Tamiya

1/72 Vosper Fast Patrol Boat Perkasa

Kit Number: 79004

Reviewed by  Ken Williams, IPMS# 45861

MSRP: $89.00 Website: www.tamiya.com Before opening the superbly detailed Tamiya (#79004) 1/72 Vosper Fast Patrol Boat Perkasa, my ship modeling experience had been in all 1:350 scale. What a difference I found when modeling in 1/72 scale. Mainly, it is the level of detail that Tamiya achieves in the larger scale model that makes this kit so appealing and downright fun to build. The hull and superstructure are accurately reproduced even including control areas that you can barely see when finished (these are interior sections viewed only through small windows.) The 40mm and 20mm cannon mounts are surprisingly detailed to a modeler who is accustomed to using a magnifying glass on the 20mm guns of model cruisers and battleships. The Vosper interior is rich with detail as are the four torpedoes with their intricate mounts. The masts and propellers (bright brass plate simulation) are very detailed. The instruction manual is very readable and well organized including frequent drawings of the finished sections. The model also includes a nice display stand with stylish Vosper nameplates. The 1:1 Vosper's were originally built by Vosper & Company, a British shipbuilding firm founded in 1871. During WWII, the Vosper Company came to specialize in small craft such as the fast torpedo boats. After the war, Vosper continued to develop small fast patrol craft, such as the Brave Class. These boats were equipped with 3 Bristol Proteus engines, which powered the boat to top speeds of over 50 knots. They were armed with one 40mm Bofors cannon, two 20mm Oerlikon cannons, and four torpedoes. The Perkasa was one of several Brave Class boats exported to the Royal Malaysian Navy. Building the Vosper was a lot of fun. The one-piece hull is beautifully molded in two colors (red below the water line and it has more than sufficient room for adding RC equipment. I masked it up and painted it even though it was already gray above dark red. Like most modelers, I simply prefer the look of a painted surface. When dry, I applied a coat of Future to protect the hull-I would spray on Dullcoate later to take away the gloss sheen. I put that aside to turn to the one-piece deck, molded in green plastic. I loaded up my trusty Aztek airbrush with a Tamiya Dark Green and covered the whole deck. I would later overspray this with a light coat of Burnt Metal to give the deck the look of old painted metal. The next step was to add the railings. I have always used PE to add railings to ships, but with the Vosper, I had to learn to sew. The Vosper's railings are made up of thin, real thin, plastic posts and thin string. Here is where I encountered my first and only problem. The plastic posts are very fragile. Even cutting the posts from the sprue can break them. I had to repair a couple of the posts after freeing them from the sprue. My suggestion is to treat the posts and sprue just as you would PE -- use a very sharp blade and support the piece well as you cut. Each post has two eyelets into which the modeler must thread the twine that is provided by Tamiya. After gluing all the posts into the holes provided (let them dry thoroughly) carefully thread the twine. Be sure to follow the detailed instructions and thread the posts in the suggested order. The finished product is worth the effort -- the railings look great. The superstructure is based on two large well molded pieces that snap onto the deck. This provides easy access to the interior hull for RCers. I used the easy access to install battery-powered lighting to the interior control area that would normally be very difficult to see from the exterior. The detail is such that you really want people to see inside. The light (a small pen light) worked well and provided a stunning display when the exterior lights dimmed. The deck guns are in very detailed, yet easy to assemble. The guns elevate and turn on their bases. The four torpedoes sit on intricate launchers that require a careful and thoughtful touch to assemble correctly. The remaining pieces go together easily including a set of detailed deck hands and officers. I painted these according to the instructions. Last, I added the propellers. These are the nicest looking propellers I have ever seen in a kit. They are plated in shiny brass-almost gold-plate. I normally spray paint my props black and then overspray with Alclad pale gold. There was no need to do that here. When completed, I used a thin coat of Burnt Metal enamel to "dirty up" the superstructure and the deck especially those areas surrounding the engine compartment. I usually provide my own bases for my ships and boats but the one provided by Tamiya is very nice with a Nameplate produced with a script style. I can recommend this kit to you with enthusiasm. It assembles well, is molded with fantastic detail, and makes a stunning model display. It would readily lend itself to an action diorama with its mighty engines pushing the bow into the air. Good job Tamiya! I look forward to more models in the 1/72 scale. Thanks to Laurel Kamper and Tamiya USA for supplying this excellent model for review.