davecov

I live in Stow and a few weeks ago, I had to turn back at Gorebridge as the A7 was impassable yet the Edinburgh bypass had been clear. I went back up to the A68 via Dalkeith but only just got through at Fala Dam following a gritter and completed the journey via Earlston, Melrose and Galashiels. That time I had no warning of such a big snow storm but this time I have and took appropriate action - staying indoors. In the absence of my modelling den I am having to busy myself with odd jobs, a jigsaw and Trivial Pursuit! I've just had a text from my neighbour who says that the lane leading to my cottage is well and truly blocked so I can't get to my modelling den even if I wanted to. Dave

I am currently snowed in at my girlfriend Aileen's house in the Central Belt in Scotland while my home in the Scottish Borders is under even more snow. The whole route from here to home is under a Red snow warning so I am not moving anywhere, anytime soon. I was supposed to go home this morning after three nights here but in anticipation of the snow warnings, I have brought enough clothes to last a week. In the nine years I have lived up in Scotland I have at least learnt that you should never take the weather for granted, expect the unexpected and never take risks! Dave

Glad Airfix were able to help. On reading this thread it reminded me that when I built my own Airfix 1/24 Stuka about 18 months ago it had an extra set of transparencies which I could have given you if Airfix had failed. I will be watching your own build with interest! Dave

Smashing work, John! Dave

Thanks everybody. Nice to know that others also like the non-wingy things! Dave

This year I have produced two-thirds of last years output. Airfix 1/600 RMS Queen Elizabeth (What-if Conversion) (06203) Matchbox 1/72 de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter (PK-127) Airfix 1/72 Avro Lancaster B.III (08003) Airfix OO BR Mogul (04653-0) Airfix 1/24 Hawker Hurricane Mk1 (14002) Airfix 1/24 Messerschmitt Bf 109E (12002) Dapol OO/HO Stephenson's Rocket (C046) Dapol OO/HO Scammell Scarab (C033) Dapol OO/HO General Stores (C019) Dapol OO Village Church (C029) Airfix HO/OO Trackside Accessories (03606-1) Dapol OO Booking Hall (C014) Dapol OO Kiosks and Stairs (C018) Airfix HO/OO Station Platform (03611-3) Dapol OO/HO Service Station (C032) Airfix HO/OO Footbridge (4014) Dapol OO/HO Water Tower (C005) Airfix HO/OO Level Crossing (03612-6) As you can see, a lot of railway-related builds due to there being two Railway GBs on ATF this year. Although I won't be putting them on a layout, they make a nice change from the everyday wingy, floaty, clanky things! Dave

Thank you! I retired quite some time ago and have been living a life of leisure ever since. Strangely, I find that despite having so much time on my hands, I never seem to have enough time for modelling.... Dave

"Tread"? You must be "tyred" or should that be "tired"? Dave

Good move, Chris! Dave

As is normal with lots of RN classes, there are not just differences in batches but individual ships often have one-off mods. The problem is finding enough good photos for the particular build you are doing. As it happens, HMS Devonshire had the mainmast in the same position as HMS Hampshire. http://countyclassdestroyers.co.uk/data12/images1/015_hms_devonshire_9_may_1977.jpg Yes, it is a great site and I spend (too) many hours on it! Dave

Chris, it is coming on really well and the additional PE and Shapeways bits and bobs really enhance what is an old clunker of a kit. I just wish I could afford them for my own Airfix kit. I don't mind if you tell me to bog off, but HMS Hampshire had it's mainmast at the rear of the forward superstructure (which extended further back on her) and not at the front of the rear superstructure which should be reduced in length. This means that the cross passage is further aft than portrayed in the kit. It would be a pretty easy fix with your modelling skills and a bit of plastic card. See these photos: http://countyclassdestroyers.co.uk/data15/images1/009_hms_hampshire_24_august_1974_portsmouth_navy_days.jpg http://countyclassdestroyers.co.uk/data06/images1/hms_hampshire_at_the_breakers_1979.jpg BTW, I fell in love with County Class Destroyers the first time I ever saw the Airfix kit of HMS Devonshire but HMS Hampshire was the first County Class Destroyer I ever saw for real. I joined the RN in 1976 and she was tied up at Chatham Dockyard with a huge hole cut out of her side being stripped before going to the breakers. I thought it looked really sad and at my age (17) I couldn't understand why she was being broken up. HMS Leopard was also there with huge red writing and arrows painted on her hull proclaiming "WEAK AREA" and it made me wonder what sort of Navy I had joined! Dave

Sorry for the long post but here are almost every Airfix "clunker" I have built since returning to the hobby in 2004, some of the kits being hard to find now (SS France). The most recent builds are at the top with the oldest at the bottom where you will see I went through a phase of blacking out windows! You will also find that I don't do "dirty" builds very often...... Airfix HO/OO Footbridge (4014) Airfix HO/OO Level Crossing (03612-6) Airfix 1/24 Messerschmitt Bf 109E (12002) Airfix OO/HO Stephenson's Rocket (01661-2) Airfix 1/24 Hawker Hurricane Mk1 (14002) Airfix OO BR Mogul (04653-0) Airfix 1/72 Avro Lancaster B.III (08003) Airfix 1/144 Vickers VC-10 (04026) Airfix 1/76 Scammell Tank Transporter (A02301) Airfix 1/72 Grumman TBM-3 Avenger (03033) Airfix 1/72 Grumman F6F-3/5 Hellcat (02023) Airfix 1/24 Junkers Ju-87 B-2 Stuka (18002-7) Airfix OO Saddle Tank 0-4-0 (02660-2) Airfix OO Saddle Tank J94 0-6-0 (R205) Airfix OO Cattle Wagon (R5) Airfix HO/OO Signal Box (03610-0) Airfix 1/12 Black Prince (02502-7) Airfix 1/600 The Rommel (02202) Airfix 1/72 Bell P-39Q Airacobra (A01039) Airfix 1/32 Crusader (08301-4) Airfix 1/600 HMS Belfast (A04212) Airfix 1/72 Saab Draken (02039) Airfix 1/72 Fiat G91 (106) Airfix 1/72 Westland Whirlwind HAS Mk22 (02056) Airfix 1/72 DHC Chipmunk T10 (134) Airfix 1/72 Supermarine Spitfire Mk1a (01071) Airfix 1/76 RAF Refuelling Set (A03302) Airfix 1/72 Beagle Basset 206 (02025-5) Airfix 1/72 Piper Cherokee Arrow II (01060-5) Airfix 1/72 P-47 Thunderbolt (125) Airfix 1/72 Gloster Gladiator (01002) Airfix 1/76 Josef Stalin IS-3 Tank (A01307) Airfix 1/72 Brewster Buffalo F2A-2 (02050) Airfix 1/32 M3 Grant (08365-8) Airfix 1/48 Supermarine Seafire FR46/47 (07106) Airfix 1/72 Fiat G.50 Freccia (01046-9) Airfix 1/72 Vought F4U-D Corsair (02054) Airfix 1/600 HMS Nelson (04203) Airfix 1/72 Mil Mi-24 Hind A/D (05023) Airfix 1/72 Mitsubishi Ki-46 II "Dinah" (A02016) Airfix 1/72 MiG 21 (02024) Airfix 1/76 Crusader Cruiser Tank (02310) Airfix 1/144 Boeing 737-200 (03181) Airfix 1/72 Mirage 2000 (03061) Airfix 1/12 1930 4.5 Litre Supercharged Bentley (20440) Airfix 1/72 Hawker Hunter FGA.9 (02073) Airfix 1/72 Grumman Widgeon/Gosling (A01073) Airfix 1/72 Auster AOP VI/Auster Antarctic (9 61069) Airfix 1/144 DH Comet 4B (04176) Airfix 1/1 Robins - Erithacus Rubecula (04830-5) Airfix 1/600 Prinz Eugen (A05203) Airfix 1/32 1910 B-Type Omnibus (06443) Airfix 1/72 F-104G Starfighter (9 02011) Airfix 1/72 F-5A Freedom Fighter (00043) Airfix 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf109G-6 (A50037) Airfix 1/76 Sheridan Tank (02311) Airfix 1/32 Triumph Herald (A55201) Airfix/Dapol 00/HO Deltic Prototype (C9) Airfix 1/48 Messerschmitt Bf109E-1/E-3/E-4 (A05120) Airfix 1/72 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4/E-7 (A02048A) Airfix 1/600 SS France (06202-2) Airfix 1/32 Rommel's Half-Track (06360) Airfix 1/72 RA-5C Vigilante (04012-5) Airfix 1/72 Sam-2 Guideline (03303-5) Airfix 1/144 Handley Page HP42 (03172) Airfix 1/72 Commonwealth CA-13 Boomerang (02099) Airfix 1/76 Churchill Crocodile Tank (A02321) Airfix 1/600 Free Enterprise II (F201S) Airfix 1/32 Morris Cowley 1923 (1410) Airfix 1/600 RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (06203) Airfix OO/HO Prairie Tank (04655-6) Airfix 1/76 Crusader Tank (02310) Airfix 1/72 Aichi D3A1 Val (A02014) Airfix 1/12 London Icons (A50131) Airfix 1/72 HDL Hovercraft SR-N1 (02007-7) Airfix 1/72 Leopard Tank (9-02306) Airfix 1/12 Anne Boleyn (02502) Airfix Beam Engine (A05870) Airfix 1/32 Ford Escort (A50091) Airfix 1/76 75mm Assault Gun (01306) Airfix 1/76 German Armoured Car Sd.Kfz.234 (A01311) Airfix 1/76 Opel Blitz (A02315) Airfix 1/76 Centurion Tank (02307) converted to Mk III Airfix 1/76 Chieftain Tank (02305) Airfix 1/76 Panzer IV (A02308) Airfix 1/76 Reconnaissance Set (A02312) Airfix 1/72 RAF Rescue Launch (05281) Airfix BR Railbus Airfix 1/72 S.A. 330 Puma (03021) Airfix 1/72 Folland Gnat T1 (01036) Airfix 1/72 BAC Harrier GR7 (04039) Airfix 1/72 Hawker Typhoon 1B (61027-0) Airfix 1/32 Porsche 917 (03409) Airfix 1/144 Boeing 707 British Airways (04170) Airfix 1/144 BAC 1-11 Aer Lingus (03178) Airfix 1/144 Boeing 314 BOAC "Berwick" (04172) Airfix 1/72 de Havilland Mosquito Mk II/XVIII (03019) Airfix 1/72 Douglas Devastator TBD-1 (02034) Airfix 1/72 Saab Viggen (03015) Airfix 1/72 BAC Lightning F3 (02080) Airfix 1/32 Jaguar 'E' Type (02415) Airfix 1/72 Messerschmitt Me262-2a (01030) Airfix 1/72 Armstrong Whitworth Seahawk FGA Mk6 (01025-2) Airfix 1/72 German 'S' Boat (10280) Airfix 1/72 Junkers Ju 87B/R (03030) Airfix 1/72 Hawker Hunter FGA.9 (02073) Airfix 1/72 B.N. Islander/Defender (03067) Airfix 1/72 Austin K.2 Ambulance (03304) Airfix 1/48 Supermarine Seafire IIIc (05110) Thanks if you managed to get this far! Dave

On HMS Antrim there was definitely a door at the rear of the forward superstructure beneath where the paired liferafts are in Kevin's drawing above. It is the reverse of the one shown on the drawing with the door hinged on it's port side. Going through that door and down a ladder took you to the canteen flat where you had the Naval Stores, Routine and Ship's Offices and (believe it or not) the NAAFI Canteen. I am sure all Batch IIs had a door here bearing in mind it was the only location where you could get down to 1 Deck from 01 Deck from the cross passage. I can make out a door in the same position on a pictures of HMS Glamorgan and HMS Norfolk (in picture to the left of gangway) but have been unable to find clear enough photos HMS Fife to confirm hers but I doubt she would have been different. I don't recall any doors on the forward-facing bulkhead of the rear superstructure but my memory is a bit hazy having come off HMS Antrim in 1981! However, I'm sure that there were ladders each side to get up to 02 Deck. BTW, during the time I was onboard HMS Antrim she had a walkway on the port side that went across from the aft superstructure to the forward superstructure at 02 Deck level. I don't remember it being onboard when I joined in 1978 but we certainly had it by the time we left refit in 1979, the same time as she was fitted to receive SCOT terminals and SCOT cabin. Dave

Don't forget to precede it with "So". "What ship are you serving on lad/ladette?" "So, HMS, like, Belfast" or "So, like, HMS Belfast". Both may end with "you know" - or a grunt. Dave

It called tradition - just about the only thing the Royal Navy has left. If left to the public to decide ship names we would end up with HMS Kardashian, HMS Strictly or HMS Boaty McBoatFace. Dave