HMS Warspite~Airborne Leviathon

Radish · April 06, 2010, 02:02:19 PM

I bought the Airfix Warspite yesterday, built the hull then and cleaned it up this morning. I was going to leave it alone, but then I've been babysitting tonight, so finished the bugger....apart from the essential additions needed to turn it into an Aether-screw propulsion Royal Navy Leviathon, circa 1938.

Radish · April 07, 2010, 03:13:58 AM

Gods this has been fun.
A combination of poor modelling light, fumes, a 5-year old and watching a Dr.Who dvd and "Shark Story" on telly meant that I moved the forward superstructure forward so that the front turret wouldn't fit. Doh!! No problem, the "stabiliser" machinery/ding-dong/control/gizmo now occupies the space, and the front turret now occupies a position created amidships....different, but not ideal. Next time I'll get it right. Anyway, the build itself is cracking....loving it. I only have 3 other Warspite kits so may/will get some more. It's a beautiful looking creature, it really is.
Most of the plasticcy bits are added, but just need to check out some secondary armament. The kit supplied stuff in the barbettes down the hull sides is terribly mis-moulded, so all need replacing with rod, so I'll drill some holes in a bit.
Then I'll need to make the Aetherscrew Propulsion engines....got lots of screws. (Try going into B&Q or some other outlet and asking for a screw?) Some fantastic dimensions.
It'll be "based" in the equivalent of an airborne dry dock

Colour scheme?
Probably grey-ish, but I forsee lots of other possibilities...not least the very REAL Mountbatten Pink...check that colour out if you've not come across it

Radish · April 07, 2010, 12:24:30 PM

Drilled out the holes for the new secondary armament, but then realised that if fired, then the bloody engine pods would be in the way. Obviously a design fault.
So the holes for the guns are now extra portholes, and additional armament has been added up top.
The engine pods with their front propellors (two for each pod) have been added, and I just need to add the screws before spraying (probably tomorrow or Friday) I could well take it to Cossie on Sunday to continue painting.
It's a belting looking creature...even better when I build the superstructure either further back or in the middle!

Radish · April 07, 2010, 02:24:05 PM

Screws added...whoooohoooooo!!
I need to buy some Grey Primer as I used the last bit on the "White Raven".

I also need to build some bases, texts, and buy some boxes to put them in. A busy day tomorrow as it's Club Night at IPMS Stafford.

The Rat · April 07, 2010, 07:32:01 PM

PICTURES!

proditor · April 07, 2010, 07:45:59 PM

Quote from: The Rat on April 07, 2010, 07:32:01 PM
PICTURES!

What he said.

Radish · April 08, 2010, 03:19:38 AM

Mrs. Radish has the camera and she's in Berlin so won't return until late Friday. But it'll be at Cosford albeit just in its primer grey coat on Sunday.

Glued the hull together on another Warspite this morning (while watching the Rocky Horror dvd...I can never get enough!) but I'll leave the rest of it to build at Cosford Show. For this I'm contemplating a 4 x screw arrangement for the power/propulsion.
Whoooohooooo.

Still not decided on names for these airborne battleships yet.....the Leviathons of the age.
Might look to Arthurian legend for names...

Merlin, Nimue, Dervan Cadern, Guinivere, etc..
Not Lancelot as in the fabulous trilogy by Bernard Cornwell he's a very believable slimy cowardly rat!!

Weaver · April 08, 2010, 03:32:58 AM

Is a leviathon like a telethon, but for the benefit of leviathans, then?

Alternatively, it might be like a marathon for vehicles that levitate, although in that case, it might properly be called a Levitatathon......

Radish · April 09, 2010, 09:51:53 AM

Now sprayed in grey primer, ready for painting, probably at Cosford on Sunday during the Show.

Radish · April 12, 2010, 01:39:47 AM

The Leviathan was painted a bit more, but it'll be a slow, building up the painting process....at least two days, possibly 3.
Meanwhile...inspiration...

Radish · May 16, 2010, 10:51:37 AM

Spent most of today painting this at the Meir Show...lots of delicate washes, drybrushing, etc....
Getting close to decals....

Then "H.M.L. Warspout" will be revealed, re-arming, ready for the final assault on Japan.

Radish · May 17, 2010, 08:37:38 AM

Other Airbourne Leviathans in this class of ships (all based on the excellent Airfix kit) are::

The Viking battleship "Wormspit"
Thje "Restoration Theatrical" battleship, with lots of lace, etc...."H.M.L. "Whorespit"
The Rocky Horror Cast and Fan Cruise Battleship, the "Warmspurt",
and the German Navy copy, the "Wurmspitz"

John Howling Mouse · May 17, 2010, 05:25:24 PM

Quote from: Radish on April 08, 2010, 03:19:38 AM
Mrs. Radish has the camera and she's in Berlin so won't return until late Friday. But it'll be at Cosford albeit just in its primer grey coat on Sunday.

Translation: The only sentient being in the household possessing opposable thumbs who knows how to TURN THE CAMERA ON is not available until Friday.

arkon · May 17, 2010, 09:01:43 PM

dude ,i want to see flying battleships of any kind. that is why i see ALL your threads and said WOO HOO , but then

i will no longer look, sorry , sir

Radish · May 18, 2010, 10:09:50 AM

Might be finished tomorrow...might not.

I've applied the decals, but the ones on the deck fell off....bastards!
I've flat varnish tomorrow, weather them in and then think about a base....well....thought about it actually, might be sorted on that!

It'll be for "Operation Downwind" or whatever the invasion of Japan was called.