Postwar navy.

[Sauragnmon]

That Ticon's an older one though - look at the bow, you can see the outline of the mk26 twin-arm on the missile position.

If I can get my hands on some nice 8"/55 gun barrels, I plan on making a Ticon on Drugs - two 8" turrets and the mk26 launchers, plus some structural modifications. I've already got the turrets reshaped to look like a modernized version of the mk71 turrets.

Anyways, back to work on Tirpitzski.

[Nektarios]

That Ticon's an older one though - look at the bow, you can see the outline of the mk26 twin-arm on the missile position.

Anyways, back to work on Tirpitzski.

I know Sauragnmon its one of the first five in the class but still its a ship buil less than 30 years ago.

Tirpitzski???

Sovietized Tirpitz????

[Nektarios]

Work on Lafayette is at around 80-90%. Some work remains to be done especially on PE. Here s a photo.

[Sauragnmon]

Yes, Nektarios, you catch on quickly - a Sovietized Tirpitz. I'm doing it for a group build on the What If forum - Sovietize It! I've already removed the aft 15cm mounts and filled them, removed and filled most of the 10.5cm mounts, and for the most part filled the catapult track and filled under the launcher deck in favour of turning it into a helipad area. I bored out the forward four 15cm mounts so they'll accept AK-130 turrets, I plan on turning the forward 10.5cm mounts into SA-N-7 mountings, putting in Russian CIWS positions, building some blast deflectors in and putting in a pair of P-500 Bazalt missiles. I'm entertaining thoughts of S-300F missile positions in the aft block somewhere, if I can find the space to mount them, probably elevated onto the 01 deck. Most of the deck's already been hit with the right Soviet deck colour.

[orb]

Work on Lafayette is at around 80-90%. Some work remains to be done especially on PE. Here s a photo.

She is coming along nicely! The hatch at the bow is for the anchor? That's an interesting detail.

What I also meant to ask... Could you depict her showing one (or both) of the boats inside the ship or is the opening midships not really 'open'? If it is, does the net-like cover come with the kit as well?

Here's a photo I took of a South African Valour Class frigate (very nice ships, by the way) in 2006 showing what I mean:

[Nektarios]

Yes, Nektarios, you catch on quickly - a Sovietized Tirpitz. I'm doing it for a group build on the What If forum - Sovietize It! I've already removed the aft 15cm mounts and filled them, removed and filled most of the 10.5cm mounts, and for the most part filled the catapult track and filled under the launcher deck in favour of turning it into a helipad area. I bored out the forward four 15cm mounts so they'll accept AK-130 turrets, I plan on turning the forward 10.5cm mounts into SA-N-7 mountings, putting in Russian CIWS positions, building some blast deflectors in and putting in a pair of P-500 Bazalt missiles. I'm entertaining thoughts of S-300F missile positions in the aft block somewhere, if I can find the space to mount them, probably elevated onto the 01 deck. Most of the deck's already been hit with the right Soviet deck colour.

Could you post a link for this forum??

[Nektarios]

She is coming along nicely! The hatch at the bow is for the anchor? That's an interesting detail.
What I also meant to ask... Could you depict her showing one (or both) of the boats inside the ship or is the opening midships not really 'open'? If it is, does the net-like cover come with the kit as well?

Thank you Heiko. Yes the hatch at the bow is for the anchor. It isn t possible to depict the ship with the netlike cover open showing the interior. The kit doesn t give you this option.

[Sauragnmon]

Sure, the site for the What If forum - there's a lot of guys over there, not a lot of us ship-builders, but there's a bunch of us:

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/

You won't see images unless you register, at least on the forum. I haven't posted pics of Tirpitzski yet, I'm still working on some of the construction.

[Sauragnmon]

Alright, some of the preliminary build's been started - Conversion's been working hard - I started midnight GMT on the First, the start date for the build, and this is where I've gone so far - the main turret is dry-fit, I was using it to check the positioning on the S-300F launchers. Thankfully they're cold-launch, so there's not much problems with the launch, as well as the fact that they are revolver-launched, with only one tube actually opening for launch. Pictures!







There we go - Questions, Comments, Queries, Rude Remarks Welcome.

[arnobiz]

It looks good! Maybe you would like to gain some deck space by removing the semi-circular areas behind the torpedo tubes? That would leave more space for the missile launchers or other weapons (I'm sure you'd love to add more fire power to your ship, at the moment it's a bit weak )

[Sauragnmon]

I Could fill that area, but I've already built through it - that's where the forward two P-500 Bazalt missile launchers are. I'm also planning on putting a blast deflector in for the forward launchers. The Torpedo mounts have been deleted, as the section's been filled to reinforce it for the helipads on either side of the hull.

[orb]

[Thank you Heiko. Yes the hatch at the bow is for the anchor. It isn t possible to depict the ship with the netlike cover open showing the interior. The kit doesn t give you this option.

Thanks Nektarios. That's too bad, but even without those details, she looks rather nice

Alright, some of the preliminary build's been started - Conversion's been working hard - I started midnight GMT on the First, the start date for the build, and this is where I've gone so far - the main turret is dry-fit, I was using it to check the positioning on the S-300F launchers. Thankfully they're cold-launch, so there's not much problems with the launch, as well as the fact that they are revolver-launched, with only one tube actually opening for launch. Pictures!

Apart from all the weapons, I think those Russian colors on the Tirpitz look great!

[Sauragnmon]

Yeah, it certainly looks quite different in the Russian colours compared to standard German paint.

[Nektarios]

Sure, the site for the What If forum - there's a lot of guys over there, not a lot of us ship-builders, but there's a bunch of us:

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/

You won't see images unless you register, at least on the forum. I haven't posted pics of Tirpitzski yet, I'm still working on some of the construction.

Thanks for the link Sauragnmon.

[Nektarios]

Alright, some of the preliminary build's been started - Conversion's been working hard - I started midnight GMT on the First, the start date for the build, and this is where I've gone so far - the main turret is dry-fit, I was using it to check the positioning on the S-300F launchers. Thankfully they're cold-launch, so there's not much problems with the launch, as well as the fact that they are revolver-launched, with only one tube actually opening for launch. Pictures!

There we go - Questions, Comments, Queries, Rude Remarks Welcome.

It certainly looks different than anything else i ve seen. It a pretty impressive ship. You could maybe place the S-300F launchers midships. There s enough space there for more than 8 launchers unless you want to use this space for some other weapon/sensor or electronics.

[Nektarios]

Thanks Nektarios. That's too bad, but even without those details, she looks rather nice

Lafayette is very close to be completed i ll post pictures tomorrow.

[ASFC]

Tirpitzski hey, very nice.

I'm liking the Lafayette. It will look excellent when finished.

I'm liking the vigis. I've flown in a vigi (the sort that self launches and glides.......)

Hope you are all having fun. I might post some progress on my Tico in the near future.

[Sauragnmon]

Unfortunately, Nektarios, the midships saddlebag positions are being used for the helipads. The supply of boats is also going to be revised, as you can see by the lack of the side racks on the machine ship structure. I'm also going to have to fill the holes for the two hanging-rack boats as the 130mm guns push into that space. I didn't get any additional work yesterday, as I was working and just physically drained afterwards, but I should hammer out some work today and show you guys more pics.

[pingjockey]

Here are a couple of pics of my carrier strike group. Sorry for the poor quality but I was messing around with the wife's camera and photoshop. I cropped them rather poorly in order to meet the 1200X1200 pixel requirement. I hope to post some better pics soon.

[Nektarios]

Unfortunately, Nektarios, the midships saddlebag positions are being used for the helipads. The supply of boats is also going to be revised, as you can see by the lack of the side racks on the machine ship structure. I'm also going to have to fill the holes for the two hanging-rack boats as the 130mm guns push into that space. I didn't get any additional work yesterday, as I was working and just physically drained afterwards, but I should hammer out some work today and show you guys more pics.

What do you think about removing one of the fore or aft turrets??? That would create enough space for a VLS arrangement similar to the Kirovs. Thjat would solve enough space problems and would allow you to increase the firepower of your Tirpitzski.

Just a thought.