Starling Models
1/350 Scale HMS Sea Rover – S-Class Submarine Group III


 

Reviewed April 2024
by Felix Bustelo		  
HISTORY
The Royal Navy S class submarines were designed and built to meet the need for more modern and smaller boats to patrol the waters of the North Sea and Mediterranean Sea. They were intended to replace the older H class submarines of World War I vintage. The S class became the single largest group of submarines ever built for the Royal Navy, with a total of 62 constructed. 

The first two groups of S class submarines consisted of 12 boats total and were smaller boats compared to Group III, or “improved S class” submarines. Group III consisted of 50 boats total and were more heavily armed than their predecessors. They also had greater fuel capacity which allowed them to operate much further than originally conceived. There were two sub-groups, ones with an external stern torpedo tube and others with an internal one, for a total of 7 torpedo tubes. 
Starling Models HMS Sea Rover  
The Starling Models HMS Sea Rover kit is comprised of cast resin hull, 3D printed parts, photo-etch parts, brass wire and a decal sheet. The kit represents a Group III boat with an internal stern torpedo tube. The contents come in a sturdy flip-top box. The hull is enclosed in foam packing wrap with the 3D printed part rafts in plastic sleeves and the PE and decals in a translucent envelope.   
HULL 
The cast resin full hull is very nicely done and sits on a casting block along the keel with an extension supporting the rudder. The casting block should come off easily using a razor blade, though I would first free the rudder to prevent breaking it off accidental. The joint along the keel with require the usual clean up and some wisps of excess resin will need to be removed in some areas along the hull bottom. 

The hull is well detailed with bitts, hatch openings and recesses, limber holes and torpedo tubes. The bow and aft tubes are recessed with the doors nicely present. The deck is well detailed with the perforations subtly represented. The hull has deep recesses over which photoetch grills will sit. Within some of these recesses, you will see access hatches as well as the torpedo loading hatch, which is a very nice detail. The latter would allow to display the model in a torpedo loading vignette if so desired. The deck has tabs to accommodate the sail and an opening for the 3-inch gun mount.
First 3D Printed Parts Raft
All of the 3D printed parts are cream in color, so it is a bit hard to see all of the details in the photographs. I apologize that the photos couldn’t be sharper.

The first 3D printed parts raft contains the sail, forward and aft diving planes, 3-inch deck gun, 20mm Oerlikon, propellers with shaft supports, pelorus, support for the X-shaped 291W radar, what I believe to be a light fitted to the back of the sail and what appears to be propeller shafts. The pelorus, radar support and light are printed twice to supply a spare in case of loss or breakage. 

The sail is very well detailed, with an array of equipment along the bulwarks, hatches and a stepped bottom 20mm gun tub. The 3-inch gun is well done but it has PE parts to complete the detailing. All of the parts have thin attachment points.
Second 3D Printed Parts Raft
The second 3D printed parts raft contains the periscope base and upper sections of the periscopes. Four upper sections are provided though you only need two. Given how delicate they are despite the extremely thin attachment points, having some spares is very welcome. 

Third 3D Printed Parts Raft
The third 3D printed parts raft contains numerous hatch covers in two sizes. These hatches are to be fitted to openings along the saddle tank. Also present as very tiny parts that I will admit I have no idea what they are, but according to the instructions, are attached to the periscope base. Again, more are provided than needed which is a good thing given how small these parts are and the risk of losing them to the great lost parts black hole that is underneath everyone’s modeling workspace.

PHOTO-ETCH
A single small photoetch fret with corresponding part numbers etched into the frames is provided. The photoetch contains deck grills and hatches, railings for around the 3-inch gun placement and 20mm gun tub, X-shaped 291W radar, DF coil, helm, 3-inch gun details, some rigging and numerous other detail parts. The photoetch is nicely done with relief etching and extras are provided for the more fiddly parts.
BRASS PARTS
Two lengths of brass wire in two different diameters are provided. The thicker wire is to be used for the propeller shafts and the thinner for the ensign staff.
DECALS 
A small decal sheet is included which provides pennant number markings. You get the letter “P” and numbers to choose from depending on which submarine you which to model.
INSTRUCTIONS
The assembly instructions come in an 8-page booklet with many illustrations. The cover page has a 3D render of the completed sub with technical specs below it. Page 2 has images of the decal sheet and photoetch on top and below that an overall exploded image serving as an inventory of the hull with the 3D printed parts identified by number. I believe that images of the 3D part rafts with the part numbers referenced would have been a useful supplement to the image provided.

Page 3 has several assembly illustrations showing the fitting of the 3D printed parts and photoetch parts by their id numbers. While the illustrations are nicely done, a very pale yellow or gold color is used for the photoetch parts. As a result, they do not stand out enough in some instances to clearly show how that part should be attached. 

Pages 4 through 6 has painting instructions for various schemes used on S Class submarines. The painting guide has a preface discussing the various schemes using research provided by Sovereign Hobbies. Page 7 has a list of the Group III S Class submarines that could be built using this kit, with the caveat that research on the part of the modeler is suggested to determine the specific kit and color scheme for a specific boat. The back page of the booklet has a 2022 Starling Models kit catalogue, which is not pictured in this review.

 
FINAL THOUGHTS
Overall, I find this to be a rather complete kit that should build into a detailed model a Group III S Class submarine of your choosing. The kit is very well detailed, though recommended for modelers with experience working with tiny parts and photo-etch. Based on my experience building Starling’s HMS Tabard kit, this kit it will be a satisfying and detailed build. This kit is available directly from Starling Models.


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