GRP hull question

jjb · Post by **jjb** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 3:27 am

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right forum for this question or not but can anybody offer advice on pre-formed GRP hulls please. I am planning to build either a RN Type 12 or Leander class Frigate and wonder if there are any hulls that are particularly good or bad and which people would regard as the best option. If a Leander I plan one of the last conversions with Sea Wolf and towed array, many thanks.

bismarck builder · Post by **bismarck builder** » Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:33 am

hi
you need to look on the web for a company called cammet he is very good also look out for psships.
hth
gary

jjb · Post by **jjb** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:33 am

Thanks for the tip, Cammet seem to provide a complete kit for the Type 12 which looks attractive, do you know how good the kit is? Thanks.

Post by **JIM BAUMANN** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 12:32 pm

From what I have seen at the model shows--it is EXCELLENT--with beautiful PE

Cheers

Jim Baumann

bismarck builder · Post by **bismarck builder** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 1:52 pm

hi
what Jim said
if you can wait a few months you can see Cammet at the 3 day event at Warwick in November this show is a must.
cheers
gary

middle_watch · Post by **middle_watch** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 2:53 am

Second that, met Canmet the man at a show a couple of years ago when I was first thinking about getting into ship building and he was a terrific help and his 1/96 Type 12 hulls and fittings were just great. I never actually bought any as I was determined on a 1/72 Leander, but if I ever finish and build Scarborough which is on my wish list he will be my first port of call.

jjb · Post by **jjb** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 11:40 am

Thanks for the feedback, the Canmet T12 looks to be the one to go with.

middle_watch · Post by **middle_watch** » Tue Jul 24, 2007 9:36 am

Hope you post the build, will you be doing a Type 12 or 12M? Sirmar do type 12M hulls but I think only as a kit, modifying a 12 hull should be interesting, but the width would be slightly out for a Seawolf Leander.

jjb · Post by **jjb** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 10:39 am

Not sure yet, the Type 12/Leander family are my favourite warships and I'd happily model any. If a Leander my favourite would be one of the final upgraded versions with Sea Wolf, if an original Type 12 then I think "as delivered" original configuration.

middle_watch · Post by **middle_watch** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 3:04 pm

I think the Seawolf was the ultimate Leander, Exocet, Seawolf, Lynx, STWS and half way decent CIWS, they could have really rounded them off of course with a Phallanx on the Hanger roof, but there you go, with a combat survival estimate of 20 minutes we "Leanderites" knew the government did not want to waste too much money on us

Good luck with the build, whatever you decide, nice to know there are still plenty of Type 12 fans around.

jjb · Post by **jjb** » Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:26 am

Yes, the last Leander conversion gave the RN probably 80% of the capability of a Type 22 at a fraction of the cost, they were extremely capable ships. As a youngster I hated the Leander conversions that lost the twin 4.5" guns but now I really appreciate the way the design evolved to meet requirements and carry ever more systems never imagined at the start of it's life, the final conversion was a massive increase in capability.
I love the Leanders and Type 12's on many levels,
-aesthetics, they were very elegant, attractive looking ships IMO, I do prefer the Leanders to the earlier nuclear fallout superstructure of early type 12's but both are nice.
-in many ways they were the finest ships produced by Britain post 1945 and were a superbly versatile and yet affordable type that also found a ready export market
-I like the way they demonstrated yet again that "affordable" doesn't have to mean incapable and that it is always better to build a sound basic design with upgrade potential than end up with a design with no real use by trying to achieve too much from the outset on an inadequate budget. Since the basic hull was so "right", these ships were suitable for all sorts of upgrades and additions. Something I see a parallel with in the current Type 45 design.