Calling all HMS Ark Royal (WW2) fans

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 10:45 am

Thanks Paul,

It was a great help.

S. Mor

Frank Spahr · Post by **Frank Spahr** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:57 pm

Well folks,

I made some progress over the last weeks, and here are the latest images of my Ark. She lacks anchors, rigging, personnel and (gulp!) planes. I had some fun bending all that micrispscopic, er, utterly small PE, and Mad Pete�s design again beat my abilities, especially on those

quad .5 in MG�s. I painted my ship AP 507B (er, Humbrol 145) first, then added a coat of clear acrylic varnish, and then added AP 507 C from WEM. Then scraped of the lighter color to simulate paint chipping. More weathering was done using pastel chalks and mainly watercolors:

She rests in three full cartridges of clear silicone caulking, has a starboard list, hence the underwater part of the hull showing up.

Any constructive comments welcomed by

Frank

metalnpolymer · Post by **metalnpolymer** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:01 pm

Frank Spahr wrote:Well folks,
...
She rests in three full cartridges of clear silicone caulking, has a starboard list, hence the underwater part of the hull showing up.
...

Very nice work, Frank!!! The slight list makes her look like she is fighting the waves in the north Atlantic... very nice touch!!!

Now if only someone would issue her in a 1/350 kit.

Can't wait to see your finish masterpiece!

RNfanDan · Post by **RNfanDan** » Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:39 pm

Anonymous wrote:Hi all,

Just assuming I�d like to build the famous scene of Ark�s sinking with HMSLegion alongside, would there be a model kit in 1:600 of an "L" class destroyer?

Frank

Lozza1981 wrote:There is no kit of an L-class in 1/600 to my knowledge. Your only option I think would be to modify the hull, guns et al. of a Airfix HMS H-class kit but its a major job and finding one on its own eBay is your option.

Somewhat less challenging than using an "H" class kit, is perhaps to go the way I did and use an Airfix Tribal (Cossack) hull as a basis. I found it much easier to down-size from this, rather than upsize from the smaller Hotspur.

Of course, as it just so happens

... I am already amidst just such a conversion, for a J-K class destroyer. I will make at least two in this same fashion, one lengthened for the L&M class, and a possible third for an R-class (sorry for the poor and grainy photos)...

(A) Stern modified and deepened, hull reinforced;

(B)Bow re-shaped and new foredeck added;

(C) Hull view with brass rod prop shafts. Aluminum sleeves provide openings into hull. I aligned the sleeves at their proper angles for scale accuracy, by extending the brass rod within the hull cavity to the locations of machinery rooms, if they were to exist in the model.

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 8:25 am

Coming along really well Frank, I agree that the slight list is very effective.

Mike

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Sun Nov 05, 2006 1:27 pm

Nice Ark I see there, I like the detail particularly that you've worked onto the hull, very nice

Frank Spahr · Post by **Frank Spahr** » Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:08 am

Hi all,

after a sizable hiatus I�m ready to continue on Ark now. Jim Baumann has led me the way to the very nice Starfighter 1:600 FAA decals and right today I�ve received them.
I�ve painted my six Swordfish and Fulmars as per WEM instructions meaning two greys over sky, now it�s time to put the decals on. Here�s the sheet:

As you can possibly see, there�s Types A, B, AI and CI roundels, fin flashes Type A and B, plus letters and numbers in black, white and red.

So if anybody could give me a pointer as to which markings would be correct for the planes carried by Ark before her loss, I�d be a very happy modeler indeed

Thanks in advance

Frank

Frank Spahr · Post by **Frank Spahr** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:52 pm

Hi all,
that�s how far I�ve come so far. The Fulmars are done and the Swordfish are on their way. Markings are *fictitious* but the best that I can come up with.

Frank

Avery Boyer · Post by **Avery Boyer** » Tue Dec 05, 2006 4:08 pm

CharlesRollinsWare · Post by **CharlesRollinsWare** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 12:54 pm

Frank;

If you would like accurate markings for your Ark Royal Airgroup, I can provide details - I have researched her airgroup extensively. I have less plane specific details for the later period of her career (July-November 1941). But for, say the Bismarck chase, I know most of the TSR squadron's aircraft on the ship by aircraft code letter and in the period when she operated Skuas (available in 1/700) I know all the squadron aircraft and the unique markings for each squadron.

If interested, give me a shout on my e-mail (mhoran@snet.net)

Mark

klein loewietje · Post by **klein loewietje** » Wed Dec 06, 2006 5:13 pm

Wow, never knew that WEM colourcoats came in 14 liter cans!!!
Amazing, really well done!!

Greetz Johan

Frank Spahr · Post by **Frank Spahr** » Thu Dec 07, 2006 4:02 pm

Thanks a lot, folks!

As to the plane markings info from you, Mark, I got to admit I�ve just completed the planes and have presented my model in a second half 1941 guise and really wouldn�t want to redo the planes for fear of destroying the PE. So if you�d like to send me any info on Ark�s planes I�d very much appreciate that (do it as a PM to frankspahr at yahoo dot de) for future projects!

I *just* have to add the rigging to four of the Swordfishs and then place them on the flight deck including the Lion Roar 1:700 figures I foolishly bought ... and then call it quits says

Frank

Frank Spahr · Post by **Frank Spahr** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 8:28 am

She�s done! Some finishing touches only left:

Have a nice weekend says

Frank

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 9:23 am

Frank
This looks a really excellent job on a very difficult kit. I look forward to some more photos in the gallery hopefully.

Cheers
Mike

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 12:00 pm

Frank she looks great, you have captured her beautifully

Avery Boyer · Post by **Avery Boyer** » Sat Dec 09, 2006 2:59 pm

One Swordfish is amazing, but a whole deck full!! You must have alot of patience, more than I have.

Frank Spahr · Post by **Frank Spahr** » Mon Dec 11, 2006 1:28 pm

Thanks all!

I�m busy completing the review and will try to get it submitted soon.

And then off for the Falklands says

Frank

starshell · Post by **starshell** » Tue Dec 12, 2006 5:59 pm

Wow

that is one superb model of the Ark. My great uncle, Fred Hinson, was on the Ark when she was torpedoed. Never got to find out what he did on the ship as he died in Jan 2000 and my mother only told me last year he had been on the ship since launch - talk about missed opportunities

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Wed Dec 27, 2006 12:53 pm

Right then chaps I remember alot of you guys months back where asking for a detailed shot of inside Ark Royal 3's hull openings and also more details of her bridge, well I found this today which I think fits the bill

Happy New Year!

phil gollin · Post by **phil gollin** » Sun Jan 07, 2007 4:34 am

Nice to see Frank's build article up on the news/review page

http://www.modelwarships.com/reviews/sh ... ildup.html

(hope that works)

The Ship Model Forum

Calling all HMS Ark Royal (WW2) fans

Re: Frank and your Ark Royal

I broke many spades