The Falklands War 1982

[zak]

More etched brass added.

[Bigkev]

Great attention to detail as usual.

[zak]

Even more etched brass.
Unfortunately I have made rather a mess of the large radar array.

[cph64]

I wouldn't have known if you hadn't said. You're still far better at it than me, well done.

[zak]

The assembly is complete, painted in various greys and the a coat of varnish and the transfers applied, still needs a dark oil pin wash and some dry brushing with lighter colour.

[zak]

Now it is back to scratch building, the Bempton dockyard never stops.

I am going to attempt a build of HMS Atlantic Conveyor. This was a roll on roll off container ship and was converted to carry helicopters and Harriers to The Falklands.
There appears  to be a kit available from Japan, but cost vary between £100-150, ouch!
So what cah I lose, how hard can it be.
So having sourced some plans and photos i made a start.
The hull is a balsa block faced with plastic card.

There was a windbreak (I presume at the front and a cargo door at the rear.

The Atlantic Conveyor was one of two roll-on roll-off container ships that were requisitioned by the Ministry of Defence for service in the Falklands War during 1982. England was short of carriers and these ships were converted to handle harriers and helicopters. The ship had it's deck turned into a makeshift flight deck with a row of containers arranged along the sides to provide some shelter for the aircraft. A landing pad on the stern and on the bow allowed for flight operations. The ship embarked eight Sea Harriers, six Harriers GR3s, eight Wessex 5 helicopters and five Chinook helicopters. Below deck in the roll-on roll-off part of the hold were vehicles to support the Falklands invasion.
The ship was rushed into service, but was not supplied with any defensive armament partly due to it's merchant ship status. She sailed south to help retake the Falkland Islands from Argentina. After she arrived the Harriers were flown off to the HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible. On May 25 a  pair of Argentine Super Etendard aircraft  fired their Exocet missiles at the ships in the British task force. One locked onto one of the Frigates but was diverted from it's target by chaff. The missile then locked onto the Atlantic Conveyor and hit her in the port quarter. A huge fireball erupted from her stern and the ship burned uncontrollably. She was abandoned and the fire reached the bow where more fuel and cluster bombs were stored. When these blew up the bow was blown away and the ship later sank with all but one of her helicopters going down with her.
Twelve men lost their lives including Captain Ian North. 

[zak]

The plans were resized to 1:700 using my printer and then stuck together again.

[cph64]

Glamorgan looks great. Atlantic Conveyor looks like it will keep you busy for a while.

[chriswil42]

Glamorgan looks great. Atlantic Conveyor looks like it will keep you busy for a while.

Ditto.

[zak]

I have been so engrossed with the build, I forgot to take many photos, Here is the progress to date.

[MSea]

Excellent

[Bigkev]

You certainly have a flair for making not often seen models, and this one is another scratch built lesson to us all.
Excellent modelling skills.

[chriswil42]

Exquisite Dave. Great work!

[cph64]

Where do you get all the etch brass from? Mega stash of accumulated spares or did you buy more?

[zak]

Where do you get all the etch brass from? Mega stash of accumulated spares or did you buy more?

From accumulated stash and I bought some from Trumpeter a few years ago.
The containers were made from card, I may try something else as I am not too happy with them.
Trying to get the placement somewhat right!
 I have just watched a video about the ship and learnt a lot about what I have got wrong.
Look here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdS-T1GeyKU
Lots of other ship video/information too