HMS MAJESTIC (ex-MELBOURNE) Falklands 1982- Completed

[NARSES2]

Great piece of scratchbuilding - well done! 

Absolutely 

[scooter]

Great piece of scratchbuilding - well done! 

Absolutely 

x2 

[Joe C-P]

Very nice work! Looking forward to the final result. 

[sandiego89]

Time to begin thinking about the air wing. 

The contenders, with a few false entries to keep Argentinian intel guessing 

[PR19_Kit]

There's enough AEW types there to blanket the whole of Argentina with radar waves! 

[Old Wombat]

There's enough AEW types there to blanket the whole of Argentina with radar waves! 

Future War! Sterilize the lot of 'em!

[zenrat]

Wow, that's impressive work.

[sandiego89]

Returning after a week on vacation away from my bench, but not all lost as I got a few bargains for the stash!

Making a RTV rubber mold so I can churn out a few more Majestic/Colossus builds. Ran out of my Alumilite RTV mold so trying a new product, fingers crossed.

Scratch hull master going into a mold making box from scratch wood.  Blue putty to reduce the ampout of RTV mold I use.  RTV is pricey.

Master in upside down.



Poured the rubber mold over the master.  Let sit overnight. 



Popped out the master.  Here is the mold, right side up.  Worried about the result, not as crisp at the Alumalite RTV mold I used before.  This is a firmer rubber.  Really had to pry some of it off the master, a few tears. I did use no-stick over the master. I am a real novice with molds, operator error entirely possible....   



Poured resin into the mold.....

[NARSES2]

Thanks for the "in-progress" shots, interesting

[sandiego89]

Elevator and hangar deck work.  Forward elevator will be able to be displayed up or down.

Laid catapult rails and jet blast deflector.

[Captain Canada]

LOve it ! Love the sneak peek at the air wing as well....awesome, awesome stuff. Nice to see you molding techniques as well. I have to try that one day !

[sandiego89]

HMS MAJESTIC, Falklands october 1982.  

1/700 Scratch build.

In April 1982 the UK government quietly requested that Australia keep the recently retired HMAS Melbourne on stand-by in case she were needed for operations in the Falklands.  The request paid major dividends when the war was extended past the southern hemisphere winter when the UK task force was force to temporarily withdraw due to several casualties.

The MELBOURNE received a very minor refit and set sail for Portsmouth in June 1982.  The first major step was to determine the airwing.  Despite offers from Australia to include the A-4 Skyhawk in the deal, and some eager volunteers to man them, it was determined that qualifying FAA aircrew on the Skyhawk would take too long, and Australian air crew was deemed politically touchy.  Thus the Sea Harrier was determined to be the main fighter/attack platform.

As airborne early warning was sorely missed in the first phase of the war, a flight of Gannet AEW.3's were bought out of retirement and crews were re-qualified, with the re-formed 849NAS.  A single Gannet COD4 "777" was brought out of the museum at Yeovilton and provided sterling service.  

The rest of the Air wing included GR.3 Harriers, Sea King and two Wessex for SAR duties.  Chinooks occasionally cross decked.

xxxxxxxxxx

The Kit- 1/700 scale.  Entirely scratch built with sheet styrene. A few minor bits from the parts bin including guns, small boats and radars.  Rest is scratch.  Airwing mix of 1/700 kits.  

     

















For scale reference.  

[Gondor]

Nice 

Gondor

[Captain Canada]

Beauty ! Turned out really well, and is quite a susbtantial piece even at 700 scale eh ? Love the airwing. Always liked the Gannett, and it would have been a real help down there. I was sure there was going to be at least one pic with a hinook on deck !

[PR19_Kit]

What an excellent job you've made of that. 

The seascape makes it, wonderful stuff.