Holdin' out for a Hero

[Gondor]

I wonder how many of you are now running the Bonny Tyler song through your head?  Probably most of you 

Some of you will remember the TV show, if you were in the UK, from the 1970's called "Warship". The ship depicted was a Leander class Frigate called HMS Hero. This build is of HMS Hero after she was refitted with an Ikera anti-submarine weapon as part of a general refit which could easily happened at the end of the TV series although this would make the refit slightly later than the last conversion in real life. I also happen to have a detail set which includes parts to make the conversion of a normal Leander class Frigate by Airfix in 1/600 scale into the Ikera refit configuration. This will be my second ship build, the other being HMS Cumberland which would take way too much work to for what I am looking at doing right now which is a nice quick build to help take my mind off things and that does not need to be part of the Cold War Group build. Just in case I get this finished by the end of the Group Build I will see if it would be allowable but at the moment I am not fussed.

Gondor

[Gondor]

So much for a quick build as that comment was made some seven years ago 

So as I was thinking of trying to clear up a few of my started builds, this one was nudging at me to do something to her, so I shot some primer over her to see what gaps there are, and what needs to be done as well.

First an overall shot



Forward Port Side



Forward Starboard Side



The Ikera conversion was from Shapeways, no idea if it's still available or not. It arrived as a clear material which has become somewhat bleached over time. I'm supprised at how much detail the primer has shown is there. It also shows me that I need to work on some of the "deck furniture" to make it look more accurate although I am not going to try and do this to the same standard as you see at some shows or on-line.

So, next is a bit of filler to tidy a few joints up and then adding more parts.

Gondor

[Thorvic]

https://www.shapeways.com/shops/bogeysbits?section=1%2F600+Scale&s=0

Still available, Bogeys bits are quite nice conversion sets and really enhance the details, so looking good so far.

https://atlanticmodels.net/photo-etched%20details/1-600%20scale.html

Atlantic models do etch set for Leander and that may give you the extra details your looking for the enhance  the surface details

https://starling-models.co.uk/collections/1-600

Starling models also do some nice updates to the County class and Fearless class

[Gondor]

Thanks for the tips Thorvic. The conversion that I am using on the ship is the Bogeys Bits Ikera conversion although the carar array appears to have gone walk about    I have a spare because I also have the Gun Leander update set so I can rob peter to pay Paul as it were.

I have Atlantic's HMS Victorious set and I am intending to get a set of decals for the Pennant numbers as the kit ones are from the 1970's with yellowed edges to the decals. Looking at the instructions for the etch for the Leander by Atlantic makes me think that a mix of parts from both should work really well so I will go for the etch as well as the decals I think. Ta 

Gondor

[zenrat]

But where are the Holdens?

 

[Gondor]

But where are the Holdens?

 

English was never my strongest subject, the title is now modified to something more correct than it was, I hope 

Gondor

[Gondor]

Progress on my other Leander class ship



I only have two Leander Frigates' at the moment and would like more, partly so I can backdate one to a Rothesay class ship as well as going through the various armament options. This one I am takeing more care with as I learned from Hero. Note that the clamping of the deck to the hull had to get a little "inventive" hence the bottle holding up the more physical clamp on what is an aircraft jig with the prow of the ship faceing what is normally the tail end of the aircraft. Thihs hull will be a fairly "normal" Leander, the only thing being that I don't know what passes for normal for them or which batch Airfix made the kit to be 

Gondor

[Gondor]

The joining of the deck to the hull went well, just a little lifting of the deck at the prow which I recon I can fix. Did a quick look through the rest of the Leander and other associated Airfix 1/600 ships I have and found in a Falklands box that I had a Rothesay conversion set for the Leander and there was also a detail set for the County class ship in the box as well. Forgot all about them 

Only thing is that unless I find a build using these kits then I will need to find reference material, which I have no clue about 

Gondor

[Gondor]

Received today the following book as part of a Ship baised increase to my Library, I am expecting three more books to arrive in the near future with another being ordered tomorrow.



Photo pinched from the site I bought the book from. Looks as if it has lots of information in it that I can use and learn from.

Gondor

[Joe C-P]

Glad to see Not Another Battleship model ship build.  The Leanders and related classes were an interesting and adaptable design.

[Gondor]

Two more books arrived today, both recommended by Thorvic



Different editions so different information I hope.

Gondor

[Gondor]

I received some resin detail sets from Starling Models today. A pair of Twing 4.5" N6 Mounts which will be used with my Gun Leander and my Rothesay conversion when I get around to it. To make up a minimum order value I ended up buying their HMS Devonshire detail set. I am so blown away with the level of detail that I decided to take a few pictures.

First an overview of the largest block of parts



Now some zoomed in shots

Sea Slug Launcher





No idea but I think it could be a 20mm Oerlikon



More bits



Humphrey?





Ships boats and Davit's general view



And close ups





I think they might look better with a coat of Grey Primer to bring out the detail which will happen tomorrow so I will post hopefully better pictures then.

Gondor

[Gondor]

As promised, Prime Time 

Overview to start with



A bit closer.....



Closer still.....



Above  is the Sea Slug launch cradle and Sea Cat launchers on the right side of the picture. Far easier to see than yesterday without the primer.

Below you can see the buisness end of the Sea Slug launch cradle and the 4.5" turrets



Ships boats and Davit's



And finally the Wessex





Apart from a very little bit of layer showing on the sides of the Wessex which should easily be hidden by paint, and the fact that the photo is enlarged, remember the parts are in 1/600 scale, I am even more stunned and feeling a little bit intimidated and scared that I will mess the parts up.

Gondor

[zenrat]

Wow.  3d printing is awesome!

Amazing the difference a squirt of primer makes.

[Gondor]

Wow.  3d printing is awesome!

Amazing the difference a squirt of primer makes.

Scares the cr@p out of me as I am bound to make a mess of things, same with the Photo etch 

Gondor