Lns Valkenier

[Spey_Phantom]

i build this model a while ago, guess i forgot to post it  

Back History:

in 2007, the Leutonian navy began looking into the urgent replacement of the old 60's LNS Ramses frigate, the ship has become to light, to underpowered and to old and expensive to be kept in service. in june of that same year, the Leutonian MoD signed an agreement to buy an unidentified Ex-US Navy gunboat, and refit, upgrade and modiy it into a small, fast patrol frigate.
in april 2008, the new frigate entered service. the plans were orriginaly to name it "LNS Amanda Peet", but after protest, it was decided to name it "LNS Valkenier" (Falconneer) coded M-203. the small helideck on the rear is large enough to host the SH-135, but can also accomodate the NH90 class helicopters.

The model:

the model is a 1/131 revell defiance class gunboat coverted into a 1/144 scale frigate, the decals are custom made (witch i really now like to do). the modifications include:

-helideck (made from a pallet floor from a scrapped 1/72 C-130J)
-goalkeeper anti aircraft gun (mountedbehind the center mast, scratchbuild)
-MBDA Mistral lanchers above the main cabin (made from the stock scope, fitted with old 1/144 apache stinger tubes)
-SH-135 helicopter (revellm inikit, equal to 1/144, militarised EC-135 with various parts from the junkyard and a cable hoist from a 1/144 blackhawk kit)

[Captain Canada]

Awesome, Nils ! Makes me want to jump in the bath with nev....uh, I mean jump in the bath with that boat and cruise around the tub ! Maybe do a few helo launches and traps.....hoist folk off the deck etc.

Neat idea to 'downsize' her to 144th scale. The chopper looks really cool back there as well !

 

[Rafael]

Excellent whiff, Nils!!!

Your backstory is interesting and exciting to say the least.

And the build per se is a little jewel. The scratchbuilt details are awesome, and the scale-o-rama'ed subjects provide a touch of realism.

Great work!!

Rafa

[anthonyp]

[Keanu speak]Whoa![/Keanu speak]

I've seen a couple of those USS Defiance (love that name!) kits in the LHS's, just couldn't come up with anything to do with them other than use the hull for turning some large 1/72 (or larger) plane into a flying boat!

Now that you've shown you can take a 1/144 Helo and make it look about in scale with the Defiance... that gives me an idea...  

Nice build, Nils!

[cthulhu77]

Great backstory !  Love those missile launchers too...neato.