ArnoldAmbrose

Thank you. More photos are in the RFI section here:- Regards, Jeff.

Gidday All, Here is my model of the large Town (Southampton) class cruiser HMS Sheffield, the 'Shiny Sheff'. This ship had quite a career, being one of the first to be equipped with radar, one of the first RN ships to fire her guns in anger in WW2, saw action off Norway, in the Mediterranean and in the Arctic, fought the Bismarck in the Atlantic, the Hipper, Lutzow and Eckolt (sinking her) in the Barents Sea, and the Scharnhorst off North Cape. She was finally decommissioned and scrapped in 1967. To build her I heavily modified an Airfix 1/600 scale Belfast kit, doing extensive modifications to the hull, superstructures and ship's fittings. I've tried to get the ship depicted in late 1941/1942 but I think the camo scheme I've done her in is of dubious accuracy. I don't think this is the best model I've done but definitely not the worst, either. And it has a significant milestone - counting two in 1/570 scale which to me is compatible with 1/600, this is the 50th model I've done in this scale since taking up the hobby on a continual basis about 25 years ago. Anyway, here she is, HMS Sheffield. The first stage of the build thread can be found here:- The second stage of the build here:- Thank you for your interest. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday, I don't think I've done a conversion yet (not in recent memory anyway) that hasn't ended up more complex and more work than I originally thought. But in the end the models are always better because of it. And occasionally it becomes a bit of a slog but the end result has always been worth it. So slog on! 🙂 I'm enjoying seeing this come together. Regards, Jeff

Gidday @Chewbacca, good luck with this. You're a true Gentleman to do this for someone else. I take my hat off to you. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday Sam, these are GREAT! 👍 It would be a big project, but at my scale (1/600) and level of detail I think I can do it with these. I would have to refer to models such as yours for detail (take that as a compliment 🙂). Many thanks. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday Sam, you'll have quite a battle squadron when they're all complete. Looking at Strazzy's hull shape, no external armour belt or bulges that I can see she might be a good ship to scratch build if I can get plans and hull contours. But it would be a long way off. In the meantime I'll continue to admire yours here. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday All, I'm going to declare HMS Sheffield done! There's more I could do, such as more Carley floats (possible to retrofit) and I've just noticed that she has no paravanes. With hindsight I think I should have added a chin plate at the forefoot but I'll leave it. Also I'm not completely happy with the colour scheme of the Walrus, in fact I've no idea what it was in late 1941 but the aircraft looked plain and incomplete without something. The plane is glued to the launching trolley but that is dry fitted so I can remove it all to repaint it if necessary. But I'm not going to worry about it tonight. I started her almost exactly eight months ago but the build wasn't continuous, it was put on hold a couple of times for other projects. I'll take more photos for the RFI section tomorrow when I have better light, and am a bit more awake. So thank you all for your comments, responses, interest and encouragement during the build. Regards to all, Jeff.

Gidday, this is just a guess, but if the straps that hold the whaler in are called 'gripes' then I'm assuming they hold the boat against that spar to keep it still while stowed, hence 'griping spar'. As I said, just a guess. Puddings? You might have to go back to Nelson's day for that one but puddening is a rope fender on a boat, and these look like they're padding of sort. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday @beefy66, sorry to take so long to reply to this, but I've only just seen it. 😁 This will be an interesting build to follow. Good luck with those paddle wheels. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday Jon, actually I don't think they did, they just look it due to the tapering of the hull. Compare their vital statistics (well, ships ARE referred to as 'she' 😁) with those of the similar vintage V & W class, the A through to H class, they are all about 310 - 315 feet long and have a beam of about 30 feet. The Hunt class were shorter but again had similar beam. The USN four-stackers had their maximum beam over a much shorter length so I guess in a way they had less usable deck. Regards, Jeff.

And off on another slant - I take you're aware of the very similar looks of the Kongo in her original form, HMS Tiger and SMS Derfflinger. Again my opinion but definitely good-looking ships, arguably the best looking of WW1. Regards (again🙂), Jeff.

Gidday again, in a book I have I've heard that IJN Fuso with her pagoda mast was considered the ugliest ship in the IJN. Put these two together and you've definitely got Beauty and the Beast. 🙂 Regards, Jeff.

Gidday General, it's personal taste/opinion but I think the Kongo class were the most graceful and best looking of the IJN capital ships. I like this model very much, it's superb. Thanks for posting. Regards, Jeff.

Thanks @robgizlu, but I wouldn't vouch for it's accuracy though. I managed to find diagrams on the net showing both sides of the ship, but printing off and enlarging on a photocopier altered the shades of some colours. Then there's Humbrol's sometimes inconsistency of colours plus the pattern itself was hand-copied onto the model. The camera flash makes it a bit bright into the bargain. But I think/hope it will look OK in the display cabinet. Thanks again. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday All, HMS Sheffield is nearly there. Yesterday I fitted the remaining masts, and they got painted this morning. When the paint dried I commenced fitting the weapons outfit, HACTs and the remaining searchlights and projectors. This I found to be a bit nerve-wracking, in case I bumped and damaged the masts. The boat/aircraft cranes will remain off until the Walrus is fitted. Right now the Shagbat is getting painted, as you can see in the foreground. The "Shiney Sheff" could also use a few more Carley floats but I'm not sure if I'll add them. If I do then the locations I have in mind are easily accessed. So that's it for now. Thank you for your interest. Stay safe, and regards, Jeff.

Gidday, very much so. I'd like to have a go at scratch building her one day. Although her capabilities were soon superseded by later classes she was the first of the type (like HMS Dreadnought) and so to me is special because of it. Keep her rolling. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday @Mattlow, welcome to the Dark Side of modeling. 🙂 I understand what you mean about ship's fittings versus blobs of plastic. I scratch build some stuff I need now rather than spend money on aftermarket items. But I'm into the 1/600 scale myself so my stuff doesn't need the detail you probably wish for, and I know nothing about 3D printing. Most of the info for appearances I get from photos but I don't know if that's accurate enough for your needs. Some of the 'Anatomy of the Ship' books have drawings of ship's fittings. I don't know if there's a book on one of the KGV class but there is of Belfast, Hood and Warspite. One of them might have what you need. HTH. Regards, Jeff.

And anchored/moored. HMAS Canberra was there too, further up the harbour. However, it was a curved shot with 60* deflection that didn't give away the position of the firing sub, but quite difficult to do. The USS Chicago was almost stern on to the sub as well, making her a much narrower target. Yes, I think they were very brave men. And unfortunately for them, luck was on our side that night. Because to use the vernacular - "we got caught with the pants down". But we also had some brave and competent men here too. I recommend the book, and apologies if I've gone a bit OT. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday @Jeff.M, in my limited experience I'd agree with the definitions of quarterdeck and gangway of @Dave Swindell and @robgizlu above. I've only heard Fantail used on USN warships. The Quarterdeck was only defined by it's location, not it's ceremonial function. That last, I've never heard of before. Regards, Jeff.

I can see them too. Gidday Brad, it might be a simple build but it still looks good though. You mentioned Sydney Harbour. Have you read "A Very Rude Awakening" by Peter Grose? It's about the midget submarine attack Sydney Harbour on the night of 31st May 1942. An interesting read. Regards, Jeff.

@robgizlu fame beckons. I guess any further communication with Rob will now have to go through his publicity agent/manager. 😁 In all seriousness, your model is very deserving of the recognition. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday All, here's the next update on HMS Sheffield. I've been working on the masts and the Seagull/Walrus aircraft. The fore tripod mast is fitted and painted up to the cross-trees. I decided to do the foremast and fore-topmast separately but the main mast/main topmast as a single unit. That's them in the wood pegs in front of the model. The fore tripod had braces between the legs but the main tripod seems not to, from photos I've seen. I was undecided whether to mount an aircraft on this model. They don't seem to be visible in many of the photos I've seen of this stage in her life but as much of it was spent in the Arctic they could well be in the hangars. But I decided that the model needs something to fill the void between the funnels so an aircraft she will have. I'm not sure what paint scheme to adorn the plane with though. I decided to make my own launching cradle. That's the white cradle on the wood block, the grey cradle is the kit part. Mine is a little bit narrower. All the screws are fitted now, plus a skylight on the quarterdeck and the DCT (Director Control Tower) above the bridge. The eagle-eyed among you (those that can count above two) might notice a third hawse-pipe and cable on the foc'sle. While looking through spares for a couple of parts I had omitted I found a bit of another foc'sle deck I knew I had SOMEWHERE, (I rarely throw bits out, regardless of how butchered they are). This bit of foc'sle deck very generously gave up one hawse-pipe and cable, which I carefully sliced off with a very sharp (new) razor. I think it matches the two existing sets quite well. It doesn't have it's own winch though. Well, that's it for tonight. I've still got some more fiddly stuff to do but her commissioning is definitely in sight now. So thank you all for your interest. Stay safe and regards to all, Jeff.

Gidday Jon, Yeah, should just fit. Otherwise try it diagonal across the page. Looking at the hull against the ruler she looks just a tad shorter that an Airfix HMS Ajax kit in 1/600. And photocopying the scheme as templates - very clever - I'll have to remember that. Regards, Jeff.

Gidday Jon, good luck with the camo scheme, it's certainly eye-catching. I did HMS Montgomery (very similar vessel) in 1/600, that was bad enough. You're a braver man than me, but then you've demonstrated that already, on a number of occasions. Regards, Jeff.

I remember that, from decades ago. 🙂 Gidday @Bangseat, this has turned out really well. She's not a very glamorous ship but the work-horse of any sea-faring nation. Very well done. Regards, Jeff.