LF 1/700 HMAS Melbourne aircraft carrier

[rickshaw]

As the tin lid says, looking for 1/700 HMAS Melbourne aircraft carrier.  I know none of the major manufacturers make one but is there any resin ones available?

[Thorvic]

Oz Models were working on one for about a decade but passed over the work to the resin shipyard who appear to have stopped new kit development.

A bloke in Oz did a garage kit of the Melbourne but it was pretty rough and ropey, so mush so I was bale to scratch build a better hull from plastic card.

The nearest you'll get at the moment is converting a L' Arsenal Colossus class kit and convert that to angled deck configuration

http://www.larsenal.com/1-700-arromanches-aircraft-carrier-1954-fit-c2x15951745

[sandiego89]

Really surprised there has not been a good kit of her, I made a 1/700 MELBOURNE from scratch (in Falklands fit with Royal Navy aircraft).  I popped a resin mold of the hull that turned out fair, but would still require lots of scratch work such as the flight deck and island to complete. 

 





- Dave

[rickshaw]

Sandiego89, do you stlll have the mould?   Are you willing to make a hull for me?  If so, how much?

[seadude]

Here's a build thread on the Modelwarships site of somebody building the Melbourne.
http://www.shipmodels.info/mws_forum/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=52204

[sandiego89]

Sandiego89, do you stlll have the mould?   Are you willing to make a hull for me?  If so, how much?

Yes I still have the mold, and I have two cast hulls.  I would be happy to give you the better one of the hulls "free" if you would pay for postage or barter something- I like 1/72 jets and 1/700 ships among other things.  I am in the USA.  I want to keep my completed styrene version.

Here is the picture of my mold, two cast hulls and my Melbourne made from scratch styrene.  Be forewarned this was my first large resin casting experiment, and way more a learning session for me to learn something new. The top hull I overflowed a bit and did not put enough mold release before putting in the two part resin.  The second is better, where i cast it with a "hangar deck" (really just to save on resin) and with the red parts a bit of automotive bondo to see how the hull smoothed out.  By no means am I cottage caster. 

I also have a spare Melbourne flight deck outlined on white sheet styrene I am happy to throw in.   You would have to lots of sanding and scratch up everything else, but I feel she is pretty close in shape and dimensions,  If interested, happy to let you have it- but if it is not what you are looking for fully understand- just trying to help.  Send me a PM with you full mailing address if you want her. 

-Dave 

 

[Captain Canada]

Great thread ! Love the resin build San Diego Dave !

[rickshaw]

PM inbound!