1/700 HMS Dorsetshire

Thorvic · May 14, 2017, 09:02:55 AM

Inspired by Proditor's Updated Atlanta class cruiser for the Peruvian Navy, I decided to have a snoot what I could do in 1/700 as a potential 1 week build. I have quite a few carrier projects to do many of them started, but the time constraints of a carrier with air group are prohibitive if built to a standard I would expect. I have plenty of 1/700 Royal Navy warships but most of those are going to be real or part donors for projects so they were out, I also have a number of USN ships but couldn't get inspiration. I have a number of Soviet ship kits but again those are real, although I do have project stuff from the Unknown booklet however i have just done one for the Soviet GB and felt i needed to look elsewhere, then I noticed i have a nice selection of Japanese JMSDF warships, which are real or part donors but one of them thankfully triggered an Whif idea i can run with....

In the 1970's the Royal Navy was faced with loosing its fleet carriers which were to be replaced with VTOL escort carriers to carry the ASW Helicopters plus Sea Harriers for Air Defence and secondary Strike, alongside these were the converted Tiger Class cruisers which were showing their age. To replace these ships and to complement the ASW groups it was decided to develop our own version of the JMSDF Haruna class DDH Helicopter carrying Destroyers fitted out with weapons and sensors being used by the new Type 42 Destroyers.

Using the hull and the superstructure of the Shirane class as this is the follow on design to the Haruna it will get new masts, radar and sensors, the 5 inch guns will be replaced by a pair of Vickers MK8 4.5 inch guns, the ASROC by a Sea Dart and the Sea Sparrow possibly by a Sea Wolf as a bit early for Phalanx in the RN, Air group will be 3 Sea Kings or a mix of Sea King & Lynx.

Weaver · May 14, 2017, 10:05:44 AM

Nice project!

Suggestion: how about having the Sea Dart in B-position in place of the 2nd 5" gun, at main deck level, then moving the gun's deckhouse to C-position and putting four Exocets on top of it?

Thorvic · May 14, 2017, 12:22:43 PM

Yeap that might work layout like the County class ?

I was thinking the two guns for fire support but Exocet will work even better.

Captain Canada · May 14, 2017, 12:27:36 PM

Good stuff. The box art looks good as well, anytime there's a Sea King involved lol

Thorvic · May 14, 2017, 03:14:49 PM

Just been and had a snoot at the kit the gun housing is an add on so i can chisel off the moulded in guides and i can create a new deck ahead of the bridge to mount the Exocet's a'la Joan De Arc French helicopter cruiser.

Will need to check the layout on the super structure once the hanger and bridge is assembled to work out the layout for the masts, funnel, radars and directors etc

Weaver · May 14, 2017, 03:54:01 PM

Glad you like the idea! It'd be reminiscent of the Type 22 as well as the County, so perfect for a 1970s design.

Do you plan to keep it steam powered or are you going for gas turbines (or a mixture of the two)?

proditor · May 14, 2017, 05:51:16 PM

Oh, now those are some awesome ideas. I may have to poach those at some point.

Thorvic · May 15, 2017, 02:01:36 AM

Quote from: Weaver on May 14, 2017, 03:54:01 PM
Glad you like the idea! It'd be reminiscent of the Type 22 as well as the County, so perfect for a 1970s design.

Do you plan to keep it steam powered or are you going for gas turbines (or a mixture of the two)?

Given the time frame I think Gas Turbine so may rob a funnel from an Illustrious as you get a spare rear Funnel which should be OK with a new cap added, will have to do an air intake blockhouse too that will act as a mast foundation.

As I say working out the Upper Superstructure will be fun, need a pair of 909 trackers, a 1022 Air Search radar. a mast with 995 radar which I fear will leave no room for Sea Wolf. I may fall into line with the CVS and Type 42 and go with 20mm guns and Corvus decoy as 2nd line Air defence after the Sea Dart and pair if with a Type 22 or Sea Wolf Leander as back up.

Post Falklands it would probably get Phalanx, and they may look to add Sea Wolf or lightweight Sea Wolf.

Thorvic · May 15, 2017, 02:02:59 AM

Quote from: proditor on May 14, 2017, 05:51:16 PM
Oh, now those are some awesome ideas. I may have to poach those at some point.

Not a problem some of those JMSDF would blend right in with the USN ships with a tweak of weapons or sensors

Weaver · May 15, 2017, 03:59:29 AM

Quote from: Thorvic on May 15, 2017, 02:01:36 AM
Quote from: Weaver on May 14, 2017, 03:54:01 PM
Glad you like the idea! It'd be reminiscent of the Type 22 as well as the County, so perfect for a 1970s design.

Do you plan to keep it steam powered or are you going for gas turbines (or a mixture of the two)?

Given the time frame I think Gas Turbine so may rob a funnel from an Illustrious as you get a spare rear Funnel which should be OK with a new cap added, will have to do an air intake blockhouse too that will act as a mast foundation.

As I say working out the Upper Superstructure will be fun, need a pair of 909 trackers, a 1022 Air Search radar. a mast with 995 radar which I fear will leave no room for Sea Wolf. I may fall into line with the CVS and Type 42 and go with 20mm guns and Corvus decoy as 2nd line Air defence after the Sea Dart and pair if with a Type 22 or Sea Wolf Leander as back up.

Post Falklands it would probably get Phalanx, and they may look to add Sea Wolf or lightweight Sea Wolf.

Your aft 909 office is pretty much going to have to go where the Sea Sparrow is. Is the hangar roof wide enough to maybe put a Sea Cat (placeholder for Sea Wolf) launcher either side of it? You could have an Amazon-style Type 912 FC tracker on the platform where the Sea Sparrow's 'egg' sits.

Thorvic · May 15, 2017, 05:29:22 AM

I'm going to have to play around with it once the build starts, I am sort of thinking of a Flyco structure atop the Hanger a'la Tiger or Albion with the 909 mounted behind and above it.

Thorvic · May 29, 2017, 05:29:07 AM

Okay after a 2 and a half day delay due to having a friend stay over for the weekend I have now finally started the build, added the base plate chiseled off the guides for the fwd deck house and have started on the Superstructure. Trouble is I needed filler on the hull and over the chisel marks and the basic superstructures needs to dry in situ before I can add the front and back plates and I can get on with the build. So a quick lunch, then I will build the helicopters and see if I can clean up the fillers and see if the structure is ready for the next bits before I modify it to anglocise it.

Thorvic · May 30, 2017, 09:35:07 AM

The hull assembled and curing.

Superstructure in assembly, modified the bridge, replaced the structure behind the bridge and created a Gas Turbine intake structure. Have built up the structure round the original funnel base on the Hanger roof and fitted a new funnel. New structure added aft for the rear 909 director dome.

Alternative layout with the main mast located aft of the funnel and the 909 director moved further aft. The white column represents where a forward mast would be fitted carrying the 1022 radar, whilst the aft taller mast will carry the secondary radar.
This is the configuration I think I prefer as it follows the Type 42 and Invincible format and some of the pre-Invincible VTOL//Helicopter Carrier designs of the late 60s.

Just showing where the gun, Sea Dart and Exocets will be located, although the Exocets may go on a raised deck forward of the Bridge.

Captain Canada · May 30, 2017, 09:40:07 AM

Looking good Geoff !

Thorvic · June 03, 2017, 03:48:57 PM

OK in final assembly the ships painted and decaled and in the process of fitting out. I've painted and decaled the Helicopter which set me back as had to go out and get a pot of midnight blue to do one of them.

Still to install the main gun, the Sea Dart, the Exocet and the main Radar and then its just about done in time.

Didn't start till Monday and missed a day and half mid week but should still be on schedule just cutting it fine.