Vosper Hydrofoil MTB - 1/72

[buzzbomb]

Just one more boring day in lockdown, (sung to the tune of "One more boring Thursday night in Adelaide" by Redgum.. )

The Naval GB on BTS got me interested in some stash kits that are on theme


So now I am working on a Hydrofoil Vosper, latish WW2 timeline
The Vosper kit is showing its age and all, but really it is not that nice to build so far. See exhibit A with all the clamps. Also stripping card for the Hydrofoils


Shaping the airfoil section (seafoil ?? ) got to work with the basic fit out


Scratchbuilt 6 Pounder mount (which needs a slightly smaller diameter barrel) and a pre loved Oerlikon bandstand left over from the Fairmile D MTB build


I figured that I need to get the craft basically built and fully fitted before fitting the Hydrofoils. Of which there will be some cheating, as I plan to mount in a sea base to try and sell the idea more effectively

[buzzbomb]

So getting up to speed as to where we are at the moment.
Reasonably happy with the layout so far. The kit is pretty pedestrian by today's standards, however it did go together quite quickly for exactly that reason.
General Layout so far, still doing the umm and ahh on 4 vs 2 Torpedo tubes, so they have not been addressed yet to fix the seams and awful fit.
The real world late/post war Vospers with 6 Pounders dropped the tubes down to 2, but four looks hunkier, if very busy. I do have 2 x 21" tubes left over from the Fairmile build which might be an alternative option.
Ready ammo lockers still to be fitted as well

Ditched the Bandstand Oerlikon mount for the later and more efficient Powered mount. This is courtesy of Coastal Craft models and tricks out very nicely

More work on the 6 pounder mount, with Molin autoloader. A lot of the standard deck fittings were moved as the mount takes a bit of room, so shuffling of ventilators was required.


Nice shot of the old Sydney Harbour Hydrofoil Ferry. I reckon I will go for a layout like this. So next step, the hydrofoils.

[PR19_Kit]

How about using fully submerged foils like the USN Tucumcari? A simpler system to build than the more complex surface piercing foils used on the Rodriquez boats in your pic?



Aurora did quite a nice of the Tucumcari AGES ago, and I built one, very nicely moulded it was too.



This isn't mine, but it's the same kt. The foils folded up in the kit, like the real thing, sideways for the aft foils and upwards for the bow foil.

[kerick]

I remember that kit! It was a fun build.

[zenrat]

Next step up from a Hydrofoil with folding foils is adding folding wings as well so it becomes a Hydrofoikranoplan...

[Rheged]

Next step up from a Hydrofoil with folding foils is adding folding wings as well so it becomes a Hydrofoikranoplan...

Certainly a concept of considerable whiffness.   I'd like to see that done ........but don't look at me,  I'll write a backstory if people wish, but I'm not up to that level of modelling.

[zenrat]

I forgot to say BB, excellent scratching as usual.
The Airfix MTB is a bit long on the tooth.

[Old Wombat]

Initial release was in 1972 ... I was 10, & I think I bought & built my first when I was 12 ... So, coming up on 50 years old.

[buzzbomb]

Bit of tinkering with the Hydrofoil setup. Not too fussed about the engineering as I plan to put the vessel on a sea base to get the idea across.
I figured that although there are later setups, like the T Shape, this is a bit more old school and maybe more contemporary of the period

[63cpe]

Woow, that looking good man! Great plan to put hydrofoils on a vosper.

David aka 63cpe

[Rick Lowe]

Liking how this is coming along.

Had you thought of using the Airfix 6-Pounder for basing the gun around?

[NARSES2]

Initial release was in 1972 ... I was 10,

Mere child, I was courting 

Coming along nicely 

[PR19_Kit]

Initial release was in 1972 ... I was 10,

Mere child, I was courting 

I was testing tilting trains, or trying to anyway, when the unions let us......

[Rheged]

Initial release was in 1972 ... I was 10,

Mere child, I was courting 

I was testing tilting trains, or trying to anyway, when the unions let us......

I was burning the midnight oil in Lancaster, trying to get essays in on time................

[buzzbomb]

Had you thought of using the Airfix 6-Pounder for basing the gun around?

Sure did, but did not have one on hand. I got rid of all my 72/76 Scale wargames stuff.
Certainly was not going to buy one just for this.