The Ship Model Forum

Thanks Tim

It looks like it's had radars added to the mastheads but I can't see anything else different at first look. I'll have a think on that one.

thanks
Mike

The masthead antennae are for RDF Type AW.279, which, according to F.A. Kingsley (Ed) Radar and Other Electronic Systems in the Royal Navy in World War 2 (Basingstoke: MacMillans Press Ltd, 1995) was fitted in NAIAD in September 1940. Representations are included in the photo-etch fret in the Flyhawk kit. No other RDF fits are recorded, or evident in photographs, as far as I know.

Thanks again Tim

I think I'll do her in the dark hull/light upperworks scheme then. I've got other cruisers to do in disruptive camouflage so it'll be something different in that scheme.

thanks
Mike

Afternoon!

Planning on converting the Flyhawk Naiad (1940) to HMS Argonaut as she appeared during the D-Day landings, any pointers on sources for plans and details on upgrades/equipment changes.

Any major points I should be aware of regarding differences?

Thanks!

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Be not simply good, be good for something
Henry David Thoreau

The Q 5.25" turret was replaced by a third quadruple Pom Pom, five 20 mm twins and six 20 mm single, an additional director for the third PomPom in front of the bridge plus radars at the mast and directors.

She was apparently painted in 507B hull, 507C superstructure and white masts. If the names (and shades) of the colours are correct, no idea - there is a lot of discussion about RN colours.

There is a model of Argonaut in that fit in the collection of the NMM:
https://collections.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/67527.html

See also:
https://www.militaryimages.net/media/hms-argonaut-cruiser.15992/

Here are also two 1944 photos (in Malta, at the lower third of that page):
https://www.world-war.co.uk/Dido/argonaut.php3

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Does anybody know where I might find plans for a Dido class ship? My only preference on which ship would be any of the 5 turret ships, though Hermione would be ideal. I also don't care what scale the plans are in as I'll be converting them down to a smaller scale.

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Michael

Love building and CAD modeling WWII Capital Ships

1/1200 Battle of Hampton Roads diorama in progress
1/1200 1945 USS Pennsylvania CAD model in progress

Shot you a reply, thank you!

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Michael

Love building and CAD modeling WWII Capital Ships

1/1200 Battle of Hampton Roads diorama in progress
1/1200 1945 USS Pennsylvania CAD model in progress

Having dabbled with thinking about it, i am about to take the plunge and start a build of Dido
Not fussed with R/C but if i could build her with a possible retrofit possibility might go that way
Looking to do her as she was Dec 44 as Dad was on her then, hopefully should get his Arctic Star soon

Some questions if any one can answer

Have narrowed it down to either the Fleetscale or Deans
I paid a visit to Glasgow a year or so ago and took some pics of the model and thought the open bridge with all the gizmos made it

Modelling bsckground

Stacks of planes,ship,cars locos al plastic in my yoof

Have graduated from OO to 5in live steam but feel that the eqpt will be a bit ;heavy if any turning milling reqd

Superstructure.. What is best material? I can get 0.5mm brass sheet laser cut ( i use Autocad) as it can be drawn to slot together and then solder ( either soft or silver) plus the thickness would be more to scale with the added bonus of being more solid
Plastic i would only use if i have to as i dont trust myself freehand in getting things 100% and worrying about long term warping

It looks like that Deans do all the bits but the info they supply on the 'bolt on bits' is a bit vague, stack of lockers hatches and various other bits that appear to be doubled up. Do i need every part they sell or are some specific to Dido?

Fleetscale dont appear to have such a range

Planking Deans do 1/96 fleetscale nothing shown
Can the metal forecastle decking ( hope i have that correct) be purchased, if not what is the best way of doing it

It looks like i will go for Deans but would prefer the smaller model ( SWMBO will go mental on whatever i get!!)
ATM i have the Black dragon 1/96 drawing full size and the Ensign book in the loft!
On these plans the items are numbered ,with corresponding numbers located on the deck plans. Is this the positions of the items?
Is there a list that i can look at to see what the number actually refers to? Or has anyone done one and can these be easily cross referred to any of the fleetscale/Deans parts?

Any other books recommended?

Any other info, hints tips welcome, what was your build time?

Dont mind it on here as it might save duplication by other builders

Thanks in advance and apologies for the ramble and questions

Ron

Mike's question, 5 years later is it still true that most likely colours for HMS Naiad camouflage are not the light grey/green/brown, but AP507A/C/black? Or has research developed further?

The Flyhawk kit is excellent.

Wright claims that both patterns existed... Would 507A and black not be too similar?

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Not if your 507A is based on the correct references and isn't substantially too dark:

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James Duff
Sovereign Hobbies Ltd
http://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk

Current build:
HMS Imperial D09 1/350
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=167151

Ups, that is only a medium grey... For sure, you have chosen a very sunny day, but still for sure not a very dark grey. That means, you would thinks that Naiad was painted in black, 507A, and 507C?

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I can show you it looking up-sun too with it in shade.



It's a dark grey, but not as dark as previously portrayed. This is a key aspect of the whole 507A=507B argument. Both of the previous portrayals (and Wright's current ones) are incorrect - the true shade was in between them.



As for Dido - I've never looked to be honest. All I'm saying is that there's a substantial contrast between black paint and correct toned 507A/B

_________________
James Duff
Sovereign Hobbies Ltd
http://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk

Current build:
HMS Imperial D09 1/350
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=167151

Hi
I'm planning on building HMS Dido (1945) out of Flyhawks Naiad 1940 kit. From what information I have the biggest difference is in the radar suite. I have a set of RN radars to pick from, but haven't been able to figure out where to put all of them.
According to this: https://ia803202.us.archive.org/18/item ... oOct46.png this is what she looked like in 1946, but she apparently had a radar refit in June 1945. Does anyone have any information on what her masts looked like in May 1945?

The Ensign 2 booklet shows the mast of Euryalus, but I want to be accurate if I can, and I haven't found any pictures online showing what I need.

Thank you for any help.

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Previous: 1/700 HMS Campbeltown, Kelly, Dido
Building: A few airplanes
Future builds: Yes, there are lots

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There are a number of images of Dido at Copenhagen in May 1945 on this Danish site which should help you. Here are a few of them:

https://samlinger.natmus.dk/FHM/asset/154089

https://samlinger.natmus.dk/FHM/asset/153734

https://samlinger.natmus.dk/FHM/asset/248871

https://samlinger.natmus.dk/FHM/asset/154090

Those pictures, and the rest on the site are amazing dick (um. phrasing...)
Thank you

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Previous: 1/700 HMS Campbeltown, Kelly, Dido
Building: A few airplanes
Future builds: Yes, there are lots

Thank you for the links to photos made in Copenhagen!

According to Ensign 2 by Raven and Lenton, she had four 20 mm twins and five 20 mm singles - which all can be found on the photos made in Copenhagen.

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This is Dido class cruiser HMS Royalist after modification. The kit is an Airfix 1:600 Tiger kit converted and with WEM photo etch.

Royalist was the ultimate Dido upgrade with full fighter direction suite, two Flyplane 5 fire control systems and STAAG 40mm Bofors, but she was the only ship of the class so upgraded. The ships were probably too small to accommodate all the bulky 1950's electronics plus operators and maintainers. The Tiger class were the next attempt at creating an AA cruiser, much bigger, and they omitted the STAAGs to save space. This explains why these ships appear to be so lightly armed, as you couldn't fit the electronics, weapons, AND crew at a WW2 level. Royalist tried and was always over crowded, with hammocks appearing almost everywhere in the ship there was spare space.

Not sure if the image link here will work, but here's trying:

Agreed but one works with what one has at hand. I had a spare Tiger available. I do have an Ajax but that is earmarked for other things. Tiger needed two shafts added (strangely enough there were two extra screws in the kit so that helped). The transom stern also needed a cruiser stern added. Beam was reduced, which is always tricky, and length also. The WEM photo etch for the Tiger was pretty close in terms of lattice mast so that worked out OK. Also needed to fit a bilge keel, something that Airfix seem to flip a coin over deciding whether to include or not. A thin armour belt was also added that covered most of the joint where the hull section was cut out.

All worked quite well in the end, although you have to check the deck lines carefully for any deformity when changing the beam, as squeezing the hull plates in will raise the deck edge alignment in places that needed filing back down to the correct line.

After reducing HMS Victorious by 80feet length and 20feet beam to create a Majestic class light fleet carrier, this conversion was fairly straight forward by comparison.