Hi, yes, I know, the 1/72 HMS Rodney and others are not finished yet, but I can't help thinking about the next one and start playing around with the ideas and concepts. I'm nevertheless faithful to what I've written somewhere regarding the two main projects I've got in mind : a "functional" 1/10 ELCO 80 or similar, and a 1/72 carrier.
I've so started the definition of a fantasy (or "what if") aircraft carrier, that has evolved slowly into a mix between a LPD and an aircraft carrier, as I'm convinced that they will merge in the future to become some kind of multifunctional multipurposes platform.
The fact that one of my son is a young officer aboard French Navy BPC (French equivalent to LPD) Tonnerre helps for sure : I will just be flying this coming friday to the French Mediterranean base at Toulon to visit his ship (excitation ahead).
As usual I'm been gathering for years photos and drawings of all concepts and details I find "interesting" around the project, and gradually the concept grew in my mind. These last days I've done a few sketches for the GA ("General Arrangement") and dimensions, until satisfied with the concept and overall looks (remember I'm an industrial designer by trade, so it has to look good, at least to my eyes !).
This time I've decided to go another way and build a quick and rough 1/700 mock-up (quick to build and easy to duplicate to 1/72 scale later on). It took less than three hours to build, paint included, and I will modify it in the near future if necessary or if further ideas break through.
So now for the main specifications and inspirations :
- 210 m long (that'll be 3 meters at 1/72 scale, as the Rodney, but this time I'll build the hull in two separate modules for easier handling) - ability to carry troops and armoured vehicles (hence the raft - not sure about the English word - at the back) - ability to carry helicopters, short takeoff/landing jets like F35, and of course unmanned aircrafts - heavy twin railgun turret at the front under the cantilevered flight deck - twin control towers (one for the ship, one for air warfare control) as on the latest british carrier QEII, treated as separated modules - "double deck" flightdecks concept, and globally a very "three dimensional" approach of all shapes and volumes - deep inspiration from the incredible Japanese carriers of WWII (Akagi, Kaga and the like) and the fact that they were built on battleships hulls, hence unique and striking architectures that fascinated me from childhood indeed, as HMS Rodney/Nelson did
A few photos of the "thing" down there (plus one before painting, for those interested) : just keep in mind that it's just a very rough mock-up for concept and proportions appraisial (it has to look good from every angle): the "real thing" will be 1/72 scale, and will be spread along a few years as all my other models...
Please don't expect progress every day for sure, but it will be built, no doubt !
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