Calling all HMS Ark Royal (WW2) fans

Post by **JWintjes** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 4:28 pm

Ok, as we had such a lively discussion on the old Revell kit, here is the thread belonging to it.

I guess for starters a list of accessories and useful reference would be useful.

Out of my head I'd say the following accessories come in handy:

- WEM PE set
- WEM resin pompoms (if PE is not one's choice)
- WEM resin Vickers 0.5 (if PE is not one's choice)
Added by moderator at Jorit's request:
- WEMs plane sets
- As for replacement parts, the boats and rafts also need replacing, WEM again. I was thinking about trying to cast some replacement turrets as the kit ones aren't very good.

Anyone else for references?

Jorit

MODERATOR EDIT: ADDED AVAILABLE KITS AND GALLERY ENTRIES

Available kits:
1/720
Revell Ark Royal

1/700:
Aoshima Ark Royal 1939
Aoshima Ark Royal 1941
Aoshima Ark Royal Final Version
Trumpeter Ark Royal 1939
HP Models Ark Royal
L�Arsenal Ark Royal

1/600:
Airfix Ark Royal

1/350:
Merit/I Love Kit Ark Royal

Gallery Entries:

1/700 and 1/720:
Christoph Mentzel�s HP Models Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Georgius Credidio�s Revell Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

1/600:
Jim Baumann�s Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Paul Helfrich�s Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Patrick Camilleri�s Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Max Cosby�s Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Erick Navas� Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Konley Kellely�s Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Andrew Jones� Airfix Ark Royal (and friends): http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Paul Stewart�s Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html
Wes Beatty�s Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Steve Power�s Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Brendan Morford�s Airfix Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

1/350:
Phil Reeder�s Merit Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Tony Sutherland�s Merit Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Eleven Wong�s Merit Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm
Robert Apfelzweig�s Merit Ark Royal: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... /index.htm

Other Scales
1/500 scratchbuilt Ark Royal by John Bange: http://www.modelshipgallery.com/gallery ... index.html

Zach P. · Post by **Zach P.** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 4:45 pm

Not sure about dedicated references but anthony preston's book on Carriers has good shots of Ark to use for reference photos.

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 4:55 pm

A russian publication Morskaya Collectia has recently come out, I think they contain mainly photos and are priced about the same as Profile Morskie so worth a look. There are some plans in the John Roberts British Warships of the Second World War. That's as much as I know.

As for replacement parts, the boats and rafts also need replacing, WEM again. I was thinking about trying to cast some replacement turrets as the kit ones aren't very good.

It's definitely a tough job this one.

Mike

Post by **JWintjes** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 5:05 pm

mike mccabe wrote:A russian publication Morskaya Collectia has recently come out, I think they contain mainly photos and are priced about the same as Profile Morskie so worth a look. There are some plans in the John Roberts British Warships of the Second World War. That's as much as I know.

As for replacement parts, the boats and rafts also need replacing, WEM again. I was thinking about trying to cast some replacement turrets as the kit ones aren't very good.

It's definitely a tough job this one.

Mike

Thanks for the tip on the Russian profile book!

As for the boats, has anyone already looked deeper into that? I'm particularly wondering about the large motor boats.

As for the 4.5 in guns, that's indeed tricky. Some have tried recently asking WSW to cast some, as they have them in the Scylla kit, but that was unsuccessful.

I have never cast parts for myself, so if you'll ever do this and the forms allow 16 to be cast then I'd be highly interested.

Jorit

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:47 am

According to the Fleet Air Arm archive http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/Ships/Ark_Royal2.html

the aircraft were at various times Blackburn Skuas, Fairey Swordfish, Fairy Fulmars or Albacores, so best thing would be to choose a particular time period and go with what is available. Happily those nice WEM people do all of these aircraft in their Airstrike range, so I have saved John a posting as well.

Hope to see some of you at Telford for further discussions.

Mike

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 6:33 am

It appears our friend John Lambert hasn't drawn any plans yet for the The 4.5in Mk I/Mk IIID mount combination:-

http://www.lambert-plans.com/encom/index.htm

Mike I'm sure if your emailed the good chap he might do some for you as he is planning to add them to his range anyway!

Having bought plans from him before, he is very reasonable priced and speedy.

The only other option one would assume is the NMM but in my experience if you ordered 2 sheets of the builders plans of ARk ROYAL (say the in profile and rigging plan and another sheet for the deck plans) it would cost something like �50-�60 in all, which is just a little overkill for 1/700!!!

I may have some drawings of this turret if your interested, also is there any particular shots of the ARk your missing as I have a ton of stuff, airwing included.

Laurence

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:34 pm

HI Lawrence,
Turrets won't be a problem, it is more a case of the areas around the flight deck edge, the boat handling areas and the other hull access areas and the island. My initial thought is that the flight deck is too narrow at the stern but I have the plans in the John Roberts British Warships of the Second World War and can take the overall shape from that.

Any information on details for any of the above would be very gratefully received!

Mike

Post by **JWintjes** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:39 pm

I'll also look forward to start next year.

By the way, Model Boats February 1976 apparently had a set of plans of the Ark Royal in it. Does anyone out there happen to have these plans and, what's more, know whether they're accurate?

Jorit

Post by **JWintjes** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:42 pm

Sorry - I wanted to edit my post and instead used the "quote"-button...

I'm soooo silly...

Jorit

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 12:53 pm

Jorit
I can't vouch for the plans you mention but I have seen similar from this magazine and they are pretty basic really. Mainly they just give the plan views and a few details. Still if it comes up on ebay for 99p as they so often do then would still be worth a look.

I think I will order the Russian Morskaya book and see if it is any good.

Mike

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 1:04 pm

Mike I've had the Russian profile you mention on order since August from armybooks.com they still have yet to sent me one!

It appears out-of-print, which they didnt state on their website!!! and they have yet to find a copy for me!

I also have failed to find any UK bookseller which can me supply with any of the RN stuff under that series, ebay has turned up nothing for months and Armybooks.com was the only online vendor which had them on their site I placed a big order but so far sadly nothing I'm giving him until Christmas then I will be getting a full refund.

Just thought I'd mention this as I wasnt sure who you were buying yours from. If you know of another company it would help me a great deal!

Do you have the excellent several part articles on Ark Royal in the Conway Warship series, I read these last year and they spring to mind, I have all 27 annual volumes so I can send you this, but this is just the first thing which springs to mind.

Just as an aside my name is spelt with a u not w I have the unusual spelling!!!

Laurence

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 1:31 pm

Hi Laurence,
I have just sent an order to Midland Counties, they had some of this series at Telford but not the Ark Royal or any RN that I remember so lets see what they come up with.

No I don't have the Conway series but am bidding on one on ebay at the moment! I would love to have a look at the others so I'll see how I get in with this one in a day or two.

Mike

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Thu Dec 08, 2005 1:34 pm

Its in the early volumes from memory:-

Yeah this confirms it Vol1:-

http://www.dreadnoughtproject.org/periodicals/warship/

Just let me know as I scan over the christmas holiday when I have more time.

Reagrds
Laurence

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:16 pm

Laurence,
My Morskaya on the Ark Royal came today from Midland Counties so they obviously have it in stock. It's ok, I've seen almost all the photos before, text is russian of course, there's a plan which is ok and a colour profile. I'm not sure if it really gets me much further with Ark references really.

Mike

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 12:49 pm

Hi Mike is this the chappy then?

http://www.armybook.com/summary.html?code=0102001b98

I've still to recieve anything from these armybook people!!!

Hopefully this will serve as a warning to how crap a service these people give!!!

I'm giving them 1 more week, then refund time!!!

I just hope Midland County can supply me all the ones they (Armybooks) list on their website!!!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Laurence

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:05 pm

Hi Laurence
Yes, that's the one.

Happy Christmas to you too!

Mike

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:33 pm

Found this on my Hard Drive yesterday thought it might be of interest to all lovers of the ww2 Ark Royal.

This is a small colour pdf report done by the poeple who discovered the wreck a few years ago:-

http://www.widdo.net/laurence/ark%20royal%20report.pdf

cheers!

mike mccabe · Post by **mike mccabe** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:47 pm

Laurence,
I received the Warship Vol 1 no 2 today with the first instalment of the Ark Royal series, but looking at the list you gave the link to, I can't see that there was a second. Was this produced or can I just not see it?

Mike

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:06 pm

Maybe that online index is iffy, I'll check on my shelves now!

Laurence Batchelor · Post by **Laurence Batchelor** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:39 pm

Mike pm sent