Subscribers’ Maritime Gallery

Here is my model of the aircraft carrier, HMS Ark Royal. It’s from the 1:600 scale Airfix kit. Hope you like it?
Erick N.

Our thanks to Benedetto for letting us have these excellent images of his stunning scratch-built model – truly awe-inspiring work!

This was essentially made straight out of the box which includes deck markings in the form of waterslide decals, deck vehicles and a set of very fine photo-etch parts fret. the only additions made was the addition of fine brass rod to make the yard arms etc on the mast and the Barracuda aircraft. These later items came from the White Ensign Models range of 1:700th scale aircraft, with the undercarriage parts coming from the WEM PE-715 1:700-1:600th scale Fixed Wing Aircraft parts, and some Gold Medal Models Naval Figures. Apparently L’Arsenal when they were producing the kit forgot to include the Barracudas but supply the Corsair aircraft. From this kit you are able to build any of the sister ships of this class of carrier up to the end of WWII.

The kit assembles very quickly as the bulk (the hull) is cast as a single waterline piece (Kit is only available as waterline), the various cut outs in the sidea of the hull including the stern are plated over with pre-cut parts of photo-etch brass the largest being the piece that wrapps around the stern and sides of the the rear of the hull. I opted to cut the part into three pieces where the part is to curve around the stern, a little filler was required to blend away the join lines.The model was painted using my usual method , that being to spray the overall colour and post shade it before hand painting the remaining colours. The aircraft were painted in a similar fashion in that they were painted in the underside colour and the upper colours picked in by hand. The markings on the aircraft were picked in by hand as at the time of building there were no British SEAC/Pacific
aircraft markings available.

This is a great albeit a little fiddely model to build and fills a massive gap in the lack of Royal Navy aircarft carrier kits, to date I’ve two of these kits, great fun.

This is my rendition of Trumpeter’s 1:350 scale HMS HOOD. I used White Ensign etch. My first attempt at a ship in this scale.

This is the White Ensign Models Kit No.3569 HMS Kittiwake-Kingfisher Class Coastal sloop in 1:350th scale. The kit, as with all WEM kits, comes complete with everything you require. I only added figures to the model to give a sense of scale, and this vessel is really small measuring only 200mm (8inches in length). There are a couple of colour schemes included in the instructions and I chose the Shearwater as she was in the overall white with panels of pale blue and green. The kit comes with the choice of either full hull or waterline with the lower hull section mating on the waterline if required. The model went together quickly and was a joy to build although at times I couldn’t help thinking it was 1:700th scale because of the size of it compared to the usual destroyer and escort kits at this scale.

Ian Ruscoe’s Top Tip

When using superglue NEVER apply the glue directly from the tube to the part always apply a pool of the glue to a piece of scrap card and then holding the etch in tweezers carefully dab the piece through the top of the glue, with any excess dabbed off onto the card before you then apply it to the model. When applying ship’s railings it’s best to wet the thumb and index finger of the other hand you’re not using with saliva so that the glue won’t attach you to the part when you use them to guide the railing into position. Superglue won’t stick to saliva.

Thanks to Uun Barliansyah for permission to use his images of his superb model of IJN Battleship Yamato using the Tamiya 1:350 scale kit. As you can see, Uun has also incorporated the awesome Lion Roar superdetail set (you can also use the White Ensign Models set, so do consider that one too!).
Special thanks to Uun’s ” wing man ” Branata (Tech. assistant) for his help in completing this project.
I think the images speak for themselves. Why not check out our own Les Venus and his superb model using the White Ensign superdetail set and you’ll see what two great maritime modellers can achieve… Just love these big maritime projects! Geoff 

The Borodino (Russian: Бородино) was the leader of his class of warships belonging to the Russian imperial army, and the second ship of its kind to be completed. Named in memory of the Battle of Borodino in 1812. The Tsushima Borodino was sunk with only one survivor among the 785 crew members.
Read a wonderfully detailed history of this vessel and see Erick’s images…

The Model was the Hasegawa Nagato in scale 1:350. I used the photo-etch parts from Lion Roar with the exception of the rails, here I used the Hasegawa rails extra for the Nagato. The wooden deck is from Shinsengumi.
I won different awards with the Nagato – amongst others the Award “Best Model of Show” in the D/CDN Maple Leaf Modellers in IPMS Baden- Söllingen/ Germany. 

This awesome project from Italeri is featured in full depth in the Full and Feature Article Library so why not check it out and get all the information you need on building this superb release from Italeri. Geoff C. Ed.

It’s the Italeri kit with the Italeri crew, Eduard Big Ed etch set, Cammett Bridge, Cammett gun shield, Cammett mines and Cammett dinghy. Also included are some custom made prop shafts, G-factor brass propellers and Master Metal gun barrels. It’s finished using a combination of Tamiya and Vallejo paints.
Just to finish it off it’s fully radio controlled!!! 

Painted and fitted out as she would have looked after leaving Norway heading for the Atlantic.

Very good! Must be one of the best Revell kits. Considering the number of pieces the kit has very good detail and shape. With the exception of just a few small areas, the pieces do not give any problem. The crew is an additional Revell kit.
Erick Navas

This is Revell’s 1:144 scale USS Frank Fletcher that I completed about 18 months ago. She’s painted in Measure12. I used the Eduard etch and scratch built the few figures out of wire and Milliput. A great kit and went together with no problems.