Gentlemen, as a very new member here can I say how very interesting and informative this section of the forum has been to me already. The level of modelling skill shown is a little off-putting to myself as I arrived here while pondering firstly if I should buy the Academy Warspite kit, and secondly if I would actually be able to build it.
My modelling skill level would have to be described as moderate at best, I have built models most of my life, of all kinds, most recently (10 years ago) it was Warhammer Space Marines for my son
I don't think I would consider the detailing kits; it would be a straight out of the box build if I do take the plunge. I have seen this kit described as suitable for moderate skill level, would that really be the case?
I bought the Airfix Warspite some years ago, just to keep as an unbuilt kit. I have a great love of the ship as my late father served on her, he was with her from the refit in Pugent Sound up to the attack by the Fritz X bombs at Salerno.
While I am here I wonder If I could get some opinion on this issue? The other day I came across (online) an extract from Navy News September 2011, in it was a question from a Warspite veteran asking
" Does anyone know why on HMS Warspite, the X turret traditionally manned by Royal Marines, was manned by Seamen. I was a member of X turret's gun crew on Warspite."That is interesting to me as my father was part of the Royal Marine contingent on Warspite and also a member of X turret gun crew. He operated the mechanism that rammed the shells and cordite charges into the breach as well as loading the AA weapon on the turret top. What an experience that must have been. Does anyone have information on this? I know it was manned by RM when my father served on her, but did she have X turret manned by seamen during WW2?
Seeing the aircraft recognition charts in some of the bridge photo's here made me smile. I remember my dad saying that they were told not to worry about recognition, just let anything up there have it because no allied aircraft should be flying over them anyway.
I have written to the gentleman who asked the question above and I’m looking forward to receiving a reply, and maybe having the opportunity to find out more about his experiences on Warspite .
Should I buy the kit? Where would I put it when I had finished it? Decisions decisions.
