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What to do with an older Merlin model that is looking a little tatty? Simples! - Upgrade to one of HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH's 820 Sqn Crowsnest AEW conversions, using parts from a Revell AEW Sea King and some scratch building.....

Not entirely sure that it's allowed but as I only had a couple of hours left (Mrs B has kept me busy with rock climbing / cycling / TV etc) I didn't have too many choices doable in that time. I deemed this one suitable as 1) It's the only injection moulded model I've seen so far of our latest carrier and 2) I've only got two hours left, so without further ado it's on with the show. Packaging looks promising doesn't it? But no - It's not what you'd hope. It's a Polish building block kit compatible with the well known Danish construction toy - Sorry. But unless Airfix get their corporate bottom into gear, short of scratchbuilding, AFAIK this remains the only way of having a QE at the moment... You might say it's not very accurate but there were no F35's included so they got that bit right. 🙊 Won't put it in gallery - I took part and got one done - That's the main thing. IanJ

HMS Queen Elizabeth Part V Eduard 1:350 This is the fifth set that Eduard have released for the Trumpeter HMS Queen Elizabeth, the other four having been reviewed HERE. This single sheet set contains items for the decks and main batteries. For eh decks there are parts for eleven differently shaped hatches and the surrounds, each hatch being able to be posed open if required. The set also includes the anchor cable, anchor chains, holdback chains, deck plates, hawse pipe gratings, and the main breakwater, with separate supports and storage lockers. The watertight doors on the kit parts are removed and replaced with etched doors which can be posed i either open or closed states and each of the carley floats are given new gratings and straps. Around B and X turret trunks the ventilator trunks are replaced, as are the small cranes around the ship. Each of the secondary armament turrets have two gun guides fitted, whilst the main turrets are fitted out with new ladders, range finder fittings, and tampions for the barrels, complete with ships crest. The 20mm Oerlikon tubs are completely replaced and fitted out with ready use lockers. Lastly the Walrus aircraft are provided with new interplane struts, propeller and deck handling trolley/launch cradle Conclusion When this set is used in conjunction with the other sets it will go towards making a super detailed museum quality model. Of course, being separate you don’t need to go the whole hog, just do the areas you think needs it the most. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of

HMS Queen Elizabeth Eduard 1:350 The Trumpeter 1:350 HMS Queen Elizabeth has been out for a little while now, and Eduard have only just released some etch for it. Well, I say some, in fact it’s four sets, covering the whole ship. Set one, (53-145), is a single sheet set, which contains a ships worth of railings, some inclined ladders and four accommodation ladders, with the foreward pair being “double” depth, and really quite complicated so will require great care in folding them to shape. Be careful when fitting the railings, as there only appears to be just enough for the kit, with no spare lengths of stock railings if you make a mistake. Sheet two, (53-146) is a slightly larger sheet and contains parts to super detail all of the tertiary anti-aircraft weapons. The 20mm Oerlikons, of which there are seventeen, receive a new gun shield and support, traversing wheel, front and rear sights and the shoulder arms. The twin 20mm mount require a bit of surgery before the etch can be added, by the removal of the gunners seating position which is completely replaced with a carefully folded etched part. The gunner also receives a new seat and gun sight, whilst the two guns are fitted with ammunition cans. For the octuple Pom Pom, the ammunition tanks are removed from the kit part as are a couple of parts from the mount base, which will be used on the new etched base. The gun block is fitted to the etched mounting, which is complete with the gun sights and fitted with the new ammunition tanks, the mount is then glued to the base, along with the railings, mount electrical boxes and other fittings. Sheet three, (53-147), is more of a general purpose set and includes lots of smaller items, such as the watertight doors, vertical ladders, funnel cap grilles, various platforms and walkways, platforms supports, Type 284 radar arrays and mountings, Type 282 radar arrays and mountings, plus Type 281 radar arrays for both the foremast and the mainmast. The set also includes the bridge canvas awning, flag locker, mast yardarms, a new star platform and its associated supports and a new DF aerial and its platform. There are quite a few of the kit parts that need to be modified or removed before any of this etch can be added, so best read the instructions and do the removing first. Sheet four, (53-148), contains the parts for the ships boats and cranes. Each of the cutters receive new gratings, decks, thwarts, seats, oars, rudders and either a tiller or wheel. There are replacement cradles provided for all boats, including the special ones which fit into the larger cutters for small boats to be stacked on them. The motor boats also receive new internal gratings, decks, and varying sizes of cabins and windscreens. The larger of the motor boats also have additional railings and masts and are fitted with either single or twin propeller shafts and rudders. As with the cutters, each boat is sat upon up to three cradles. Both the ships aircraft/boat cranes are completely replaced with etched brass, including the crane mounting structure, winding gear the booms, secondary jibs and hooks. When assembled these cranes will look so much better than the kit parts, even with the etched booms that are included n the kit. Conclusion The Queen Elizabeth is a very nice kit in its own right, even though the hull has some major errors, but these can be alleviated by building the model as a waterline in a seascape. The addition of these etched sets will be the icing on the cake and, with care, can make a good model into a great one. Very highly recommended. Review sample courtesy of