HMS Belfast

[Ratch]

Not up to the standard of youse guys, but I like to build a ship every so often, and I've just done this one. I used some of the WEM PE set I had left over from my first build (9 years ago).

A couple of b/w pix

She was launched on St. Patricks Day, 1938. Commissioned in early August 1939 shortly before the outbreak of WW2, Belfast was initially part of the British naval blockade against Germany. In November 1939, Belfast struck a German mine and, in spite of fears that she would be scrapped, spent more than two years undergoing extensive repairs. Belfast returned to action in November 1942 with improved firepower, radar equipment, and armour. Belfast saw action escorting Arctic convoys to the Russia during 1943 and in December 1943 played an important role in the Battle of North Cape, assisting in the destruction of the German warship Scharnhorst. In June 1944, Belfast took part in Operation Overlord supporting the Normandy landings. For D-Day she was the flagship of The Commander, Force E.

[Alan P]

Nice work! Like the action pose.

 

The sea looks very good, how did you do it?

 

Alan

[Ratch]

Thanks Alan, I used oil paints directly on the baseboard. These took about a week to dry, though I left them another week, then spread Woodland Scenics Still Water over it and sat the ship in it. 24hrs later that had cured and I added Liquitex Gloss Gel for the waves, and 24hrs later picked out the crests/foam.

HTH

[stevej60]

Thats a great build of the Airfix kit Ratch,I seem to remember it being a nicely molded kit and well received on its release.

[Ratch]

Thanks Steve. Yes the new tool 1/600 ships of the early 80s certainly were nicely done. Belfast, KGV, Repulse, Prinz Eugen and the Narvick Class destroyer were the last warships Airfix produced in that scale. What a pity they haven't the confidence to bring more of that scale back to the table.