ArnoldAmbrose

Gidday Tim, you've done a very neat build here. What scale is it please? Regards, Jeff.

Gidday again, I reckon always have models planned for the future - it keeps the Grey Matter ticking over. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday Steve, Yeah I think the colours of Carpathia work well together also. The funnel looks really good -it would have too I think, as it is a rather prominent fixture. As for warships, agreed, the same one or two shades of grey (initially Hu27 and Hu64 in my case) can get a bit monotonous, which is one of the reasons I like a few ships in dazzle camouflage, for the variety. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday Mick, what's wrong with it? I'd be very happy if I could do a seascape like this. Regards, Jeff.

Henry Ford

Gidday, I thought that was the name of a car manufacturer, named after the company founder, first name Henry . On a serious note, the actual places in the competition are 1st, 2nd and 3rd only. Size doesn't always matter, what does is the quality and quantity of work going into a model. Naturally the larger models have more scope for this so in many cases you could well be correct. But not always. Regards, Jeff

Gidday Parrahs, I don't know anything about these ships but this one looks very business-like. All heavy guns in turrets and no casemate guns in the hull to get flooded in heavy weather. I think you have done a superb model of it. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday Geoff, Exkiwi, I am not as dedicated or pedantic (authentic) regarding exact shades of colour in my models, I tend to use what I think is the closest colour of what I have in stock, and that is generally Humbrol enamels because that is what I grew up with. Plus I've only been involved with modelling forums such as this for less than twelve months so I've been on my own and working in the dark, so-to-speak. I think what you have used above looks good. For the decks of cruisers and battlewagons I use Hu94 (which appears similar to what you've used on Aurora) or Hu71 which is quite a bit lighter. How authentic or accurate they are I don't know - they simply look good I think. There are others much more knowledgeable than me, but I hope this helps. Regards, Jeff (a different Jeff/Geoff )

Gidday Exkiwi, would it be HMAS Vendetta? And HMS Aurora, now that she has her main teeth, it's a milestone I think. Regards, Jeff

Gidday, thank you both for your kind comments. I actually quite enjoy the hacking away bit, making alterations for either increasing accuracy or for modifying a kit into an alternative ship. I had also planned to try rigging on this build but chickened out at the last leg. I was running out of time to complete this build for WASMEx 2019, plus I hadn't planned the rigging hence hadn't pre-drilled holes for the thread and didn't want to risk the model at the end of the build. I'll save my debut in rigging for another (simpler) build. Funnel grills also, maybe. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday All, Here is a model of the heavy cruiser HMS York, a sister-ship of the Exeter. These two ships were an attempt by the RN to break away from the large and expensive 10,000 tonners (Treaty Cruisers) being built by various countries under the terms of the Washington Treaty. The British Treaty Cruisers were the County class. Originally seven ships were planned, but ultimately only these two were built. They sacrificed two 8-inch guns on a ship that was shorter, narrower and about 1500 tons lighter than their predecessors. Surprisingly their belt armour, where it was fitted, was thicker. HMS York was the first of the two, and besides her guns was intended to carry two catapults - a heavy catapult behind the funnels and a light-weight catapult mounted on 'B' turret. As a result the ship had a high forward superstructure to allow the bridge crew to see over any aircraft mounted on it. This light-weight catapult however was never built and fitted. Because of this the second ship, HMS Exeter, had a much lower bridge structure that became the prototype for that of the following Leander, Amphion (Perth) and Aresthusa classes of cruiser. Exeter's masts and funnels were vertical as opposed to York's which were raked. Despite their different silhouettes the two ships were built to the same design and hence still classify as sister-ships. In 1941 HMS York was at anchor in Suda Bay, Crete, when she was attacked by Italian motor boats packed with explosives. Two boats hit her, destroying both boiler rooms and one engine room. She was run aground to prevent her sinking. Several weeks later she was bombed by Stuka dive bombers and sustained enough damage that it was decided she was beyond effective repair. She was destroyed in-situ by explosives. The model is in the scale of 1/600, as are nearly all of my model ships. I began it last May, just after WASMEx 2018, and I completed her a couple of weeks ago. Very broadly speaking the model is a cross between a heavily modified kit and scratch-built. I used a stretched hull of an Airfix 'Ajax' kit, with the funnels and 8-inch guns and turrets of a 'Suffolk' kit, some other assorted parts from various kits and scratch-built everything else, including all decks, superstructures and masts. Although HMS Exeter is the more well-known of the two ships I chose to build York for a number of reasons. Firstly her camo scheme was rather striking whereas Exeter's was a rather bland single shade of grey, and I like to have a bit of variety in my display cabinet. Secondly, York's bridge superstructure was unique while Exeter's was very similar to other ships I have modeled. Again, variety. I also had the deck plans of her to work off. Not all that comprehensive but good enough for a model at this scale, I thought. I have no doubt that I have made some mistakes, sometimes the plans I had weren't all that clear on small fixtures, I had to refer to photos when I could get them. Also the camo scheme probably isn't completely accurate but I tried my best there, despite conflicting diagrams and photos from oblique angles. Also I am certain the shades of light and blue/grey paint aren't completely spot-on. I am not as dedicated as other modelers in that respect. I know what some of you perfectionists are thinking - "Who is this Philistine? Stone him for blasphemy, burn him for heresy!" I'll supply the rocks and matches. Anyway, enough of me rattling on, here she is, HMS York 1941. Close-up photos show my rough workmanship. Regards to all, Jeff.

Gidday Exkiwi, It is coming along very nicely, and your kits seem to have good detail. They rather beat the pants off my Airfix efforts. And regarding Geoff's query about the quad pompom, it looks the right size to me. I believe they were rather large and heavy mountings. AFAIK anyway. Keep up the good work. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday All, this is a model I did last December, finishing very early in January this year. It is a ficticious vessel, a whiffed model converted from an Airfix 'HMS Manxman' kit in 1/600 scale. These ships were very fast mine-layers that doubled up as blockade runners to Malta and Tobruk. This ship was bombed by Stuka dive bombers and suffered heavy damage to the forward boiler room. She survived and was converted to a convoy AA escort vessel with considerably increased AA capability. She also acted as a rescue ship for the crews of sunken ships, hence her generous supply of rafts, either requisitioned from the dockyard or pilfered by some of the more piratical members of the crew. I did quite a lot of alterations to the model. I added another twin 4-inch mounting and HA (high angle) director plus replaced the original director above the bridge, scratch built radar for the directors, enhanced the bridge and masts, removed number one funnel and replaced number two, scratch built twin Bofor 40mm and single Oerlikon 20mm guns and their gun-pits, depth-charge racks and other assorted changes and additions. Ladies and Gentlemen, HMS Antiope, 1943 As a whiff I was able to let my imagination run a bit, but I think she is still reasonably authentic. Plus I enjoyed building her. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday All, My life is now complete, fullfilled. I can die now knowing I have seen Nirvana - well, Carpathia anyway. In the flesh (or whatever the nautical equivalent is). Well done Steve and congratulations. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday, Maybe they've just been told they're going on leave! Seriously, I like the way the ship heels as it is turning. Regards, Jeff.