Nick C

Looking good Beefy. How are you going to put waves texture on the foam base, I need to do the same thing at some point? Cheers Nick

Thank you

Hi Ned, does anyone know for sure, as far as you're aware, if the lower flotilla bands were black or red? Cheers Nick

Nice work Beefy 👍

Finally made a start, Zulu first. The forecastle deck should have a checker plate area where the cables lie; Moulded as this, not great; Everything sanded off to be replaced; The bow's been corrected, I used the first bits that I had 3d printed for the newly positioned hawsepipe surround where the anchor sits. The little ovals are for Zulu, the bigger ones for Ark; One side done with re-positioned portholes rising with the deck (ish) and the first bit of Micro Master stuff fitted, the anchor; Cheers Nick

Hi James, thanks again, ordered the FSM via Ebay. . Hi Crisp, thanks for the advice, much appreciated and sorry to hear about the court case - good luck with that. I've been following your Ark build closely; the amount of detail you've added is incredible and the way you've documented is very helpful - thankyou to you and others who've contributed detail (I posted a pic on that WIP myself about the tank that may be for petrol storage - per the early seaplane install on HMS Hood). I've got the Kagero drawings but I'll send a PM about the dwgs, although Arks a way off as I'm gong to start on Zulu - something a bit smaller Cheers Nick

Hi Michal. yes, the bow's the first job. Thanks for the pointer on the ladders, I'm after these type; Thanks James, I'll try those and see if I can find a set, appreciate the help. Cheers Nick

Hello everyone, A few years ago I built HMS Illustrious escorted by HMS Kent; I thought I'd try a 'then and now' and build HMS Ark Royal escorted by HMS Zulu. They'll be in the med shortly before Ark Royal was lost, I think that's plausible as they were both stationed there. I've been gathering bits for the last year or so and am finally ready to start putting them together; Got some bits from Micromaster, which are absolutely beautiful, along with the detail up set from Tetra Model Works for Ark Royal and the WEM set for Zulu along with a quad 2pdr from North Star. Also the Ark Royal boats set from Atlantic models and some replacement 4.7 inch turrets from Shapeways along with a few 3D printed bits and bobs of my own design. When I built HMS Hood I made a spare 4 in gun mount for the X position on Zulu. One thing I'm struggling to find is individual PE ladder rungs in 1/350 - I've seen them before but can't find any at the moment does anyone know where I can source some? Going to be a long build, but hopefully I'll be able to make a start next weekend, probably on Zulu first. Cheers Nick

@Ray S, @Skodadriver, @ajmm, @Darwinism, @binbrook87, @Deano353, thanks for all the kind comments, much appreciated. Cheers Nick

Hello, First try at aircraft since I was a kid (a long time ago!) I usually do ships, but came across some 1/144 resin British aircraft at Telford last year from https://www.144th.co.uk/ Picked up a Buccaneer and a Lightning. Lovely kits, great quality and very nicely detailed. Only extra bits I added were ejection seat handles, seat belts from odd bits of etch, a piece of acetate sheet to represent the 'hood' over the navigators position s the kit part is necessarily quite heavy, and some bits of etch and wire to replicate the wing folding mechanism. I need to work on my aircraft weathering!! This is the Buccaneer ready for inspection; Ejector seat handles from 0.2mm copper wire; Wing fold mechanism from spare etch and wire; Thanks for looking and any feedback gratefully received. Cheers Nick

That's brilliant, thanks Ned. That's the pic I've seen but much better resolution. Really appreciate the help. Cheers Nick

Morning Need a bit of help if possible. I'm shortly starting a build of HMS Ark Royal, escorted by HMS Zulu, in the med in late 1941, i.e. Ark's as sunk fit and Zulu with some of her early war mods. I've found two references to changes at Zulu's June 1941 refit but there are some inconsistencies; Ref 1 Refit work was also undertaken and including replacement of mainmast by a new structure to suit fit of aerial for wireless direction finding outfit. 20mm single Oerlikon mountings were fitted on bridge wings, Radar Type 285 for main armament gunnery fire control installed and depth charge throwers re-sited on quarter deck.) Ref 2 In June 1941, Zulu sailed for Falmouth, England to begin her refit. Her after funnel was cut down and her mainmast was fitted with a high frequency direction finding (Huff-Duff) outfit. Two, single 2 pounder guns were mounted on the bridge wings. Radar was installed and the depth charge throwers were re-located. The refit was completed by July. They both mention guns on the bridge wings but one states 2 pounders and one states 20mm Oerlikon - does anyone know which is correct or if photo's exist of this area at this time? There's a pic in Peter Hodges Tribal class destroyers that says 1941 that states 'bridge wings sponsons stiffened to support single hand worked 2 pounders' - if correct would the be a MK II mounting like this; One states mainmast replaced, the other mainmast fitted with a high Frequency DF; there are pictures of Tribals with the main mast completely removed and some with a single mast instead of the earlier tripod - does anyone know (or know how I can find out) Zulu's fit at the time? Both references to the refit mention the depth charge throwers moving, one of them states to the quarter deck. Any idea of the configuration in relation to other equipment there? And lastly - what colour scheme would she have wearing? Thanks in advance if anyone can help. Cheers Nick

Cracking job, the figures are the icing on the cake 👍 cheers Nick

Thanks Francis, kept the base simple so as not to distract from the vehicles, glad you like it. Cheers Nick

Sorry for the late response, for once not work related but attendance at the Belgium GP, great weekend! Thanks Dads, and thanks again for your help on the details 👍 Cheers Milan Thanks Phil Thanks Rob Cheers Kev - took a couple of go's, I need more practice on faces 🤪 Thankyou John Thanks Bill, you're not the first person to mention the handbags, we'll call it Endex! Thankyou Lightningboy 👍

Thanks for all the comments and likes 👍 Taken a while to get to answering due to work but much appreciated. Cheers Stef Thanks Richard, glad it's captured it ok. Cheers Stuart, several people in the build log mentioned how dusty it got at Sennelager which I wanted to replicate. Thanks Daryl, I do like the Chieftain! Might do another, maybe the 1/72 version. Thanks Bertie, took a while but got there (and I am slow 😀 Thanks Colin Cheers mate 👍 Cheers Edge!

Very nice mate 👍

1/35 Takom Chieftain Mk 11 and FV432, with PE from Voyager Model and Tetra Model works respectively. Figures, 432 GPMG, stowage bits and bobs from Accurate Armour, heads from Hornet Model, tracks from Master Club, and scratch built storage cages in the back of the 432. Name plate from 'Name It'. Painted in Tamiya acrylics for the vehicles and Vallejo acrylics for the figures. Build log here; Thanks to all who followed the build which was great fun, and especially to @Dads203, @Hamden, @Swiftnbold & @metadyne for your help with the details, much appreciated. Thanks for looking. Cheers Nick

Finally finished the base, some different length autumn and meadow grass to add some variety; Name plate from 'Name It'; Vehicles installed; That's all for this one. I'll post some pics, take in natural light, over on the RFI page. Thanks to everyone who followed & commented through the build and especially @Dads203, @Hamden, @Swiftnbold & @metadyne for your help with the details, much appreciated. Cheers Nick

Cracking job mate!

Hi mate, thank you but this was the last one. The RFI is here Cheers Nick

That looks brilliant mate!

I should have guessed 😆

What on earth are yellow handbags? Cheers Viper. what project are you working on? Added the grass, mix of 4mm and 10mm winter grass with some AK 6mm autumn tufts dotted around. First go at static grass, reasonably happy but it's a bit too bland. Going to mix in some autumn grass for a 'greener' look. Cheers Nick

Thanks for the comments and likes👍 Progress on the base. decided to try AK dry earth for the ground with some sand and grit sprinkled on for texture; Ok texture but too desertry Sprayed with US sand and some grey patches for variation; And a brown oil wash to give more depth; Test fit; Bit of greenery next weekend it'll be done. Cheers Nick