Model Forum / General / Models / February 2008

Hi there.

Well work has commenced on this,ahem!, Lindberg model of HMS HOOD.

First I have decided that all I want is a reasonably HMS HOOD model to
muck about on the pond with this spring and summer. It would be nice
if the model were atractive to display when out of the water as well.

I have done quite a bit of on-line research since my posting earlier
regarding the irony of the HMS HOOD kit by Lindberg.

Some thing else I found last night that struck me as particlarly
Ironic was that HMS HOOD was the *THIRTEENTH* (and last)Battle Cruiser
ordered for the Royal Navy.

I have found quite a bit of information online both text and images
including 11 *COLOUR* photos of the 1/64 scale 'Builder's Model' which
portray HMS HOOD as she was *PLANNED* to be built.

I have decided I will be building this kit as HMS HOOD appeared in the
1920s. The secondary armament and the smaller guns included in the
Lindberg kit are more suited to this time period.

My model of HMS HOOD is going to be radio controlled. The 2 outside
kit props, attached to 1/16 in brass rods, will provide the driving
power via direct drive provided by 2 inexpensive electric motors
coupled to the shafts. I might add the 2 inboard motos at a later
date. I will be constructing them the same as the 2 outboard shafts
when I do them.

Because of the 1/64 scale 'Builders Model' images I now know what the
15 inches turrets are supposed to look like. I have reshaped the
Lindberg turets to more closely resemble these. I have also made 8
guns for the 15 inches turrets from brass tubing nestled inside each
other. Even unpainted they look good. I might make them out of
aluminium tubing instead since last night I found photos showing that
in the 1920s the 15 inches guns were brightly polished near the
muzzles.

I have already started the 4 new 15 inches main turret gun mounts. The
Lindberg kit as built out-of-the-box would have 'A' and 'Y' turrets
sitting flush on the decks. I have found 4 plastic bottles that once
had tubes of CA glue in them that are exactly the right diameter. I
will be adding some detail to them. I have another plastic bottle that
is slightly smaller in diameter and is tapered that I have glued some
sand paper on to. I am using this to ream out the holes on the fore-
deck and the quarter deck for the 15 inches gun mounts.

I am off to the hobby store later today for some i/16 in brass rod and
the tubing that it will fit into so I can start the drive shafts. I
think I will get  the aluminium tubing for the 15 inches gun barrels
too.

I have found enough ships boats that are close enough in size to
outfit the boat deck.

All in all it looks like this will be a fun project after all.

I'll be testing the model in the tub and will run it in  the pond once
the ice covering it has melted.

I am off now to commence scribing the deck planking on the fore deck,
the quarter deck and the boat deck. The planks will be about 1/32 in
wide in this scale. Not exact perhaps but close enough.

Cheers from Peter