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Gidday All, Here is a model of the 'Crown Colony' class cruiser HMS Jamaica, in 1/600 scale. This class of cruiser comprised of two sub-classes, Fiji and Ceylon class, Jamaica being one of the Fiji class. This class of cruiser followed the Southampton (Town) class, carried the same weapons but were shorter and about a 1000 tons lighter, so their design was rather tight, with little scope for war additions and improvement. They were still a successful design however, and provided terrific service during the war. HMS Jamaica's war service was unusual in that, except for a short stint off North Africa, she spent her entire war in the Arctic. I think she is most remembered for the two battles she took part in - the Barents Sea and North Cape. In the Battle of the Barents Sea on New Years Eve 1942 HMShips Jamaica and Sheffield (R Adm Burnett) comprised Force R and drove off a powerful German squadron consisting of the heavy cruisers Hipper (Adm Kummetz) and Lutzow plus six destroyers, one of which was sunk by Sheffield. The German squadron had attempted to attack a convoy but was gallantly held off by Sherbrook's destroyers until Burnett's cruisers could arrive. On Boxing Day 1943 off North Cape HMS Jamaica escorted the battleship HMS Duke of York (Adm Sir Bruce Fraser). On that day the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst and five destroyers had intended to attack another convoy but was driven off twice by Vice Adm Burnett's cruisers. During Scharnhorst's return run for home she was intercepted by Fraser's ships, brought to battle and ultimately sunk. Some references say it was Jamaica's torpedoes that dealt the Coup de Grace to Scharnhorst (others say it was HMS Belfast). To build the model I used a hull of the Airfix HMS Tiger, to which I added scratchbuilt shafts, chin plate and anchors, plus screws from a HMS Belfast kit. The Belfast kit also supplied the focsle deck (fwd third of upper deck), 6-inch turrets and guns, 4-inch gun shields, 4-inch gun crew shelters, torpedo tubes, the cranes, the upper level of the bridge, DCT and other assorted small fittings. I scratchbuilt just about everything else, including the remaining decks, all superstructures and deck houses, the funnels, the masts, the three HACS, the pompoms and their directors on the hangar roof, depth charge rack at the stern and nearly all the deck fittings such as vents, bollards and fairleads, winches, lockers, hawser reels etc. I am deeply indebted to Jamie and Richard for their help with the camo scheme, which I think is rather striking. While the shades of the colours isn't completely accurate (I used paints I had in stock) I tried to follow their camo pattern as best I could. Anyway, here she is, HMS Jamaica 1942 The model was built over an eight month period although the build was dormant for about four months of that time while I built two other ships (one not quite completed). Thanks for your interest. Stay safe and regards to all, Jeff.