Chris Drage's models - 1939-41

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Chris Drage's models
1939-1941

Alexandria June 1941





The diorama depicts the scene when Naiad arrives in Alex passing Kimberley and Ajax at anchor. In the busy harbour are two Egyptian feluccas, gibing in the steady breeze in an attempt to keep out of the cruiser's way. Kimberley is wearing a two-tone disruptive camouflage consisting of AP507a and AP507c. Ajax is wearing a dazzle scheme based on W.W.1 practice. The colours consist of black and white. Her decks are painted in AP507a which is evident in photos taken slightly earlier. Naiad is wearing an unusual type of disruptive design which she had worn since her completion in Mid 1940. The colours are AP507a, AP507b and AP507c. Her wooden decks were painted. Kimberley is a WEM Kashmir kit whilst both Ajax and Naiad are Skytrex models. The Naiad is a modified Skytrex Dido. A variety of WEM etch brass sets were used to detail the ships.

HMS Penelope


HMS Penelope in her 1938 pre-WWII livery. Here she is at anchor at Scapa Flow about to receive her scout plane back on board. Penelope is a White Ensign Models kit whilst the drifters etc are modified from a Skywave Harbour set. 1:700 scale

East Coast Convoy 1941


Here a tramp steamer has become the latest victim of E-boat attacks. As she slowly sinks, HMS Cotswold (10th Destroyer flotilla - Harwich) stands by to receive survivors, lowering one of her whalers in the meantime to render assistance to those in the water. The tramp steamer is a Len Jordan casting detailed with a variety of Tom's Modelworks and Gold Medal Models P.E. brass. Cotswold is a B-Resina Hunt Class destroyer. 1:700 scale

HMS Sheffield 1941


During the Bismarck hunt, Ark Royal's Swordfish pilots mistook Sheffield for the German battleship. Despite the atrocious weather conditions they press home their attack. Luckily for Sheffield most of the torpedoes dropped exploded due to faulty magnetic fuses. However, several torpedoes ran true and Sheffield had to quickly take evasive action. In this diorama she is featured doing just that. Can you spot the torpedo track in the rough sea? Can you spot the torpedo just entering the sea behind the Swordfish? The models are from White Ensign Models. 1:700 Scale

HMS Penelope 1940


HMS Penelope (April 1940) did not make the second battle of Narvik. She struck an uncharted rock in Vestfjord and it took eight hours for her to get into the sheltered and remote Skjelfjord in the Lofotens Islands. Here the local Norwegians not only provided shelter and sustenance for the crew but organised pumping out, repairs and supplies. Essential supplies, information and transport was provided by the local fishermen in their ‘Puffers’ (60’ long fishing boats). The diorama depicts Penelope at the end of that month almost ready for departure across the North Sea. She is receiving the last of the barrels of fresh boiler water from a Puffer. The model is from White Ensign Models, the Puffers are scratch built. 1:700 scale. The full construction article can be read on the WEM website (see links page), whilst further information can be obtained from Plastic Ship Modeler No.23.


HMS Eskimo 1941 During the second battle of Narvik, HMS Eskimo and HMS Forester entered the narrow Rombaksfjord in search of two KG Z Class destroyers which had taken refuge there during the battle. As they entered, both ships were met by a barrage of torpedoes, one of which went right under Forester, the others going wide. One, however, hit Eskimo on the bow blowing it almost completely away. She lay motionless while the crew tried dispatching the rest of the damage to the deep. Eskimo later ran astern for the whole journey back to England. The model is a White Ensign Models HMS Cossack with obvious mods! Scale 1:700		HMS Polyanthus 1941 HMS Polyanthus 1941 battling against large Atlantic swells. If anything, this diorama is an example of my learning curve. I made the seacape without recourse to photos and video of such a sea and as such I produced rather long swells! Compare this sea scape with the JW58 one and you'll see what I mean! The latter dio was done with proper references.