truly exciting!
Preparing the base color and masking the deck for painting.
After applying the basic colors, I assembled the various sections, ready to begin the detailing phase.
During the detailing process, I slowly crafted a small boat.
After several months of work, the project is finally complete! Below is the finished collection. I'm incredibly grateful for the journey!
Jhanpo, based in Taipei, Taiwan, is a dedicated ship model maker and a member of the Gentlemen's Scale Model Club. He has been crafting and promoting ship models since 2012.
Jhanpo, currently residing in Taipei, Taiwan, is a ship model maker and a member of the Gentlemen's Scale Model Club. He has been creating and promoting ship models since 2012.
Jhanpo's Ship Model Club:
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Portfolio: https://sites.google.com/view/jhannavy/work?authuser=0