H.M.S. Edinburgh was one of two ships of the Edinburgh, or Modified Southampton, class of cruiser. They were based on the earlier, very successful Southampton class, and were originally intended to mount four quadruple 6" turrets. As trials of these turrets proved unsuccessful, it was decided to revert to the Southampton's armament of four triple turrets. The proposed hull length was consequently reduced, but the remaining increase in size over the Southampton's allowed more distance between the machinery and bridge areas, allowing improved boat stowage and keeping funnel fumes well away from the bridge, although possibly at the expense of aesthetics!

Edinburgh was launched on 31st March 1938, and completed on 6th July 1939, joining the 18th Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow in September. On the 1st October she transferred to the 2nd Cruiser Squadron in the Humber, escorting convoys to Scandinavia until March 1940, when she went for refit until 28th October, after which she rejoined the 18th Cruiser Squadron with the Home Fleet. In March 1941 she covered the Lofoten raid, and in May took part in the hunt for the Bismarck, intercepting the blockade runner Lech in the process.

In July and September she made sorties to the Mediterranean for Operations Substance and Halberd, before returning to northern waters for Russian convoy duties. On 30th April 1942 Edinburgh was hit twice by torpedoes from U456 whilst covering convoy QP11. The first hit was starboard amidships, and the second blew her stern off, leaving her dead in the water. Using her two remaining shafts, the cruiser began to slowly make her way back to Kola, escorted by HMS Forester and two Russian destroyers, with HMS Foresight secured astern to act as a drogue and keep her on a steady course.

On hearing news of the damage to Edinburgh, the Germans decided to risk three of their precious destroyer fleet in an unsupported attack in an attempt to disrupt the convoy. The German force found the convoy , but was repeatedly beaten off by the inferior but skilfully handled destroyer escort. Having failed in their attack on the convoy, the German force decided to try for the crippled cruiser, and attempted to close within torpedo range of her under cover of smoke and snowstorms. The aggressive handling of the two British destroyers prevented this, but Forester was badly damaged, only being saved by Foresight steaming between her and the Germans. Despite Edinburgh's serious condition, she was able to engage the enemy destroyers with B turret in local control, striking the Herman Schoemann with her second salvo, stopping her dead in the water. She later had to abandoned and scuttled. Edinburgh's luck finally ran out when she was struck by a torpedo from Z24. The remaining German destroyers withdrew, but Edinburgh's fate was sealed. Her list increased to 17°, and it became obvious she was open to the sea from side to side. Captain Faulkner gave the order to abandon ship, and survivors were taken off by the minesweepers Harrier and Gossamer before she was scuttled by a torpedo from Foresight. So on 2nd May 1942, Edinburgh went down with 57 hands, and £44 million of gold from the Russians, sent in payment for war materials. In 1981 a salvage operation recovered all but £4 million of the bullion.

Displacement: 10,260 tons standard, 12,675 tons deep load.

Dimensions (feet): 579' pp, 613' 6" oa x 63'' 3" x 17' 3" (max).

Machinery: 4-shaft Parsons SR geared turbines. 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers, giving 80,000 s.h.p. and 32 1/2 knots.

Armament: 12 x 6" Mk XXIII (4 x 3); 12 x 4" Mk XVI AA (6 x 2); 16 x 2 pdr pom-pom (2 x 8); 8 x 0.5" MG (2 x 4); 6 x 21" torpedo tubes (2 x 3).

Armour: 4 1/2" main belt; 3" - 2" deck; 4" - 2" turrets.

Complement: 781.

This kit portrays Edinburgh in 1939. For super detailing purposes we recommend the plan of her sister, HMS Belfast (1939 fit), published by Sambrook Marine (available of course from White Ensign Models!). Further information is available in "British Cruisers of World War Two", by Raven & Roberts, and "Cruisers of World War Two" by Whitley, both published by Arms & Armour Press. The Polish language publication "Profile Morskie: HMS Belfast" available from ourselves also contains many useful drawings and photo's, although biased towards Belfast in 1943 fit.

THE KIT

As is usual with WEM kits, these consist of a finely Brian Fawcett-cast waterline resin hull with cast resin additional small parts and a large and comprehensive photoetched brass fret. The resin that Brian uses for our 1/700 hulls extraordinarily flexible. Our customers like it's forgiving, non-brittle nature. It takes minute detail extremely well, as do the fine mould rubbers that he uses, so Brian's hard work on detailing the master is not lost in the casting process. We COULD reduce the kit cost by using a cheap resin, but we would rather not compromise on quality.

If you've never built a WEM kit before, we design them with the following principles in mind:

1. Our customers should be able to build a WEM kit straight out of the box, with only the most basic knowledge of nautical terminology.

2. No extra research should be needed.

3. Construction of the kit should be possible by relative beginners to the field of ship modelling.

4. By offering resin alternatives to more complex etched brass parts (for example, the starfish on many kits, or 8-Barrelled Pom-Poms), we try to cater for all levels of modeller.

5. We offer a parts replacement service that we believe is second to none.

6. White Ensign Models offer the unbeatable combination of the most complete and most accurate ship kits with the best instructions seen anywhere in the world today. If you can find anyone that can beat us on all 3 counts, please let us know and we promise we will try harder!

Finally, the photo-etched brass detail set. This fret was intensively researched by Dave and myself, so that parts for ALL WW2 Town Class are covered. Peter Hall's work that followed can be seen below... pixel perfect registration, and exquisite relief etch design, enabling the most authentic recreation of the finer details. A rework of this fret has also been produced in 1/600 scale, for detailing the AIRFIX 1/600 Scale HMS Belfast. Priced at 16.13 pounds this huge fret will help you rework that old Airfix kit.

The 1/700 Scale brass is also available separately if required, at 12.72 pounds, to help detail up the B-Resina 1/700 HMS Belfast. 

The extensive Photoetched Parts List is as follows:

Crane Booms, Funnel Grills (Edinburgh/Belfast), Catapult assembly, 284 Gunnery radar, Quarter deck Ladders, 281 Aerial (Mainmast), 281 Aerial (Foremast), Boat Beams and supports (Edin/Belfast), 8-Barrelled Pom-Poms, Twin 20mm Oerlikons, 4-Barrelled Pom-Poms, Single 20mm Oerlikons, Forward Carley Raft Supports, Pom-Pom director with Yagi aerial, Masthead DF Aerial, Vertical Ladders, Inclined Ladders, Anchor Cable, Deck hatches (SIX TYPES!), 4 inch gun Z supports, Depth Charge Davits, Mast Starfish Radar Detectors, Stream Anchors, Aft Carley Raft Stowages, Midships Carley Raft Stowages, 243 Aerial, 290 Aerial, Semaphores, Whaler Davits, 279 RadarAerial, DC Rack (Edin/Belfast), Pom Pom Directors, Jack and Ensign Staffs, DC Rails (Southamptons), Walrus fittings, Mast Starfish, Walrus handling trolley, Hacs 285 Yagis, Boat well beams (Southamptons), Accomodation Ladders, Bridge Windscreen, Aft Carley Raft Supports (Southamptons), Funnel Baffle, Funnel Grilles (Southamptons), Bridge Roof, Funnel Siren Platform, Mast Platforms, Main Director, Aft Platform, Forward funnel and Vent Crossbracing, Aft HA Director Platform and Bracing, Foremast Lower Footropes, Forward Funnel Side Platforms, Torpedo Tube Sliding Doors (open), Anchors, Aft Searchlight Platform Braces, Lantern radar Lattice Support, 16ft Motor Dinghy Chocks, 16ft Dinghy Chocks, 25ft Motor Boat Chocks, 32ft Cutter Chocks, 36ft Pinnace Chocks, 35ft Motor Boat Chocks, 2-Bar and 3-Bar Guard Rails.

Below, a diorama created by Ian Ruscoe, using the 1/700 Edinburgh kit, a bunch of the WEM 1/700 "Dockyard Mateys" items, and over 350 Gold Medal Models crew figures... Ian is renowned for his awesome diorama work (remember his build of the WEM 1/350 HMS Hood for Tamiya magazine a while back?). Ian now works full time on commissions for customers (aircraft, tanks, ships, figures and Sci-Fi), specialising in diorama work and can produce work for customers worldwide. He also has also wwritten a string of ship and armour build features for the Tamiya magazine.

Ian can be contacted at: (U.K.) 01782 239485 if you require a model built.

I would like to say that my digital camera really cannot do justice to this beautiful model! Those of you who have seen it for real will understand!

Click on thumbnails below and Please remember the Edinburgh in 1/700 Scale is under 11 inches long!

ORDER ONLINE

 Check out other WEM 1/700 Kits