Kazec wrote:
Hi,
I am looking into the possibility to build the MT miniature 1/700 Leander kits into one of the four Leander Class frigates (Minerva, Argonaut, Andromeda, Penelope) during the Falkland Wars, without major modifications.
Can the Cleopatra kit be built into the Minerva, Argonaut and Penelope? (I note the Cleopatra kit has a intended towed array stern)
Can the Charybdis kit be built into the Andromeda directly, as they were both the Seawolf group?
Thanks in advance for valuable advice.
Charibdis should be OK for Andromeda as the Seawolf conversions were pretty much the same, you may want to use some of the detail parts from the NATO sprue in the Type 42/Type 45?Invincible kits to replace some of the white metal details with plastic parts. Also check the superstructure on the Sea Wolf ships abreast the main mast fwd of the funnel as this section was cut out as part of the conversion and i have a feeling MT missed it and retained the standard Leander superstructure.
Cleopatra as how whe was when originally converted so can be used as a standard Exocet Leander rather than the later Towed Array Exocet leanders where they cut down similar to the Seawolf ships to save weight. AFAIK, Cleopatra was converted to this configuration when refitted to repair the damage from the Falklands. Again you may want to use the NATO spure for some of the fixtures and fittings as the white metal doesn't always give the best look.
What you will need to do is check references for each specific ship from the period.