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Just completed my build of the Revell 1:700 HMS Invincible configured as she may have looked sailing south during Operation Corporate in 1982. Built as a clean model pretty much out of the box with some minimal mods made to the kit as follows: Removed the over scale raised deck markings and replaced them with 0.5mm and 0.25mm wide white pin stripes decals supplied by @Fantasy Printshop Changed the inboard funnel vents to more accurately depict a line of five vents as seen in photos of the real thing. Opened up the missing bow scuppers Scratched up two large Yokahama fenders from sprue pieces, as seen on the foredeck in photos taken during the cruise south (sorry I couldn't figure out a way of replicating the protective tyres and chains festooning these at this scale) Added missing Shar wing tanks made from stretched sprue. (Also, the supplied roundel decals were out of register and all had a semi circular white surround, so I ended up painting the roundels on) Scratched up 5 bladed folded main rotors for the Sea Kings using thin plastic card Finished her with the peacetime black funnel and mast tops painted over in grey, but with some soot deposition on these areas as seen in photos from the campaign If interested, follow this link to see a more complete work in progress thread for this build. Things I would do differently if I built it again? Use only the 0.25mm wide pin strip decals as these are closer to the scale width of all the deck markings, although they're a bit trickier than the 0.5mm ones to get to lie straight Use square cut black decals for the bridge windows (the painted windows are admittedly a bit wobbly)😬 Try and work out what colour scheme the ships boats actually had.😆 I took a punt at white, navy blue, light grey, and green (for the decks) Wait for the Atlantic Models PE detail set to become available so that all the prominent but missing guard rails and safety netting could be included.

Hi, I'm getting towards the end of building this kit. Ships aren't my usual subject, as I've only ever attempted a 1:600 model of HMS Hood before, but this was a Birthday prezzie from my Daughter and Son in Law, so I'd like to make a reasonable job of it. At this scale I realise it's only going to ever be an approximation to the real McCoy, but what Hood taught me is that ships change a lot in there service career through re-fits and I've rather belatedly noted some discrepancies with this kit's configuration, which I'm going to have to live with now. Such as the incorrect number of side vents on the funnels (Is funnel even a correct term for a gas turbine powered ship?) However, I am also a bit confused by some of the pictures of the real thing and 3 view drawings of the ship on-line that purport to show it's configuration during the Falkland Islands war in 1982. I'm hoping that experts on here, which I know will include ex service men that served on-board the ship, will be able to set me straight. So,...... There are some shots on-line of the ship heading south in heavy seas that appear to show that the funnel and mast tops were not painted black, but were the same grey colour as the hull. Photos of the ship coming into Portsmouth on its return from the campaign show the funnel tops were completely black by then and there appears to be black soot over the rear of the foremast top and the front of the main mast top. Would I be right in thinking therefore that the black funnel tops and mast tops at this time were entirely due to soot deposition? My working assumption is that the funnel tops and mast tops were only painted black after the ship returned from the south Atlantic, maybe because the top brass didn't like the ship's looking so sooty up top?😀 In the same heading south photo, there appear to be two large cylindrical objects on the starboard bow. They look like they could be oil or fuel tanks to me, but they aren't represented by any kit parts. Does anyone know what they are, their approximate size, location and colour? Finally, what were the correct colour schemes for the ship's small boats during the south Atlantic campaign? Many thanks in advance for any help you can give. These shots below show where I am at so far, with a few more detail parts to add and a bit of tidy up needed. I painted the funnel tops before I noticed they weren't always black. I removed the massively overscale embossed deck lines from the kit part early on and I'm waiting on some 0.5mm wide white line decals to arrive in the post so I can complete the deck markings. I already have Nick Greenall's - HARRIER Special Interest Group – IPMS(UK) fact sheet on Invincible's deck markings, which I used for my SHAR build and the Revell mark up for these is actually quite similar, although it's missing a few lines. Even 0.5mm thin is probably too wide at this scale, but creating anything thinner than this is beyond my ability. The deck is glossed up awaiting the decals, but I'll matt clear coat it once its marked up.

No quite sure where to put this. It isn't an aircraft, but it also isn't a ship, armoured fighting vehicle or civilian vehicle. As it works with aircraft, I'll plunk it here and the mods can move it if they so desire. First completion of the year - the Skunk Models 1/48 RN Tow Tractor. These come two to a box, and I completed one in the pre-1980's yellow and the other will be in post-80s dark green. Fit and detail are OK, nothing to write home about. The box also comes with a variety of nice figures, including a driver; I've left him removeable. The back of the box has a diorama base of an Invincible Class carrier deck. All I need now is a variety of 1/48 Sea Harriers to tow around! It's a generic tractor from either Hermes or Invincible, June 1982, hence the beat-up appearance. Comments and suggestions welcome.

HMS Invincible (Falklands War) (05172) 1:700 Revell HMS Invincible (R05) was the lead ship of her class. Laid down by Vickers at Barrow in 1973 and launched in 1977.; she was commissioned in 1980. In a tradition within the Royal Navy R05 was the sixth ship to bear the name with a history stretching back to the fist ship a 74 Gun Ship of the line. She was in fact though Royal Navy prize captured from the French and originally named Invincible, no guesses where the HMS came from then! R05 was to be 16,000 tonnes displacement, 677 feet long with a beam of 90 feet at the waterline and a draught of 24 feet fully laden. 4 Rolls Royce Olympus engines would give a top speed of 28 knots, with a normal cruising speed of 18 knots. She was designed to carry 10 Sea King Helicopters and 8 Sea Harriers. Despite only serving for 2 years it was announced in early 1982 that the Australian Government had agreed to buy the vessel to replace HMAS Melbourne. However international events would intervene with the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands taking place in April 1982. HMS Invincible would sail with HMS Hermes as the capital ships of the task force to retake the islands. Despite various claims of damage and indeed of sinking the carrier returned undamaged from the Falklands. After her return the ships close in weapons systems were supplemented with additional Phalanx & Oerlikon systems. A refit between 1986-89 would increase the vessels overall length allowing more hanger space to operate additional aircraft. Additional magazine space was also provided for the carriage of Sea Eagle missiles for the Harrier, and additional torpedoes for the Helicopters. The 20mm Phalanx systems were replaced by 30mm Goalkeeper systems. In 2000 additional modifications would also take place to allow the operation of RAF Harriers from the deck. One of the main noticeable differences was the removal of the Sea Dart System and its radar; along with an enlarged flight deck. I 2005 the vessel was placed made inactive in the sense it could be reactivated with 18 months notice to return to the fleet. However 5 years later the vessel was put up or disposal and struck off the register. With most of her systems gutted she was eventually sold for scrap and broken up in Turkey in 2011. Battle Honors or HMS Invincible were; St Vincent, 1780, St Kitts, 1782, Glorious First of June, 1794,, Alexandria, 1882, Heligoland, 1914, Falkland Islands, 1914, Jutland, 1916 & Falkland Islands, 1982. In addition she served in operation Southern Watch over Iraq and in the Balkans. The Kit This was a new tool for Revell back in 1998. The model represent the Carrier in Falklands War and before any refits, it it is full hull with a stand. There are five spures for the model along with one for the stand. You get 4 harriers, two Sea Kings and a Lynx for the deck. The Harriers are a touch generic long with the Lynx, the Sea King is more representative of the real thing. Construction starts with the Island, there are three main parts for the two sides and top, to finish off the main structure the front and rear ends are added. Next up the two hull parts are joined and the fore deck is added on. The open deck areas at the sides then go on. Now its time for the flight deck. This is one main part to which the front ski jump is added. The island goes onto the deck, and then the deck onto the hull. At the rear of the hull the twin shafts, propellers and rudders go on. The model is then added to the stand (if you are going to use it). A whole host of small sub assemblies are then built up and added on, these include; the bridge, fore & aft funnels, fore & aft masts, main search radar, and for the deck the Sea Dart Missile launcher. To finish foo all of the smaller fixtures are added, these include; ships boats, smaller radars, close in weapons systems, life rafts, stores cranes, and davits. The aircraft can be added to the deck if wanted. Decals There is a small decal sheet from Zanetti. This supplies the ships name plates, pennant numbers and the large N for the rear of the flight deck. Some smaller markings for the flight deck are provided but the lines will all have to be painted on. Conclusion This should make up to a good looking model of an important post war Royal Navy carrier if you put the time in. Revell model kits are available from all good toy and model retailers. For further information visit or

Apologies if this question has already been asked but here goes. I recently obtained the Airfix 1/350 HMS Illustrious kit as I reckoned that it was high time that I tried a ship model. I would like to build it as HMS Invincible pre or soon after the Falklands war (I could then legitamately include a Wessex V or two on the flight deck). What would be the main modifications reqd to achieve this? I am aware that the ski ramp was altered but do not know the extent of the work reqd to backdate the kit. Thanks

I will not go on too much again why I did this,only to say, it's been great fun.The build is on this link ,why it came about. http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234943489-hms-eagle-invincible-class-1700-revell-class-what-if/

Hello all This is my first time posting on Britmodller, I have a work in progress Falklands War diorama I aim to have a rear cross section of HMS Hermes deck in 1/72nd, which I have roughly measured out from the ships specifications, I know what Ive got is not even remotely accurate however, since I don't currently have the resources for that 1/72 Aircraft-wise, so far I have: 2 Sea Harrier FRS.1 - 1 Italeri, 1 Airfix 1 Harrier GR.3 - Italeri 2 Wessex HU.5 - 1 Italeri, 1 Matchbox 1 Wessex HAS.3 - Italeri 1 Sea King HAS.5 - Revell 1 Sea King HC.4 - Dragon Figures are from Italeri. My extremely quickly thrown together hangar. RFA Tidepool's Wessex HU.5 In 1/350th, in the background I have Airfix's HMS Illustrious, (very) hastily converted into Invincible with plasticard and Milliput. The water was done with Plaster of Paris. This was thrown together speedily to take part in an Air Cadets wing level modelling competition, I now plan on constructing the section of Hermes from wood as originally planned, rather than cardboard and gaffa tape