Airfix SRN4-Hovercraft ideas

[upnorth]

I'm surprised that something like the SRN4 hasn't been used on the supply lines up in the Canadian Arctic.  Having been up there one time I would of thought it was an ideal terrain for hovercraft use, no impacted on the ground etc.

That is indeed surprising as the Canadian Coast Guard does, or at least did at a time, employ hovercraft for icebreaking duties up there.

[McColm]

I wound have thought the Liverpool to Belfast route would be ideal, or even Dublin. Quicker than the ferry and can carry more cargo than the airliners.

[Gondor]

My current thoughts for the Caledonian MacBrayne SRN4 is to use this tartan http://www.scotweb.co.uk/tartandesign/details/19418 with the colour scheme similar to this http://www.cmassets.co.uk/en/ferries.html though the Company name would be in black on the side of the craft. The tails and pylons would be red, the tops of the pylons would be painted black and the Red Lion Rampart on a Yellow Roundel would be on the tail fins outer surfaces. I do have an idea for the vessels name but at the moment do not know what letters would be used to describe a hovercraft. I normal ferry is described as a MV or Motor Vessel which I would not think would suit a hovercraft.

Any ideas?

Gondor

[deathjester]

I'm surprised that something like the SRN4 hasn't been used on the suppy lines up in the Canadian Arctic.  Having been up there one time I would of thought it was an ideal terrain for hovercraft use, no impacted on the ground etc.

That is indeed surprising as the Canadian Coast Guard does, or at least did at a time, employ hovercraft for icebreaking duties up there.

I have heard from a friend who designs hovercraft that they were going to use them, in Canada, for just that purpose, until someone in government decided that hovercraft pilots had to have a (very expensive) ocean going masters ticket, as they had to cross large areas of water!   The reason he knows this is he was asked to design and build the craft for them!

[McColm]

Now armed with my razor and plasticard, 'Colossus' is turning out to be a large landingcraft/helicopter/aircraft carrier. Might have to scratch build the forward cannon/guns and flare canisters.

[jcf]

The Canadian Coast Guard does indeed operate ACVs, and icebreaking is one of the duties.
CCGS Mamilossa is the most recent, being completed in 2009.

http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/e0009754

Others are listed on the Vessels and Air Cushioned Vehicles page:
http://www.ccg-gcc.gc.ca/eng/Ccg/fleet

[rickshaw]

Whats the buff coloured structure between the two air deflectors?

[rallymodeller]

It's a combination crane/remote manipulator, used for buoy tender duties. It's removable, and there's a bow ramp. I posted a side view of the Mamilossa back on page 2, and you can see the crane in that shot as well.

[PR19_Kit]

AFAIK Hovercraft in the UK aren't called by any prefix at all, they aren't HMS, SS, MV or anything else, they're just hovercraft.

When the SRN4s first entered service on the cross-Channel run they actually had 'HOVERCRAFT' painted on the bow ramp in huge letters, presumably so they would be recoginsed for what they were. Mind you, how anyone could mistake an SRN4 for anything else I have no idea, it's a low, squat thing that's going like the clappers with a VAST cloud of spray surrounding it!

[Gondor]

When the SRN4s first entered service on the cross-Channel run they actually had 'HOVERCRAFT' painted on the bow ramp in huge letters, presumably so they would be recoginsed for what they were. Mind you, how anyone could mistake an SRN4 for anything else I have no idea, it's a low, squat thing that's going like the clappers with a VAST cloud of spray surrounding it!

Love the description PR19 

Gondor

[Mossie]

Here's the GI Joe Killer W.H.A.L.E., it was always a Holy Grail toy for me & a mate (it was just known as the Hovercraft in the UK Action Force range), neither of us ever got it.

Recent reminiscing on the net reminded me of it.  Plenty of GI Joe/Action vehicles were purely toys, not really modelled on anything but a handful were quite representative of the real thing.  This one looks the part as an assault Hovercraft, the missile lanchers & MG's being pretty good, the two large calibre howitzer style guns being v.cool when you're eight years old.

[rickshaw]

It's a combination crane/remote manipulator, used for buoy tender duties. It's removable, and there's a bow ramp. I posted a side view of the Mamilossa back on page 2, and you can see the crane in that shot as well.

Ah, OK.  Thanks for that.

[McColm]

A raid on the 1/144 tanks is in order. Thanks Mossie.

[philp]

Gondor,
This may help with your build.



Course, not sure if they have the right Clan.

[Gondor]

That's the kind of thing that we sent the new kids on camp to the stores for and they were usually sent back to find out which clan or colours were wanted, along with long weights (waits) and one enterprising soul from the motor pool sent some hapless boy to get a fallopian tube from the stores who redirected him to the medical centre...... 

Gondor