KiwiKev Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 Work in progress, but this is what can be done to an old kit with a lot of patience and planning, of which I probably have neither in enough quantity, but oh well!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailorman Posted February 27, 2021 Share Posted February 27, 2021 Nice. It looks the part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted February 27, 2021 Author Share Posted February 27, 2021 It is also correct for scale, which was the main aim. The hull length required reducing by 40mm and the waterline beam by 10mm. "X" marks the spots that needed removing: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailorman Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Wow, I never realised she was that much smaller than Victorious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 Wow, I never realised she was that much smaller than Victorious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 About 700 feet in length versus 780, and 80 feet waterline beam versus about 100. So major surgery required. Probably somewhat lucky that there were areas front and rear that looked like they would accommodate the removal of length quite well. This is the post-op shot. One good thing about working with an aircraft carrier is that the flight deck acts as a great reference datum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted March 3, 2021 Author Share Posted March 3, 2021 LW02 radar, and some additional flight deck markings added. Aircraft are prototype scratch built examples. I'm pretty happy with the results and so will probably just scratch build the lot, although the offerings from Shapeways look pretty good. I do find when building your own that each subsequent effort gets so much better. Painting them is probably the only major challenge. Sometimes its better to just not try putting on a miniature "NAVY" on the side. Roundels can be done OK with a tooth pick, but sorry Aussies, I'm not able to make the central red bit look like a Kangaroo in this scale. I've spotted the Airfix 1:600 Daring on an on-line auction so hope I can get it without spending too much, and build it as HMAS Vampire or Voyager to escort the carrier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailorman Posted March 4, 2021 Share Posted March 4, 2021 At 1:600 I don't think you can really distinguish a roo from a circle! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted March 4, 2021 Author Share Posted March 4, 2021 Some build detail: the main mast under construction from wire, old sprue, and super glue, and a prototype scratch built 1:600 scale S2 tracker..... (no roos sorry). Also no undercarriage doors, but its only a prototype. Production model will be better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted March 5, 2021 Author Share Posted March 5, 2021 Some of the new sponsons and what appears to be basically down pipes from them under construction and before painting. Still has to be repeated for the port side for which I only have a plan view, so lots of peering at photos online to determine the correct arrangements and relative heights of everything. But pretty happy with the overall effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted March 6, 2021 Author Share Posted March 6, 2021 The three prototype scratch built aircraft types. The red and white checkered pattern on the A4 tail will need to be tried with tiny slivers of masking tape, as the dotted pattern here is a bit untidy, but I think the splash of colour is worth it, and these small touches if done well add so much. Adding leading edge slats will also enable a splash of red just behind them where the exposed housing is. The Tracker is quite good apart from painting black leading edge boots, and numbers might be added to the Wessex, since they might just be big enough to paint. Will probably build two Trackers with wings folded, and two Wessex with blades folded back. What amazes me about the Tracker is that it seems to be all tail, wings, and engine. It's virtually the same length as the A4, very short for a relatively large air frame. Cool little aircraft designed for carrier operation, and about the biggest that could operate off Melbourne. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 Totally gratuitous shot here: Kiwi frigate and Aussie Carrier, in reality probably exercised quite a bit together. Melbourne is missing a few finishing touches, such as flight deck crane mounted just behind island. I have acquired a 1:600 Daring class destroyer so can't wait to have that in the shot as well once finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted May 13, 2021 Author Share Posted May 13, 2021 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted May 13, 2021 Author Share Posted May 13, 2021 Just about complete. Deck crane, two small bulwarks, and 3 radio masts to fit. And adding to the scratch built aircraft fleet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailorman Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 LW02 radar, and some additional flight deck markings added. Aircraft are prototype scratch built examples. I'm pretty happy with the results and so will probably just scratch build the lot, although the offerings from Shapeways look pretty good. I do find when building your own that each subsequent effort gets so much better. Painting them is probably the only major challenge. Sometimes its better to just not try putting on a miniature "NAVY" on the side. Roundels can be done OK with a tooth pick, but sorry Aussies, I'm not able to make the central red bit look like a Kangaroo in this scale. I've spotted the Airfix 1:600 Daring on an on-line auction so hope I can get it without spending too much, and build it as HMAS Vampire or Voyager to escort the carrier.It's possible to print your own NAVY on an inkjet printer using waterslide decal paper which you can get A4 size. It prints really well then let it dry and seal it with a few coats of clear lacquer. trim each one and apply like normal decals. You'll be surprised how easy it is. I'm just going to post some pics of a scratchbuilt MS Gripsholm. All the decals on that ship were prepared in excel and printed on my inkjet. The only colour you can't print is white! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sailorman Posted May 13, 2021 Share Posted May 13, 2021 Totally gratuitous shot here: Kiwi frigate and Aussie Carrier, in reality probably exercised quite a bit together. Melbourne is missing a few finishing touches, such as flight deck crane mounted just behind island. I have acquired a 1:600 Daring class destroyer so can't wait to have that in the shot as well once finished.Looks very convincing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted May 15, 2021 Author Share Posted May 15, 2021 This photo shows some of the size changes from the original kit. The Melbourne hull extends right out to the edges of the flight deck in most places. The original Victorious hull, not shown here, actually extended beyond some parts of the flight deck and supported the sponsons for the 3in AA turrets. Still attached at this stage to the Melbourne model was the original rounded aft gallery plating of the hull, which I was tempted to keep to simplify the build, but in the end opted to plate up the stern with a more flat transom look. The shorter length of the Melbourne overall is very evident, but much of the flight deck width is surprisingly close. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted May 22, 2021 Author Share Posted May 22, 2021 Basically complete, after drilling port-holes, and adding radar masts, deck crane, etc..... Love this ship now. I have accumulated a whole lot more photos and plans, which I wish I had when I started, so I now know there are a few minor errors, but only the rivet (and life-raft) counters will know!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted May 23, 2021 Author Share Posted May 23, 2021 A view of port side sponsons, Island, and A4 aircraft: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenneth ONeill Posted May 24, 2021 Share Posted May 24, 2021 Er, the for'ard "A-4" looks more like a Westland Wessex to me! grinning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiwiKev Posted March 26, 2022 Author Share Posted March 26, 2022 Two recent shots of the Melbourne model: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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