1/12 scale Trent class

The Trent  was the first ‘kit’ we produced some 9 years ago now I think? It builds into a ‘Museum standard’ model that you will be proud of.  

It is not a 100% complete kit, requiring the builder to source some small parts or make them from scratch from tubing or styrene sheet.  Nothing complicated or expensive so have no fear.  

It is available in individual ‘sets’ which can be bought all together or separately.  This means you can spread the cost of the kit or use whatever ‘sets’ you wish and make as much as you like from scratch.  Plans need to be sourced from the RNLI in Poole (just call them, they are all geared up for the modeller wanting plans).

The model has an overall length of  48” and weighs about 26lbs.

I recommend some brushless ‘outrunners for motors.  Massive choice available and they are very low cost too.

Kit is £896

The full kit consists of the following sets:

 HULL & WHEELHOUSE MOULDING SET  £240
The hull and wheelhouse set comprises of two fibreglass mouldings, the hull and wheelhouse.  (The hull is complete with the deck already moulded on and includes the fendering.  It is strong and rigid, the way a big model should be).  The bilge keels and rudders are both laser cut to profile from 5 mm Perspex are included with the moulding's.

DETAIL SET  £275
The ‘Detail Set’ is the very heart of this model and because there are so many parts, its impracticable to list every item covered.

The set comprising of laser-cut Perspex components and acid etched Brass and Nickel Silver components contains over 500 precision made items.  

Every part is pre-shaped with a high degree of accuracy ensuring a perfect fit throughout the model.  

Many items, such as the flying bridge windscreen frame, are made from acid etched brass to give them the inherent strength that such a delicate item needs on a model of this size.  The Trim tabs are made this way but from heavy gauge brass enabling them to be used as the basis for working tabs.

All the air intake and exhaust vents, brackets, plates, mast brackets and plates, flying bridge instruments and displays are included.

The glazing for the flying bridge windows is included in the set as are all the Perspex covers for the instruments and display screens on the Flying Bridge, all pre-cut exactly to shape.

Included with the detail set is a CD containing over 200 reference shots of Trent 14-14.

HANDRAILS, STANCHIONS & KICKING BOARD SET   £45
The Trent class lifeboat has ‘kick boards’ bonded directly to its deck which carry the two ball stanchions and the hand railings.  Our set includes extruded section aluminium kick boards, pre-formed and shaped by hand to fit the deck contours.  They require only trimming and fettling before being glued directly to the deck.  

The two ball stanchions themselves are brand new and are made from CNC Turned brass. They are exact scale stanchions.  The triangular mounting brackets are made from Etched brass and brass tube.  

RUNNING SET  £65
The Running Set consists of two stainless steel prop-shafts fitted with bronze bearings, a pair of ‘A’ frames and two brass propellers .

CASTINGS SET  £50

All the cast items on the model have been newly mastered and cast in either in lightweight resin or Pewter. These include the winches, cleats, fairleads, bollards, deck vents and valves.  New correct pattern life rings have been included also.  The Anchor recovery davit is cast resin and has laser-cut Perspex detailing.  The fisherman’s anchor itself is included in the Casting Set even though it is made from Laser-cut Perspex.  The valve handles and anchor flukes are also in the casting set, even though these too are Perspex.  (I had to put them somewhere)!  The set includes a cast resin Radar scanner.

WINDOWS SET £75
The window set is again a kit in its own right and contains all the parts required to build all the wheelhouse windows.  Each window is assembled from five separate components, all made from laser-cut Perspex.  The finished windows are ultra realistic and are a major scale detail feature of the model.

INTERIOR SET  £65
The interior set is a comprehensive kit in its own right too and comprises of a wealth of laser cut components.  The seats and front bulkhead and side panels are vac formed polystyrene.  The survivor cabin door is laser cut Perspex.

VAC FORMING SET £10
This set comprises of a sheet of vac formed polystyrene and contains the radar box, the boxes let into the wheelhouse, the life-rafts, the water pump drum and six fenders.

SCREWS SET £36
On the full size boat there are a lot of hexagonal-headed stainless steel bolt heads left unpainted and on full view.  Mostly, they secure panels and vents along the wheelhouse side, engine covers and the like.  These are an important feature of the model and are represented by specially made dummy hexagonal headed bolt heads, made from brass and Nickel plated.  These enable you to achieve coloured panels with unpainted bolt heads with amazing accuracy and relative ease.

BRASS ROD SET  £45
This set comprises of brass rod of various sizes and lengths required for the mast and handrails etc.

P and P for Mainland UK is £20