Airfix 1:400 Mary Rose - You have to see this!

[Sailorman]

Whilst browsing the ModelWaships website a few days ago I came across  Jim Baumann's incredible build of the Airfix Mary Rose.   I exchanged emails with Jim and he kindly agreed to send me some picutres of his model.  I am reproducing a few of them here. Bear in mind the model is to a scale of 1:400 and is hence only some 12cm, (5 inches), long!  

Jim also sent me a write up about his build.  I am sure you will all find it interesting.  It just goes to show what can be acheived with good research and patience......and of course skill.  People aren't born with skill and I am sure Jim will agree that it is something that only comes with practice, practice and more practice.  

I hope you are all inspired by his work ........ I know I am!

See also the next post for more.

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[peebeep]

I've got the brass sets for the Mary Rose kit, but I'd be struggling to get a result like that!

[ironsides]

A fantastic build to be sure.. look forward with interest to how he did it!. 😀

[Sailorman]

Jim has given me a write up and plenty more photos which I will be uploading.  I'll post the text later today and the photos too.  However, those need to be approved so you won't see them till tomorrow.  However let me assure you they are well worth waiting for!

[Sailorman]

Time to add some more information.  This is taken virtually verbatim from Jim's email to me.

"HMS Mary Rose, at 800 tons was one of the largest warships of her time in Tudor King Henry VIII's navy,

with only the 'Henry Grace a Dieu'  ( popularly known as the Great Harry) exceeding her in tonnage and number of guns.

Contrary to popular myth,  HMS Mary Rose did NOT sink on her maiden Voyage in 1545.

HMS Mary Rose was  launched in 1511, and successfully  partook in a number of naval engagements in the wars with France

After a major  re-build in 1536 she was one of the first ships able to fire a broadside.

In the third French war, on 19 July 1545 a very large French  fleet with intention to invade England,  advanced   to engage the becalmed and  anchored  English fleet in the Solent off Posrtmouth

The Mary Rose,now  with the beginnings of the  freshening afternoon  sea-breeze astern, led the English  fleet to attack the oar-powered  French Galleys.

After firing her port-side guns, she turned  to fire her starboard  guns whilst  re-loading  the port side battery

As to what happened next, a variety of theories abound; either a sudden gust of wind or perhaps too sharp a turn,-  the French even  claimed it was their  cannon fire... After her turning manoeuvre , she suddenly  heeled over dramatically; with  water rapidly  entering the still open leeward gunports,  causing  her  capsize and sinking  in the shortest time, taking around 500 crew and soldiers to their death, most of whom were trapped under  the anti-boarding netting strung  over the main decks preventing their escape.

This  sudden and shocking tragedy was witnessed by Henry VIII , who was only a few hundred yards away  at Southsea castle , Portsmouth.

The quite recently released  Airfix 1/400  model is a simplified ,very  inexpensive and cheerful little kit-- though overall  dimensionally pretty accurate ==>  ( as far as is possible to know ! ) The kit  was prepared and designed with the aid and approval of the HMS Mary Rose trust."Those of you interested can reaad the detailed  build account here at 

http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=163736

I will be posting some more of Jim's photos but these will need to be approved by the powers that be and will probably appear tomorrow.

 

 

[Sailorman]

Here come the photos:

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You can appreciate just how small the model is from this photo.

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[Kenneth ONeill]

As to accuracy, the "Mary Rose Trust" have I think just finished preserving most of the hull.

[John Symmons]

Wow! What can one say. Absolutely stunning it's hard to believe it's only !/400 th scale and only 5 inches long.

Now thar's what I call a steady hand. Superb simply superb.

Thanks for showing us what can be done with infinite practice.

Remember we do this for fun             John the Pom

[William Morrison]

Beautiful work! 

[Chuffing Billy]

You mention the Henry Grace a Dieu.  If I remember correctly, the remains of this ship were found a few years ago by the Channel 4 Time Team, slightly up river from where the M27 crosses it, on the banks of the River Hamble in Hampshire. 

[FAAMAN]

Jim Baumann's one of the most inspiring "small scale" ship modeller's around. I've been following his work for years, you should look up his 1/600 Trooper Mauretainia, simply superb!!!

This build is a continuation of his amazing skills, to be even half this good would be an amazing acheivement.

This Mary Rose build is exceptional, muesum quality 😎

[ukeking]

You mention the Henry Grace a Dieu.  If I remember correctly, the remains of this ship were found a few years ago by the Channel 4 Time Team, slightly up river from where the M27 crosses it, on the banks of the River Hamble in Hampshire. 

 

[ukeking]

Actually, Chuffing Billy, you have it slightly wrong.  The ship Time Team were involved with, was the "Grace Dieu", Henry V's great ship from about 100 years before Henry V111's.  I believe it was pretty vast, and was never a practical warship.  Posting this on the anniversary of the Battle of Agincourt, 25th. October.