Subject: SMML07/03/97VOL111 shipmodels@wr.com.au --------------------------------- INDEX 1: Hood - Reconstruction 2: Aquitania ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: "Ritchie_deutag, Colin" Subject: Hood - Reconstruction Hi there, As I'm coming to the end of WE's hood, and I'm casting around for other things to get my teeth into, (apart from the Tamiya POW!), and I'd like to try my hand as some conversion work. In particular, modelling Hood as she might have looked after her planned re-construction, I'd be using the Airfix kit I hasten to add . To this end, does anyone out there have any references, pictures etc of the plans that were drawn up for this work. My guess is that she would have ended up rather like Renown, with a large bridge superstructure, and hanger decks, aircraft catapult, and the recessed 4" Twin mounts. Other than that that I'm kind of struggling, any ideas out there ... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: CHRIS DRAGE Subject: Aquitania Hi all you 1:700 modellers, I have been rather disappointed with all the modelling interest recently shown in the Titanic. The Titanic for all her majesty was essentially only an 'event' - a disaster. Apart from the drama and mystery of her sinking (worthy true, of any disaster movie) as a modeller's subject she's a bit of a damp squib. She simply did not have a sailing record. So what about modelling a subject which is not only bigger, better and faster than the Titanic ever was, but had a magnificent and proud service record to boot! : the Cunard trans-Atlantic liner Aquitania. Now W.E.M. have posted on their website a proposition for interested modellers to take up: that they are prepared to produce a limited run (collectors take note!) of a 1:700 scale model of Aquitania (about 15" long). Before undertaking the project however, they require at least 50 definite orders to break even. It's going to cost a pretty packet but I think it's worth it to acquire a superb model of one of the world's Super -Liners. Here's a potted history: "Aquitania was built to maintain the Cunard Company's weekly transatlantic service to New York in conjunction with their two express liners Mauretania and Lusitania. For various reasons it was decided that this ship would have a greater passenger and cargo capacity, but a slightly lower service speed (23 knots), than her consorts. This would allow her to make the crossing in 5 days and still have an adequate turn-round time in port at the end of each voyage. The order for the new ship was placed with John Brown & Go Ltd, Clydebank, in December 1910. She was launched on 21 April 1913, and left the yard for the Tail of the Bank and trials on 10 May 1914, proceeding there after to Liverpool for drydocking and storing in preparation for her maiden voyage to New York at the end of May. Very soon, due to her stately appearance and sumptuous accommodation, she became known as 'The Aristocrat of the Atlantic'. Her subsequent career, embracing Government service in two world wars, and innumerable transatlantic crossings during the intervening and post-World WarII years, has been well documented in other publications. This remarkable vessel was the world's last transatlantic four-funnelled liner. Her career came to an end in 1950 when she was sold to the British Iron and Steel Corporation and broken up at Faslane in the Gareloch, not many miles away from the yard where she was built." In WWI she sported a vivid, dazzle, camo pattern and later became a hospital ship. In WWII she was requisitioned by the admiralty, painted overall grey and given light AA armaments. She is shown in colour(!) in the video 'Colour Camera At Sea', one of the Naval Video Time Capsules available from W.E.M. In this surviving sequence she is filmed passing close by HMS Nelson and exchanging greetings (troops-sailors) during a 'W.S.' convoy. The film gives pretty much all her port side. So what about chaps and chapesses? Let's go for it - order our 1:700 Aquitania and get the project underway before WEM change their minds. If we pursue this it would be in all our interests to exchange both information and any pics as and when available. For a first reference try: 'Miniature Merchant Ships' John Bowen ISBN 0-85177-659-0 Conways Maritine Press Regards, Chris ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume