Calling all King George V-class (WWII) fans
Moderators: BB62vet, MartinJQuinn, Timmy C, Gernot, Olaf Held, Dan K, HMAS, ModelMonkey
-
KevinD
- Posts: 490
- Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:20 am
- Contact:
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
If you mean what is basically just seen 'encased' below my black line (below) then yes, I agree, but as I said in my initial post, it does not appear to be directly behind the searchlight (but is to the right, or more forward). But as you say it may be just the perspective of photo. [And yes, I could / should have worded my initial post better!]
But same in the other more 'side-on' photo, something appears to there, but again not directly behind searchlight, but to the right / more forward.
And, again IMO, neither appear anything like as wide / comprehensive as the shields see in what EJ posted though. That is, what we are seeing here does not seem to cover much of an area, and certainly not the whole 'side' of the funnel in its entirety (as those other pics posted seem to show), but just a small section slightly forward of the searchlight.
But again, thats just IMO.
But same in the other more 'side-on' photo, something appears to there, but again not directly behind searchlight, but to the right / more forward.
And, again IMO, neither appear anything like as wide / comprehensive as the shields see in what EJ posted though. That is, what we are seeing here does not seem to cover much of an area, and certainly not the whole 'side' of the funnel in its entirety (as those other pics posted seem to show), but just a small section slightly forward of the searchlight.
But again, thats just IMO.
"We are off to look for trouble. I expect we shall find it." Capt. Tennant, HMS Repulse. 8 December 1941
"A review of the situation at about 1100 was not encouraging." Capt. Gordon, HMS Exeter. 1 March 1942
"A review of the situation at about 1100 was not encouraging." Capt. Gordon, HMS Exeter. 1 March 1942
-
ModelMonkey
- Model Monkey

- Posts: 4112
- Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2005 9:27 pm
- Location: USA
- Contact:
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
Thanks fellas!
I've updated both the Model Monkey KGV and PoW aft funnel designs to include the heat shield. Updated models are being 3D-printed as I write this. The Model Monkey DoY aft funnel design already included the heat shield and remains unchanged.
Did Anson have the shield? Probably. But my references are insufficient to know with certainty. Do any of you have Anson photos that can confirm or deny its presence?
I've updated both the Model Monkey KGV and PoW aft funnel designs to include the heat shield. Updated models are being 3D-printed as I write this. The Model Monkey DoY aft funnel design already included the heat shield and remains unchanged.
Did Anson have the shield? Probably. But my references are insufficient to know with certainty. Do any of you have Anson photos that can confirm or deny its presence?
Have fun, Monkey around. TM
-Steve L.
Complete catalog: - https://www.model-monkey.com/
Follow Model Monkey™ on Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/modelmonkeybookandhobby
-Steve L.
Complete catalog: - https://www.model-monkey.com/
Follow Model Monkey™ on Facebook: - https://www.facebook.com/modelmonkeybookandhobby
- Martocticvs
- Posts: 239
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 7:59 am
- Contact:
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
I have that photo in higher resolution, and I'm fairly sure you can see the heat shield in it - lighting direction doesn't leave much of a shadow, but I see something in the right place. The more prominent object (in blue in the image) appears to be slightly more towards the forward end of the platform, rather than directly against the funnel. The red line shows where I see the heat shield.
- Stefano Salesi
- Posts: 411
- Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 6:17 am
- Location: Lerici
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
still searching documentation for my 1945 KGV build, and i came across this one that i have never seen before.
It shows a lot of nice details, and maybe it's the first CLEAR picture of the heat shielding on the aft funnel.
the picture is labeled as "The 35,000 ton King George V at Vickers-Armstrongs Naval Yard", but gives no infos on the timeframe.

As a general information, and with no offending intent, if you want to build an accurate KGV model dont trust too much the Kagero plans.
if confronted with pictures they show a lot of inaccuracies and approximations, and some important details, even if really visible on pictures, had been omitted.
It shows a lot of nice details, and maybe it's the first CLEAR picture of the heat shielding on the aft funnel.
the picture is labeled as "The 35,000 ton King George V at Vickers-Armstrongs Naval Yard", but gives no infos on the timeframe.

As a general information, and with no offending intent, if you want to build an accurate KGV model dont trust too much the Kagero plans.
if confronted with pictures they show a lot of inaccuracies and approximations, and some important details, even if really visible on pictures, had been omitted.
On the bench: evolution of Royal Italian Navy Ironclads-1/700
-Regia Nave Roma...no, not that one!
-Regia Nave Roma...no, not that one!
-
iangreenhalgh
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:30 pm
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
The Vickers photo archive at the Dock Museum in Barrow-in-Furness (about 300m from where that last pic of KGV was taken, if that is the Barrow yard, and I think it is) may be worth consulting as it is huge glass plate negatives with insane detail. Some of it is online at: http://collections.dockmuseum.org.uk/vpa.html
If KGV was ever in that yard being worked on, they may have some photos of her.
I did a search there for 'king george v' and only found pictures of her machinery ad turrets being manufactured, here is one of the 4 gun ones in the assembly shed:
http://collections.dockmuseum.org.uk/mw ... 2;type=101
This building has recently been demolished to make way for the new destroyer construction hall but until not many years ago, it was still in use manufacturing guns, as it had been for at least a century.
The Barrow yard also had a model making studio, here is the builder's model of KGV:
http://collections.dockmuseum.org.uk/mw ... 7;type=101
This model may today be in the Dock Museum, I plan to visit the museum as soon as the corona lockdown is over, if this model is there, I will try to get some photos for you if you would like. At least two of the models are in the local hospital, one is of a late 30's cruiser, I forget which one, it is one of the 4 x triple 6 gun types, maybe a Town. I have studied that model at great length and the detail is impressive, mostly brass detail parts on a wooden hull/superstructure. Being the builder's model, it is dimensionally accurate, one day I intend to make a smaller scale version of that model.
The KGV model looks to be to the same scale, so is somewhere between 10 and 12 feet in length I think. Details like barrels will be turned brass or made from soldered brass sheet.
If KGV was ever in that yard being worked on, they may have some photos of her.
I did a search there for 'king george v' and only found pictures of her machinery ad turrets being manufactured, here is one of the 4 gun ones in the assembly shed:
http://collections.dockmuseum.org.uk/mw ... 2;type=101
This building has recently been demolished to make way for the new destroyer construction hall but until not many years ago, it was still in use manufacturing guns, as it had been for at least a century.
The Barrow yard also had a model making studio, here is the builder's model of KGV:
http://collections.dockmuseum.org.uk/mw ... 7;type=101
This model may today be in the Dock Museum, I plan to visit the museum as soon as the corona lockdown is over, if this model is there, I will try to get some photos for you if you would like. At least two of the models are in the local hospital, one is of a late 30's cruiser, I forget which one, it is one of the 4 x triple 6 gun types, maybe a Town. I have studied that model at great length and the detail is impressive, mostly brass detail parts on a wooden hull/superstructure. Being the builder's model, it is dimensionally accurate, one day I intend to make a smaller scale version of that model.
The KGV model looks to be to the same scale, so is somewhere between 10 and 12 feet in length I think. Details like barrels will be turned brass or made from soldered brass sheet.
-
iangreenhalgh
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:30 pm
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
Here's one of the builder's models in the Dock Museum, it's a 13.5" battle cruiser, maybe Lion or Tiger:
https://scontent-lhr8-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5EB5219F
As you can see, these models are works of art, brass fittings everywhere, access to them is very useful to the scale modeller.
I don't live far from the museum, I'll pop in when I can and ask about being allowed to bring in my camera and take detailed photos.
https://scontent-lhr8-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/ ... e=5EB5219F
As you can see, these models are works of art, brass fittings everywhere, access to them is very useful to the scale modeller.
I don't live far from the museum, I'll pop in when I can and ask about being allowed to bring in my camera and take detailed photos.
-
iangreenhalgh
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:30 pm
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
Cool, I forget how similar Kongo was to the British ships and Kongo was built at Barrow.
- Martocticvs
- Posts: 239
- Joined: Tue Jan 26, 2016 7:59 am
- Contact:
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
That KGV builder's model is probably the one that was on display in the National Maritime Museum for many years. Absolutely stunning model (although not entirely accurate to the final ship as-built). It wasn't there anymore last year, so I'm not sure where it is now.
-
iangreenhalgh
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:30 pm
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
Interesting, what were the innacuracies? I thought a builder's model had to be accurate. Or maybe the ship design was changed after the model was built?
Now I know they have the Kongo model on display, I'm definitely going to model her. I would like to do all the battleships built at Barrow, HMS Erin especially.
Now I know they have the Kongo model on display, I'm definitely going to model her. I would like to do all the battleships built at Barrow, HMS Erin especially.
-
KevinD
- Posts: 490
- Joined: Sat Mar 28, 2009 10:20 am
- Contact:
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
Re now underlined, yes in some / many casesiangreenhalgh wrote:Interesting, what were the innacuracies? I thought a builder's model had to be accurate. Or maybe the ship design was changed after the model was built?
Kongo 'builders model' below I believe.iangreenhalgh wrote:Now I know they have the Kongo model on display, I'm definitely going to model her. I would like to do all the battleships built at Barrow, HMS Erin especially.
"We are off to look for trouble. I expect we shall find it." Capt. Tennant, HMS Repulse. 8 December 1941
"A review of the situation at about 1100 was not encouraging." Capt. Gordon, HMS Exeter. 1 March 1942
"A review of the situation at about 1100 was not encouraging." Capt. Gordon, HMS Exeter. 1 March 1942
-
iangreenhalgh
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:30 pm
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
Yes, the Kongo model is upstairs in the main hall, been a long time since I saw it in the flesh but it's still there.
-
iangreenhalgh
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Wed Apr 08, 2020 6:30 pm
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
I sent the Dock Museum a message about the models and they just replied:
"Kongo is still on display at the Dock Museum but George V is at the National Maritime Museum."
"Kongo is still on display at the Dock Museum but George V is at the National Maritime Museum."
-
Sutho
- Posts: 449
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:53 pm
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
SovereignHobbies wrote:Hi Ivan,Ivan wrote:Good afternoon. Thank you for responding. But I still do not understand how correct this scheme is for the second half of the 43rd year ... if you use the colors 507A., B5, B30,, 507C. I have already started to paint the model for a month already but I can�t decide on the colors due to constant advice and changes
Notwithstanding some (relatively minor) adjustment of the camouflage panel placement, the key thing for now is that the illustration you posted is similar to those published in Alan Raven's Warship Perspectives and Roger Chesneau's Shipcraft KGV books. The former is presented in B&W but names the paints and looks like this:
Chesneau's is presented in colour, but the paints appear misnamed. The actual drawing looks like this:
...but the paints quoted would look like this, but I believe MS2 is either a mistake or a misprint.
If you begin by comparing IWM's TR 325 it's clear that the predominant paint on the starboard side of B turret barbette, port side of B turret and the lower starboard side of the superstructure is MS4, not 507C
IWM A 12336 shows that the starboard side of the hull midships isn't lighter than the superstructure or B turret, so that's MS4 as well, not 507C as per the other published illustrations.
In general, the major error in most drawings including the one you posted is the large areas of 507C (or G45) on the hull. Those areas were MS4 in 1942 and substituted for B30 sometime after the G&B series were introduced in spring 1943. The general placement of the colours on the hulls appears reasonably common, with detail differences, to each of the sisters wearing what is broadly speaking the same design.
I have just been going over this and note the term "differences between ships" in references about the scheme. I want to talk about the HMS Howe and the revised colours that you have done. It would appear to me that HMS Howe in the colour photograph would have had paints 507C as the lightest followed by possibly B30, B15 and MS1/G5. Would that line of thinking match in with your new colour charts.
-
SovereignHobbies
- SovereignHobbies

- Posts: 1194
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2015 9:09 am
- Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK
- Contact:
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
Good morning,
Given the 1944 date of this photo, yes that is exactly my thoughts on HMS Howe :-
Darkest to lightest - G5, B15, B30, G45 (507C)
Given the 1944 date of this photo, yes that is exactly my thoughts on HMS Howe :-
Darkest to lightest - G5, B15, B30, G45 (507C)
James Duff
Sovereign Hobbies Ltd
http://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk
Current build:
HMS Imperial D09 1/350
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=167151
Sovereign Hobbies Ltd
http://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk
Current build:
HMS Imperial D09 1/350
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=167151
- drdoom1337
- Posts: 1161
- Joined: Wed Apr 23, 2008 7:40 pm
- Location: New Jersey
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
What period exactly does the Heller 1/400 kit represent? It looks like there are 20mm present, so I'm assuming later than 1941?

-
Sutho
- Posts: 449
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:53 pm
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
Thanks it is what I had expected with seeing the colour photo and your new paints.SovereignHobbies wrote:Good morning,
Given the 1944 date of this photo, yes that is exactly my thoughts on HMS Howe :-
Darkest to lightest - G5, B15, B30, G45 (507C)
-
Sutho
- Posts: 449
- Joined: Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:53 pm
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
I am wondering if anyone on here has an idea about how the rigging on the early KGV ships went and in particular Prince of Wales.
I am attaching some photos with arrows as examples. There are six lines running from foremast to aft mast on these battleships. Above the fore funnel there appear to be cables that I am guessing either stabilise these cables or have something to do with the radio. Purposes of the cables aside I am just wondering if anyone has a definitive idea of where these cables are anchored to on the Prince of Wales.
As you can see from the photo I borrowed from the IWM site the cables come down and appear to go the the port side to a raised cylindrical platform at the base of the tripod mast. my question is did all the cables go here individually or were they joined at some point and then go down by single cable. The photo is not clear enough to ascertain the exact nature of the rigging.
Also it would appear that later in the war the King George V and possibly others had the mast changed where the rigging is clearly visible and all six cables are fixed to a rigid bar which is then anchored to the foremast at the level parallel with the HACs.
What I am wondering is was this feature similar early on in their career with some sort of rigging bar to attach to before being secured at almost the base of the mast.
Thanks for any help if others know the answer.
I am attaching some photos with arrows as examples. There are six lines running from foremast to aft mast on these battleships. Above the fore funnel there appear to be cables that I am guessing either stabilise these cables or have something to do with the radio. Purposes of the cables aside I am just wondering if anyone has a definitive idea of where these cables are anchored to on the Prince of Wales.
As you can see from the photo I borrowed from the IWM site the cables come down and appear to go the the port side to a raised cylindrical platform at the base of the tripod mast. my question is did all the cables go here individually or were they joined at some point and then go down by single cable. The photo is not clear enough to ascertain the exact nature of the rigging.
Also it would appear that later in the war the King George V and possibly others had the mast changed where the rigging is clearly visible and all six cables are fixed to a rigid bar which is then anchored to the foremast at the level parallel with the HACs.
What I am wondering is was this feature similar early on in their career with some sort of rigging bar to attach to before being secured at almost the base of the mast.
Thanks for any help if others know the answer.
-
therese
- Posts: 23
- Joined: Thu May 28, 2020 4:22 am
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
Hi all
I have Flyhawks PoW coming in the mail some time in the future, and was wondering if anyone know if it's possible to get the masts as metal parts? In the kit they are plastic, and I guess they'll be a bit fragile.
The scale is 1/700
If anyone know if this is available as AM, or is better at googling than me, all help is greatly appreciated.
I have Flyhawks PoW coming in the mail some time in the future, and was wondering if anyone know if it's possible to get the masts as metal parts? In the kit they are plastic, and I guess they'll be a bit fragile.
The scale is 1/700
If anyone know if this is available as AM, or is better at googling than me, all help is greatly appreciated.
Previous: 1/700 HMS Campbeltown, Kelly, Dido
Building: A few airplanes
Future builds: Yes, there are lots
Building: A few airplanes
Future builds: Yes, there are lots
-
SovereignHobbies
- SovereignHobbies

- Posts: 1194
- Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2015 9:09 am
- Location: Aberdeenshire, Scotland, UK
- Contact:
Re: Calling all HMS King George V class (WWII) fans
I'm not aware of anything. I had discussed with one or two companies we source from but they all shied away on the basis that a replacement mast set requires resin castings too.
We could do it, I suppose, but I haven't really got the time to design it.
We could do it, I suppose, but I haven't really got the time to design it.
James Duff
Sovereign Hobbies Ltd
http://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk
Current build:
HMS Imperial D09 1/350
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=167151
Sovereign Hobbies Ltd
http://www.sovereignhobbies.co.uk
Current build:
HMS Imperial D09 1/350
viewtopic.php?f=59&t=167151




