andrewa Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 (edited) Hi everyone, The real world has got in the way of spending time on here or tackling any big scratch builds recently, but I've found a bit more time on my hands over the past couple of months so after finally finishing two Leanders and a Tribal frigate from Atlantic Models plus gaining some inspiration from @Ex-FAAWAFU's Ark and @Dancona's Victorious builds I dusted off a scratch build of Victorious that I started a couple of years ago... My main reference for the build is the AOTS book, along with the new book of Builders Plans, along with every book and photo I can find... I'm just about happy with the main hull build, and about to set out on adding the many details needed with help from Shapeways and the WEM Ark Royal brass set amongst others. Still bits of clean up needed, but it looks like an Illustrious class to me now... Andrew Edited July 20, 2020 by andrewa 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Thrice Wow Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted July 20, 2020 Share Posted July 20, 2020 Blimey! That’s a bit lovely. Same method as the Hermes hull, or something different? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancona Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 That looks absolutely super, I bet that took some time, welcome back, your Hermes build is still to me the gold standard, so it will be very interesting to follow this. I did a 1/400 1941 Victorious from the old Heller kit many moons ago (but in retrospect I think I got the colours all wrong) so seeing your hull brings it all back, I don't think that "elegant simplicity" was in vogue when they drafted the Illustrious class ! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 Wow indeed! It's getting rather good in the maritime section these days. I'm all eyes! Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted July 21, 2020 Share Posted July 21, 2020 11 hours ago, Dancona said: I don't think that "elegant simplicity" was in vogue when they drafted the Illustrious class ! Having stared at / studied Ark Royal 3’s design for as long as I have in the past year, the more I look at the Illustrious class the more I see “Improved Ark Royals” - shorn of the Washington Treaty constraints (so armoured decks, for instance) but with an awful lot of familiar features. [And you’re right; Andrew’s Hermes / Falmouth / Broadsword build is absolutely the Gold Standard in my eyes.] 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewa Posted July 22, 2020 Author Share Posted July 22, 2020 On 7/20/2020 at 10:06 PM, Ex-FAAWAFU said: Blimey! That’s a bit lovely. Same method as the Hermes hull, or something different? Pretty similar, deck plans cut and sandwiched together. Plumbers solvent weld is a great, cheap way to glue up such large pieces, along with a few wood screws! Compared to Hermes there are a lot more openings in the shell (60, I counted) So most of the hull was clad with plasticard then endless rounds of car body filler and sanding before cutting out the openings - I’d roughed in the galleries and focastle/quarterdeck first. Once you get into the details this is a really complex hull - and as for the cutout edges of the flight deck - don’t think the pilots had much say in that. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chewbacca Posted July 26, 2020 Share Posted July 26, 2020 On 21/07/2020 at 19:44, Ex-FAAWAFU said: [And you’re right; Andrew’s Hermes / Falmouth / Broadsword build is absolutely the Gold Standard in my eyes.] +1 This is looking excellent already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewa Posted July 26, 2020 Author Share Posted July 26, 2020 Some fiddly stuff this weekend, the Illustrious class had many refits through the war, so getting the details to match the time period is a bit of a game, the ships were fitted with 4 HACS directors to control the 4.5" turrets and which could be linked to one or multiple pairs of turrets. As built, the starboard forward HACS was mounted above the island,) port forward was in a recess on the flight deck edge with hydraulic gear to raise/lower the director. Port aft was similar(but possibly without the elevating gear) and starboard aft was in a slightly higher position, with a different shaped cut-out By 1944, Starboard forward was moved to the previous location of one of the pom-pom mountings ahead of the island (a key difference between the sisters when looking at photos) starboard aft was repositioned lower and the flightdeck cut out changed to match the other two deck mounted HACS. Port forward HACS Starboard Aft HACS, the photo also shows a few of the deckhouses built out over some of the boat decks, presumably for additional accommodation/stores etc. Victorious also had a large gallery mounted around the stern for additional light AA, supported by a set of large triangular webs, sadly not solid, so lots of cutting later: Next big job will be marking and drilling 150+ scuttles before fitting brass surrounds. Andrew 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry1954 Posted July 28, 2020 Share Posted July 28, 2020 Wow those webs look like a challenge as they all appear to be slightly different in length, perhaps at best a pair of each size? Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewa Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 (edited) I've made some slow but steady progress on Victorious, gradually adding the etched brass scuttles - of which there are at least two types, slightly larger ones with eyebrows fitted and a few small ones without, plus a number that were plated over with solid sheet - lots of research needed to get their locations right. I've also worked on the various platforms and sponsons that abound on this ship initially those that penetrate the hull plating so I can gradually tidy those up before moving onto the many that were just externally mounted, each one is different, and often changed through the war, so again lots of double checking. Many of the supports feature a triangular cut out and have unique dimensions so must be individually measured up and cut out. Bow and gun deck webs fitted along with the first 40 or so scuttles, the platform in the bow was built for a searchlight, later replaced with an oerlikon and is hugely complex to fit to the hull shapes. various pen marks on the hull to help with alignment, it'll all look a lot neater once it's primed Pompom platforms and more scuttles Boat decks, platforms and details (and a few more scuttles - more to add) Wasn't happy with some of the stern platform supports so reworked those. I also needed to move the location of the quarterdeck openings by a few mil. Finally, I've blocked in the island structure - in part so I can start thinking about the airwing placement. Edited August 13, 2020 by andrewa 16 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jamie @ Sovereign Hobbies Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 Enjoyable and inspirational as always Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancona Posted January 8, 2023 Share Posted January 8, 2023 Dear Andrewa Happy new year, or "Bon any nou" as they say around here ! Having treated us all to your 1/700 Victorious porn, like all addicts I am craving more, and was wondering if this project was still on the slipway ? In all seriousness though, it would be great to see where you are with this, Im sure Im not the only one out there interested in how it is done properly !! Cheers David 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ex-FAAWAFU Posted January 9, 2023 Share Posted January 9, 2023 David, there I was getting excited at the prospect of more progress (like I can talk!) 1/350, not 1/700; a proper scale! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrewa Posted January 10, 2023 Author Share Posted January 10, 2023 Victorious is still on the slipway, but probably not using this hull - I’ve never been entirely happy with it - especially all the hull openings - I’ve ordered one of the 3D-wild Illustrious 3d printed kits to use for a new starting point meanwhile I’ve started turning a Flyhawk Illustrious into a 1941 Victorious to go with the 1965 version - that’s the next project when I’m done riveting an Airfix Merlin converted to an HC.4….. now if I could just find a bucket of time to help get all this done! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dancona Posted January 10, 2023 Share Posted January 10, 2023 Excellent news, a gentleman can never have enough Victorii !!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bissyboat Posted January 12, 2023 Share Posted January 12, 2023 Coming along very nicely. That´s a big carrier. About 26 inches long? ⚓ 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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