The Ship Model Forum

Hi all,

I'm trying to gather references for my next project - I'm planning HMS Victorious in April 1944 fit & am looking for worthwhile references beyond what's already in my collection, in particular any commerical plans for any of the Illustrious class.

I currently have on hand:

AOTS HMS Victorious
Warship Profile HMS Illustrious Vol 1 Vol2
The Illustrious & Implacable Classes of Aircraft Carrier 1940-1969 & HMS VICTORIOUS 1937-1969. McCart
1/400 scale card model HMS Vicorious by JSC
Aircraft Carriers – Chesneau
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF BRITISH WARSHIPS 1939-1945 DK Brown
Maru Graphic quarterly - British Aircraft Carriers
Fleet Air Arm 1&2 Royal Navy in WW2 1&2 – plus various other Maritime books in focus titles

I'd really appreciate any suggestions.

Andrew

There´s also Norman Friedmann´s "British Aircraft Carriers". Not cheap, though...

.

The RN Illustrious class has been one of my top interests for decades. My collection of books seems to include the same titles as you have. And I have Friedman's "British Carrier Aviation". Also in the Volume IV [1980] of the journal WARSHIP there is an article on Illustrious by Alan Payne. But that article doesn't have much for the model builder in it.
If period photographs are what you need for a model build, why not try the Imperial War Museum photo dept and the Fleet Air Arm Museum. Both have websites I believe. I actually visited the IWM a year ago and looked through a number of Illustious class photos.

Bob B.

Thanks Bob & Jose,

Do either of you have the ISBN for the Friedman book - I tried looking on ABE, but didn't see a book just on the RN carriers - just one on both USN and RN.

Many thanks,

Andrew

From my db
0-87021-045-8

a very good book if you any interest in UK cva you must have it

Graham Murdoch

PS you could try for any old Wright and Logan photos for early post war shots they may be helful but all uk cva had canges aa updates late 44/early45 mainly replacement of twin 20mm with bofors guns

For the actual builders plans, you can go to the National Maritime Museum website and click plans dept. An example of these plans can be found in "British Warships of the Second World War" Blue Print Series, by John Roberts. There you will find HMS Indefatigable as fitted, John Brown, Clydebank 5 Feb. 1945. This book is a collection of reproductions of NMM plans.
I understand your problem is the actual details of the outfit at the 1944 period you want to build. I wonder if that isn't MoD information? Perhaps Laurence will turn up to enlighten us on that information But if you contact the IWM Photo Dept. they can give you hints about how to go about getting a look at their collection. I think the FAA museum is a must check as well, they hold alot of the RN A/C photos.
Good luck
Bob B.

One other book off the top of my head, but you won't get plans inside is:

Send Her Victorious by Lt. Cmdr. Michael Apps. which gives her WW2 service and has around 35 photos inside.

Did you check my ref list below?

http://www.shipmodels.info/mwphpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6895

I am not aware of any commercial plans for Victorious in 1944.
Most modellers beforehand have used the AOTS and photographs as their main sources to scratch a model from.

Indeed, the best option....

.

Many thanks everyone,

The AOTS does have scrap views of the island in 44, and the text seems to cover most of the other armament changes. So that should give me enough information.

Thanks for the list of carrier referneces Lawrence - I've already found the destroyer and cruiser ones invaluable, i should have known you'd have a carrier one as well.

Andrew

Just came across this while I was browsing for references for the Victorious for a Microsoft Flight Simulator model that I'm doing of her.

The book I'm using is published by Conway, entitled 'Anatomy of the Ship The Aircraft Carrier Victorious' by Ross Watton. ISBN 0-85177-580-2. I found my copy on ABE having seen it in a book shop years ago. It's basically got plans for every deck for the Vic throughout her life, plus scantlings and detail views of the armament , boilers, catapults etc. etc. Well worth tracking down.

The only snag is it only has a 3/4 view of the 2pdr Pom Pom's (about the only omission!) so if anyone can point me towards those I'd appreciate it!

It has other drawbacks. Its WW2-era coverage, in particular, is rather lacking for information. The copy I bought a couple years ago breezes past this period with about the same thoroughness as a cake recipe deals with oven technology. The better part (in both quality and quantity) dealt with her postwar changes and career. I rate this book as about equal to the AOTS Bismarck, though for entirely different reasons.

If you're a Cold War RN aficionado, it's a better deal.

IMHO the definitive Illustrious-class carriers book has yet to be written.

_________________
Danny DON'T "waterline"...!

I agree there . Although I value my copy highly as one of the few good RN Carrier reference books, the lack of WWII history, war time changes and additions along with the small couple of pages of photos was a great let down. She formed part of the core of Britain's naval power in WWII. That surely is a much more interesting period than the post war changes and history. Still, take what you can get I guess. Where is the large reference book on HMS Ark Royal? I wish Britain's Carriers attracted 1/10 of the interest the BBs do. After all, it was the Carriers which gave the RN the edge. Taranto, Bismarck, Matapan, Malta convoys and ferry runs. Britain's contribution to the Pacific campaign. The small carriers ASW work from 1943 on. Simple fear of RN Carriers made the Italians run for port.

Bob B.

I aquired my copy for the grand sum of £1 in Bridport highstreet .Considering the technical value of this superb Anatomy by Ross Watton I would have paid many times that sum. I guess I was just very lucky. And any one that knows Bridport will know what I mean there are genuine bargins to be had .
Dave Wooley

It's the 3/4 view you typically get in all AOTS books. Go to John Lambert Plans and order an expensive drawing if you really need all the angles of this weapon.

See Friedman's British Carrier Aviation. THis will give you the AA fit, but not the locations. Also you will be unable to paint the correct camouflage design onto the model. Suggest therefore that you chose a different date.

I must admit this one has gone on hold again waiting for more references and to see what aircraft or kits become available, but thanks for the updates everyone.

Andrew

Another obscure book about HMS Victorious is Victorious The World Over by Ray Barker. Like the previously mentioned Send Her Victorious by Michael Apps, it is primarily an operational history, not a technical one.