The Ship Model Forum

Nearly finished. I will do the masts and aerials (lots of them) tomorrow. As usual an old Airfix kit has taken a much longer than expected to build, though taking a bit of time to paint on the windows for the bridge/wheelhouse has made a real difference to the rather bland superstructure.

Finally making some progress although I will have to revisit the rust around the bow as I have overdone it. After I'd waterlined the hull I had to fit internal struts as the plastic is very flexible prior to the deck being glued on. The anchor chain is from Tiddlylinks (30 links per inch) and is the closest I could find to the chain moulded on the fo'c'sle.

Hi David, the destroyer - there are some very useful-looking parts on it which would fit out other post-war RN Airfix ships. You could certainly give the Leander-class kit a tune-up from the set too

Quite right, Rob. Starling have got some good add on parts in this scale. I will need some nice items on the heli deck to hide some dimples in the the plastic. I've got an Airfix HMS Devonshire (D02) in my cupboard awaiting my attention.

Starling Models have just issued an upgrade set for the Airfix County class in 1/600. There are probably quite a lot of parts in that which you could use

Yes, it's looking that way. Little plastic cylinders with every edge bevelled to get the correct life raft case shape. The Seacat missile launchers will need a bit of attention too to make them resemble the prototype.

I've just kicked off another build: a waterline version of Airfix's Landing Platform Dock ship. Copyright 1967 is stamped under the boat deck part, so this kit was already half a dozen years old when I had the opportunity to potter around her then green-decked sister ship at Navy Days - I recall the light cruiser HMS Lion was tied up on the other side of the dock - so it was a while ago.

I've already lopped off the underside. I've also reduced the profile of the vertical fenders on the hull sides. I'm now on the hunt for some decent inflatable life raft containers: fingers crossed my local Hobbycraft shop has some tic tac shaped beads of the correct size.