CVA-01 1/700 scale scratchbuild

[Thorvic]

Cheers guys, currently working on the Island and trying to work out the best way to get the Macks done. Once I am happy with atht then i'll do another set of update pics.

In the meantime i have also built the Hull and the Island for the 1964 escort cruiser, which was effectively a helicopter carrier for fleet ASW, leaving CVA-01 in the strike role. No pics as yet but overkiller can vouch for the progress to date.

(Just need to create the Type 82 Bristol class destroyers now !!!)

Cheers

Geoff

[Thorvic]

Ok got the basis of the Macks (MAst & stACK) sorted out so heres an update of the model with it major components.







Now heres the Escort Carrier, armed with Sea Slug on the stern, 4.5" Twin trurret fwd of the bridge and twin seacats on the Island, intended to carry at least 6 ASW helicopters up to Sea King size.





Here's the in progress fleet so far :- CVA-01, Escort Cruiser, Type 17 ASW and Type 42 AA frigates (Type 82 still to be created)





G

[Hobbes]

Will the Type 42 be a RW boat or an alternative design?

[Thorvic]

Will the Type 42 be a RW boat or an alternative design?

The Type 42 is the 382 AA frigate, the actual Type 42 evolved from teh post cancellation of the CVA-01 and the need to include helicopter pad and hanger.

[Sauragnmon]

I'll be watching your builds then - A mate and I were talking about a rebuild/redesign of a Type 42 DDG with the hangar converted into a missile position idea, possibly all VLS forward and aft to increase the engagement envelope.  I think he wanted to remove the helipad too, but I'm in favour of keeping that for resupply etc.

[Captain Canada]

Nice work, Thor ! Love the idea of an ASW carrier....now you're talking ! What kind of a/c are going to be on it ?

[nev]

Great looking work Geoff.  How much detailing are you going to be doing? PE sets and the like?

[Thorvic]

Nice work, Thor ! Love the idea of an ASW carrier....now you're talking ! What kind of a/c are going to be on it ?

Well the escort cruiser was to replace the Tiger class with a warship capable of operating ypto 6 or more ASW helo's. Upto 1966 these were in additional to CVA-01, so its airgroup could be optomised for the strike role and the escorts provided ASW coverage for the group. The aircraft illustrated in the drawings generally are the S-3 Seaking that actually went into service withe the FAA. but an ASW version of the Chinook was discussed during the 60's.

The Japanese Heil class helicopter destroyers were designed to a similar role, but down with teh rear half of the ship dedicated to the Helicopters and hanger. Its interesting to note that their replacements are virtually modern versions of the escort cruiser design !!!!

The design was revamped following cancellation of the CVA-01 and eventually evolved into the Invincible class through deck cruisers. 

[Thorvic]

Great looking work Geoff.  How much detailing are you going to be doing? PE sets and the like?

Hi Nev

Going to detail them up using some PR parts for doors & masts, lumps, boxes and trunking from plastic strip, weapons from the Pitroad/Dragon weapon sprues, deck details such as bollards and capstains from resin aftermarket bits and airgroup from various sources.

Not sure if i'll go all out and do the PE railings, as these a rather fidley to do and tend to be somewhat over done in 1/700 as scale out more to farm yard post and bar fence than chain especially when painted.

Cheers

Geoff

[Brian da Basher]

You never cease to amaze me, Admiral! It would be impressive enough were those all waterline kits, but scratch-built???!!!

Gentlemen, we are in the presence of a true master craftsman.

Brian da Basher

[uk 75]

Geoff


Love the way the Task Group is coming along.

Re-reading the Brown/Moore book "Rebuilding the Royal Navy" I have
come to the conclusion that the ASW cruiser might have seen the
light of day if it had not been for the Polaris purchase in 1962.  If the
Skybolt missiles had been purchased for the RAF the RN might have had
more scope to get its CVA and ASW cruiser programme past the Cabinet
in 1962, in which case by 1964 they both might have been further
along the procurement path.

Brown/Moore suggests that as early as 1962 the ASW cruiser was
planned to have the same stern armament as that originally drawn
for the angle deck version of CVA 01:  Seadart (CF299) launchers
either side of the stern (like the US carriers of the same period),
with IKARA SUGW on a smaller platform at the side.   Assuming
that CVA 01 had evolved further, the ASW cruiser would have had the
same single Seadart aft, though possibly still with the IKARA.

CVA 01 seems to have been designed from the off with CF299, though
I suspect that late 50s versions might have been designed with other
options including US missiles (Tartar and possibly even Typhon).

As you are building the Seaslug version the ASW Chinook which belongs
to the same period (ie pre SH3D Seaking) would be a good match.

My favourite version of CVA 01 is the drawing in the 1963/4 Janes
of the angle deck version with two Cf299 and carrying the proposed
fighter/attacker swing wing vstol.  The tailless Vickers 581 is
closest to the planes drawn.  It is this drawing which launched
countless efforts in my schooldays to design warships.

The escorts you choose seem right.  The Type 82 or similar missile
ship (again like the US Belknap/Leahy class of the period) with
the Type17 or 19 as the standard frigate.

All you need to complete the group is a replenishment ship. The
Navy was looking tentatively at fitting a Regent/Resource class ship with
nuclear power in a unit similar to the American Savannah aft.

Looking forward to more
UK 75

[Thorvic]

Hi Ralph

I'll probably stick with the 1961 design for the ASW cruiser as thats what i have drawings for and most people can recognise. but i may do another with the Mods mentioned in B&M, although i suspect the Island design would require double ended 909 directors for the Sea Dart along with an Ikara director. I suspect the 4.5" gun might be lost or moved futher forward using the MK8.

As the RFA's were renewed during the 60's i may look at doing an OL class tanker and a Ness class stores ship. A nuclear powered Resource class would be different although without a matching tanker its value may be limited.

I shall try and do some of the designes post 1966 taht evolved as a result of the cancellation on CVA-01.

Cheers

Geoff

[Thorvic]

Well after an enforced break from modelling due to twisting my back last week, i was finally able to start doing a little detailling n CVA-01. mainly bollards & doors, but already starting to busy up the look of the decks  .

Will limit myself to doing a section at a time as rather fiddley and need to let section cure before moving on to next i also nned the reference data to hand to study what should go where. However i aim to get CVA-01 fitted out in the next week, before doing same again on the ASW cruiser and escorts.

Add to that painting, decalling and airgroup and i've a busy month ahead prior to SMW. 

G

[proditor]

Wow, those are awesome!  I hope your back heals quickly so that you can keep churning out ships. 

[Sauragnmon]

Hope it all plays out nicely, Geoff.  I probably won't see a show until next year when hopefully the light rail from here to Ottawa opens up and I can try and get in for CapCon in the Spring and Fall.