Paul E Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 This is my build of HMS Phoebe as she was from 1988 to 1989 when I served on her for my apprentice sea time. I started last October and have been posting this as a work in progress on another forum not realising its North American slant. It was through some of those who were kind enough to comment on my efforts that I discovered Britmodeller. As a new member to this forum I thought I should share my attempt at converting the venerable Airfix kit to a Towed Array Leander. A subject matter I think that is more suitable and probably has more appreciation for on this forum. Whilst the build is still very much a work in progress I have taken the opportunity to edit my postings in order to improve their quality (and to remove any references to self-doubts and disasters). For those of you who are following this on the other forum, my apologies for the duplication. For those of you who are seeing this for the first time what follows are the trials and tribulations of my attempt at converting the Airfix Leander kit. An introduction: HMS Phoebe had 3 guises over her life; starting off with a gun followed by Exocet conversion and finally with a Towed Array sonar. The starting point for this project is as I previously mentioned is the Airfix kit of HMS Leander at 1/600 scale. This has been festering in a drawer having been bought many years ago. The trigger to me undertaking this project was seeing a super detailed version of the Pit Road HMS Sheffield at 1:700. I thought that would look good on my desk and I should have a go at doing something like that. So I dug out some not so relevant Jecobin drawings of HMS Penelope that had been scavenged from a long forgotten source and I bought the White Ensign Models PE set. I spent a sum total of 0 hour 0 minutes planning for this exercise, which in hindsight was not a bad thing. Had I considering what I was about to undertake I probably wouldn’t have done it! And now for the pictures: First steps; building the hull, filling the wells and building the Towed array sponson. I have converted the model to waterline as I want to present my model in her element. Also all the deck fittings aft of the fo’c’tsle break were removed and replaced with scratch built items take into account the impact of the Towed Array sponson and the Exocet launchers. I should mention now, this build requires a plentiful supply of Plastistruct and Evergreen building materials as will soon become evident. Next installment to follow very soon 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Welcome aboard ,I have been watching your build on the other site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 A good start on an interesting project. HMS Phoebe was our escort when we visited to Norfolk, Virginia when I was on HMS Invincible back in 1990. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Welcome! Dido was my first ship, so any Leander will do me - though you've got your work cut out turning that venerable Airfix kit into a TA ship... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 Many thanks for your comments Welcome aboard ,I have been watching your build on the other site. I know, it was seeing your superb model of the Ikara conversion that brought this forum to my attention. A good start on an interesting project. HMS Phoebe was our escort when we visited to Norfolk, Virginia when I was on HMS Invincible back in 1990. Interesting to hear that, the introductory photo is of Phoebe entering Norfolk in 1990. I had left her by then to return to HMS Collingwood. Welcome! Dido was my first ship, so any Leander will do me - though you've got your work cut out turning that venerable Airfix kit into a TA ship... Hmmm, you could say that I have my work cut out. You will see by how much as I go through the build. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 Okay, post number 2 - starting work on the superstucture: The Airfix kit comes with a single moulding for the superstructure that is devoid of any detailing. The superstructure was extended at the aft end as can be seen in the second picture. This was because the hangar on the original ships was too small for the Lynx helicopter. Other changes made were the removal of the “garden wall” on the deck behind the bridge and details such as doors, scuttles, ladders and hand grab rails added locations of which were taken from the Jecobin Plans. A new deck house was added to the hangar roof, dimensions for which were taken from the Jecobin plans. A new aft mast also needed to be constructed. The Towed Array Leanders had a smaller aft mast fitted that carried the IFF interrogator radar antenna. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
longshanks Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Silk purse from a sows ear spring to mind . . . Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted February 10, 2015 Author Share Posted February 10, 2015 Silk purse from a sows ear spring to mind . . . Kev Please don't build up your hopes.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff_B Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Looking good so far. Just one thing, insn't the upper deck on the fwd superstructure cut back to nearly in line with the aft of the main mast as another of the weight saving measures ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob 1 Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 Should be interesting to see a this progresses. It's been good to see a couple of Leander class projects recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Cornes Posted February 10, 2015 Share Posted February 10, 2015 HMS Hero eh? For those of a certain age !! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 (edited) Looking good so far. Just one thing, insn't the upper deck on the fwd superstructure cut back to nearly in line with the aft of the main mast as another of the weight saving measures ? Ask and ye shall receive.................. The signal deck/boat deck break on the Towed Array ships is further forward than the other ships of the class. When PHOEBE was converted to Towed Array the compartments which contained the equipment for the forward MRS3 director became redundant and were literally deleted to reduce top weight. This meant having to do a major hack of the superstructure aft of the mast then rebuild the screen in the new position. I must confess that I did not notice the need to hack back the superstructure initially because I was using the Jecobin plans, I only noticed it when I consulted the photographs. Edited February 11, 2015 by Paul E 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Good spot (Geoff) and great save (Paul)! Please o goddess AcademiTrumpeta, grant that we may have a Leander-class series in 1/350 someday? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Al, you do know that Atlantic Models have just released HMS Cleopatra? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntPhillips Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Looking good so far. Just one thing, insn't the upper deck on the fwd superstructure cut back to nearly in line with the aft of the main mast as another of the weight saving measures ? You learn something new every day, I always knew there was something different about them, just couldn't put my finger on what it was Al, you do know that Atlantic Models have just released HMS Cleopatra? My one arrived yesterday 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Me too! had a good look at it,even did a dry run on hull, bridge work;funnel,masts and turret; can't wait for Zulu. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntPhillips Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Me too! had a good look at it,even did a dry run on hull, bridge work;funnel,masts and turret; can't wait for Zulu. Funnily enough I did the same thing last night, packed the Mrs off to bed and got Cleopatra out for a quick grope err check over 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan P Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Al, you do know that Atlantic Models have just released HMS Cleopatra?I should have said "in plastic"! I can't afford to make the models I want to these days.Darn you, modelling goddess! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul E Posted February 11, 2015 Author Share Posted February 11, 2015 I am on the correct forum aren't I ? All this talk of fondling dead Egyptian queens and modelling goddesses has got me worried. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shar2 Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Well, you started it Paul, Phoebe being one of the original Greek Godesses. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntPhillips Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 I should have said "in plastic"! I can't afford to make the models I want to these days. Darn you, modelling goddess! To be honest, I don't think the price is excessive, not when you see the quality of the kit. If you think that the Trumpy Type 23 is about £35 and the Trumpy Type 45 about £50.00 (even the Airfix T45 is typically £35-40), then add on a decent photo-etch set and your in the region of £50 to £75, Pete includes all you need (except paint) in the box. I'm contemplating getting a second to do the Ikara conversion. I'm probably going to build mine as Achilles, but haven't quite decided yet. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Looks good so far, I was a baby RO on Penelope 85-87, Leanders were good ships for young daft lads! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 Mine is on order, including the Ikara conversion; Dido was my very first ship. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 11, 2015 Share Posted February 11, 2015 My might be HMS Hero from the tv series "Warship" The series enjoyed close collaboration between the Royal Navy and the BBC, and—unusually for a TV drama of the 1970s—looked like a documentary. Seven Leander-class frigates played the role of HMS Hero and for continuity, all were repainted with the pennant number F42 of HMS Phoebe, the main warship used for filming. The others were HMS Danae, HMS Dido, HMS Diomede, HMSHermione, HMS Juno and HMS Jupiter. more on this link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warship_(TV_series) Opening title from warship 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerjet Posted February 12, 2015 Share Posted February 12, 2015 Very nice, you should do the dido class cruiser hms phoebe as well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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