paul178

I have watched your build from day one and it is the first item I click onto each day. I must say it is a masterful build and you deserve all praise for it!

Alan probably this. BBC News 29/01/2016: Type 45 destroyers: UK's £1bn warships face engine refit The Type 45 destroyer is one of the most advanced anti-aircraft warships of its kind The Royal Navy's most modern warships are to be fitted with new engines because they keep breaking down. In an email seen by the BBC, a serving Royal Navy officer wrote that "total electric failures are common" on its fleet of six £1bn Type 45 destroyers. The Ministry of Defence said there were reliability issues with the propulsion system and work to fix it would be done to ensure "ships remain available". One Royal Navy officer said the cost could reach tens of millions of pounds. In a statement, the MoD told the BBC that to "address some reliability issues" it was considering options to "upgrade the ships' diesel generators to add greater resilience to the power and the propulsion system". That will involve significant work, though the Royal Navy insists that the six destroyers will still be deployed all over the world. 'Major weak link' But from 2019 each will begin to undergo a major refit that will probably involve cutting a large hole to insert at least one new generator into the ship. The work will be staggered to ensure the Navy still has ships to send on operations. The MoD would not give any details on cost. Admiral Lord West, a former First Sea Lord, said the development was "very worrying" and the MoD must have known "three or four years ago" that the destroyers had problems. The ex-Labour security minister said any delay in rectifying the problem would leave the Navy's surface fleet badly stretched, as the Navy can already "only just do some of the tasks we should be doing around the world". "What I would hope is there is already in place a 'get well' programme and we must move very quickly to rectify these problems," he said. 'The lights went out' I experienced one of the many power outages on board HMS Dauntless, off the coast of Senegal, in 2012. Suddenly all the lights on the ship went out. It was quickly fixed but it appears to be a problem that has plagued the entire fleet. In 2014 Dauntless had to abandon a training exercise and, in 2009, HMS Daring lost power in the Atlantic on her first voyage to the US. She suffered more propulsion problems off Kuwait in 2012. Initially the MoD dismissed these electrical failures as "teething problems". But it has now admitted that there is a bigger problem - one that could be disastrous for a ship and her crew in combat. Nick Childs, of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: "It's an unfortunate extra cost the Royal Navy will have to swallow to sort out an unreliable propulsion system - the major weak link in an otherwise world-beating system. "They're essentially going to have to squeeze in an extra generator to improve reliability." The warning signs were there in 2009 when the Commons Defence Committee published its report on the Type 45. MPs noted "persistent over-optimism and underestimation of the technical challenges, combined with inappropriate commercial arrangements" leading to rising costs. Each destroyer ended up costing about £1bn. The Royal Navy wanted 12 ships but ended up with half that number. The Type 45 has an integrated electric propulsion system that powers everything on board. 'World's most capable' The problem won't be solved quickly and it is likely to put a strain on the Royal Navy, which has already shrunk considerably in size. It is now down to a surface fleet of 19 frigates and destroyers. A spokesman for Rolls-Royce, which makes the WR-21 marine gas turbine used on the warships, said the company continued to work with the MoD on upgrading the performance of the propulsion system. BAE Systems, the company which builds the warships, said in a statement that the destroyers were "among the world's most capable air defence destroyer". It said it was working with the MoD "to deliver improvements to the power generation capability of the Type 45 destroyers".

Oh yes another cracker from you. I love that sea effect!

Absolutely stunning work!

Dave Your post applies to me also for exactly the same reasons so I will do what you are doing. I will look though my stash and see what is simple and easy and will not matter if I muck it up. I hope 2016 will see your health improve both mental and physical.

I have a bias towards MTB's and MGB's and you have built a superb example there. Very well done you should be very proud of that!!!!!!!

Very,very nice indeed!

Great work Rob,impressed does not cover it! I collect but dont run LMS Locos and have about 15 of them but since I was about 12 my friend had a 3 rail Mallard on his Layout and I always wanted one.Fast forward 58 years and I got a phone call from a Stepson, He had just bought a Hornby Falcon in a box for £10 did I want it. I said yes and could hardly wait like a big kid for last Sunday when he was bringing it up. I was expecting a tired example that I would have to work on. What I got was a brand new in the box Hornby Railroad 2779 example. Out came 3 metres of track,I disconnected my Hornby controller from my mini drill Laid the track across the lounge floor and off she went first time. Happy or what, it is safely back in its box next to me as I type this. PS I gave him £25 for it. So as Del Boy would say "Every ones a winner"

How much is it please? I want to know how much I will have to squirrel away for it in the coming month or two!

#138 that picture shows it without so that is the way I would go. Just to add I have not commented on your build before but I have enjoyed every bit of it. Excellent work mate!

Nice crisp build on such a small kit, I like it a lot. Very well done!

That was quick! Thanks. A quick Google tells me Bristol Tools(5 miles from me) stock the HSS ones so hopefully sorted!

Sorry if this is the wrong forum. I have been donated a 12v mini drill bit no bits. My question is where can I get a selection either on the high street or by post. I do not use PayPal so that puts some I have found out of the question. Any Ideas folks,also Is there a best quality brand that I should look for?

Incredible indeed,its fantastic. Is the shed big enough to weather the other side or do you have to take it outside and do a 3 point turn?

I would very much like to see it please.

Try this instead the end of Dark Star "Benson Arizona"

Get hold of a copy of this months Flypast they have done a multi page article on this aircraft.

I more than like it it is exceptional work

That is very nice and interesting diorama. Only thing that would improve it would be a mooring party on the boat and ashore.

Nice photo I have never seen this one before. Can I ask where you got it? As for colour I would ask Matt Poole he might be able to help.

Yes 551 was mainly used for transport including The First Sea Lord

Nice one Tony but of course I am biased. If you can't find room to display it I would give it place of honour in my abode!

One word Excellent!

Correction I should have said 551

That is close, my Father flew 550(among many others!)