Calling all King George V-class (WWII) fans

[Blackbrazen]

I am about to start on Tamiya's 1/700 KGV, but as I was looking at reference photos and Ensign No1, I noticed a discrepancy that I wonder if anyone else has puzzled over. On some models I have seen such as the Tamiya 1/350 one below, the roof of the compass platform seems to extend quite far back to form a covered walkway and in fact it seems to join onto the base of the director. I know that DoY seems to have had this pattern from verious photos I've seen...

However on the plans in Ensign for KGV, and on some other models, the roof seems very thin (it's just a single line on those plans), and some models don't seem to include this feature at all...

Does anyone know which pattern is correct for KGV as depicted in the 1/700 Tamiya kit?

[EJFoeth]

I attached a closeup of some image I found of Flickr or wherever. The platform is present, but stepped. It appears to be closed off, but this a 1945 pic. One image taken earlier (LIFE, kgv thread) shows this space to be open when she was completed. It's difficult to make out if that stepped platform was present then though. In any case, I think the thin plate is correct for the early war versions.

[Joe Meredith]

I've always wondered where this class had their nameplates? I know King George V's was on the stern, but not sure about the others. I have tried scrutinising the Raven/Roberts and Burt books, but can't seem to see anything.

Joe

[Cliffy B]

Enjoy!

HMS Duke of York 11-23-45 at No 2 Wharf, Woolloomooloo, Australia.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N ... hotostream

HMS Duke of York's Tread plate and badge on BPF Memorial, Sydney.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N ... hotostream

Taken from this guy's Flickr account: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41311545@N05/
Almost all RAN from WWII to present but there's some RN mixed throughout.

Make sure to click "original" size as they are all HIGH-RES!!!!!!!!

[drdoom1337]

Does anyone know if Anson was painted in disruptive during her time operating in the North Sea and on Arctic convoys? I'd very much like to specifically model Anson during this time period. I believe either the 1/700-1/350 Tamiya POW or 1/400 Heller KGV would be appropriate to do so. Not sure when the aircraft equipment was removed on Anson.

[MartinL]

Does anyone know if Anson was painted in disruptive during her time operating in the North Sea and on Arctic convoys? I'd very much like to specifically model Anson during this time period. I believe either the 1/700-1/350 Tamiya POW or 1/400 Heller KGV would be appropriate to do so. Not sure when the aircraft equipment was removed on Anson.

Yep disruptive pattern was carried at this time ,and her aircraft were removed at davonport refit july 1944- march 1945.

[Dave Spencer]

OK, so when I finish my 1/350 Warspite, I plan on doing the KGV during her fight with Bismarck. Having read this thread, taken my Tamiya 1/350 KGV back , and swapped it for the PoW for the catapult launcher. I should have come here first.

From what I understand, I will need to replace the two AA guns on top of B turret with two UP projectors (from WEM). Are there any other differences of note? I would like some plans of the ship as she was for the battle, particularly anything that will help with the rigging. Any recommendations?

It appears the finish of the KGV at this time was a rather bland, overall grey at this time. To make it look more interesting, I quite like the idea of weathering as per this terrific pic from londologik:

download/file.php?id=24473&mode=view

It looks to me as if the grey paint has flaked off to reveal a much lighter grey underneath. Along what appears to be a belt of armour, the flaking paint reveals a much darker colour underneath. Does anyone know what colour this is?

Finally, would it be reasonable to weather the KGV to this extent prior to sinking the Bismarck?

My third project will most likely be the Bismarck just prior to the KGV/Rodney engagement, which will involve putting two holes in her bow (entry/exit) thanks to the PoW.

Regards, Dave.

[Shingen]

Slight correction. KGV and PoW both had a single UP on 'B' turret and two UP, side by side, on 'Y'. All of them had a roughly 1/3rd arc blast shield behind. In addition, KGV had a fourth UP on the quarterdeck, in roughly the same spot as the Army-type Bofors 40MM on PoW. I can't remember exactly how the positions relate.

Other differences include an external degaussing cable on KGV.

As far as RDF (Radar) is concerned, in May 1941, PoW had a more complete radar suite than KGV. Both had type 279 air warning and 284 main gunnery. However, KGV did not have the Type 285 on her HACS and Type 282 on her bridge pom-pom directors while PoW did. Depending on the true date of a fairly well known photo, KGV may or may not have had the distinctive Type 271 and its office in place of the air defence position between the bridge HACS at the time of the Bismarck action. The photo has been variously described as "late spring 1941" and "summer of 1941". It is a photo of KGV at sea. PoW received a 271 set between her (his) bridge HACS during her repairs after returning from the Bismarck encounter -- none of the Tamiya kits properly show this, even though they purport to be for December 10, 1941.

I am a little torn in believing the KGV photo to be spring. It seems somewhat odd that KGV would get a radar system that PoW did not and I am not sure when it could have been mounted. On the other hand, there was definitely a shortage of radar units, and it may have been a matter of 'we'll give this one to the flagship since we gave the others to the new guy.'

The photos with the peeling paint showing a camouflage pattern underneath were taken in the winter of 1940-41. These and other drydock photos show that KGV carried a patterned camouflage in a dark grey or black/light grey pattern, but the exact pattern is a one-off as most were in that time frame and no one has reported finding photos from while it was carried. Of course, painting a model with the paint as in the series of photos showing the new AP507B peeling is always an option. No Type 271 would have been carried at that time.

[Maarten Sch�nfeld]

Another telltale difference between KGV and PoW was that the former had 6 square windows incl shutters at each side of the stern for the admiral's quarters, whereas the PoW (and subsequent DoY, Anson and Howe) had normal portholes there.

These square windows looked much like those in Rodney & Nelson, although the latter was modified in 1944 to portholes as well.

Maarten

[dick]

As far as RDF (Radar) is concerned...KGV may or may not have had the distinctive Type 271 and its office in place of the air defence position between the bridge HACS at the time of the Bismarck action.

The Bismarck action was 27 May 1941. This photo was taken 12 June 1941.

[Dave Spencer]

Thanks shendigen, Maarten and dick. I`ll Google those various radar etc. to find out which areas you mean.

Regards, Dave.

[Redwhiteandblue]

As a enthusiast of the KGV class and attempting to produce each in there own disruptive patterns in 1/350 scale could anyone help regarding DOY and KGV port and starboard disruptive patterns? I have the A Raven books and Ensign 1 on camouflage and KGV class battleships.
The lack of information and reliable picture accuracy is making me despair plus i am having great difficulty attempting to distinguish the colours needed for each KGV class batteship as well as Anson, Howe and Pow . Regards Alan.

[EJFoeth]

You could start here for POW. I would also suggest starting your own topic and posting what you have.

[Redwhiteandblue]

Hi EJFoeth,
Thank you for the link to the POW topic very helpfull, i have posted a new topic in the camouflage forum regarding KGV class battleships. I am happy with the information i have from A Raven volume 4 regarding pow and her camo pattern and also KGV page 23 voume 2 in order to begin these builds. Regards Alan

[Shingen]

As far as RDF (Radar) is concerned...KGV may or may not have had the distinctive Type 271 and its office in place of the air defence position between the bridge HACS at the time of the Bismarck action.

The Bismarck action was 27 May 1941. This photo was taken 12 June 1941.

Well, then, that tears it. No type 271 on May 27, 1941. I had just never seen a picture with a good provenance in the right time frame, only the oft printed one.

I also may have been wrong about the type of radar at the masthead. It is known that KGV had type 279, however, quoting Raven and Roberts, who quote the action report, PoW had a breakdown of the type 284 gunnery radar on the main director and "asked permission to use their type 281 for ranging, which was denied for fear of interfering with Hood's type 284. PoW used her type 281 after the Hood was sunk.'

This information was from the Ensign I and British Battleships of WWII. If it is correctly reported, PoW obviously did not have type 279, but rather 281. Looking at the photos, while the aerials themselves are not in enough detail, the spacing between the two levels of them on the mast is. It appears the PoW separation is less than on KGV.

Also, the blast shields behind the UP mounts were larger than I indicated. It appears they had straight solid side pieces from the ends of the arc.

[Sutho]

I posted the same in camoflauge and coatings and am placing here as well for any extra help.

I have a few extra Tamiya 1/350 KG5 and POW kits that I am converting to other KG5 class Battleships.

I have built HMS Prince of Wales as of Dec 1941, HMS King George V as of May 1941, HMS King George V as of 1945 at Japanese surrender.

At the moment I am using the other kits to make HMS Howe after its modernisation and intend to paint it in the colours of the famous colour Suez Canal photo. I am aware the colours are 507A, B5, B6 and 507C. I have just ordered the last two of the Ravel camoflauge books from WEM as well as a large batch of paints which should arrive in a few weeks once orders are sorted and processed. I am just wondering if anyone has any information on the camoflauge of Howe at this time as well as AA fit and any other differences of KG5 class I should be aware of?

Also with the last model I am making HMS Duke of York as of Scharnhorst action and believe it to be 507B hull and 507C superstructre with 507A steel decks, turret tops and gun barell tops. Also any other information about this ship its AA fit and arrangments would be appreciated. Thanks.

[MartinL]

With pontos new upgrades for the Tamiya 1/350 kits i thought i would post this hi res photo of KGV i found online .

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/2525/h ... 939195.jpg


Moderator edit: more permanent, though slightly smaller, Imgur link to photo here: http://i.imgur.com/Zce2L.jpg

[Guest]

why only king george the V class has quadrule guns other than jean bart.

[PetrolGator]

Does anyone know where I can find a copy for the Tamiya 1/700 instructions for the KGV? I've been able to guess at most of the placement, but would like a copy to verify. I've done a google search and checked 1999.

Thanks!

[EJFoeth]

There's a small rangefinder on the bridge of HMS PoW/KGV. Does anyone know what type? Most drawings miss it. Looks a bit like the one in the second image.